BOOK-REVIEW
Book: THE HOUSE OF BLUE MANGOES.
Author: DAVID DAVIDHAR
Publisher: Penguin books
Rate: AVERAGE
David davidhar is a new entry into the literary field.Though his contreibutions to the field of publishing is well known his first stint to the actual writing is THE HOUSE OF BLUE MANGOES. The cover of the book has good look[ there is also other one with a chieftain's veshti ]. With his own publishing house publishing his work it must have been easier for david to get such a hype and a well presented book.
The book is very south-indian or should i say very tamilian. The story is set in the rural background of southern tamilnadu. But the factual part ends here. The town of chevathar, the castes like vedhars and andavars are fictious. The author is clever in not integrating REAL castes or places of incidents. This if otherwise would have surely created tension in some parts of the already burning INDIA. The imaginary names of the castes and the places seem so natural and has a local fragrance to it.
The story revolves around a family for a period of three generations. This makes the book volumous, but it is a good reading. Some characters which you think would stay on forever and bring about some notable twists dissapoint us by dying soon. But this dissapointment is the one which makes you to go on.
The scene of caste violence between two groups is brought out well in this novel. With not much of dramatics to it , the war sends shivers through your spine though the rendering is very simple. This is the speciality of the novel. Though the tale is simple and said in a simple way it makes you think. The caste system is targeted by the author in the initial portions of the novel with undaunted venom. Somehow this is gravely missed in the second part of the novel which weaves a individual's saga of triumph, love, struggle.
The novel has abundant of tamil usage. So much that a non-tamilian would require a dictionary to get the meaning of some conversations. But without the usage of tamil this novel would have been out of place with respect to it's storyline, which demands it.
The ANGREZ'S are also hated at a length in this novel. Their colonial mindset[which even prevails to date!], habits and hatred towards the indians are interesting to read. But the author does not generalise. He has even filled his rendering with a few good- angrez people.
Coming to the story, the fathers are the cheiftains of the place, who are respected by all and worshipped by the people of his community. But the children are shown as youngsters who without the knowledge of their father's position, having a hatred towards the position.
The story is somewhat like the tamil movie THEVAR MAGAN,starring kamal hassan, which shows reluctant, highly educated son taking his father's position as a village chieftain and getting engrossed in it. Even in the nove both the younger generations are driven into thier father's shoes after his death.
This starts a new struggle for existence in the place and among the family. The concept of intercaste marriages has also been dealt with ease.
The storytelling ability of david is profound and good. But at times you fell being buldozored with unwanted amount of explanations and detailing. But the research is well done. The EMDEN bombing of madras and other such historical happenings are presented with actual dates and place.
For the first timer this novel is a valiant effort with respect to it's dealing of sensitive matter of castes's. But the feeling that the book has been over hyped remains with you throughout the novel and even after the reading.
I RATE THE BOOK AS AN AVERAGE ONE.
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