Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan (Book)

Book: 12/52.

Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan.

My Rating: 5/5.

My best friend was travelling from JFK (NYC) to India and calling to ask what she should get for me, other than, of course, chocolates and what my family demanded—the only thing I told her was books (as many as she could get). Hence, this book landed in my collection; she gave it to me only after reading it herself, as it is hardly 115 pages and quite a quick read. I am not surprised to read that it was selected for a Booker too, it deserves all the accolades as it covers such a sensitive topic. It is a fictional account based on the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland (late 20th century), where an estimated 30000 or more women and orphan girls, abused, deserted by their families or who did not conform to the then social norms. The protagonist, a coal merchant, takes one such girl to his home, even after having a few of his daughters whom he is not able to provide for. It was such a touching story, especially when he made up his mind that they would plough through somehow, even when they would have to struggle a little more each day. Initially, I wasn’t able to like it, but as the story progressed, it completely engrossed me, and the highest point was the way it ended, totally touching. I didn’t know that they had adapted this into a movie too, which now I am looking forward to big time, as it stars Cillian Murphy in the lead. 

Have you read Small Things Like These or any other from Claire Keegan? Do let me know, as I would love to read a bit more from her, and looking forward to the other two books, too, which my friend got for me from the US of A. 

 

Pachpan Khambe Lal Deewarein - Usha Priyamvada (Book).

Book: 11/52.

Pachpan Khambe Lal Deewarein - Usha Priyamvada.

My Rating: 5/5.

Time and again, I pick chaste Hindi classics to keep up with my father’s and mother tongue, but more often than not, they break my heart with the outcome. This one too was in the same league, but what a brilliant story, amazing writing and such beautiful prose that it would be an exaggeration to claim I haven’t read something like this in the past. On that note, I need to pick up a few more from Madam Usha and that too like NOW. It is indeed a straightforward story of Sushma, the eldest daughter of a middle-class family, who gets promoted as a Girl’s Hostel warden in a college in Delhi after serving for about a decade in the same facility. Unfortunately, she becomes the sole breadwinner of the family as her father goes bedridden, with two younger sisters and two brothers and an over-the-top emotional (call it cranky) mother, she has no respite. On top of that, she is in her mid-30s, which from the 70’s standpoint was quite a late age to get married. Neel comes into Sushma’s life as a breath of fresh air, but the tragedy is that he is five years younger than her. The rest you can imagine what all they both go through and how their life takes so many twists and turns. I kept rooting for Sushma to fight with society and do what she wanted to do, and kept hoping that the tides would turn in her favour. Heart-breaking was the way her family behaved with her, but what made me happy was that it didn’t exactly go the way I expected it and left me with some hope in the end. It reminded me so much of real-life-based Premchand stories from the time. But one must read the little gem of a book to go through the nuances of that era and read about the challenges, not much has changed even in today’s time, too, as we still have so many Sushmas around us even in 21st-century India. I must say the relevance of the title is something the reader is left with much after the book has ended. 

Have you read Pachpan Khambe Lal Deewarein? Do let me know how you liked it, and I am big time looking forward to the TV series based on the same, with wishes for so much more to read from Usha Priyamvada in the very near future. 

 

Open - Andre Agassi (Book)

Book: 10/52.

Open - Andre Agassi.

My Rating: 5/5.

I bought this book for my office library as I became the official curator for the same., Knowing my love towards books, I took the position graciously. This was the first book from the batch that I personally picked up a few months back. It has been on my TBR for ages, and not sure why I haven’t read it yet. One of the most beautiful biographies or autobiographies, I must say, and it is written in such an amazing way that the reader feels as if Agassi is talking to us in person. Going back to my teenage while he was playing, we had our competition as to who was the bigger fan. My brother even grew his hair shoulder length, coloured it golden, got a pair of studs and used to hang out his pony tail out of the back of a golf cap, typically Agassi style. We even coaxed our dad to get us a tennis racket so we could play like pros in our own cemented SBI colony tennis court with a shoddy net. While my brother picked up the style, I picked up the game (but not for too long, as it required huge stamina to play). But we were both glued to the TV big time, as and when we could match the timings of his game. It was amazing to see him play in Denim Shorts, at times topless, multi-colored tops and even to witness him thrown out of the game for his abusive nature too. He hated Wimbledon because of the white uniforms, more or less, if his Autobiography is to be believed, he hated Tennis right from the moment his dad made him play. Yet, he goes on to become one of the most loved and admired tennis players in the world, and to top it all, he ends up marrying the best women’s tennis player too (Stephanie Graff). You’ve got to read this lovely 350-something-page book to know a heck of a lot more than what I have disclosed above, and I guarantee you a fun ride with so much to learn from the man himself and his story. His love life, marriage to Brooke Shields, the F.R.I.E.N.D.S connection, and so much more. His association with the greatest of greats from all fields, and who can forget the best sporting rivalry ever between him and Pete Sampras (they were my generation’s Fed and Rafa). 

Have you read Open? Do let me know if you loved it. I technically stopped watching Tennis after Steffi and Agassi’s retirement, but I have seen a few finals between Fed and Rafa to compensate. But the game has lost its charm for me after their retirement. 

 

Nithalle Ki Diary (Book) - Harishankar Parsai

Book: 9/52.

Nithalle Ki Diary (Hindi) - Harishankar Parsai.

My Rating: 5/5.

This came as a laugh-out-loud surprise in my quest to read a quarter of my target books in Hindi. Harishankar Parsai is our own PG Wodehouse if I may be allowed to draw certain parallels between the two legends. Nithalle Ki Dairy was first published in 1968 but his tone, comic timing and jabs on the then Govt as well as politicians are simply out of this world. I was shocked by his name-calling as he for sure wasn’t intimidated by those names and of course, back then we were a democracy of sorts (not any more that I can bet on). May it be religion or class divide, he has his take which the reader in me couldn’t disagree with at times and loads of sarcasm, you need to read this little gem of a book to understand what I am trying to say and don’t want to spill the beans for those who plan to read it. As per him, Indian cows are different than the cows in the rest of the world and how? (their purpose of existence matters). Or how the Gods only exist in India only and not anywhere else in the world and the argument behind these was hilarious. He has his way of solving a problem, say a govt official needs to be transferred and all he has to do is stand in front of his reporting manager’s house and hurl the choicest abuses :) but if that doesn’t work, he has plenty more solutions, what happens in the end? You’ve got to read it yourself to find out. 

Have you read Nithalle Ki Diary? Do let me know how you loved it and if you have a personal Harishankar Parsai favourite, do let me know as I am certainly looking forward to more from him at the earliest. 

 

The Secret River - Kate Grenville (Book)

Book: 8/52.

The Secret River - Kate Grenville.

My Rating: 2/5.

Another addition to my list of “What did I just read?” which, surprisingly, I didn’t DNF, but the thought did cross my mind multiple times, and there was a reason why I did not. First, my friend from Aussyland got this one for me as nowadays I take only books as gifts from friends returning or visiting India :). Second on the cover, as you can read - it claims to be “Multi-award winning”, and if I am not wrong, it was even shortlisted for a Booker, and I believe that is why my dear friend picked it up for me in the first place. Now, award-winning books, and I have an appalling track record of either falling head over heels for or disliking them, this one lost in the latter category, unfortunately. Coming back to the story, it is from the early 19th century wherein a British William Thornhill hits a jackpot when he falls for a rich girl, but their luck doesn’t last long, and they lose it all, so much that they need to steal to survive and once caught they are hoarded aboard a ship full of criminals sentenced to Australia. So this book came to me from Sydney, and that’s where the rest of the story takes place: the couple’s survival amidst the challenges thrown by locals (Blacks). He hopes to go back home as soon as he has made enough money, and she hopes never to leave what they had made in Australia after so much struggle. The entire story revolves around a river, but what is the big secret if one goes by the title is not be found in the book. What turned me off was the writing style and abrupt start or ending of things like you turn a page and the story has progressed a couple of years, no details, but they go rich just like that and go poor just like that. Overall, it was a very tough read, if it wasn’t a gift, it must have become my first DNF of the year. 

Do let me know if you have read this one especially if it worked for you. Or any other book that you read and liked from Kate Grenville, for now I will stay away from her works unless highly recommended by someone. I need to pick up a Nevil Shute book fast as no one does justice to Aussyland the way he does it with his words.