Friday, December 08, 2006

Are books like movies? "The Inheritance of Loss"

I have just finished reading “The inheritance of Loss”. I find uncanny similarity in the writing style with Arundhati Roy. There will be some wonderful descriptions, there will be a loose story, there will be bursts of emotions at places and hen there will be a vague ending. I haven’t read any other booker winner books but seems like this kind of writing is a preferred style. I can only compare this with art movies and commercial movies. There are some typical movies which are like made for awards. Take the “Pather Panchali” for example. People say it’s a masterpiece. It surely is, be it the cinematographic techniques or be it the acting or the storyline. But the film does not leave you happy after you see it.

Somehow after reading the book Inheritance of Loss, I feel I am lost. I thought I have read lots, but this book pulls me back to where I started. Do I need to read much much more? Agreed I have not read the Shakespeare or even the Tolstoy. According to my parents, I have not learnt anything unless I read Rabindranath Tagore. But still I felt I am well above the mass. I have read the Austen and Bronte, I have read starting from Thackeray to Puzo, and I liked it all. I had started with Secret seven, Malory Towers and now have grown out of the gripping Archers and Browns. I find them good no longer. ( I heard that is a sign of growing up.) I have read my Ayn Rand as much as I am in love with Harry Potter. Harry, Feluda, Byomkesh Bakshi are on my fingertips and I have read them as many times as I have read V=IR as an electrical engineer.

But this book like “God of Small things” has left me lost somewhere. Its neither peace nor distress. You can get the real picture of so many things. I could see the dirty side of all the Visa consulates, the beauty of Kalimpong. I feel I have learnt a lot, yet it has created a vacancy somewhere. I felt exactly the same way after reading “God of Small Things”. You get an in-depth view of Syrian Christians, the beauty of emotions etc. But then all the characters are so imperfect. The illicit affairs, the poor people vows, nothing seems good. Yet you keep reading it. Is that what is called good writing? Or is it the Indian style of writing? Even Khushwant Singh writes dirty words. But people like even that.

I think I want something soothing. Neither the high adrenaline murder mysteries nor these dwelling with imperfect characters. My style is more of Pride and prejudice kinds. Where there are pages and pages on ones composure on seeing ones beloved. The idea of looking good is of primary importance. I liked “Namesake” also, one of my bests amonst the recent reads. There are such strong characters, and instead of everybody being wrong, everybody is justifiable, everybody is right.

Well I am confused. Where do I stand. I do want to stand out of the group who are happy with a few Dan Browns and one or 2 classics to write on the hobbies of the numerous networking sites. But I am ending up nowhere.