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Yatrik
‘Anushtup Chatterjee, I am really sorry to have to tell you this. But you have died.’
Anushtup Chatterjee is thirty-two years old.
He hates his mother. His job is a dead end. And his girlfriend has left him.
Then one silent moonlit night, he wakes up in a deserted field in the middle of nowhere, with no recollection of where he is or how he got there. His wallet is gone. So is his cell phone.
He is not alone though.
There is another man there, a stranger with a gentle voice and a humble mustache, who has something rather unbelievable to say to him.
That he, Anushtup Chatterjee, has already died.
Mysterious and achingly poignant, Arnab Ray’s Yatrik is a story about hope and aspiration, love and regret, of the choices we make and those that life makes for us.
Anushtup Chatterjee is thirty-two years old.
He hates his mother. His job is a dead end. And his girlfriend has left him.
Then one silent moonlit night, he wakes up in a deserted field in the middle of nowhere, with no recollection of where he is or how he got there. His wallet is gone. So is his cell phone.
He is not alone though.
There is another man there, a stranger with a gentle voice and a humble mustache, who has something rather unbelievable to say to him.
That he, Anushtup Chatterjee, has already died.
Mysterious and achingly poignant, Arnab Ray’s Yatrik is a story about hope and aspiration, love and regret, of the choices we make and those that life makes for us.
- GenresFiction
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
14 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Arnab Ray
14 books121 followersArnab Ray, better known as Greatbong, is one of India's most widely read bloggers who blogs at Random Thoughts Of A Demented Mind. He is known for his sarcastic takes on the Indian film industry, Indian politics and society in general. His blog was awarded the "Indiblog of the Year" at Indibloggies in 2006[1] and 2008. He has written for several media outlets like the Washington Post, Outlook magazine and Live Mint. He graduated from Jadavpur University as a Bachelor in Computer Science and Engineering and went on to finish his PhD in Computer Science from State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is presently employed as a research scientist at the University of Maryland and resides in the suburbs of Washington DC. His first book "May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss", published by Harper Collins, was on India Today's Bestsellers list.
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November 4, 2014
I am one of the oldest and, perhaps, one of the most loyal followers of Greatbong a.k.a Arnab Ray. In fact it would not be wrong to say that my style of writing carries a significant of inspiration from his brand of “snark” or, as puritans would call it, black humour.
Hence I was one of the happier human beings on planet Earth when May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss came out in print. While it wasn't much more than an extension of his much loved blog (including a rehash of some of the popular articles from the same), the book had the carefree nonchalance of a stray dog peeing on the rear wheel on a Mercedes A Class and purveying his handiwork almost with an air of contempt directed at the “victim”.
I was sceptical when The Mine came out - after all, horror was never Greatbong’s forte. But to call The Mine a horror novel would be equivalent to calling the Taj Mahal a plain vanilla mausoleum. Ray took the basic premise of And Then There Were None and added layer after layer of his trademark sense of satire. The Mine wasn’t for those who wanted to walk away into the sunset and live happily ever after.
I was sceptical again when Yatrik came out. And this time unfortunately I was right.
Over the last couple of years, Greatbong has significantly cut down on his blogging. And while earlier most of his posts were centred on Bollywood and cricket, most of his recent articles were more than just a wee bit political. You could argue that it is the favourite pastime of most Indians (and predominantly Bengalis) pushing 40 but then we are not talking about any other mere mortal here.
What has also happened is that parenthood has mellowed down his snark somewhat. Somewhere you sense that he has developed a sense of saudade (the chutzpah of Yatrik) at the goings-on in the world. And Yatrik does nothing to dispel your notions of the same.
Anushtup Chatterjee is a drug addict mall salesperson who also happens to be dead. In his afterlife, he gets a chance to see the answers of three of the biggest questions of his life. This forms the basis of the story which also includes a much reviled parent figure, a mentor gone wrong and a rich girlfriend who gets pregnant. Sounds familiar?
You would not be mistaken for thinking it was a Chetan Bhagat novel. Ironically, Ray has been extremely vocal about CB, his “Half-Girlfriend” and his political inclinations – it is a bit surprising that he decided to channelize his inner Bhagat and that too right down to the despondently bitter-sweet ending. There is also a thinly veiled reference to Bhagat and Arnab Goswami – I’ll leave it to the readers to find out.
Yatrik is an interesting concept. It deals you more than a larger slice of real life with the way it depicts the Calcutta of Ray’s youth – be it the random evaluation of board exam answer scripts, the police brutalities carried out during the Communist rule of West Bengal or the chit fund and housing scams. It even manages to whisk you through a hurried tour of Coffee House and the four days of Durga Puja.
But there are too many flaws to be ignored. Even if we ignored the clichéd portrayals of the good-teacher-turned-bad-politician-by-circumstances or the “YoYo” tomboy friend of Anushtup’s girlfriend Poonam, you cannot overlook the sketchy portrayal of Anushtup’s parents. I can understand the concept of an unreliable narrator or a narrator’s bias but Ray seems to have taken this liberty a bit too far. Many of the other minor characters are just there to fill up the scenery and pretty much one-dimensional. And while I understand that the author is trying to target a pan-Indian or maybe even an international audience but there is no way that you can get away with translating Mama-Bhagne into Uncle-and-Nephew on a roadside food cart.
Somewhere in the book, Ray talks about Anushtup having a “martyr complex”. Scratch deeper and you will see that Anushtup is the exact anti-thesis of Ray. The latter went to a top engineering college, finished his studies in the US of A and then went on to forge a successful career along with a blissful family life. For all that he writes on his blog, he is still a conformist who has done exactly what society expects him to do. Anushtup is his Mr Hyde – the martyr who he never could be. The idealist who dabbles in student politics, the pseudo-auteur who learnt world cinema through the lens of a pornographer and the rebel who derives pleasure by blowing society’s expectations of him to smithereens. And he gets to walk away into the sunset as well.
Yatrik isn't really a bad book - especially if you consider the tonnes of hormone-laden campus “lit-shit” filling up the shelves of the Landmarks and the Crosswords of India. It is just that it doesn't match up to the standards Greatbong has set for himself over the last 10 years. I won’t give up on Sultan of Delhi – not yet.
Hence I was one of the happier human beings on planet Earth when May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss came out in print. While it wasn't much more than an extension of his much loved blog (including a rehash of some of the popular articles from the same), the book had the carefree nonchalance of a stray dog peeing on the rear wheel on a Mercedes A Class and purveying his handiwork almost with an air of contempt directed at the “victim”.
I was sceptical when The Mine came out - after all, horror was never Greatbong’s forte. But to call The Mine a horror novel would be equivalent to calling the Taj Mahal a plain vanilla mausoleum. Ray took the basic premise of And Then There Were None and added layer after layer of his trademark sense of satire. The Mine wasn’t for those who wanted to walk away into the sunset and live happily ever after.
I was sceptical again when Yatrik came out. And this time unfortunately I was right.
Over the last couple of years, Greatbong has significantly cut down on his blogging. And while earlier most of his posts were centred on Bollywood and cricket, most of his recent articles were more than just a wee bit political. You could argue that it is the favourite pastime of most Indians (and predominantly Bengalis) pushing 40 but then we are not talking about any other mere mortal here.
What has also happened is that parenthood has mellowed down his snark somewhat. Somewhere you sense that he has developed a sense of saudade (the chutzpah of Yatrik) at the goings-on in the world. And Yatrik does nothing to dispel your notions of the same.
Anushtup Chatterjee is a drug addict mall salesperson who also happens to be dead. In his afterlife, he gets a chance to see the answers of three of the biggest questions of his life. This forms the basis of the story which also includes a much reviled parent figure, a mentor gone wrong and a rich girlfriend who gets pregnant. Sounds familiar?
You would not be mistaken for thinking it was a Chetan Bhagat novel. Ironically, Ray has been extremely vocal about CB, his “Half-Girlfriend” and his political inclinations – it is a bit surprising that he decided to channelize his inner Bhagat and that too right down to the despondently bitter-sweet ending. There is also a thinly veiled reference to Bhagat and Arnab Goswami – I’ll leave it to the readers to find out.
Yatrik is an interesting concept. It deals you more than a larger slice of real life with the way it depicts the Calcutta of Ray’s youth – be it the random evaluation of board exam answer scripts, the police brutalities carried out during the Communist rule of West Bengal or the chit fund and housing scams. It even manages to whisk you through a hurried tour of Coffee House and the four days of Durga Puja.
But there are too many flaws to be ignored. Even if we ignored the clichéd portrayals of the good-teacher-turned-bad-politician-by-circumstances or the “YoYo” tomboy friend of Anushtup’s girlfriend Poonam, you cannot overlook the sketchy portrayal of Anushtup’s parents. I can understand the concept of an unreliable narrator or a narrator’s bias but Ray seems to have taken this liberty a bit too far. Many of the other minor characters are just there to fill up the scenery and pretty much one-dimensional. And while I understand that the author is trying to target a pan-Indian or maybe even an international audience but there is no way that you can get away with translating Mama-Bhagne into Uncle-and-Nephew on a roadside food cart.
Somewhere in the book, Ray talks about Anushtup having a “martyr complex”. Scratch deeper and you will see that Anushtup is the exact anti-thesis of Ray. The latter went to a top engineering college, finished his studies in the US of A and then went on to forge a successful career along with a blissful family life. For all that he writes on his blog, he is still a conformist who has done exactly what society expects him to do. Anushtup is his Mr Hyde – the martyr who he never could be. The idealist who dabbles in student politics, the pseudo-auteur who learnt world cinema through the lens of a pornographer and the rebel who derives pleasure by blowing society’s expectations of him to smithereens. And he gets to walk away into the sunset as well.
Yatrik isn't really a bad book - especially if you consider the tonnes of hormone-laden campus “lit-shit” filling up the shelves of the Landmarks and the Crosswords of India. It is just that it doesn't match up to the standards Greatbong has set for himself over the last 10 years. I won’t give up on Sultan of Delhi – not yet.
January 4, 2017
First and foremost, like every1 on twitter, I am a fan of @greatbong (Arnab Ray's twitter handle). As some1 from "conservative" Gujarat puzzled by "intolerance" since 2013, it was fun to hear the views of some1 from the socialist republic of Bengal ;)
Secondly, there is a remarkable difference between writing a blog or post on SM and a book. Great authors/public personalities r often polemic and even pedestrian in their posts on SM and great bloggers can be mediocre writers. There seems to be a disconnect between greatbong and Arnab Ray.
This book felt like a "new and improved" version of "3 mistakes" by Chetan Bhagat. It is smarter yes, tighter yes, but it still lacks something that a Neel Mukherjee or an Aatish Taseer had - Those great wow moments of insights and empathy. It is still a fun, breezy read for travels etc
This was my second book by this author and will pick up a book by him again only on a recommendation by a friend.
Secondly, there is a remarkable difference between writing a blog or post on SM and a book. Great authors/public personalities r often polemic and even pedestrian in their posts on SM and great bloggers can be mediocre writers. There seems to be a disconnect between greatbong and Arnab Ray.
This book felt like a "new and improved" version of "3 mistakes" by Chetan Bhagat. It is smarter yes, tighter yes, but it still lacks something that a Neel Mukherjee or an Aatish Taseer had - Those great wow moments of insights and empathy. It is still a fun, breezy read for travels etc
This was my second book by this author and will pick up a book by him again only on a recommendation by a friend.
November 24, 2024
Book: Yatrik: The Traveller
Author: Arnab Ray
Publisher: Westland Ltd.
Published: 2014
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9789384030506
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Arnab Ray’s Yatrik begins with a premise that is as arresting as it is unsettling: Anushtup Chatterjee, a thirty-two-year-old man stuck in the drudgery of a lackluster existence, is told by a stranger that he has died. This moment is the catalyst for a surreal, emotional, and deeply introspective journey through Anushtup’s life. The novel weaves together themes of regret, longing, love, forgiveness, and the inexorable truth that life often unfolds beyond our control.
The Premise: A Journey Into the Beyond:
Anushtup is far from a perfect protagonist. He is bitter, burdened by personal failures, and unable to reconcile with his past or his present. His strained relationship with his mother, his unfulfilling career, and his broken love life paint a picture of a man who has, in many ways, given up. It is in this state of existential limbo that he wakes up in a field, disoriented and stripped of the trappings of modern life — his phone, wallet, and identity.
The stranger who meets him there isn’t a conventional guide to the afterlife. This man’s quiet demeanor and cryptic revelations open a series of doors to Anushtup’s memories, allowing him to revisit pivotal moments that shaped his life. The genius of the novel lies in the subtlety with which these flashbacks are rendered, compelling the reader to piece together Anushtup’s story alongside him.
Themes: Universal Yet Rooted:
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance the deeply personal with the universal. Anushtup’s life is undeniably specific — infused with the rhythms of Bengali culture, the societal pressures of middle-class Kolkata, and the nuanced dynamics of familial relationships. Yet, the questions he grapples with are ones that resonate universally:
What defines a successful life?
Can we ever truly reconcile with our regrets?
Is forgiveness — of oneself and others — the ultimate act of courage?
Arnab Ray’s prose navigates these questions with remarkable sensitivity, avoiding overt sentimentality while delivering moments of profound emotional impact. The portrayal of Anushtup’s relationship with his mother is particularly poignant, offering a raw and honest depiction of how love and resentment can coexist.
A Philosophical Undertone:
Yatrik shares a kinship with existentialist literature, echoing the works of Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. Like Camus’ The Stranger, it forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about mortality and the meaning of life. Anushtup’s journey is not about finding definitive answers but about embracing uncertainty and learning to let go.
The novel also draws thematic parallels to Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven, where the protagonist revisits significant moments and relationships after death. However, Yatrik is less about redemption and more about reflection. It challenges the reader to accept life’s imperfections and to find solace in the realization that control is often an illusion.
Tagorean Undertones: Life, Death, and the Eternal Journey:
Tagore once wrote in Gitanjali:
"I have got my leave. Bid me farewell, my brothers! I bow to you all and take my departure."
This sentiment resonates throughout Yatrik. The protagonist, Anushtup, is thrust into an existential limbo, where he must reconcile with the life he has led before bidding it farewell. The novel’s exploration of death as a continuation rather than an end feels inherently Tagorean, emphasizing the eternal nature of the human spirit and its connection to the universe.
Just as Tagore often viewed death as a transition into a greater cosmic journey, Yatrik frames Anushtup’s journey through memories as an exploration of his eternal self, untethered from the limitations of earthly existence. This connection gives the novel a lyrical quality, even in its most harrowing moments.
A Twisting Narrative:
The novel’s narrative structure is both linear and layered, as Anushtup revisits his memories while simultaneously grappling with his current predicament. Arnab Ray employs a deft touch, gradually revealing the layers of Anushtup’s psyche and the events that led him to his metaphorical crossroads. The end delivers a twist that is both shocking and inevitable, reframing the entire narrative and leaving the reader reeling.
This twist is not a gimmick; it is the culmination of the novel’s philosophical and emotional arcs. It challenges the reader to rethink their assumptions and underscores the fragility of the human condition.
Cultural Resonance:
For Bengali readers, Yatrik is an especially rewarding experience. The novel captures the essence of Kolkata — its bustling streets, its familial traditions, and its complex social fabric. The cultural specificity lends authenticity to the story, grounding its metaphysical musings in the tangible realities of middle-class Bengali life.
Yet, the novel’s appeal extends far beyond regional boundaries. Like Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, it uses cultural specificity to highlight universal truths, proving that the more rooted a story is, the more relatable it becomes.
Values and Moral Lessons:
Yatrik doesn’t preach, but it gently guides readers toward introspection. It touches on values such as justice, honesty, courage, and forgiveness without reducing these to simplistic binaries. Anushtup’s journey is not about becoming a better person but about understanding himself and the choices he made. This nuanced approach makes the novel deeply human and profoundly moving.
Language and Style:
Arnab Ray’s writing is accessible yet evocative. His prose is rich with imagery, painting vivid pictures of Anushtup’s memories and his journey through the afterlife. The dialogue is natural and unpretentious, capturing the rhythms of Bengali speech while remaining universally intelligible.
The Twist: A Testament to Ray’s Craft:
The ending deserves special mention for its audacity and impact. Without revealing spoilers, it is safe to say that the twist recontextualizes the entire novel, forcing readers to reconsider everything they thought they knew about Anushtup’s journey. It is a masterstroke that elevates Yatrik from a poignant story to a truly unforgettable one.
Comparative Analysis with World Literature:
Yatrik stands alongside modern classics that explore life and death through a personal lens. Its philosophical undertones align with Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, where the journey matters more than the destination. Its exploration of memory and regret calls to mind Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending, while its cultural specificity echoes the works of Jhumpa Lahiri.
Final Thoughts:
Arnab Ray’s Yatrik is a deeply moving, thought-provoking novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page. It is a meditation on life’s fragility, the weight of regrets, and the possibility of finding meaning in the face of uncertainty. For anyone who has ever paused to wonder about the paths not taken or the lives left unlived, Yatrik offers solace and inspiration.
This is a book that transcends genres, appealing to fans of literary fiction, existential musings, and deeply human stories. With its rich cultural tapestry, philosophical depth, and unforgettable twist, Yatrik is a must-read for anyone seeking a novel that both challenges and comforts.
If you liked my review, I would be grateful if you could show your support by following the blog and subscribing to my social media channels. Your engagement means a lot and helps me continue creating content that resonates with you.
Blog Link: https://saswatabookreviews.blogspot.com/
Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/saswata_boo...
Author: Arnab Ray
Publisher: Westland Ltd.
Published: 2014
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9789384030506
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Arnab Ray’s Yatrik begins with a premise that is as arresting as it is unsettling: Anushtup Chatterjee, a thirty-two-year-old man stuck in the drudgery of a lackluster existence, is told by a stranger that he has died. This moment is the catalyst for a surreal, emotional, and deeply introspective journey through Anushtup’s life. The novel weaves together themes of regret, longing, love, forgiveness, and the inexorable truth that life often unfolds beyond our control.
The Premise: A Journey Into the Beyond:
Anushtup is far from a perfect protagonist. He is bitter, burdened by personal failures, and unable to reconcile with his past or his present. His strained relationship with his mother, his unfulfilling career, and his broken love life paint a picture of a man who has, in many ways, given up. It is in this state of existential limbo that he wakes up in a field, disoriented and stripped of the trappings of modern life — his phone, wallet, and identity.
The stranger who meets him there isn’t a conventional guide to the afterlife. This man’s quiet demeanor and cryptic revelations open a series of doors to Anushtup’s memories, allowing him to revisit pivotal moments that shaped his life. The genius of the novel lies in the subtlety with which these flashbacks are rendered, compelling the reader to piece together Anushtup’s story alongside him.
Themes: Universal Yet Rooted:
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance the deeply personal with the universal. Anushtup’s life is undeniably specific — infused with the rhythms of Bengali culture, the societal pressures of middle-class Kolkata, and the nuanced dynamics of familial relationships. Yet, the questions he grapples with are ones that resonate universally:
What defines a successful life?
Can we ever truly reconcile with our regrets?
Is forgiveness — of oneself and others — the ultimate act of courage?
Arnab Ray’s prose navigates these questions with remarkable sensitivity, avoiding overt sentimentality while delivering moments of profound emotional impact. The portrayal of Anushtup’s relationship with his mother is particularly poignant, offering a raw and honest depiction of how love and resentment can coexist.
A Philosophical Undertone:
Yatrik shares a kinship with existentialist literature, echoing the works of Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. Like Camus’ The Stranger, it forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about mortality and the meaning of life. Anushtup’s journey is not about finding definitive answers but about embracing uncertainty and learning to let go.
The novel also draws thematic parallels to Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven, where the protagonist revisits significant moments and relationships after death. However, Yatrik is less about redemption and more about reflection. It challenges the reader to accept life’s imperfections and to find solace in the realization that control is often an illusion.
Tagorean Undertones: Life, Death, and the Eternal Journey:
Tagore once wrote in Gitanjali:
"I have got my leave. Bid me farewell, my brothers! I bow to you all and take my departure."
This sentiment resonates throughout Yatrik. The protagonist, Anushtup, is thrust into an existential limbo, where he must reconcile with the life he has led before bidding it farewell. The novel’s exploration of death as a continuation rather than an end feels inherently Tagorean, emphasizing the eternal nature of the human spirit and its connection to the universe.
Just as Tagore often viewed death as a transition into a greater cosmic journey, Yatrik frames Anushtup’s journey through memories as an exploration of his eternal self, untethered from the limitations of earthly existence. This connection gives the novel a lyrical quality, even in its most harrowing moments.
A Twisting Narrative:
The novel’s narrative structure is both linear and layered, as Anushtup revisits his memories while simultaneously grappling with his current predicament. Arnab Ray employs a deft touch, gradually revealing the layers of Anushtup’s psyche and the events that led him to his metaphorical crossroads. The end delivers a twist that is both shocking and inevitable, reframing the entire narrative and leaving the reader reeling.
This twist is not a gimmick; it is the culmination of the novel’s philosophical and emotional arcs. It challenges the reader to rethink their assumptions and underscores the fragility of the human condition.
Cultural Resonance:
For Bengali readers, Yatrik is an especially rewarding experience. The novel captures the essence of Kolkata — its bustling streets, its familial traditions, and its complex social fabric. The cultural specificity lends authenticity to the story, grounding its metaphysical musings in the tangible realities of middle-class Bengali life.
Yet, the novel’s appeal extends far beyond regional boundaries. Like Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, it uses cultural specificity to highlight universal truths, proving that the more rooted a story is, the more relatable it becomes.
Values and Moral Lessons:
Yatrik doesn’t preach, but it gently guides readers toward introspection. It touches on values such as justice, honesty, courage, and forgiveness without reducing these to simplistic binaries. Anushtup’s journey is not about becoming a better person but about understanding himself and the choices he made. This nuanced approach makes the novel deeply human and profoundly moving.
Language and Style:
Arnab Ray’s writing is accessible yet evocative. His prose is rich with imagery, painting vivid pictures of Anushtup’s memories and his journey through the afterlife. The dialogue is natural and unpretentious, capturing the rhythms of Bengali speech while remaining universally intelligible.
The Twist: A Testament to Ray’s Craft:
The ending deserves special mention for its audacity and impact. Without revealing spoilers, it is safe to say that the twist recontextualizes the entire novel, forcing readers to reconsider everything they thought they knew about Anushtup’s journey. It is a masterstroke that elevates Yatrik from a poignant story to a truly unforgettable one.
Comparative Analysis with World Literature:
Yatrik stands alongside modern classics that explore life and death through a personal lens. Its philosophical undertones align with Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, where the journey matters more than the destination. Its exploration of memory and regret calls to mind Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending, while its cultural specificity echoes the works of Jhumpa Lahiri.
Final Thoughts:
Arnab Ray’s Yatrik is a deeply moving, thought-provoking novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page. It is a meditation on life’s fragility, the weight of regrets, and the possibility of finding meaning in the face of uncertainty. For anyone who has ever paused to wonder about the paths not taken or the lives left unlived, Yatrik offers solace and inspiration.
This is a book that transcends genres, appealing to fans of literary fiction, existential musings, and deeply human stories. With its rich cultural tapestry, philosophical depth, and unforgettable twist, Yatrik is a must-read for anyone seeking a novel that both challenges and comforts.
If you liked my review, I would be grateful if you could show your support by following the blog and subscribing to my social media channels. Your engagement means a lot and helps me continue creating content that resonates with you.
Blog Link: https://saswatabookreviews.blogspot.com/
Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/saswata_boo...
August 23, 2018
Firstly, I follow greatbong on twitter and have been a fan of his amazing blog 'Random thoughts of a demented mind'. But his books are quite different from the way he writes the blog. As the name suggests 'Yatrik', is about the journey of Anushtup, the protagonist through life and death. It has an interesting way of narration. The book is based on knowing 'what happens when the person is not looking but has to face the consequences'. I liked how the author deals with the transient phase between between life and death.
The conversation between Anushtup and Poonam's father sounded like a conversation between hero and heroine's father from a typical hindi movie. Except for that, it was quite an interesting read I must say.
The conversation between Anushtup and Poonam's father sounded like a conversation between hero and heroine's father from a typical hindi movie. Except for that, it was quite an interesting read I must say.
October 16, 2014
Yatrik means a traveller. And the book focuses on the journey of Anushtup, the main protagonist of this book, the journey of his life. Although the book started with a death in the first chapter but Yatrik eventually talks about the life.
Anushtup is a typical Bengali guy. Like any one of us he gets confused about life, makes glaring mistakes while judging someone, get disillusioned of politics once he knows all the dirty tricks of it and has a huge ego which make him leave his home and stay in a slum but stops him from taking unfair help from others, even if they are their closest relatives. And despite being the story of a regular Bengali guy, the book does not move in a straight, one-directional way. It moves with twist and turns. Old myths were broken; truth starts to lift his ugly head from the past, people changes, perception changes too.
Questions were answered, unanswered questions like ones which keep bugging us all through our life. Don’t all us have some questions in our life for which we never know the answers! Why everyone in my class did get 82 in life science in the board examination? Why that one close friend of mine stopped contacting me just without any reason? Why do I did not crack the interview I was so confident about? Yatrik tried to identify some of such answers and tried to break the myth about destiny. Ultimately every event in life has some explanation which may not be clear to us because it happened when we were not looking.
Despite being in US for quite a long time Arneb can still paint the city of Kolkata quite accurately with its various characters. There is a call centre boss, a shopping mall bunny, a political leader, a financial chit fund… small incidents which brings out the uniqueness of the city through Anushtup’s journey of life.
Yatrik is a beautiful read and I want to make just one or two of points for Arnab to keep in mind while writing his next. I was not convinced with some part of the book near the end and think that plot could have been tighter but again Arnab being the storyteller can argue that he was convinced when he thought about that part of story and he thought that plot was the best for the overall story.
At the end I would say, after ‘The Mine’, the expectation was very high from Arnab and to me he has delivered successfully with Yatrik, the story of one’s journey of life. Now the appetite has just increased and I am waiting eagerly for his next.
Anushtup is a typical Bengali guy. Like any one of us he gets confused about life, makes glaring mistakes while judging someone, get disillusioned of politics once he knows all the dirty tricks of it and has a huge ego which make him leave his home and stay in a slum but stops him from taking unfair help from others, even if they are their closest relatives. And despite being the story of a regular Bengali guy, the book does not move in a straight, one-directional way. It moves with twist and turns. Old myths were broken; truth starts to lift his ugly head from the past, people changes, perception changes too.
Questions were answered, unanswered questions like ones which keep bugging us all through our life. Don’t all us have some questions in our life for which we never know the answers! Why everyone in my class did get 82 in life science in the board examination? Why that one close friend of mine stopped contacting me just without any reason? Why do I did not crack the interview I was so confident about? Yatrik tried to identify some of such answers and tried to break the myth about destiny. Ultimately every event in life has some explanation which may not be clear to us because it happened when we were not looking.
Despite being in US for quite a long time Arneb can still paint the city of Kolkata quite accurately with its various characters. There is a call centre boss, a shopping mall bunny, a political leader, a financial chit fund… small incidents which brings out the uniqueness of the city through Anushtup’s journey of life.
Yatrik is a beautiful read and I want to make just one or two of points for Arnab to keep in mind while writing his next. I was not convinced with some part of the book near the end and think that plot could have been tighter but again Arnab being the storyteller can argue that he was convinced when he thought about that part of story and he thought that plot was the best for the overall story.
At the end I would say, after ‘The Mine’, the expectation was very high from Arnab and to me he has delivered successfully with Yatrik, the story of one’s journey of life. Now the appetite has just increased and I am waiting eagerly for his next.
September 21, 2015
I had Yatrik lying on my bedside table for more than 6 months before I picked it up, and that too, only because I know the author slightly (that’s my disclaimer, by the way). I was stuck in a period history genre and I just couldn’t bring myself to read it because it was such a departure from what I was in the mood for.
I struggled through the first chapter, which is the mood setter, unable to snap out of my period phase. It just refused to hold my attention. The second chapter was as laborious. And then I snapped out of my period phase and was all in.
I’ve enjoyed Arnab’s blog as well as his last book. And now this, Yatrik. I’ll give you no spoilers that the blurb didn’t already give. Anushtup Chatterjee is dead and doesn’t know how he got here. A kind co-traveller helps him make sense of the world he finds himself in. And also of the world he left behind.
Arnab writes about a Calcutta he grew up in, and it’s hard to miss the nostalgia. In a sense this book like The Mine is run through with a vein of philosophy – actions, consequences and little time for getting maudlin. If you’re hoping to leave your brain home while reading this, don’t. The story weaves back and forth and each connection brings home the fact that a lot of effort went into this book.
A problem I had earlier and one that I continue to contend with, is that his writing is often stilted. Dialogue was a problem in The Mine and here too, one senses a certain stiffness. Almost as though the entire book was first written in Bengali and later translated into English. I doubt that is the case though, so I’m going to wonder aloud, why the editors did nothing to improve on this.
As an Indian writing in English, I think he took a great risk in breaking from type and not writing an easy-to-flip-through crowd pleaser. But he’s certainly got a certain section of us hooked on his writing. I think that like a lot of writers who come from Bengal, he gives a lot more back to literature than most contemporary writers do. From Van Damme to Satre, Dante to the Mahabharata, the references flow fast and thick and it’s a pleasure to walk with this writer, who doesn’t dumb his books down to ensure that they fly off the rack at the airport.
Three books down, each different to the other, each thoughtful, I can’t wait for his next. Hurry up, Arnab!
I struggled through the first chapter, which is the mood setter, unable to snap out of my period phase. It just refused to hold my attention. The second chapter was as laborious. And then I snapped out of my period phase and was all in.
I’ve enjoyed Arnab’s blog as well as his last book. And now this, Yatrik. I’ll give you no spoilers that the blurb didn’t already give. Anushtup Chatterjee is dead and doesn’t know how he got here. A kind co-traveller helps him make sense of the world he finds himself in. And also of the world he left behind.
Arnab writes about a Calcutta he grew up in, and it’s hard to miss the nostalgia. In a sense this book like The Mine is run through with a vein of philosophy – actions, consequences and little time for getting maudlin. If you’re hoping to leave your brain home while reading this, don’t. The story weaves back and forth and each connection brings home the fact that a lot of effort went into this book.
A problem I had earlier and one that I continue to contend with, is that his writing is often stilted. Dialogue was a problem in The Mine and here too, one senses a certain stiffness. Almost as though the entire book was first written in Bengali and later translated into English. I doubt that is the case though, so I’m going to wonder aloud, why the editors did nothing to improve on this.
As an Indian writing in English, I think he took a great risk in breaking from type and not writing an easy-to-flip-through crowd pleaser. But he’s certainly got a certain section of us hooked on his writing. I think that like a lot of writers who come from Bengal, he gives a lot more back to literature than most contemporary writers do. From Van Damme to Satre, Dante to the Mahabharata, the references flow fast and thick and it’s a pleasure to walk with this writer, who doesn’t dumb his books down to ensure that they fly off the rack at the airport.
Three books down, each different to the other, each thoughtful, I can’t wait for his next. Hurry up, Arnab!
June 19, 2015
"Have you ever wanted to know what happens to your life when you are not looking?", this line itself speaks so much about this book, which talks about only actions and consequences. The fundamental of time is abstract and we never realize that. We human beings just want to know what are we doing with our time, but is that really important? What if there is another place where the time is not even a dimension? Will we then think about only actions and consequences, perhaps.
The setup of the book is very original.
Highly recommended.
The setup of the book is very original.
Highly recommended.
October 9, 2015
Bad storytelling!
December 8, 2024
Yatrik is the third book by Arnab Ray that I’ve read, and I decided to pick it up because of its short length. However, I was somewhat hesitant, as my previous experience with Shachunni—Ray’s latest work—was not as gripping or layered as The Mine. Unfortunately, my skepticism proved to be well-founded.
As the title suggests, Yatrik delves into a journey, following the protagonist, Anushtup, as he navigates life, death, and the afterlife. Set against the backdrop of Kolkata, the narrative evokes a sense of nostalgia through Ray’s vivid descriptions of the city. The plot incorporates elements like political drama, chit fund schemes, and housing scams, but some events feel underdeveloped.
The story begins with Anushtup’s death, which grants him a unique opportunity to reflect on his life and confront three pivotal questions that shaped his existence. The reader is invited to turn the pages and uncover these questions and their impact on his life journey.
In my opinion, this book, like The Mine, weaves in philosophical themes centered on actions, consequences, and a pragmatic approach to life’s challenges without indulging in excessive sentimentality. Ray’s lucid narration effectively shifts between Anushtup’s past and his conversations with a mysterious co-traveler. However, certain events—such as interactions with Anushtup’s parents, discussions with his teacher, and a local goon attack—came across as overly dramatic and predictable. For me, the story lacked the gripping appeal needed to hold my attention, except for its ending, which thoughtfully explores how Anushtup’s choices defined his life and death. The philosophical undertone of cause and effect is the book’s saving grace.
That said, this is just my personal take. For other readers, the book might offer a more engaging exploration of life’s journey. I would recommend giving it a read, especially for those new to Arnab Ray’s work, as they may find Yatrik an intriguing and meaningful experience.
As the title suggests, Yatrik delves into a journey, following the protagonist, Anushtup, as he navigates life, death, and the afterlife. Set against the backdrop of Kolkata, the narrative evokes a sense of nostalgia through Ray’s vivid descriptions of the city. The plot incorporates elements like political drama, chit fund schemes, and housing scams, but some events feel underdeveloped.
The story begins with Anushtup’s death, which grants him a unique opportunity to reflect on his life and confront three pivotal questions that shaped his existence. The reader is invited to turn the pages and uncover these questions and their impact on his life journey.
In my opinion, this book, like The Mine, weaves in philosophical themes centered on actions, consequences, and a pragmatic approach to life’s challenges without indulging in excessive sentimentality. Ray’s lucid narration effectively shifts between Anushtup’s past and his conversations with a mysterious co-traveler. However, certain events—such as interactions with Anushtup’s parents, discussions with his teacher, and a local goon attack—came across as overly dramatic and predictable. For me, the story lacked the gripping appeal needed to hold my attention, except for its ending, which thoughtfully explores how Anushtup’s choices defined his life and death. The philosophical undertone of cause and effect is the book’s saving grace.
That said, this is just my personal take. For other readers, the book might offer a more engaging exploration of life’s journey. I would recommend giving it a read, especially for those new to Arnab Ray’s work, as they may find Yatrik an intriguing and meaningful experience.
August 21, 2019
[cross-posted from Amazon]
I bought this ebook quite a few days (months!) ago, and I was putting it off because of the summary/blurb... who wants to read about a dead man philosophizing?
But Arnab "not-Goswami" Ray is one of my favourite writers, and I should've trusted my instincts and read it sooner.
And wow, what a tale. There's never a dull moment. There's action, romance, thrills, dirty politicians, and fat cops. There's fate running a hand through key events, and there's love and longing and maa ka pyaar. And yet, it is as unlike any Bollywood melodrama that seems to have a mash of all of these because there's more depth and character-building than years of Bollywood put together.
When I read The Mine and Mahabharata Murders, I felt like Arnab is not a writer who's making stuff up as he goes along. It feels like he has studied the craft of fiction writing. He knows how to flesh out a plot and to bring all threads to a cogent conclusion. He has carefully built each character with fine tools. Nothing is off-hand or careless. And for that brilliance, I admire him and look up to him.
I bought this ebook quite a few days (months!) ago, and I was putting it off because of the summary/blurb... who wants to read about a dead man philosophizing?
But Arnab "not-Goswami" Ray is one of my favourite writers, and I should've trusted my instincts and read it sooner.
And wow, what a tale. There's never a dull moment. There's action, romance, thrills, dirty politicians, and fat cops. There's fate running a hand through key events, and there's love and longing and maa ka pyaar. And yet, it is as unlike any Bollywood melodrama that seems to have a mash of all of these because there's more depth and character-building than years of Bollywood put together.
When I read The Mine and Mahabharata Murders, I felt like Arnab is not a writer who's making stuff up as he goes along. It feels like he has studied the craft of fiction writing. He knows how to flesh out a plot and to bring all threads to a cogent conclusion. He has carefully built each character with fine tools. Nothing is off-hand or careless. And for that brilliance, I admire him and look up to him.
June 20, 2017
Good one.
Underrated book of the first 3 by the author, perspectives into the life & characters is portrayed in such a vivid way that it leaves you wanting more of it. Gives a very good takeaway message. A book which would give you something to linger upon even after you finish it.
Underrated book of the first 3 by the author, perspectives into the life & characters is portrayed in such a vivid way that it leaves you wanting more of it. Gives a very good takeaway message. A book which would give you something to linger upon even after you finish it.
April 19, 2018
The book describes the challengea faced by ‘principled pepoles’. It takes you through the journey of life and death of the protagonist.
A different way of telling the story and making readers realize few important lessons in life!
A different way of telling the story and making readers realize few important lessons in life!
November 7, 2018
A sensible story. Very good take on the people lives. Nothing new in the story, a brilliant boy and how this cruel world ruin his life, its all about that but the way story unfold really kept you gripped and engaged. The end was unexplained and abrupt that only disappointment I have.
July 14, 2017
A nicely written different book with a unique story. Not what I would expect from reading Arnab Ray's blog, but definitely worth a read.
July 13, 2018
Excellent one
I loved it
Heavy and hard hitting
Felt a lump at a lot of juncture
Definitely recommend
Had a good perspective
I loved it
Heavy and hard hitting
Felt a lump at a lot of juncture
Definitely recommend
Had a good perspective
August 2, 2019
A different story line
A very different concept but portrayed in a very nice way. Loved reading the book. A good read to get a new way to look at life.
A very different concept but portrayed in a very nice way. Loved reading the book. A good read to get a new way to look at life.
November 24, 2017
Well. I refuse to believe it is written by Arnab after the mine. It’s just downright what a wanna be bolly writer would write. And it’s ironic for someone like the great bong.
March 9, 2017
The book was a breeze through. Before I began reading, I was wondering if I should really read it, because of the post-death type intro, the kindle sample version gave me a good intro and I chose to read it.
I usually try and think the same way too - of trying to understand what caused the event and to try and avoid jumping being judgmental. If only we all are presented that opportunity!
It is not a heavy on your heart kind, and I have already recommended this to my brother, as we were once discussing a similar topic. I guess he appreciated it too.
I usually try and think the same way too - of trying to understand what caused the event and to try and avoid jumping being judgmental. If only we all are presented that opportunity!
It is not a heavy on your heart kind, and I have already recommended this to my brother, as we were once discussing a similar topic. I guess he appreciated it too.
February 28, 2015
Yatrik was lying on my bookshelf for a long time. I didn't get around to reading it because (full disclosure) I feel slightly uncomfortable reading books written by friends and Arnab is a friend. The reasons for this discomfort are vague - I feel I may get insights into their minds and psyches I may not really wish for, or I may not want to disappoint the friend by saying I didn't like the book if it didn't quite work for me, etc.
Well, I did get a ton of insight into Arnab's mind by reading this book, but it was interesting rather than discomfiting. And since I sincerely, genuinely liked the book, the latter fear was taken care of.
What I really, really liked about Yatrik was the accurate, gut-wrenchingly honest, vivid portrayal of contemporary Calcutta. All its characters, the primary as well as the secondary ones, tell the city's story in some way or the other. I don't mean that they are stereotypes -- far from it -- but it's just that they are very real and rooted. The situations are even more so, and it is obvious that Arnab has a deep understanding of the politics of the city and how it infiltrates into the smallest lives -- potentially impacting a young student's board exam results, or how it allows the poor to be cheated of their money through scams run by powerful people. There is a lot of resonance of recent events in West Bengal's history, the Sarada Chit Fund Scam for instance, which add an extra edge to the story.
At the same time, the book makes obvious the glaring differences between the Calcutta of glitzy malls and that of crumbling old houses and people bathing on the streets. A bit of a digression: on a very recent visit to Calcutta, I often walked down to a spanking new mall that has come up in my in laws' very old, somewhat seedy Calcutta neighbourhood (it is in the heart of the city and the land belonged to the mall owners). On the street just behind this mall, people still urinate and bathe openly, many of the houses are barely standing, and the roads are filthy. As soon as you step through the doors of the mall, though, you walk into the world of Gucci, Mango, Armani, Guess... yes, not even high-street Indian brands that most of us shop from, but the real lux international brands. As I observed one day to my husband, it is like stepping through a portal into an alternate universe.
This experience features prominently in Arnab's book. Structured like a story within a story, it has at its core various moral tensions, and the ultimate human hypocrisy of judging others when we ourselves are so frail in our morality.
I wish this book is read more widely than it has, as it deserves to.
Well, I did get a ton of insight into Arnab's mind by reading this book, but it was interesting rather than discomfiting. And since I sincerely, genuinely liked the book, the latter fear was taken care of.
What I really, really liked about Yatrik was the accurate, gut-wrenchingly honest, vivid portrayal of contemporary Calcutta. All its characters, the primary as well as the secondary ones, tell the city's story in some way or the other. I don't mean that they are stereotypes -- far from it -- but it's just that they are very real and rooted. The situations are even more so, and it is obvious that Arnab has a deep understanding of the politics of the city and how it infiltrates into the smallest lives -- potentially impacting a young student's board exam results, or how it allows the poor to be cheated of their money through scams run by powerful people. There is a lot of resonance of recent events in West Bengal's history, the Sarada Chit Fund Scam for instance, which add an extra edge to the story.
At the same time, the book makes obvious the glaring differences between the Calcutta of glitzy malls and that of crumbling old houses and people bathing on the streets. A bit of a digression: on a very recent visit to Calcutta, I often walked down to a spanking new mall that has come up in my in laws' very old, somewhat seedy Calcutta neighbourhood (it is in the heart of the city and the land belonged to the mall owners). On the street just behind this mall, people still urinate and bathe openly, many of the houses are barely standing, and the roads are filthy. As soon as you step through the doors of the mall, though, you walk into the world of Gucci, Mango, Armani, Guess... yes, not even high-street Indian brands that most of us shop from, but the real lux international brands. As I observed one day to my husband, it is like stepping through a portal into an alternate universe.
This experience features prominently in Arnab's book. Structured like a story within a story, it has at its core various moral tensions, and the ultimate human hypocrisy of judging others when we ourselves are so frail in our morality.
I wish this book is read more widely than it has, as it deserves to.
October 19, 2014
I've spent many hours being entertained by Arnab Ray's blog.
And so, when I'd read an initial excerpt of Yatrik which describes a Durga Puja celebration in detail, I groaned inwardly fearing he was treading the 'nostalgic NRI romanticises his past' territory that has spawned so many books I consider unreadable and awful.
However, the concept and the first couple of chapters piqued my curiosity.
While I'm not extremely clued in on Indian writing in English — row after row of shelves with book titles like IIM Kudi IIT Munda: A SMS Luv Story make me immediately want to burn the book store and kill myself — I think its safe to assume there are not too many books like Yatrik out there.
Anushtup, its protagonist, is a far more likeable version of George Orwell's Gordon Comstock, a man who takes a bitter joy in embracing a set of principles and life choices that are calculated to make him and those around him miserable. The book is structured via a series of postmortem flashbacks through which he gets a behind the scenes glimpse of what happened during critical moments in his life. It's by equal turns wistful, nostalgic, funny and righteously angry. It feels at times like the sort of book a more conceptually ambitious RK Narayan may have written — depending on how much you like RKN that's either a great or a terrible thing.
Considering this is completely different from his previous book The Mine (which I lost interest in at about the halfway mark), Arnab has the chance of being the rarest sort of writer — one who doesn't fall into the trap of spinning out the same narrative with minor variations in character and location, book after book.
But for the moment, if you'd like a read that's not as ponderous and self conscious as a lot of what passes off for literary fiction tends to be and at the same time, is many many light years ahead of being disposable 'timepass', Yatrik is a pretty good bet.
And so, when I'd read an initial excerpt of Yatrik which describes a Durga Puja celebration in detail, I groaned inwardly fearing he was treading the 'nostalgic NRI romanticises his past' territory that has spawned so many books I consider unreadable and awful.
However, the concept and the first couple of chapters piqued my curiosity.
While I'm not extremely clued in on Indian writing in English — row after row of shelves with book titles like IIM Kudi IIT Munda: A SMS Luv Story make me immediately want to burn the book store and kill myself — I think its safe to assume there are not too many books like Yatrik out there.
Anushtup, its protagonist, is a far more likeable version of George Orwell's Gordon Comstock, a man who takes a bitter joy in embracing a set of principles and life choices that are calculated to make him and those around him miserable. The book is structured via a series of postmortem flashbacks through which he gets a behind the scenes glimpse of what happened during critical moments in his life. It's by equal turns wistful, nostalgic, funny and righteously angry. It feels at times like the sort of book a more conceptually ambitious RK Narayan may have written — depending on how much you like RKN that's either a great or a terrible thing.
Considering this is completely different from his previous book The Mine (which I lost interest in at about the halfway mark), Arnab has the chance of being the rarest sort of writer — one who doesn't fall into the trap of spinning out the same narrative with minor variations in character and location, book after book.
But for the moment, if you'd like a read that's not as ponderous and self conscious as a lot of what passes off for literary fiction tends to be and at the same time, is many many light years ahead of being disposable 'timepass', Yatrik is a pretty good bet.
October 19, 2014
I was fortunate to meet Arnab during the Yatrik book launch in Pune. In that meet he mentioned that one of his motivations to pen Yatrik was to leave something for his daughter as a legacy.
I was constantly reminded of this exchange while reading Yatrik, as nuances of filial relationship are a constant leitmotif throughout this novel. Through Anushtup and his father, or Anustup and Atulya Da, or Poonam and her father or (SPOILERS) Anustup's own afterlife epiphany on realizing two lost fatherhoods directly and indirectly perpetrated by him.
Life and subsequent relations are set in hues of grey, and that there is some darkness in all of us was explored in Arnab's earlier work Mine as well. Anustup's martyr complex causes more harm than he envisaged, and personally I feel this is Arnab's clarion call against this uniquely bengali trait which is almost a badge of honour.
The politics forms the perfect background for Anustup's personal journey to unfold. Though no spring chicken, I'm too old and too "probashi" to have experienced much of CPIM's reign. But the chit fund scam touches a chord as someone very close was affected by it.
My only grouse is with the somewhat Bollywoody exchange with Poonam's father and Anustup. I would have loved an organic change in Anustup's views and perspectives through his relationship with Poonam until a point where he quits politics but does not commit totally "settling down" to starting a family.
Minor nitpicking aside, English literature by Indian authors needs more Yatriks. More power to the likes of Arnab.
I was constantly reminded of this exchange while reading Yatrik, as nuances of filial relationship are a constant leitmotif throughout this novel. Through Anushtup and his father, or Anustup and Atulya Da, or Poonam and her father or (SPOILERS) Anustup's own afterlife epiphany on realizing two lost fatherhoods directly and indirectly perpetrated by him.
Life and subsequent relations are set in hues of grey, and that there is some darkness in all of us was explored in Arnab's earlier work Mine as well. Anustup's martyr complex causes more harm than he envisaged, and personally I feel this is Arnab's clarion call against this uniquely bengali trait which is almost a badge of honour.
The politics forms the perfect background for Anustup's personal journey to unfold. Though no spring chicken, I'm too old and too "probashi" to have experienced much of CPIM's reign. But the chit fund scam touches a chord as someone very close was affected by it.
My only grouse is with the somewhat Bollywoody exchange with Poonam's father and Anustup. I would have loved an organic change in Anustup's views and perspectives through his relationship with Poonam until a point where he quits politics but does not commit totally "settling down" to starting a family.
Minor nitpicking aside, English literature by Indian authors needs more Yatriks. More power to the likes of Arnab.
October 30, 2014
Best” a thought provoking book. This book is something like watching your life as a movie, where you are given a choice to select three incidents of your life. Anushtup Chatterjee the protagonist of this novel selects two childhood events and one adult. Something like Anushtup is doing his own Post-mortem of his events or rather important incidents of his life.
The way of expressing this whole event is excellent i.e. life after death is totally outstanding and this is first time I have read something new in a novel where after death events has been perfectly portrayed by the author. Although I have read many real incident books on life after death but in this novel ‘yatrik’, author has very well intertwined the whole story perfectly.
Somewhere I thought unnecessary importance is given to politics by the author, and because of that it seams novel has been stretched little bit. In many ways this novel is a good satire for the Indian society, true reality of pressure and “how will society think about us if we behave differently from them” is very well described by the author. This is an every Indian story; many times you will find that you have gone through these types of incidents.
The pace of the book is fast and engaging from the very first page, character build-up and writing style is good, you will never get bored.
It’s a spoiler free review so not providing the plot of this novel. Grab this book, you will not regret. A must read for middle class Indian citizens.
The way of expressing this whole event is excellent i.e. life after death is totally outstanding and this is first time I have read something new in a novel where after death events has been perfectly portrayed by the author. Although I have read many real incident books on life after death but in this novel ‘yatrik’, author has very well intertwined the whole story perfectly.
Somewhere I thought unnecessary importance is given to politics by the author, and because of that it seams novel has been stretched little bit. In many ways this novel is a good satire for the Indian society, true reality of pressure and “how will society think about us if we behave differently from them” is very well described by the author. This is an every Indian story; many times you will find that you have gone through these types of incidents.
The pace of the book is fast and engaging from the very first page, character build-up and writing style is good, you will never get bored.
It’s a spoiler free review so not providing the plot of this novel. Grab this book, you will not regret. A must read for middle class Indian citizens.
November 17, 2014
I started reading this book mostly as a breather between intensely heavy Political Commentary I had been reading lately, but it gave me so much more to think. Personally, I have always felt that it is easy to weave complex narratives, to complicate the plot, involve several characters to create a powerful story, but what touches you most deeply is when a simple narration leaves you with a powerful message. It is for this reason that O' Henry's stories have always stayed with me. And I know this one will too.
The style of writing is so casual & yet so engrossing that you could almost feel the characters before you. The story & its message is so simple, relatable and yet so powerful. The seemingly mundane life of Anushtup Chatterjee is so captivating & just when you think you could predict whats going to happen next, the author surprises you.
But above all, what this book gave me was a perspective. The perspective that our reality, is never the ultimate one, it just could never be. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by feelings, to think that the world has wronged you or that you know everything there is to know about a person and therefore your judgement of people in your lives is correct. But do you? How would your entire life, your decisions change if you knew the complete truth? What did you miss when you weren't looking? Perhaps truth shall set you free.
The style of writing is so casual & yet so engrossing that you could almost feel the characters before you. The story & its message is so simple, relatable and yet so powerful. The seemingly mundane life of Anushtup Chatterjee is so captivating & just when you think you could predict whats going to happen next, the author surprises you.
But above all, what this book gave me was a perspective. The perspective that our reality, is never the ultimate one, it just could never be. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by feelings, to think that the world has wronged you or that you know everything there is to know about a person and therefore your judgement of people in your lives is correct. But do you? How would your entire life, your decisions change if you knew the complete truth? What did you miss when you weren't looking? Perhaps truth shall set you free.
January 15, 2015
I started on this book during a plane ride, and was somewhat unhappy that the plane was on time - since that meant I had to get away from the book for a while.
You could probably divide the book into three logical parts, and it kept getting better as you moved from one part to the next. Even if you account for the limitation of needing to set up the story, the first part of the book wasn't really as taut as I would have liked. You would need to stick with the book and not give up (which I think most will do given the credentials of Arnab), and you shall be duly rewarded.
Though it's fiction, the book makes you think and reflect at some points (especially towards the end), and you could learn a thing or two about yourself depending on how deeply you end up introspecting. It is difficult to stay spoiler free while trying to explain what the author did well - so I will not try. But this was well worth my time and money.
I would have given 3.5 stars if Goodreads allowed me to - I'm docking points for a faltering beginning because I feel that could push away most readers.
You could probably divide the book into three logical parts, and it kept getting better as you moved from one part to the next. Even if you account for the limitation of needing to set up the story, the first part of the book wasn't really as taut as I would have liked. You would need to stick with the book and not give up (which I think most will do given the credentials of Arnab), and you shall be duly rewarded.
Though it's fiction, the book makes you think and reflect at some points (especially towards the end), and you could learn a thing or two about yourself depending on how deeply you end up introspecting. It is difficult to stay spoiler free while trying to explain what the author did well - so I will not try. But this was well worth my time and money.
I would have given 3.5 stars if Goodreads allowed me to - I'm docking points for a faltering beginning because I feel that could push away most readers.
December 3, 2014
The book begins promisingly, with the revelation that Anushtup Chatterjee, 32, male has died and woken up by a common-faced old man on the other side of death. Their conversation follows, with Anushtup obviously not believing that he's dead. Arnab has crafted these initial chapters with seamless ease. Anushtup's satire is much like a drug-tripping man in his early thirties, dissatisfied with his life and even his death!
Yatrik is a philosophical fiction, introspective at its best. Not in a Paolo Coelho sort of way though. The reader is cruised through Anushtup's life from a third person perspective, not being judgmental before the events transpired scene by scene like a film. There are a few cliches and knick-knacks in the story, but they can be happily ignored, soaking the reader into a delightful sauce, Calcutta flavoured.
Read the full review here: http://www.writersmelon.com/2014/11/b...
Yatrik is a philosophical fiction, introspective at its best. Not in a Paolo Coelho sort of way though. The reader is cruised through Anushtup's life from a third person perspective, not being judgmental before the events transpired scene by scene like a film. There are a few cliches and knick-knacks in the story, but they can be happily ignored, soaking the reader into a delightful sauce, Calcutta flavoured.
Read the full review here: http://www.writersmelon.com/2014/11/b...
November 16, 2014
4.5 actually, for the nice wrap up at the end. The Mine was a fabulous book, perhaps the first in modern Indian Writing that truly lived up to its billing. Yatrik - for me at least - was going to be a 'hatke' book, because of the theme that the book is based on. It does follow some cliched formulas in the romantic parts but I don't think we can get a different kind of love story from the Indian writing scene so I tend to forgive such stuff in our books. The core material of the book is well thought out, the stories mesh together nicely and you can feel the main character's feelings and motivations quite clearly. This book makes you ponder about your own life if only for a bit. The people who you think are villains in your life might actually be Heroes or innocent bystanders and the heroes may be the ones to blame for your misfortune. Its a nice concept, one that is done justice by the book. Full marks for the innovative concept and story line.
October 6, 2014
Having read The Mine, I had high hopes from Yatrik, and I was not disappointed. The book paces itself rather well, starting with Anushtup Chatterjee being told he's dead and the revealing incidences that led him to make choices that caused him to be where he is.
Characters in Yatrik are not perfect; they're grey and you instantly identify with the misunderstood ones, the ones who compromise on ideals and the tough-on-luck Anushtup. Like The Mine, though, I wish certain characters were a little more sketched out so I could be better invested in their lives.
Ray's style of writing paints a vivid picture and you can easily lose yourself in the politically charged environment of old and new Kolkata. While the ending seems a bit rushed, Yatrik ties up all lose ends. Barely 300 pages, Yatrik could make for a great weekend read.
Characters in Yatrik are not perfect; they're grey and you instantly identify with the misunderstood ones, the ones who compromise on ideals and the tough-on-luck Anushtup. Like The Mine, though, I wish certain characters were a little more sketched out so I could be better invested in their lives.
Ray's style of writing paints a vivid picture and you can easily lose yourself in the politically charged environment of old and new Kolkata. While the ending seems a bit rushed, Yatrik ties up all lose ends. Barely 300 pages, Yatrik could make for a great weekend read.
November 27, 2014
I have been reading Greatbong for few years now and he never fails to disappoint in any of his blogs. The first book "May I hebb...." was a delight to read for the 90's kid that I am. I skipped "The Mine" coz I am not fan of horror and was waiting for him to release the next one. Yatrik is a pleasant read which makes the reader introspect his/her life before each chapter. The journey of the dead man from denial to acceptance while crossing the milestones of forgiveness makes you think deeply about incidences which changed your life.
I kept wondering could the writer possibly be this sorted? And if yes how easy life would seem to him. But that is for another day...
Last but not least, Greatbong seems to have underplayed the language skills he so lavishly flaunts in his blogs.
Arnab, please don's do a CB on us. ;-)
I kept wondering could the writer possibly be this sorted? And if yes how easy life would seem to him. But that is for another day...
Last but not least, Greatbong seems to have underplayed the language skills he so lavishly flaunts in his blogs.
Arnab, please don's do a CB on us. ;-)
September 18, 2016
When 'greatbong' writes a book you expect it to be funny but hard hitting just like his blogs. When I bought this book I knew this was a totally different genre he was attempting and he has surely come up trumps.
Written in a simple and fluid fashion without trying to be too 'intellectual' about it is what Arnab does fabulously. Though the plot does get predictable at times he has ensured some twists along the way to keep the interest going.
The most powerful part of the book though is the climax.. It was just right as he has not rambled on but made a point as simply as he could. Again somehow the end, though predictable, the treatment of the situation is what gets this book it's stars.
A good read, buy this book as the last few pages of the book can be read and re-read again and again in life.
Written in a simple and fluid fashion without trying to be too 'intellectual' about it is what Arnab does fabulously. Though the plot does get predictable at times he has ensured some twists along the way to keep the interest going.
The most powerful part of the book though is the climax.. It was just right as he has not rambled on but made a point as simply as he could. Again somehow the end, though predictable, the treatment of the situation is what gets this book it's stars.
A good read, buy this book as the last few pages of the book can be read and re-read again and again in life.
October 4, 2014
Yatrik is a brilliant mix of high philosophy and a fast-paced narrative.
Based on the premise that our life happens when we are not there, the book is the story of a dead man and his going back to three key events of his life. The book starts off in 1980s Calcutta and traces three decades of the protagonist's life - giving a ringside view of the city's social, political and economic decline by using fictionalised accounts of real-life incidents.
Like in his previous novel (The Mine), Arnab Ray does not pull punches and puts us face to face with some situations that we would like to avoid. He has an ear for dialogues and the pacing of this novel is just perfect to finish in one or two breathless bursts.
Based on the premise that our life happens when we are not there, the book is the story of a dead man and his going back to three key events of his life. The book starts off in 1980s Calcutta and traces three decades of the protagonist's life - giving a ringside view of the city's social, political and economic decline by using fictionalised accounts of real-life incidents.
Like in his previous novel (The Mine), Arnab Ray does not pull punches and puts us face to face with some situations that we would like to avoid. He has an ear for dialogues and the pacing of this novel is just perfect to finish in one or two breathless bursts.
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