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Vertigo
Penguin India Vertigo
- GenresFiction
Paperback
First published March 30, 2005
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February 21, 2021
Vertigo - ashok banker
ಇದೊಂದು ಗ್ರಹಿಕೆ ಅಷ್ಟೇ. ಮುಂದುವರೆದ ದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷ ಹಿಂದೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವರಿಸಿದ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶ ಇತರ ಹಿಂದುಳಿದ ದೇಶಗಳ ವರ್ತಮಾನದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ.
1993ರಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದ ಈ 'ಬಾಂಬೆ' ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ನನ್ನ ಎಷ್ಟು ಸೆಳೆಯಿತು ಎಂದರೆ ಅದರ ಸಿನಿಮ್ಯಾಟಿಕ್ ಅಪ್ರೋಚ್ ಹೊರತಾಗಿಯೂ ನನಗಿಷ್ಟವಾಯಿತು.
ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷ್ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಓದು ಸಮಯ ಬೇಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೇಳಿ ಕೇಳಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಮೀಡಿಯಮ್ಮು. ಆದರೆ ಈಗ ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಕೂತವ ಹೀಗೆ ಬಿಡದೆ ಓದಿದ್ದು ಎಷ್ಟೋ ದಿನಗಳ ನಂತರ.
ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮದುಮಗಳು, ಮರಳಿ ಮಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ತರಹದ ಆನೆ ಗಾತ್ರದ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು ಹೀಗೆ ಓದಿಸಿಕೊಂಡದ್ದು ಬಾಲ್ಯದ ನೆನಪು. ಆದರೆ ಈಗ ಕಾಲ ಬದಲಾಗಿದೆ.ಗಳಿಗೆಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ತೆರೆದು ನೋಡುವ ಹುಚ್ಚು, ಯಾವುದಾದರೂ ವೀಡಿಯೋ ನೋಡುವ ಹುಚ್ಚಿನ ನಡುವೆಯೂ ಇದು ಕಟ್ಟಿಹಾಕಿ ಕೂರಿಸಿದ ಓದಿನ ಅನುಭವ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿತು.
ಕತೆಯ ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟ ಎಂಬತ್ತರ ದಶಕದ್ದು.
ಜಯೇಶ್ ಮೆಹ್ತಾ.. ಅವನಿಗೆ ಬೆಳೆಯಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಕನಸಿದೆ. ಅವನಿಗೆ ಸಿಗಬೇಕಾದ ಪ್ರಮೋಷನ್ ಆದ ಹುದ್ದೆಗೆ ಹೊಸದಾಗಿ ಬೇರೆ ನೇಮಕಾತಿ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಅವನ ಅಮ್ಮನ ವಿಫಲ ಮದುವೆ ಅವಳ ಕುಡಿತದ ಚಟಕ್ಕೆ ಈಡುಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಅವನಪ್ಪನಿಗೆ ಇವನ ಒಬ್ಬ ಮಗ ಅಷ್ಟೇ.ದೂರದ ಊರಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಇವನಿಗೆ ತನ್ನ ಗರ್ಲ್ ಫ್ರೆಂಡ್ ಜೊತೆ ಬದುಕು ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಆಸೆ ಇದೆ. ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆಟಲ್ ಆಗುವ ಆಸೆ. ಇದರ ನಡುವೆ ಇವನಿಗೆ ಕೆರಿಯರ್ ಬೆಳೆಯಲು ಆಫೀಸಲ್ಲಿ ಗುದ್ದಾಡಬೇಕಾದ ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯತೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೇ ಕೆಲಸ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವ ಅವನು ತಾನೂ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಾ ದೇಶದ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾ ,ಬದುಕಲ್ಲಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಬರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಆದರೆ ಅವನ ಒಳಗಿನ ಖಾಲಿತನ?
ದಿನಬೆಳಗಾದರೆ ಮ್ಯಾನೇಜರ್ ಜೊತೆ ಏಗುತ್ತಾ, ಶನಿವಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಾ, ಸೋಮವಾರ ಬಂದರೆ ಶಪಿಸುವ ,ಬದುಕಲ್ಲಿ ಮೇಲೆರುವ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಕಥೆ ಇದು.
ಆದರೆ ಇದು ಸಿನಿಮಾ ತರಹ ಓಡುತ್ತದೆ.
ಇಷ್ಟವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಎನಿಸಬಹುದಾದ ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮನುಷ್ಯನ ಸಂತೆಯೊಳಗಿದ್ದು ಒಂಟಿ ಎಂಬ ಭಾವನೆಯ ದಟ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಿದ್ದರಿಂದಲೇ ಇದು ನನಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾಯಿತು.
ಇದೊಂದು ಗ್ರಹಿಕೆ ಅಷ್ಟೇ. ಮುಂದುವರೆದ ದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷ ಹಿಂದೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವರಿಸಿದ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶ ಇತರ ಹಿಂದುಳಿದ ದೇಶಗಳ ವರ್ತಮಾನದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ.
1993ರಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದ ಈ 'ಬಾಂಬೆ' ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ನನ್ನ ಎಷ್ಟು ಸೆಳೆಯಿತು ಎಂದರೆ ಅದರ ಸಿನಿಮ್ಯಾಟಿಕ್ ಅಪ್ರೋಚ್ ಹೊರತಾಗಿಯೂ ನನಗಿಷ್ಟವಾಯಿತು.
ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷ್ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಓದು ಸಮಯ ಬೇಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೇಳಿ ಕೇಳಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಮೀಡಿಯಮ್ಮು. ಆದರೆ ಈಗ ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಮೂರು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಕೂತವ ಹೀಗೆ ಬಿಡದೆ ಓದಿದ್ದು ಎಷ್ಟೋ ದಿನಗಳ ನಂತರ.
ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮದುಮಗಳು, ಮರಳಿ ಮಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ತರಹದ ಆನೆ ಗಾತ್ರದ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳು ಹೀಗೆ ಓದಿಸಿಕೊಂಡದ್ದು ಬಾಲ್ಯದ ನೆನಪು. ಆದರೆ ಈಗ ಕಾಲ ಬದಲಾಗಿದೆ.ಗಳಿಗೆಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಮೊಬೈಲ್ ತೆರೆದು ನೋಡುವ ಹುಚ್ಚು, ಯಾವುದಾದರೂ ವೀಡಿಯೋ ನೋಡುವ ಹುಚ್ಚಿನ ನಡುವೆಯೂ ಇದು ಕಟ್ಟಿಹಾಕಿ ಕೂರಿಸಿದ ಓದಿನ ಅನುಭವ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿತು.
ಕತೆಯ ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟ ಎಂಬತ್ತರ ದಶಕದ್ದು.
ಜಯೇಶ್ ಮೆಹ್ತಾ.. ಅವನಿಗೆ ಬೆಳೆಯಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಕನಸಿದೆ. ಅವನಿಗೆ ಸಿಗಬೇಕಾದ ಪ್ರಮೋಷನ್ ಆದ ಹುದ್ದೆಗೆ ಹೊಸದಾಗಿ ಬೇರೆ ನೇಮಕಾತಿ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಅವನ ಅಮ್ಮನ ವಿಫಲ ಮದುವೆ ಅವಳ ಕುಡಿತದ ಚಟಕ್ಕೆ ಈಡುಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಅವನಪ್ಪನಿಗೆ ಇವನ ಒಬ್ಬ ಮಗ ಅಷ್ಟೇ.ದೂರದ ಊರಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಇವನಿಗೆ ತನ್ನ ಗರ್ಲ್ ಫ್ರೆಂಡ್ ಜೊತೆ ಬದುಕು ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಆಸೆ ಇದೆ. ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆಟಲ್ ಆಗುವ ಆಸೆ. ಇದರ ನಡುವೆ ಇವನಿಗೆ ಕೆರಿಯರ್ ಬೆಳೆಯಲು ಆಫೀಸಲ್ಲಿ ಗುದ್ದಾಡಬೇಕಾದ ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯತೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೇ ಕೆಲಸ ಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವ ಅವನು ತಾನೂ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಾ ದೇಶದ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾ ,ಬದುಕಲ್ಲಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಬರುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಆದರೆ ಅವನ ಒಳಗಿನ ಖಾಲಿತನ?
ದಿನಬೆಳಗಾದರೆ ಮ್ಯಾನೇಜರ್ ಜೊತೆ ಏಗುತ್ತಾ, ಶನಿವಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಾ, ಸೋಮವಾರ ಬಂದರೆ ಶಪಿಸುವ ,ಬದುಕಲ್ಲಿ ಮೇಲೆರುವ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಕಥೆ ಇದು.
ಆದರೆ ಇದು ಸಿನಿಮಾ ತರಹ ಓಡುತ್ತದೆ.
ಇಷ್ಟವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಎನಿಸಬಹುದಾದ ಕಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮನುಷ್ಯನ ಸಂತೆಯೊಳಗಿದ್ದು ಒಂಟಿ ಎಂಬ ಭಾವನೆಯ ದಟ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಿದ್ದರಿಂದಲೇ ಇದು ನನಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾಯಿತು.
June 9, 2015
This is my First book of Ashok Banker, and after reading it I am more than sure than it will not be the last. After finishing the book, I read his life history on Wikipedia, and it is even more interesting than the book, which seems like biographical.so with this book, I recommend the wiki page of Ashok Banker, for inspiration.
Vertigo-It is the sensation of spinning or swaying while the body is stationary with respect to the earth or surroundings. (Source Wikipedia)
True to its title, it’s a book which gives you spinning and goose bumps not because something unexpected or miraculous happens but it’s the simple stark hard reality which hits you face down. You know it’s real, wish you can change it, but can’t. You know life is like that only. This is the cost we happily paid in illusion of a happy life with expectations, achievements and success, desires.
Vertigo is the story of a twenty something Jayesh Mehta (Jay) who lives with his alcoholic and ailing mother. his father left his mother ,whom he sometimes meet outside.He has a demanding girlfriend, Tuli and very compassionate and understanding colleague Meera. He has to maintain a work life balance more so, because of his obligations to all which he loves, can’t get apart.
What I liked the most about this book is the racy narrative and real to life characters.
Each character is well defined and is grey to some extent, bound by their selfish interests, pulling each other to satisfy their desires.
The book describes Bombay (Mumbai) of 1982 so vividly, so lively with detailed description that one feels involved with the very character and city. As Bombay is main character in the novel. The author has full command on the description, an eye for the detailed, minute keen observational skills.
The characters are very real, except that her mother’s character seems a bit over the top, the description of the filth and dirtiness of the room makes it more than a dark story. It makes one uneasy, may be life is like that only in maximum city. Nevertheless grab this book if you find it anywhere.
Must read…4.5 out of 5.
October 12, 2020
I want to give 4 Stars , but the 1984 Bombay setting to so odd , out of place and outright ridiculous at times.
This review contains too parts
1. Core
2 .setting
CORE
Starting the good part first , the core , the esseens , the actual story is good ,at bit bull at times but it a top level good story, the narration is oddly satisfying, like it so raw at times so gross and details out of line, but barely manageable to be good , not crossing the fence.
Setting
The setting that's the retro Bombay, is utter rubbish, I feel like an alternate timeline with fusion of 80's fusing with 90's , the whole of Bombay is Americanised that the actual Bombay lost its character of time.
And some foolish immersions like , using Mac SE2 is 1984 , watching Dead Poll by Clint Eastwood is 1983, rubbish, utter rubbish
Verdict.
All in all this is a good book , but the story and "VIVID" discriptions need a better setting.
Adiós.
This review contains too parts
1. Core
2 .setting
CORE
Starting the good part first , the core , the esseens , the actual story is good ,at bit bull at times but it a top level good story, the narration is oddly satisfying, like it so raw at times so gross and details out of line, but barely manageable to be good , not crossing the fence.
Setting
The setting that's the retro Bombay, is utter rubbish, I feel like an alternate timeline with fusion of 80's fusing with 90's , the whole of Bombay is Americanised that the actual Bombay lost its character of time.
And some foolish immersions like , using Mac SE2 is 1984 , watching Dead Poll by Clint Eastwood is 1983, rubbish, utter rubbish
Verdict.
All in all this is a good book , but the story and "VIVID" discriptions need a better setting.
Adiós.
June 3, 2020
Very few books hit you in the solar plexus and leave you gasping. So much so that after 27 years, I still consider it to be one of the best books I’ve read. And, I’ve read hundreds and thousands! It’s Banker’s first book, his mother’s bio, and semi auto bio. Brutally honest and raw, the book twists a knife into the reader and keeps twisting. Graphic?! Wait until you read the book. Let me warn you, going will be tough. You need a tough stomach. And, lots of sun light in between. So, dark is the tale. I still marvel at human resilience. A child having to deal with all of that... And, how despite everything Banker turned out to be a normal person, and a terrific novelist. Read it.
(I bought/ read the book in 1993. I write the year of purchase in the book, the exact dates above are guesstimates as the app doesn’t allow to only write the year!)
(I bought/ read the book in 1993. I write the year of purchase in the book, the exact dates above are guesstimates as the app doesn’t allow to only write the year!)
October 28, 2010
With no punches pulled, Vertigo is one of the grittiest tales of survival, ambition,and sexual frustration in modern Bombay (Mumbai).
Two emotions that are explored very effectively in this book are lust and anger. The author goes into great detail to explain the extent of the character's sexual desire, and his rage at not getting any. Unforgiving Bombay with all its dirt and squalor is described in uncomfortable detail (the author describes one location as smelling of "garlic farts"), and the 'life goes on' ethos of India's largest metropolis is tough to digest.
Caveat: The emotions in this book are very real, and permeate through the pages effortlessly. For the hours you are absorbed in this book, you are the main character, Jay. And that's a lot to handle.
Two emotions that are explored very effectively in this book are lust and anger. The author goes into great detail to explain the extent of the character's sexual desire, and his rage at not getting any. Unforgiving Bombay with all its dirt and squalor is described in uncomfortable detail (the author describes one location as smelling of "garlic farts"), and the 'life goes on' ethos of India's largest metropolis is tough to digest.
Caveat: The emotions in this book are very real, and permeate through the pages effortlessly. For the hours you are absorbed in this book, you are the main character, Jay. And that's a lot to handle.
Read
March 14, 2011It has such immense power....I was in a depression mode all along the reading time...Unfortunately work took me a bit longer to complete this one...probably a week or so...But the week was all about the characters. My girlfriend threw the copy away when she learnt tht it was the reason behind me being so depressed. :P no body's mistake.
December 5, 2014
For some strange reasons, I never explored any of Ashok Banker's book before, though he was a pretty well known figure in fictional writing. Vertigo depicts unusual characters bonded by some complicated relationships. And the protagonist comes off age with the love and support from unexpected quarter ..strongly reco this amazing piece of fiction..
September 23, 2007
love it.. every line...the tragedy the circumstances and last but not the least the emotions..
October 13, 2009
Became a huge Ashok Banker fan after reading this one.
March 9, 2013
Must read .. Pity that the author hasn't been able to recapture his touch in any of his works since.
June 3, 2021
A brilliant character study.
Read
July 23, 2022Dnf
June 28, 2019
Sharp Epic Erotic Unputdownable!!!
A strikingly poignant tale of survival of of Bombay Boy who's stuck between the cracks of the social order. It tells the story of 20-something Jay, son of a wealthy Gujarati businessman and a Goan-Christian single mother. Barely out of school he is burdened with the responsibility for his ailing alcoholic mother. Rising through the ranks of his corporate job, he dwells in the misery of an absent father, mentally unstable mother, a rocky love life, trouble at work, his aspirations and loneliness. His sharp sense of survival takes him to the depths of human misery.
The writer, writes with acute self-awareness and honest perception of the cruelties of human existence. He brings out complex emotions in easy prose. This is definitely not my last Ashok Banker book.
A strikingly poignant tale of survival of of Bombay Boy who's stuck between the cracks of the social order. It tells the story of 20-something Jay, son of a wealthy Gujarati businessman and a Goan-Christian single mother. Barely out of school he is burdened with the responsibility for his ailing alcoholic mother. Rising through the ranks of his corporate job, he dwells in the misery of an absent father, mentally unstable mother, a rocky love life, trouble at work, his aspirations and loneliness. His sharp sense of survival takes him to the depths of human misery.
The writer, writes with acute self-awareness and honest perception of the cruelties of human existence. He brings out complex emotions in easy prose. This is definitely not my last Ashok Banker book.
March 16, 2013
Nice book
February 1, 2016
1984 Bombay!
Business, family, love, lust and life mixed with the terrible combination of co-incidence in the background of Bombay.
Business, family, love, lust and life mixed with the terrible combination of co-incidence in the background of Bombay.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews