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A Secret History of Compassion
The art of lying reaches the zenith of its glory as Lord Spider, famous author of popular fiction, J.L. Pillai, eminent executioner, aspiring writer, shape-shifter and meditative voyeur, and Rosi, Spider’s wife and freelancing philosopher, get together to write an essay on Compassion for the Communist Party.
God herself is here. So is Stalin (whose real identity is now revealed). And Satan (whose true nature is finally discovered). As also a Gandhi doppelganger. And making a guest appearance in this pre-truth tale about a post-truth literary partnership is Jesus in his 37th incarnation. Other personalities include Brother Dog, the cynic of the household, Tarzan, a well-known stud bull, and Pretty Man, a snake-father.
Flying and shape-changing flourish in this wordy world. There's virginity in the air. If there's madness, there's no evidence of it. And far away waits the Valley of Lost Songs.
By one of India’s foremost writers, widely known for his wicked turn of phrase and unfailing irreverence for the Establishment, this is a novel in brilliant, irresistible freefall.
God herself is here. So is Stalin (whose real identity is now revealed). And Satan (whose true nature is finally discovered). As also a Gandhi doppelganger. And making a guest appearance in this pre-truth tale about a post-truth literary partnership is Jesus in his 37th incarnation. Other personalities include Brother Dog, the cynic of the household, Tarzan, a well-known stud bull, and Pretty Man, a snake-father.
Flying and shape-changing flourish in this wordy world. There's virginity in the air. If there's madness, there's no evidence of it. And far away waits the Valley of Lost Songs.
By one of India’s foremost writers, widely known for his wicked turn of phrase and unfailing irreverence for the Establishment, this is a novel in brilliant, irresistible freefall.
- GenresFiction
534 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2019
About the author
Paul Zacharia
56 books36 followerssee also സക്കറിയ
Paul Zacharia, popular by his pen name Zacharia, is a renowned Malayalam author. A journalist by profession, he has written some of the most popular short stories in Malayalam. Many of them derives their theme from the unknown premises of early christian life in Kottayam and their plights.
His works are noted for their path-breaking and unconventional style and theme, and marked by a deep sense of humor, experiments in craft and narrative techniques, and an unsentimental prose.
Paul Zacharia is also noted for his involvements and strong political stands on social issues. His article against the demigod Mata Amrithanandamayi has invited the wrath of right-wing fundamentalist Hindutwa organisations. Zacharia is considered to be one of the most critically appraised authors of short fiction in Malyalam now. His novella- Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum has been adapted into a film titled Vidheyan by the renowned director, Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
He is a recipient of both Kerala and National Sahitya Academy Awards.
Paul Zacharia, popular by his pen name Zacharia, is a renowned Malayalam author. A journalist by profession, he has written some of the most popular short stories in Malayalam. Many of them derives their theme from the unknown premises of early christian life in Kottayam and their plights.
His works are noted for their path-breaking and unconventional style and theme, and marked by a deep sense of humor, experiments in craft and narrative techniques, and an unsentimental prose.
Paul Zacharia is also noted for his involvements and strong political stands on social issues. His article against the demigod Mata Amrithanandamayi has invited the wrath of right-wing fundamentalist Hindutwa organisations. Zacharia is considered to be one of the most critically appraised authors of short fiction in Malyalam now. His novella- Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum has been adapted into a film titled Vidheyan by the renowned director, Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
He is a recipient of both Kerala and National Sahitya Academy Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 29, 2019
This goes into the genre of absurdist fiction where anything and everything under the sun can and does happen. Lord Spider, a famous, best-selling novelist, is asked to write an essay on compassion, by the Communist Party. There's also a shape-shifting hangman called Jesus Lambodara Pillai who is a fan of Spider’s work. The two strike up a collaboration to write the essay which is to be included in a ‘souvenir for the Communist Party to raise funds for a home for destitute comrades’.
At one level, it is also about the nature of writers and their writing: do writers always become voyeurs, peeking into the life and experiences of people around them to become material for writing? The conversations that Lord Spider has with Pillai are part crazy, part intense, part stimulating but always comes back to the idea of what compassion is as per the absurdity standard that they build up. A third protagonist who feature in the conversation is Rosi, the wife of Lord Spider who is a philosopher. But really, this is hardly about character arcs but more to do with satire and sarcasm that gives the zing to the commentary of the times we live in today.
The situations and characters that pop up are mind boggling and there is no guarantee that it would be something up every reader’s alley. But if you are prepared to lose yourself in the situations that an author creates for you, this can be a roller coaster ride as you laugh out loud at the subtle put downs of certain practices and institutions.
At one level, it is also about the nature of writers and their writing: do writers always become voyeurs, peeking into the life and experiences of people around them to become material for writing? The conversations that Lord Spider has with Pillai are part crazy, part intense, part stimulating but always comes back to the idea of what compassion is as per the absurdity standard that they build up. A third protagonist who feature in the conversation is Rosi, the wife of Lord Spider who is a philosopher. But really, this is hardly about character arcs but more to do with satire and sarcasm that gives the zing to the commentary of the times we live in today.
The situations and characters that pop up are mind boggling and there is no guarantee that it would be something up every reader’s alley. But if you are prepared to lose yourself in the situations that an author creates for you, this can be a roller coaster ride as you laugh out loud at the subtle put downs of certain practices and institutions.
November 21, 2019
Have you ever been in a situation where you are completely aware of your surroundings but you're confused as hell?
This book gave the same feeling. The prose was ridiculously well written but half of the time I don't know what's happening.
This book belongs to a genre of metafiction where anything can happen and the author has utilised it well in his story.
I love Lord Spider for his quirkiness. All the characters are well sketched and a delight to read. I particularly enjoyed the discussions between Lord Spider and JL Pillai. Though I enjoyed reading this book, I still couldn't grasp the whole idea of this book. Many times I found myself stop reading and I took frequent breaks in between. The prose was brilliant but tiresome to read as well.
Overall for those who like to read metafiction, this book will be a treat. But for me, I have to do a re-read to understand that the story itself. So I do think that however good it may be, this is not the book I would like to experiment or read.
This book gave the same feeling. The prose was ridiculously well written but half of the time I don't know what's happening.
This book belongs to a genre of metafiction where anything can happen and the author has utilised it well in his story.
I love Lord Spider for his quirkiness. All the characters are well sketched and a delight to read. I particularly enjoyed the discussions between Lord Spider and JL Pillai. Though I enjoyed reading this book, I still couldn't grasp the whole idea of this book. Many times I found myself stop reading and I took frequent breaks in between. The prose was brilliant but tiresome to read as well.
Overall for those who like to read metafiction, this book will be a treat. But for me, I have to do a re-read to understand that the story itself. So I do think that however good it may be, this is not the book I would like to experiment or read.
October 12, 2020
Zachariah's debut novel in English kind of looks like an absurdist fiction. Donning a language of wit and satire, this totally fictitious work presents a critique of religion, politics, death , life and almost everything. However charming his language and phrases are, I felt it to be a perplexing read . Though began as an easy read, the book soon takes a tough path with lots of themes, plots and cultural references running what seemed to me erratic. Overall it's an interesting read which digress from the canonical form , plot structure and language of Indian English fiction.
June 11, 2019
Fabulously absurd!
The first time I came across this book was while browsing the book shelves at the Airport enroute to Kerala. Which is a curious coincidence if one would consider it as one - that the author hails from Kerala and is well known for his contributions to Malayalam literature. This incidentally is his debut in English.
Coming back to the book, it revolves around the eccentric and perhaps self absorbed Lord Spider (a well established writer),his wife Rosi who is a philosopher and a Hangman named Pillai who possesses strange abilities and seems to almost worship Spider and their attempt to frame an essay on Compassion for the Communist Party.
Meandering across narratives as they frame the essay, the trio take you on a roller coaster ride meeting strange characters, stranger and often irreverent conversations.
The author carries the book through with all its absurdity and eccentricity with amazing writing.
The first time I came across this book was while browsing the book shelves at the Airport enroute to Kerala. Which is a curious coincidence if one would consider it as one - that the author hails from Kerala and is well known for his contributions to Malayalam literature. This incidentally is his debut in English.
Coming back to the book, it revolves around the eccentric and perhaps self absorbed Lord Spider (a well established writer),his wife Rosi who is a philosopher and a Hangman named Pillai who possesses strange abilities and seems to almost worship Spider and their attempt to frame an essay on Compassion for the Communist Party.
Meandering across narratives as they frame the essay, the trio take you on a roller coaster ride meeting strange characters, stranger and often irreverent conversations.
The author carries the book through with all its absurdity and eccentricity with amazing writing.
February 3, 2020
BIZZARE !!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews