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The Oracle Of Karuthupuzha: A Novel
With two cows and four mouths to feed, Nareshan can barely make ends meet selling milk to the inhabitants of Karuthupuzha. That is, until his daughter, Sarasu, is possessed by the demon-god, Chaathan. Now, the faithful from all over Karuthupuzha and beyond visit Nareshan with money and gifts to receive Chaathan’s blessings. The sceptics of the town, meanwhile, believe that Nareshan is fooling everyone to make money. However, when one of the leading sceptics in town, Dasappan, member of the Communist party, rationalist and atheist, loses his mind after loudly proclaiming that Chaathan is a farce, the people’s belief in a divine power residing in Sarasu is reinforced. With the number of faithful only growing as each day passes, Nareshan realizes that his daughter’s possession might be the best thing to have happened to him. When the rich widow Ponnamma comes to his house to seek help from Chaathan for her son, Nano, the fate of Nareshan and his family is set to change forever. In the Oracle of Karuthupuzha, Manu Bhattathiri revisits the town of Karuthupuzha that was immortalised in The Town That Laughed and Savithri's Special Room and Other Stories
320 pages, Hardcover
Published April 10, 2021
7 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Manu Bhattathiri
4 books14 followersManu Bhattathiri is a writer from Kerala, currently settled in Bangalore. He has worked as an advertising copywriter, a journalist and a college lecturer. At present he co-owns a small advertising agency.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews
May 5, 2021
Three reasons why I selected "The Oracle of Karuthupuzha" by Manu Bhattathiri
1. Attractive cover design.
2. Interesting plot description given in the blurb
3. Story based on the local culture of Kerala
The book presents a unique plot. The protagonist of our story is Sasaru, the girl portrayed on the cover picture, the girl in yellow with devious laughter. The story goes like this Sasaru's family was very poor, her father was a milkman, struggling to meet days end. Their life changed when Sasaru was possessed by a demon god. The personality that was possessing Sasaru was known as Chaathan in their locality. This incident brought the opportunist mindset of Nareshan (Sasaru's father) out. He wanted to take benefit of this opportunity by earning quick bucks by making goddess out of his daughter. The situation was not as simple. Things would turn out more than just opportunity. Read the book to know more.
The cover depicts the first possession of Sasaru, and just like the cover picture you will feel like you are watching the story on tv while reading the book.
This is my second read based on local Kerala village life, the first one was Cliffhanger, and just like that book, Karuthupuzha also gives a real-life picture of the local culture. The book is a journey rather than a destination. I loved the way things were described in the book. Though the book is just 300 pages long, you will feel that you have taken a long ride. The pace of the story is medium. Writing is intriguing even though a little bit slow at certain points. Choice of the word is simple, and easy English makes the book a smooth read. The book also delivers a social message. It wonderfully shows how people are ready to earn extra money in name of faith.
An enjoyable read, deserving 4.5 out of 5.
1. Attractive cover design.
2. Interesting plot description given in the blurb
3. Story based on the local culture of Kerala
The book presents a unique plot. The protagonist of our story is Sasaru, the girl portrayed on the cover picture, the girl in yellow with devious laughter. The story goes like this Sasaru's family was very poor, her father was a milkman, struggling to meet days end. Their life changed when Sasaru was possessed by a demon god. The personality that was possessing Sasaru was known as Chaathan in their locality. This incident brought the opportunist mindset of Nareshan (Sasaru's father) out. He wanted to take benefit of this opportunity by earning quick bucks by making goddess out of his daughter. The situation was not as simple. Things would turn out more than just opportunity. Read the book to know more.
The cover depicts the first possession of Sasaru, and just like the cover picture you will feel like you are watching the story on tv while reading the book.
This is my second read based on local Kerala village life, the first one was Cliffhanger, and just like that book, Karuthupuzha also gives a real-life picture of the local culture. The book is a journey rather than a destination. I loved the way things were described in the book. Though the book is just 300 pages long, you will feel that you have taken a long ride. The pace of the story is medium. Writing is intriguing even though a little bit slow at certain points. Choice of the word is simple, and easy English makes the book a smooth read. The book also delivers a social message. It wonderfully shows how people are ready to earn extra money in name of faith.
An enjoyable read, deserving 4.5 out of 5.
May 10, 2021
• r e v i e w •
The Oracle of Karuthupuzha is a quirky novel with eccentric characters. Set in a fictional village named Karuthupuzha, Manu Bhattathiri introduces us to this fascinating culture of Kerala where people worship Chaathan. In other words, a demon-god. In the acknowledgements, he goes on to mention how he was inspired to write this story based on a woman who is said to be possessed now and then. Her name and that of the central character's in the novel is the same. Sarasu.
Karuthupuzha is a sleepy little village until the milkman Nareshan's daughter Sarasu is possessed. Some may say that her father Nareshan, the milkman has now found a clever way of making money. Word spreads fast and Sarasu is no longer a normal girl but is treated as a Goddess but all that she wants is to go to college and become a teacher. The author uses satire in portraying human nature, the greediness that men nurture and how easy it is to lure them in through superstition. But this story is not of Sarasu's alone as a variety of characters make an appearance quite often. This novel is a mix of humour, irony, practicality and at times even peculiarity. Life in a village isn't so simple after all.
Rating : 4/5.
The Oracle of Karuthupuzha is a quirky novel with eccentric characters. Set in a fictional village named Karuthupuzha, Manu Bhattathiri introduces us to this fascinating culture of Kerala where people worship Chaathan. In other words, a demon-god. In the acknowledgements, he goes on to mention how he was inspired to write this story based on a woman who is said to be possessed now and then. Her name and that of the central character's in the novel is the same. Sarasu.
Karuthupuzha is a sleepy little village until the milkman Nareshan's daughter Sarasu is possessed. Some may say that her father Nareshan, the milkman has now found a clever way of making money. Word spreads fast and Sarasu is no longer a normal girl but is treated as a Goddess but all that she wants is to go to college and become a teacher. The author uses satire in portraying human nature, the greediness that men nurture and how easy it is to lure them in through superstition. But this story is not of Sarasu's alone as a variety of characters make an appearance quite often. This novel is a mix of humour, irony, practicality and at times even peculiarity. Life in a village isn't so simple after all.
Rating : 4/5.
July 12, 2021
The Oracle Of Karuthupuzha by Manu Bhattathiri is a book narrating the story set in the town of Karuthupuzha, a fictional town in Southern India.
Nareshan, a milkman is barely able to make ends meet. He's got two cows, three kids and a wife. His daughter, Sarasu, quite eager to learn and study gets possessed by the demon-god Chaathan one day. On the first possession, Nareshan observes the reaction of the villagers and hatches a plan to make money. He creates an opportunity out of his daughter's possession and the villagers belief in the demon-god. He begins Chaathan consultation services and fools people. He ends up acquiring quite a lot of money and then the word about the same spreads to Ponnamma. She comes to consult Chaathan for her son Nanu. This is where things take a turn. You can read the book to find more!
I'd like to begin with praising the cover of the book, it's absolutely stunning and reflects the main theme of the book in a perfect manner. The writing is simple and the book flows through at a moderate pace. The writing at times does become quite detailed. With a simple language and a unique yet very Indian theme, this title was a joy to read.
My recommendation of this book would be based upon the fact that it entertained me a lot, owing to the little details in the story and the flow. Yep, go for it if you like in depth novels!
Nareshan, a milkman is barely able to make ends meet. He's got two cows, three kids and a wife. His daughter, Sarasu, quite eager to learn and study gets possessed by the demon-god Chaathan one day. On the first possession, Nareshan observes the reaction of the villagers and hatches a plan to make money. He creates an opportunity out of his daughter's possession and the villagers belief in the demon-god. He begins Chaathan consultation services and fools people. He ends up acquiring quite a lot of money and then the word about the same spreads to Ponnamma. She comes to consult Chaathan for her son Nanu. This is where things take a turn. You can read the book to find more!
I'd like to begin with praising the cover of the book, it's absolutely stunning and reflects the main theme of the book in a perfect manner. The writing is simple and the book flows through at a moderate pace. The writing at times does become quite detailed. With a simple language and a unique yet very Indian theme, this title was a joy to read.
My recommendation of this book would be based upon the fact that it entertained me a lot, owing to the little details in the story and the flow. Yep, go for it if you like in depth novels!
April 30, 2021
In a fictional town Karuthupuzha , a young girl of milk man suddenly is possessed by a demon god. For the first time something like that happenes and from that incident Sarah's life started to change.
Common people of this country always have chosen to believe Deities or God over anything . Sarasu's news of possession creates a huge turmoil in the country. But another group of people doubted .
Years after first incident when she's possessed again, milk man doesn't waste a minute to gather the people and let them all show that - her daughter is special .
People from different corners of the town started to visit her but definitely not empty handed. And in exchange of that - some of them seek blessings and rest of them advices.
But what is Sarasu's speciality ? Her ability to write English that "flows like milk " is overlooked .
"The Oracles of Karuthupuzha " by Manu Bhattahiri tells a tale about a fictional town but shows the reality that questions the believe and how some people try to be benefited from others believe. Also Sarasu and Kalyani both represent the situation of women where they are financially not free.
Karuthupuzha reminds me of Malgudi town created by R.K. Narayana. The humour is there to make the book more enjoyable. In the middle I found it a bit dragged and that affects a readers mood .
Common people of this country always have chosen to believe Deities or God over anything . Sarasu's news of possession creates a huge turmoil in the country. But another group of people doubted .
Years after first incident when she's possessed again, milk man doesn't waste a minute to gather the people and let them all show that - her daughter is special .
People from different corners of the town started to visit her but definitely not empty handed. And in exchange of that - some of them seek blessings and rest of them advices.
But what is Sarasu's speciality ? Her ability to write English that "flows like milk " is overlooked .
"The Oracles of Karuthupuzha " by Manu Bhattahiri tells a tale about a fictional town but shows the reality that questions the believe and how some people try to be benefited from others believe. Also Sarasu and Kalyani both represent the situation of women where they are financially not free.
Karuthupuzha reminds me of Malgudi town created by R.K. Narayana. The humour is there to make the book more enjoyable. In the middle I found it a bit dragged and that affects a readers mood .
October 23, 2021
Karuthupuzha is a fictional town somewhere in South India – the location is immaterial. The town could have been anywhere across the globe – the story would have remained relevant anywhere.
Sarasu, the teenage daughter of Naresha, the local milkman, has a fit one day, when she is unable to get her way with her parents about her studies. The ambitious father sees in this fit the fulfilment of his own ambitions to rise up the class ladder. The daughter is possessed by Chathan, the demon God, and he Naresha, is the only one who can interpret the predictions of the god for the good people, speaking through the garbled sounds of the goddess, his daughter. She is the Oracle to help people.
Nanu, the son of the rich widow, Ponamma, is not quite right, as per the perceptions of his widowed mother and the town people – because his behaviour does not fit with what is expected of a growing up child, an adolescent, and a young adult. He remains immersed in his own dreams, wondering about the meaning of life, and seemingly in love with the naked centrespread of an American woman in an adult magazine.
The inevitable happens – the widow brings her son to the interpreter for Chathan consultations with Goddess Sarasu. The town is in ruptures for the scandalous rumour mongering opportunities that this presents – markets, toddy shop, wedding events – anyplace is fair game.
The book is a commentary on society across the globe – class, caste, fake god men, gullible and the non-gullible common people or even rich people, legends. The author is almost irreverent, yet funny and scathing at the same time, in talking about the practices in society and our gullibility to fall for them. There is a 4–5-page passage around page 200, when Nanu is talking to himself about what goes on in his mind, and his questions about what is life. There is a self effacing humour even in these deep queries. These are questions that most of us have asked in our journey of life at some point or the other.
You chuckle or smile or even laugh as you read, only to realise with a shock that the author may actually have been describing you, or someone that you know. And, you do not take offence – that is the beauty of this novel. It is a mirror where you look at yourself, but for once you like the mirror and your image.
This is a brilliantly funny novel.
Sarasu, the teenage daughter of Naresha, the local milkman, has a fit one day, when she is unable to get her way with her parents about her studies. The ambitious father sees in this fit the fulfilment of his own ambitions to rise up the class ladder. The daughter is possessed by Chathan, the demon God, and he Naresha, is the only one who can interpret the predictions of the god for the good people, speaking through the garbled sounds of the goddess, his daughter. She is the Oracle to help people.
Nanu, the son of the rich widow, Ponamma, is not quite right, as per the perceptions of his widowed mother and the town people – because his behaviour does not fit with what is expected of a growing up child, an adolescent, and a young adult. He remains immersed in his own dreams, wondering about the meaning of life, and seemingly in love with the naked centrespread of an American woman in an adult magazine.
The inevitable happens – the widow brings her son to the interpreter for Chathan consultations with Goddess Sarasu. The town is in ruptures for the scandalous rumour mongering opportunities that this presents – markets, toddy shop, wedding events – anyplace is fair game.
The book is a commentary on society across the globe – class, caste, fake god men, gullible and the non-gullible common people or even rich people, legends. The author is almost irreverent, yet funny and scathing at the same time, in talking about the practices in society and our gullibility to fall for them. There is a 4–5-page passage around page 200, when Nanu is talking to himself about what goes on in his mind, and his questions about what is life. There is a self effacing humour even in these deep queries. These are questions that most of us have asked in our journey of life at some point or the other.
You chuckle or smile or even laugh as you read, only to realise with a shock that the author may actually have been describing you, or someone that you know. And, you do not take offence – that is the beauty of this novel. It is a mirror where you look at yourself, but for once you like the mirror and your image.
This is a brilliantly funny novel.
June 4, 2021
A fun, poignant story set in the imaginary town of Karuthupuzha. It reminded me so much of RK Narayan's writing, so you all know how good this book is.
The protagonist of the book is a girl named Sarasu, she is very quiet, good and kind by nature. Her family includes her father Nareshan, her mother Kalyani and 3 younger brothers. With only two cows contributing to their income they are struggling to meet their ends. All this changes when Sarasu is possessed by the Demon God- Chaathan.
Sarasu's father Nareshan is the mastermind who turns this possession into a lucrative business. We get to read about the faith of people, their struggles, their everyday life, their greed and much more.
The descriptions in the book are very realistic and vivid, from town to the characters the author brings them to life with his narrations.
Special mention to the gorgeous cover, it depicts the first possession Sarasu had.
Definitely a must read!
The protagonist of the book is a girl named Sarasu, she is very quiet, good and kind by nature. Her family includes her father Nareshan, her mother Kalyani and 3 younger brothers. With only two cows contributing to their income they are struggling to meet their ends. All this changes when Sarasu is possessed by the Demon God- Chaathan.
Sarasu's father Nareshan is the mastermind who turns this possession into a lucrative business. We get to read about the faith of people, their struggles, their everyday life, their greed and much more.
The descriptions in the book are very realistic and vivid, from town to the characters the author brings them to life with his narrations.
Special mention to the gorgeous cover, it depicts the first possession Sarasu had.
Definitely a must read!
January 28, 2022
The way Manu's writings gives emphasis to quirkiness & so called humanness while adoring the fictional town Karuthupuzha along the pages is quite delectable. This one is even better than 'The Town that Laughed' with much better character depth and hilarious story telling.
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After a long, long time of reading pretty intense books, I laughed so heartily while reading this one. The mores of Karuthupuzha and its inhabitant's fervour for a little upset in boring day-to-day life and the way scandals grow eyes, ears, head, hair with every retelling, it all reminds me of my own home town. (I even had a fictional crush on Sarasu [blush], well, who doesn't likes such a confident character who managed to do her own routine inspite of being the heart of village scandal). 'Karuthupuzha' is surely a place I'd love to live in!
.
After a long, long time of reading pretty intense books, I laughed so heartily while reading this one. The mores of Karuthupuzha and its inhabitant's fervour for a little upset in boring day-to-day life and the way scandals grow eyes, ears, head, hair with every retelling, it all reminds me of my own home town. (I even had a fictional crush on Sarasu [blush], well, who doesn't likes such a confident character who managed to do her own routine inspite of being the heart of village scandal). 'Karuthupuzha' is surely a place I'd love to live in!
June 19, 2021
This book holds so much in it to be served to the reader. It's a assemblage of societal mirror wrapped up in humor and compassion.
Set In Kerala in a fabled village of Karuthupuzha, Nareshan ,a poor milkman struggles to meet ends selling milk from the two cows he owns, until one day his daughter, Sarasu is possessed by a Demon-God 'Chaathan'. Sarasu's possession is witnessed by some passerby's and neighbours. As the news spreads across Karuthupuzha, devotees of Chaathan began to visit her for blessings with gifts in form of money , fruits ,grains etc. Nareshan saw this as an opportunity to come out of poverty , and the Chaathan Business paces.
On the other hand , some rationalist and non-believers were sure that Nareshan is using his daughter and faking the Chaathan possession to make money.
Dassapan, a member of the Communist party , an atheist was one among the rationalist. At a toddy shop in presence of Nareshan, Dassapan loses his mind after making insulting jokes at Chaathan, which reinforced the belief among the people in the power residing in Sarasu.
Sarasu dreams to be an English teacher one day and wants to be as far away from Karuthupuzha as possible, but Nareshan thinks that the possession is the best thing that had happened to them and has opened all the possibilities of them to be rich. As the faithful grows day by day , people from cities too started coming for her blessings.
Ponamma , a rich widow from same village is a Chaathan devotee. Her Son Nanu is a Self engrossed, and complacent being. When Ponamma comes to Sarasu's house to seek help from Chaathan for her son, their destiny is about to take a turn.....
Set In Kerala in a fabled village of Karuthupuzha, Nareshan ,a poor milkman struggles to meet ends selling milk from the two cows he owns, until one day his daughter, Sarasu is possessed by a Demon-God 'Chaathan'. Sarasu's possession is witnessed by some passerby's and neighbours. As the news spreads across Karuthupuzha, devotees of Chaathan began to visit her for blessings with gifts in form of money , fruits ,grains etc. Nareshan saw this as an opportunity to come out of poverty , and the Chaathan Business paces.
On the other hand , some rationalist and non-believers were sure that Nareshan is using his daughter and faking the Chaathan possession to make money.
Dassapan, a member of the Communist party , an atheist was one among the rationalist. At a toddy shop in presence of Nareshan, Dassapan loses his mind after making insulting jokes at Chaathan, which reinforced the belief among the people in the power residing in Sarasu.
Sarasu dreams to be an English teacher one day and wants to be as far away from Karuthupuzha as possible, but Nareshan thinks that the possession is the best thing that had happened to them and has opened all the possibilities of them to be rich. As the faithful grows day by day , people from cities too started coming for her blessings.
Ponamma , a rich widow from same village is a Chaathan devotee. Her Son Nanu is a Self engrossed, and complacent being. When Ponamma comes to Sarasu's house to seek help from Chaathan for her son, their destiny is about to take a turn.....
July 5, 2021
The fictional realm named Karuthupuzha hosts a series of realistic characters with problems and disquiet that are an inevitable part of everyday life. Bringing together a gamut of eccentricities from a possessed women to a nail gulper, Manu Bhattathiri’s fictional town tries to satirises the society and it did not quite achieve the effect. The dry humour stumbled to make a right pitch. Although the books starts with an exciting kick, the drab soon follows it and suddenly I felt the story lose direction in the journey of character evolution. An periscopic take on common issues of an Indian society starting from caste hierarchy to divine belief, the book provides eccentric spin and humour on everything only it is mundane and already heard off.
Karuthupuzha is often compared with Malgudi, a brain child of RK Narayan and what I see is that Karuthupuzha missed the magic of the later. Malgudi on the other hand provides story and characters that blend to create the fictional town setting while in Karuthupuzha, the town soon disappeared as the conundrum of the characters refuse to match with the quirkiness of the setting. The problems were dealt with in a real world way rather than the Karuthupuzha way and it must have been done differently to make the story as exciting as it’s threshold.
The oracle and interpreter are two interesting concepts that form the keynote of the story and dry humour adds little colour yet everything fails to melt into one huge pot of curry and instead demands to be served as separate dish that can’t be mixed, mingled or blended.
Oh well, I had high hopes for this book and wish it was as exciting as the cover deemed it to be.
Karuthupuzha is often compared with Malgudi, a brain child of RK Narayan and what I see is that Karuthupuzha missed the magic of the later. Malgudi on the other hand provides story and characters that blend to create the fictional town setting while in Karuthupuzha, the town soon disappeared as the conundrum of the characters refuse to match with the quirkiness of the setting. The problems were dealt with in a real world way rather than the Karuthupuzha way and it must have been done differently to make the story as exciting as it’s threshold.
The oracle and interpreter are two interesting concepts that form the keynote of the story and dry humour adds little colour yet everything fails to melt into one huge pot of curry and instead demands to be served as separate dish that can’t be mixed, mingled or blended.
Oh well, I had high hopes for this book and wish it was as exciting as the cover deemed it to be.
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June 10, 2021A good book can be a window to a world that lies beyond our reach. Sometimes writers build a universe so richly detailed and imbued with personality that the place becomes a character in itself. For instance, in The God of Small Things, the fuming river and the dark trees that bend into it are no less a part of Ayemenem than Rahel or Paradise Pickles.
And then there are novels like Manu Bhattathiri’s The Oracle of Karuthupuzha whose world exists solely through its inhabitants. It is as though Karuthupuzha is a blank canvas — indispensable but inconspicuous in itself — brought to life by the milkman, the toddy-shop owner, the businesswoman, the industrious home-maker, and all their cohorts. In the course of three fictional works including the short story collection Savithri’s Special Room and Other Stories (2016), the much-acclaimed novel, The Town That Laughed (2018), and now The Oracle of Karuthupuzha, Bhattathiri has painstakingly built up a quaint and eccentric South Indian town called Karuthupuzha, which is so removed from the modern world that an overseas call demands a trip to the ISD booth. In this town, men still gather in tea-shops and toddy huts to exchange news and gossip; women squat outside their homes to dry pappadams in the sun; and the local provision store gives credit to ‘clean’ regulars.
Read full review here: https://www.thehindu.com/books/were-a...
And then there are novels like Manu Bhattathiri’s The Oracle of Karuthupuzha whose world exists solely through its inhabitants. It is as though Karuthupuzha is a blank canvas — indispensable but inconspicuous in itself — brought to life by the milkman, the toddy-shop owner, the businesswoman, the industrious home-maker, and all their cohorts. In the course of three fictional works including the short story collection Savithri’s Special Room and Other Stories (2016), the much-acclaimed novel, The Town That Laughed (2018), and now The Oracle of Karuthupuzha, Bhattathiri has painstakingly built up a quaint and eccentric South Indian town called Karuthupuzha, which is so removed from the modern world that an overseas call demands a trip to the ISD booth. In this town, men still gather in tea-shops and toddy huts to exchange news and gossip; women squat outside their homes to dry pappadams in the sun; and the local provision store gives credit to ‘clean’ regulars.
Read full review here: https://www.thehindu.com/books/were-a...
January 25, 2023
Manu Bhattathiri has undoubtedly mastered his specific small-town-India aesthetic. Critics and blurbs have already repeatedly compared his work with RK Narayan’s books set in the latter’s Malgudi. For a current audience though, Karuthupuzha, especially as in Bhattathiri’s latest novel, is probably a zestier place to visit.
Bhattathiri does after all have a cheekier pen. He calls out everything — from righteous religious leaders and elderly ladies who spread rumours for want of anything more engaging to do, to pontificating old men who are quick to change tack with their opinions and observations.
But quaint atmospherics, eccentric people, and vivid vignettes can only go so far. It isn’t until the book’s halfway mark that a direction towards a plot emerges...
Full review here: https://bit.ly/3l8ok3V
Bhattathiri does after all have a cheekier pen. He calls out everything — from righteous religious leaders and elderly ladies who spread rumours for want of anything more engaging to do, to pontificating old men who are quick to change tack with their opinions and observations.
But quaint atmospherics, eccentric people, and vivid vignettes can only go so far. It isn’t until the book’s halfway mark that a direction towards a plot emerges...
Full review here: https://bit.ly/3l8ok3V
December 11, 2023
A captivating exploration of human connections set against the lush backdrop of Karuthupuzha. Bhattathiri crafts a nuanced narrative that seamlessly weaves together the lives of diverse characters, each navigating their struggles. The protagonist, Unni, finds himself thrust into the enigmatic world of an oracle, unraveling mysteries that transcend time and tradition. The author's storytelling is refreshingly honest, portraying the complexities of relationships with a humane touch.
The mood is contemplative, yet there's an engaging simplicity that makes the novel accessible. Bhattathiri's keen observation and vivid portrayal of Karuthupuzha's landscape add a layer of authenticity. The book delves into the intricacies of human emotions and the timeless quest for meaning, making it a thought-provoking and enjoyable read for those who appreciate a well-crafted story grounded in reality.
The mood is contemplative, yet there's an engaging simplicity that makes the novel accessible. Bhattathiri's keen observation and vivid portrayal of Karuthupuzha's landscape add a layer of authenticity. The book delves into the intricacies of human emotions and the timeless quest for meaning, making it a thought-provoking and enjoyable read for those who appreciate a well-crafted story grounded in reality.
May 5, 2021
Set in a magical village of Karuthupuzha, The Oracle of Karuthupuzha revolves around Sarasu and her father, Nareshan. Until Sarasu is possessed by Chaathan one day, Nareshan burns the midnight oil thinking about various ways in which he can earn enough money to sustain his family. Once the demon-god has her grip over Sarasu, a debate between faith and blind-belief ensues and caught in the whirlpool of misplaced notions and borrowed ideas is Sarasu, a young girl who aspires to fly with the clouds.
Read the complete review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...
August 31, 2021
Such a wonder of a novel, it would be unfair on my part to talk of the complicated simplicities the author had craftily designed the plot, the village of Katuthupuzha, the residents of it, the beliefs, lifestyle, populace, oh what not! From the semi mythological beginnings of the village, till it's modern inception, it is a beautiful place to reside! I'd never lived in a village enough, but now, I have.
A must try. For everyone!
A must try. For everyone!
October 21, 2023
I have previously read The Town that Laughed and was drawn to Bhattathiri's beautiful storytelling. The Oracle was even richer in its plotline.
If there's one character whose arc remained incomplete, it is of the old retired Nambissan. There was something exciting happening with that plot twist but sadly, Bhattathiri didn't follow through.
If there's one character whose arc remained incomplete, it is of the old retired Nambissan. There was something exciting happening with that plot twist but sadly, Bhattathiri didn't follow through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 18, 2024YOU’RE TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE BUT THREE WHOLE BOOKS SET IN MY STATE ALL THIS TIME?!? AND IT TOOK ME A DEEP DIVE INTO PINTEREST TO FIND IT? um im sorry, ill do better cause this is the book ive been waiting for all my life! will find it asap and read cause you dear book have now become my great obsession <3
September 23, 2021
One of the best reads of 2021. This is Malgudi and much more. Brilliantly etched characters and relatable situations for someone aware of the rural milieu of India, especially the south. Strongly recommended reading.
December 27, 2021
I think this was probably the most fun, colorful, delightful book I’ve read in a while!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews