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An Obedient Father
Revised and featuring a new foreword by the author, this uncompromising novel returns, more powerful than "A portrait of a country ravaged by vendetta and graft, its public spaces loud with the complaints of religious bigots and its private spaces cradling unspeakable pain." (Hilary Mantel, New York Review of Books )
An Obedient Father introduced one of the most admired voices in contemporary fiction. Set in Delhi in the 1990s, it tells the story of an inept bureaucrat enmired in corruption, and of the daughter who alone knows the true depth of his crimes.
Decried in India for its frank treatment of child abuse, the novel was widely praised elsewhere for its compassion, and for a plot that mingled the domestic with the political, tragedy with farce. Yet, as Akhil Sharma writes in his foreword to this new edition, he was haunted by what he considered shortcomings within the almost twenty years later, he returned to face them. Here is the result, a leaner, surer version with even greater power.
An Obedient Father introduced one of the most admired voices in contemporary fiction. Set in Delhi in the 1990s, it tells the story of an inept bureaucrat enmired in corruption, and of the daughter who alone knows the true depth of his crimes.
Decried in India for its frank treatment of child abuse, the novel was widely praised elsewhere for its compassion, and for a plot that mingled the domestic with the political, tragedy with farce. Yet, as Akhil Sharma writes in his foreword to this new edition, he was haunted by what he considered shortcomings within the almost twenty years later, he returned to face them. Here is the result, a leaner, surer version with even greater power.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2000
93 people are currently reading
3545 people want to read
About the author
Akhil Sharma
55 books246 followersAkhil Sharma was born in Delhi in India and emigrated to the USA in 1979. His stories have been published in the New Yorker and in Atlantic Monthly, and have been included in The Best American Short Stories and O. Henry Prize Collections. His first novel, An Obedient Father, won the 2001 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. He was named one of Granta's 'Best of Young American Novelists' in 2007. His second novel, Family Life, won The 2015 Folio Prize and the International Dublin Literary Award 2016. Sharma is currently a Fellow at The New York Public Library's Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers.
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April 13, 2024
VITA IN FAMIGLIA
Nessun padre obbediente compare in queste pagine dell’esordio di Akhil Sharma.
Il padre di cui si parla, prima figlio, poi marito, dunque padre, infine nonno, è un pusillanime che passa dalle lacrime alla violenza, dal rimorso alla colpa, dal pentimento all’abuso, dalla determinazione all’ubriachezza, corrotto e corruttore, arrogante e improvvisamente umile, provocatore poi impaurito, falso e sentimentale, lamentoso e cinico, ciccione e peccatore. Padre stupratore, padre e nonno incestuoso. Uomo verme a cui viene voglia di augurare il male. Appena muore la madre inizia a frequentare i bordelli che hanno bambine prostitute, ingordo non sazia mai la sua avidità, vuoi sessuale vuoi economica.
A metter maggiormente in imbarazzo me lettore Sharan rende questa bestia umana io narrante della storia.
Quando inizia la storia, Karan è vedovo, e vede sua figlia Anita, della quale ha abusato quando aveva 12 anni, ora donna a sua volta vedova e madre di una bimba che stuzzica la lussuria del nonno.
Ricominciando a strusciarsi sulla nipotina, come già aveva fatto con la figlia, Karan mette in movimento il processo della memoria, rispolverando ricordi e segreti. Macchie e misfatti.
Karan raccoglie mazzette per il suo datore di lavoro, e in ultima istanza per il Partito del Congresso. Shamal si toglie pietre più che sassolini dalle scarpe e spiega quanto il suo protagonista sia metafora della corruzione pubblica, in particolare della insaziabile famiglia Nehru-Gandhi avvinghiata al potere.
Le vicende del narratore scorrono parallale a quelle dell’India: il giorno che abusa per la prima volta della figlia dodicenne, Indira Gandhi vince le elezioni; le mazzette che Karan colleziona vanno in parallelo agli sconvolgimenti seguiti all’assassinio di Rajiv Gandhi.
Non contento d’aver messo una bestia umana al centro del racconto, Shamal concede due capitoli ad Anita, la figlia violentata e ora madre della nipotina che sta per seguire la sua stessa sorte: non so se Anita riesce a servire fredda la sua vendetta – ma in ogni caso, ha successo.
Devo dire che il cambio di io narrante non giova al racconto, che comunque rimane faticoso da leggere, anche perché la scrittura di Shamal sembra incapace di regalare il necessario tocco in più.
Non ci sono padri obbedienti in queste pagine: i padri hanno tradito. La famiglia, ma prima ancor l’intero paese.
Nessun padre obbediente compare in queste pagine dell’esordio di Akhil Sharma.
Il padre di cui si parla, prima figlio, poi marito, dunque padre, infine nonno, è un pusillanime che passa dalle lacrime alla violenza, dal rimorso alla colpa, dal pentimento all’abuso, dalla determinazione all’ubriachezza, corrotto e corruttore, arrogante e improvvisamente umile, provocatore poi impaurito, falso e sentimentale, lamentoso e cinico, ciccione e peccatore. Padre stupratore, padre e nonno incestuoso. Uomo verme a cui viene voglia di augurare il male. Appena muore la madre inizia a frequentare i bordelli che hanno bambine prostitute, ingordo non sazia mai la sua avidità, vuoi sessuale vuoi economica.
A metter maggiormente in imbarazzo me lettore Sharan rende questa bestia umana io narrante della storia.
Quando inizia la storia, Karan è vedovo, e vede sua figlia Anita, della quale ha abusato quando aveva 12 anni, ora donna a sua volta vedova e madre di una bimba che stuzzica la lussuria del nonno.
Ricominciando a strusciarsi sulla nipotina, come già aveva fatto con la figlia, Karan mette in movimento il processo della memoria, rispolverando ricordi e segreti. Macchie e misfatti.
Karan raccoglie mazzette per il suo datore di lavoro, e in ultima istanza per il Partito del Congresso. Shamal si toglie pietre più che sassolini dalle scarpe e spiega quanto il suo protagonista sia metafora della corruzione pubblica, in particolare della insaziabile famiglia Nehru-Gandhi avvinghiata al potere.
Le vicende del narratore scorrono parallale a quelle dell’India: il giorno che abusa per la prima volta della figlia dodicenne, Indira Gandhi vince le elezioni; le mazzette che Karan colleziona vanno in parallelo agli sconvolgimenti seguiti all’assassinio di Rajiv Gandhi.
Non contento d’aver messo una bestia umana al centro del racconto, Shamal concede due capitoli ad Anita, la figlia violentata e ora madre della nipotina che sta per seguire la sua stessa sorte: non so se Anita riesce a servire fredda la sua vendetta – ma in ogni caso, ha successo.
Devo dire che il cambio di io narrante non giova al racconto, che comunque rimane faticoso da leggere, anche perché la scrittura di Shamal sembra incapace di regalare il necessario tocco in più.
Non ci sono padri obbedienti in queste pagine: i padri hanno tradito. La famiglia, ma prima ancor l’intero paese.
July 11, 2015
This is an easy-to-read, very difficult book. Sharma does not shy away from the ugliest, most difficult subjects but writes about them so fluidly that you find yourself going along at a steady clip, jaw dropping wider and wider. Much like the subjects of abuse in this book, the reader at times can feel like he's in an abusive relationship he just can't pull away from. That's not meant to demean or minimize actual abuse victims suffer. It's only meant to highlight how deftly Sharma captures abuse of all kind (institutional, familial, cultural, structural) and grabs your attention with it.
The portions of this book that deal with the machinations of corruption in India were less engaging in comparison to the personal stories. I say this as someone who is very interested (and relatively well informed) about Indian politics and Indian political history, especially post-Independence pre-globalized India. It seems it was hard for Sharma to turn his talents into the same success while talking about structural political and economic abuse as it was for him to talk about familial, personal abuse.
With this and his newer novel Family Life, I've developed a strong sense of respect and admiration for Sharma. He is one of the sharpest writers writing today. He brings me great hope as a fellow Indian American man, that some parts of my life and my experience may be immortalized through his gaze.
The portions of this book that deal with the machinations of corruption in India were less engaging in comparison to the personal stories. I say this as someone who is very interested (and relatively well informed) about Indian politics and Indian political history, especially post-Independence pre-globalized India. It seems it was hard for Sharma to turn his talents into the same success while talking about structural political and economic abuse as it was for him to talk about familial, personal abuse.
With this and his newer novel Family Life, I've developed a strong sense of respect and admiration for Sharma. He is one of the sharpest writers writing today. He brings me great hope as a fellow Indian American man, that some parts of my life and my experience may be immortalized through his gaze.
August 27, 2017
Gender equality demands that I now read a series of novels about vile and depraved women, say, Isla She-Wolf of the SS or Myra Hindley or…. well there must be some more. The list of novels about vile and depraved men is as long as the arm of a person with really long arms. And here is another. Well I should not complain, I knew the subject (father rapes daughter then 20 years later tries to abuse grand-daughter) already. But I had recently read Family Life, Akhil Sharma’s excellent short novel about another type of personal catastrophe (severe brain damage). I hear Mr Sharma’s next novel will be about getting your leg chewed off by a puma. Always look on the bright side of life, eh, Mr Sharma?
This one really defeated me with its unremitting misery. It’s not badly written at all. It’s probably a very good book. But whereas when you are a young person skipping is an indication of light-hearted joy, in an adult reader skipping is a sign of heavy-hearted irritation, and I did find myself skipping like a hopscotch player on a burning pavement. I need a break from these ghastly men.
This one really defeated me with its unremitting misery. It’s not badly written at all. It’s probably a very good book. But whereas when you are a young person skipping is an indication of light-hearted joy, in an adult reader skipping is a sign of heavy-hearted irritation, and I did find myself skipping like a hopscotch player on a burning pavement. I need a break from these ghastly men.
March 1, 2015
I added this to my reading list ages ago and since I read Akhil Sharma's Family Life recently, I thought I might as well read this. And now that I have, I almost wish I hadn't.
The story is disturbing, to say the least. The main character is an aging corrupt politician (corrupt politician - isn't that redundant in India?) who repeatedly committed a horrific crime (rape) against his daughter years ago for which he was never really punished. And the book goes into detail on that. To say it was difficult to read is an understatement.
Somehow, as the story progresses, the author almost makes you feel bad for this monster, which is incredible. You catch yourself feeling these feelings, and then think, what the hell am I thinking?!
The book also weaves in some major political events in India's history, which is an interesting angle. As bad as that is in itself, I guess it gives you a break from the above-mentioned sordid details.
The effects of the man's crime on his daughter and then his granddaughter and the ripple effects this has just made this even more depressing. Especially in light of India's culture of "what will people say" and the effects on women. Ugh, this book is a tough read and not for the faint of heart.
(I'm struggling with the rating because I think the book was well-written but the story itself...)
The story is disturbing, to say the least. The main character is an aging corrupt politician (corrupt politician - isn't that redundant in India?) who repeatedly committed a horrific crime (rape) against his daughter years ago for which he was never really punished. And the book goes into detail on that. To say it was difficult to read is an understatement.
Somehow, as the story progresses, the author almost makes you feel bad for this monster, which is incredible. You catch yourself feeling these feelings, and then think, what the hell am I thinking?!
The book also weaves in some major political events in India's history, which is an interesting angle. As bad as that is in itself, I guess it gives you a break from the above-mentioned sordid details.
The effects of the man's crime on his daughter and then his granddaughter and the ripple effects this has just made this even more depressing. Especially in light of India's culture of "what will people say" and the effects on women. Ugh, this book is a tough read and not for the faint of heart.
(I'm struggling with the rating because I think the book was well-written but the story itself...)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2018
I admire Indian writers for their works after I read The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, and A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, one of my top favorite novels. These novels bear a close resemblance to each other: their Dickensian themes. So, I always thrill to reading any Indian novel when I am lucky to get one. As a matter of fact, I miss reading another novel by Rohinton Mistry so much.
An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma is another reason for me to fall in love with Indian writers. This is also similar to the books above which deals with poverty and corruption in India although it may not be considered as fine as those other writers’ works. But for me, I appreciated the novel because of how the author weaved the story with more complicated elements. As a result, in my personal experience, it emanated a mixture of different feelings. I liked it in a sense that it is easy to read so it looks beautifully written, that it is unpredictable because I didn’t know that there was something more than what I had expected, and that I came to the point I found its climax tedious and idealistic but the ending left me clueless and heart-broken.
This novel seems to be similar to the other Asian novels I have read: their English sentences are easy to read, not as complicated as Western ones that I have to grasp their native sentences. Asian English must be completely different from Western English unless the Asian writer grew in the US or the UK. I am not sure of my linguistic theory, but my point is that I enjoyed reading the sentences of this novel. They are smooth, soothing , rhythmic, and full of beautiful phrases . However, I noticed quite a few inappropriate word choices and wrong spellings . Besides, I did not count how many times the author used the sentence pattern so…that , which is not bad at all. These must be the other reasons why some don’t give this novel any credit.
The novel is full of revelations that you might not be able to predict in the next pages. It tends to make you get lost for in what the story wants you to be engaged. You might suppose that the obedient father as the main character narrates his corrupt life in a government agency , or you might feel for him because of his being the bread winner of the family, accountable for the fiasco his children bring about. Also, you might be touched by his unconditional love for his granddaughter, or be disturbed by his past irresistible sexual experience which made him come into his present existence. But no. Not at all. Everything in this book is about his deep regrets for what happened to his life. The regrets that really adumbrate the internal conflicts among the characters from the beginning to the ending. So, you tend to bend your mind to predicting the possible next story before you turn the next pages. Besides, what I appreciated and you might end up appreciating as well is the only emotions the author designated to each character. The pent-up emotions that I wanted them to let out.
Since I was concentrating on the emotions the main characters are unable to express regardless of the settings, what they do, where they go, what the government’s business is all about, I came to the point that I got bored and wanted to rush through the last pages. Perhaps I had been overcome with those stuffy feelings . In fact, I found some scenes inconceivable but possible in real life like when Anita told her neighbors and relatives about what her obedient father did to her when she was very young. I twitched my eyebrows, and wished I was close to the denouement. However, the turning point was when Anita loses the chance of winning her relatives’ sympathy, she decides to oppress her father by making his health condition fail. That part really moved me to tears because I came to understand the sensibility of the novel: I may represent the other half of Anita.
Despite the unreasonable brickbats the novel has drawn , it is a must-read, and it is good that it is on the list of 1001 best novels you must read before you die recommended by some book magazines. Apart from the emotions I have been pointing out, it deals with sexual harassment and rape which do not seem to be fictitiously cultural in India since I have read such theme in two Indian novels indicating that this is a social issue people across the globe should learn. Also, it limns the prevalent corruption in India’s politics given that India is considered the largest democracy in the world. So, it is a question if democracy is an effective form of government to eradicate corruption, or there may be another optional drastic measures. Furthermore, the themes that are much given more stress in the novels I have read and in all novels I will read , I believe, are the undying conventional family culture and social classification. In fact, almost the atmosphere of all the scenes from the beginning is degrading and discriminatory.
When someone asks me what kinds of novels I love to read, I blurt out that I love Dickensian novels, and Indian novels are fine examples. So, when I fulfill my dream to build my own private library as big as a half of my house filled to overflowing, I will fill those shelves with Indian novels. I would love to share them with you here. 🙂
An Obedient Father by Akhil Sharma is another reason for me to fall in love with Indian writers. This is also similar to the books above which deals with poverty and corruption in India although it may not be considered as fine as those other writers’ works. But for me, I appreciated the novel because of how the author weaved the story with more complicated elements. As a result, in my personal experience, it emanated a mixture of different feelings. I liked it in a sense that it is easy to read so it looks beautifully written, that it is unpredictable because I didn’t know that there was something more than what I had expected, and that I came to the point I found its climax tedious and idealistic but the ending left me clueless and heart-broken.
This novel seems to be similar to the other Asian novels I have read: their English sentences are easy to read, not as complicated as Western ones that I have to grasp their native sentences. Asian English must be completely different from Western English unless the Asian writer grew in the US or the UK. I am not sure of my linguistic theory, but my point is that I enjoyed reading the sentences of this novel. They are smooth, soothing , rhythmic, and full of beautiful phrases . However, I noticed quite a few inappropriate word choices and wrong spellings . Besides, I did not count how many times the author used the sentence pattern so…that , which is not bad at all. These must be the other reasons why some don’t give this novel any credit.
The novel is full of revelations that you might not be able to predict in the next pages. It tends to make you get lost for in what the story wants you to be engaged. You might suppose that the obedient father as the main character narrates his corrupt life in a government agency , or you might feel for him because of his being the bread winner of the family, accountable for the fiasco his children bring about. Also, you might be touched by his unconditional love for his granddaughter, or be disturbed by his past irresistible sexual experience which made him come into his present existence. But no. Not at all. Everything in this book is about his deep regrets for what happened to his life. The regrets that really adumbrate the internal conflicts among the characters from the beginning to the ending. So, you tend to bend your mind to predicting the possible next story before you turn the next pages. Besides, what I appreciated and you might end up appreciating as well is the only emotions the author designated to each character. The pent-up emotions that I wanted them to let out.
Since I was concentrating on the emotions the main characters are unable to express regardless of the settings, what they do, where they go, what the government’s business is all about, I came to the point that I got bored and wanted to rush through the last pages. Perhaps I had been overcome with those stuffy feelings . In fact, I found some scenes inconceivable but possible in real life like when Anita told her neighbors and relatives about what her obedient father did to her when she was very young. I twitched my eyebrows, and wished I was close to the denouement. However, the turning point was when Anita loses the chance of winning her relatives’ sympathy, she decides to oppress her father by making his health condition fail. That part really moved me to tears because I came to understand the sensibility of the novel: I may represent the other half of Anita.
Despite the unreasonable brickbats the novel has drawn , it is a must-read, and it is good that it is on the list of 1001 best novels you must read before you die recommended by some book magazines. Apart from the emotions I have been pointing out, it deals with sexual harassment and rape which do not seem to be fictitiously cultural in India since I have read such theme in two Indian novels indicating that this is a social issue people across the globe should learn. Also, it limns the prevalent corruption in India’s politics given that India is considered the largest democracy in the world. So, it is a question if democracy is an effective form of government to eradicate corruption, or there may be another optional drastic measures. Furthermore, the themes that are much given more stress in the novels I have read and in all novels I will read , I believe, are the undying conventional family culture and social classification. In fact, almost the atmosphere of all the scenes from the beginning is degrading and discriminatory.
When someone asks me what kinds of novels I love to read, I blurt out that I love Dickensian novels, and Indian novels are fine examples. So, when I fulfill my dream to build my own private library as big as a half of my house filled to overflowing, I will fill those shelves with Indian novels. I would love to share them with you here. 🙂
May 17, 2012
This book is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It's written with a light hearted, conversational tone that belies the horrors underneath. On one level, the protagonist is a corrupt bureaucrat, given to betting on the wrong horse in political races and using other people's money to extricate himself from sticky situations. Despite the fact this part of the story covers some pretty major political events and a real time of turmoil in India's history, it's not this side of the book that really shocks. It's that our protagonist is also a rapist, who repeatedly subjected his young daughter to ever worsening advances. This revelation occurs once this daughter is forced to move in with him after the loss of her husband, and he finds himself attracted to his grand daughter. The "logic" behind his behaviour and the webs of deception woven around it are truly horrific, and all written in the bumbling, can't get anything right tone of the failed bureaucrat. It's horrible, sickening, yet someone numbed by the style. A real rollercoaster ride, and the kind that makes you feel ill after. Not the happy excited silly good kind of ill either.
March 22, 2019
Perfectly executed tale about a dastardly man's struggle with inner emotional conflicts and base human desires. Set against a backdrop of political corruption in India. So raw it bleeds. [Rating: 4.5*]
(Warning: Contains incest and child sexual abuse).
(Warning: Contains incest and child sexual abuse).
May 9, 2014
Despite this book's horrific subject manner, there was a bit of genius in the writing. While the reader is inside the head of the main character, who, to put it nicely, is a vile man, the reader both loathes and somehow can feel some pity for him, once all of his sins catch up with him. While reading this, you know everything he has done is reprehensible but, because you are reading it from his perspective, you almost feel sorry for him when he gets what he pretty much deserves. Getting the reader to feel this way is pretty remarkable. The author was able to keep this balance because he allowed us inside Ram's daughter's head as well (and allowing us to get out of Ram's head made it a bit easier to read). It is interesting to read the political and cultural piece to this as well. Sadly, it was interesting in a psychological aspect because it shows the reader why some families stay together, despite abuse this despicable and the result it can have on keeping the victim a victim and how that plays out with the next generation. The end tied it all together as well. It was a difficult book to read and phantom. If it weren't so well written, I am not sure if I could have finished. It is not for the weak of heart.
February 5, 2015
Reading this book is a test of morality. You may catch yourself holding your breath with Ram Karan as he embezzles election funds. You may also get annoyed with Anita, Ram Karan's elder daughter who was raped by her father at 12, for behaving irritably. Your heart may warm towards Ram Karan when he goes to secretly meet his grand daughter, Asha, who he unsuccessfully attempts to rape in the first chapter. As you go through the pages and the writer, time and again, brings you back to the flat that the three share, you may even find yourself waiting for Ram Karan to make a move.
An Obedient father feels like a long book even though it is just 300 pages. It has countless scenes, several of which don't contribute to the plot but develop a character. The book has a distinctive narrative style, employing three three narrative voices: the second and the second last chapter are written in first person from Ram Karan's daughter's POV, the last chapter is in third person, and the rest of the book is narrated in first person by Ram Karan. It is a difficult book and even though I liked it, I am sure I will never want to read it again.
An Obedient father feels like a long book even though it is just 300 pages. It has countless scenes, several of which don't contribute to the plot but develop a character. The book has a distinctive narrative style, employing three three narrative voices: the second and the second last chapter are written in first person from Ram Karan's daughter's POV, the last chapter is in third person, and the rest of the book is narrated in first person by Ram Karan. It is a difficult book and even though I liked it, I am sure I will never want to read it again.
June 29, 2015
This is the Shiva-like story of sin and complacency. Each leads to the other. A long ago sin invades those who were involved, and causes complacency which engenders more sin. The cycle continues throughout the book.
This is a book about family relationships, about politics, and most interestingly, about India as it transitions from its traditional self to a new world of money, business, and education. In some ways, the original sin was the British occupation of the country, which left the vestiges of its sin throughout Indian public life. Complacency has allowed this sin to grow, and graft and corruption are rampant.
Mr. Karan is simply a man caught up in the predictable cycle, and his personal actions (and non actions) affect both his family and the public life of his country. Throughout the book, you'll wonder about Mr. Karan: is he a good man? Or is he simply a man who's life is entirely ringed with the flames of guilt, complacency, and obedience? Is he Everyman? Is the Western view of good and evil adequate for this one ordinary life?
This is a brilliant novel, full of life's contradictions.
This is a book about family relationships, about politics, and most interestingly, about India as it transitions from its traditional self to a new world of money, business, and education. In some ways, the original sin was the British occupation of the country, which left the vestiges of its sin throughout Indian public life. Complacency has allowed this sin to grow, and graft and corruption are rampant.
Mr. Karan is simply a man caught up in the predictable cycle, and his personal actions (and non actions) affect both his family and the public life of his country. Throughout the book, you'll wonder about Mr. Karan: is he a good man? Or is he simply a man who's life is entirely ringed with the flames of guilt, complacency, and obedience? Is he Everyman? Is the Western view of good and evil adequate for this one ordinary life?
This is a brilliant novel, full of life's contradictions.
October 10, 2025
3.5*
This was a difficult book to read and to stomach, but one that I will remember. Sharma is an excellent writer, the quality of the prose is great, and I was compelled by the women in this novel. The political events in the book felt a little off kilter at times, and I still need to ruminate on whether the gruesome scenes were worth it for me.
This was a difficult book to read and to stomach, but one that I will remember. Sharma is an excellent writer, the quality of the prose is great, and I was compelled by the women in this novel. The political events in the book felt a little off kilter at times, and I still need to ruminate on whether the gruesome scenes were worth it for me.
March 3, 2015
בכריכה האחורית של הרומאן נכתב:
"האב הצייתן לוקח את הקורא למסע עמוק בתוך עולם של משפחות הודיות ופוליטיקה של גנגסטרים וכוכבי קולנוע, מהומות וחדרי מתים. הרומאן הנפלא והרגיש הזה, שזכה בפרס "פן/ המינגווי" וכונה על ידי המבקרים "יצירת מופת", מציג דמות מעונה, משעשעת ומורכבת מבחינה מוסרית, לא פחות מאשר דמות האנטי -גיבור של דוסטוייבסקי".
לא פחות ולא יותר. דוסטוייבסקי בבוליווד.
אין לי ספק שכותב הכריכה האחורית לא התכוון לזלזל באינטיליגנציה של הקוראים. אבל לתאר את דמותו של קרן, גיבור הספר, כ"משעשעת ומורכבת מבחינה מוסרית" ולהעמידה בשורה אחת עם הדמויות של דוסטוייבסקי, זה פשוט עיוות קטן, קמט במציאות שרחוקה אלפי שנות אור ממורכבות מוסרית.
לטעמי המצב המוסרי של הדמות כל כך חד מימדי שקשה לי לקרוא לזה מוסר אלא אם שוחד, בגידה, גניבה, אונס, גילוי עריות ועוד כהנה וכהנה יכולים בכלל להחשב כמעשים מוסריים.
אין שום דבר משעשע בראם קרן. ניסתי לחשוב ולתהות אולי מי שכתב את הכריכה האחורית, חשב שזה משעשע לראות את קרן מסתובב עם הבטן השמנה שלו משתפלת מחוץ לתחתונים?
נהפוך הוא. דמותו נלעגת עד כדי כאב. רוצה לאמר לנו המחבר כי השומן, הסיאוב, הגיחוך הם רק מראה המשקפת את הזחיחות המוסרית של החברה ההודית. המיקרו המשקף את המקרו שהרבה יותר חולה ומכוער.
אבל באופן מפתיע, כל התכונות "הטובות והנהדרות" הללו, שבאו והתכנסו בדמות אחת אומללה, שנשמתה כבר נצלית באש הגהנום, לא הספיקו כדי לתפור עלילה צהובה מספיק.
היה צורך להפוך את דמותו של קרן לא רק לנלעגת אלא גם לחסרת רחמים ואומללה, לאנס חסר שליטה שאנס את בתו בת ה- 12 במשך לילה אחר לילה.
אחסוך ממכם, קוראי היקרים, את תיאורי הפורנוגרפיה. אם יש חלק אמין בספר, זה החלק בו מתאר קרן לפרטי פרטים את קורות אותה התקופה האומללה בה ערב ערב הכין את המיטה לקראת אונס חוזר של בתו האומללה.
בניגוד לכותב הכריכה האחורית של הספר, אקהיל שארמה, הסופר, חושב שאנחנו הקוראים המוגבלים, המתוגמלים והחסרי הבנה צריכים פירוט עד דוק כדי שנבין כל התפתחות טאקטית בסאגת גילוי העריות. החל מתיאור הנגיעות וכלה בתיאור החדירות (ודי ברמיזא לחכימא).
כן, אנחנו סתומים. איך נבין בלי שיסבירו לנו את יחסי הכוחות עד זרא? הרי הסופר בעצמו מנסה לקום עלינו ולבלבלנו בעלילה הזויה, חסרת שחר ולא אמינה של בגידה כפולה, שוחד, גניבה ורצח פוליטיים.
אלא מה הקשר בין שמיטה להר סיני? כנראה שאין קשר ולכן המעברים בין העלילות תפורים בגסות ויוצרים גיחוך, מיאוס וחוסר סבלנות לגחמות של הסופר שהרסו גם את הקטעים הטובים שיכלו לתת דקות חסד לספר הזה.
לסיום סיומת הגדיל אקהיל לעשות ונפל לכל סטריאוטיפ שחוק ובנאלי חסר יצירתיות שקיים:
האב שמן כל כך שהוא מקבל התקף לב מהשומן. אין ספק שבעניי הסופר שמנים הם לא רק דמויות נלעגות, חסרות שליטה, נהנתניות אלא גם מסואבות.
הבת הנאנסת, היסטרית חסרת שחר ותקווה. לקראת סוף הספר היא מתחרפנת ללא סיבה. האמת גם אני התחרפנתי מרוב יאוש לאיזה עבר פי פחת הולך הספר הזה.
המתמודדים לפרלמנט מושחתים ומשוחדים.
הסוחרים כמובן גנגסטרים מהמאפיה.
"האב הצייתן" זכה במקום הראשון בטבלת עשרת המובילים של ה- Usa Today. מה העובדה המצערת הזו יכולה ללמד אותי על הקוראים האמריקאים?
בכלל איזה אמות מידה מעוותות גרמו למי מהמבקרים לחשוב שמדובר כאן "ביצירת מופת" ושניתן להעמיד אותה בשורה אחת עם היצירות של דוסטוייבסקי (בטח המסכן מתהפך בסלטות בקבר שלו)
אני אשאיר לכם לפחות לגלות לבד מדוע הספר נקרא "האב הצייתן". כמעט התפלצתי כשהבנתי.
מומלץ, רק למי שחובבים רבי מכר ורוצים לקרוא את מה שיהיה עוד כמה שבועות במקום הראשון בטבלה.
"האב הצייתן", אקהיל שארמה
הוצאת ידיעות אחרונות, 2008, 351 עמ`
"האב הצייתן לוקח את הקורא למסע עמוק בתוך עולם של משפחות הודיות ופוליטיקה של גנגסטרים וכוכבי קולנוע, מהומות וחדרי מתים. הרומאן הנפלא והרגיש הזה, שזכה בפרס "פן/ המינגווי" וכונה על ידי המבקרים "יצירת מופת", מציג דמות מעונה, משעשעת ומורכבת מבחינה מוסרית, לא פחות מאשר דמות האנטי -גיבור של דוסטוייבסקי".
לא פחות ולא יותר. דוסטוייבסקי בבוליווד.
אין לי ספק שכותב הכריכה האחורית לא התכוון לזלזל באינטיליגנציה של הקוראים. אבל לתאר את דמותו של קרן, גיבור הספר, כ"משעשעת ומורכבת מבחינה מוסרית" ולהעמידה בשורה אחת עם הדמויות של דוסטוייבסקי, זה פשוט עיוות קטן, קמט במציאות שרחוקה אלפי שנות אור ממורכבות מוסרית.
לטעמי המצב המוסרי של הדמות כל כך חד מימדי שקשה לי לקרוא לזה מוסר אלא אם שוחד, בגידה, גניבה, אונס, גילוי עריות ועוד כהנה וכהנה יכולים בכלל להחשב כמעשים מוסריים.
אין שום דבר משעשע בראם קרן. ניסתי לחשוב ולתהות אולי מי שכתב את הכריכה האחורית, חשב שזה משעשע לראות את קרן מסתובב עם הבטן השמנה שלו משתפלת מחוץ לתחתונים?
נהפוך הוא. דמותו נלעגת עד כדי כאב. רוצה לאמר לנו המחבר כי השומן, הסיאוב, הגיחוך הם רק מראה המשקפת את הזחיחות המוסרית של החברה ההודית. המיקרו המשקף את המקרו שהרבה יותר חולה ומכוער.
אבל באופן מפתיע, כל התכונות "הטובות והנהדרות" הללו, שבאו והתכנסו בדמות אחת אומללה, שנשמתה כבר נצלית באש הגהנום, לא הספיקו כדי לתפור עלילה צהובה מספיק.
היה צורך להפוך את דמותו של קרן לא רק לנלעגת אלא גם לחסרת רחמים ואומללה, לאנס חסר שליטה שאנס את בתו בת ה- 12 במשך לילה אחר לילה.
אחסוך ממכם, קוראי היקרים, את תיאורי הפורנוגרפיה. אם יש חלק אמין בספר, זה החלק בו מתאר קרן לפרטי פרטים את קורות אותה התקופה האומללה בה ערב ערב הכין את המיטה לקראת אונס חוזר של בתו האומללה.
בניגוד לכותב הכריכה האחורית של הספר, אקהיל שארמה, הסופר, חושב שאנחנו הקוראים המוגבלים, המתוגמלים והחסרי הבנה צריכים פירוט עד דוק כדי שנבין כל התפתחות טאקטית בסאגת גילוי העריות. החל מתיאור הנגיעות וכלה בתיאור החדירות (ודי ברמיזא לחכימא).
כן, אנחנו סתומים. איך נבין בלי שיסבירו לנו את יחסי הכוחות עד זרא? הרי הסופר בעצמו מנסה לקום עלינו ולבלבלנו בעלילה הזויה, חסרת שחר ולא אמינה של בגידה כפולה, שוחד, גניבה ורצח פוליטיים.
אלא מה הקשר בין שמיטה להר סיני? כנראה שאין קשר ולכן המעברים בין העלילות תפורים בגסות ויוצרים גיחוך, מיאוס וחוסר סבלנות לגחמות של הסופר שהרסו גם את הקטעים הטובים שיכלו לתת דקות חסד לספר הזה.
לסיום סיומת הגדיל אקהיל לעשות ונפל לכל סטריאוטיפ שחוק ובנאלי חסר יצירתיות שקיים:
האב שמן כל כך שהוא מקבל התקף לב מהשומן. אין ספק שבעניי הסופר שמנים הם לא רק דמויות נלעגות, חסרות שליטה, נהנתניות אלא גם מסואבות.
הבת הנאנסת, היסטרית חסרת שחר ותקווה. לקראת סוף הספר היא מתחרפנת ללא סיבה. האמת גם אני התחרפנתי מרוב יאוש לאיזה עבר פי פחת הולך הספר הזה.
המתמודדים לפרלמנט מושחתים ומשוחדים.
הסוחרים כמובן גנגסטרים מהמאפיה.
"האב הצייתן" זכה במקום הראשון בטבלת עשרת המובילים של ה- Usa Today. מה העובדה המצערת הזו יכולה ללמד אותי על הקוראים האמריקאים?
בכלל איזה אמות מידה מעוותות גרמו למי מהמבקרים לחשוב שמדובר כאן "ביצירת מופת" ושניתן להעמיד אותה בשורה אחת עם היצירות של דוסטוייבסקי (בטח המסכן מתהפך בסלטות בקבר שלו)
אני אשאיר לכם לפחות לגלות לבד מדוע הספר נקרא "האב הצייתן". כמעט התפלצתי כשהבנתי.
מומלץ, רק למי שחובבים רבי מכר ורוצים לקרוא את מה שיהיה עוד כמה שבועות במקום הראשון בטבלה.
"האב הצייתן", אקהיל שארמה
הוצאת ידיעות אחרונות, 2008, 351 עמ`
April 23, 2013
J'adore la littérature indienne.
J'aime sa richesse, sa touffeur. J'aime ses histoires compliqués, ses héros hauts en couleur..
Je n'ai pas été déçu avec ce roman d'un jeune prodige né en 1971 (comme moi) (zut, il n'est donc pas si jeune)
Comme dans les grands romans indiens, Akhil Sharma parvient à entrelacer la petite histoire avec la grande.
D'un côté l'Inde des années 90. Rajiv Gandhi est assassiné. La mainmise des Nehru sur l'Inde touche à son terme. Le parti du Congrès, omnipotent depuis l'Indépendance, va peut-être perdre les élections face au BJP, le parti hindouiste.
De l'autre une famille. Un père qu'on nous dit être obéissant, Ram Karan, employé au ministère de l’Éducation nationale. Il vit à new Delhi dans un quartier misérable. Sa femme est morte et sa fille, Anita, devenue veuve, s'est installée avec lui en compagnie de sa petite-fille, Asha.
Mais, dans la petite histoire comme dans la grande, ce qui intéresse Akhil Sharma, ce sont les sujets brûlants. La corruption qui gangrène la vie politique indienne et dont Ram Karan est un agent zélé. L'inceste commis par ce même Ram Karan 20 ans plus tôt sur sa fille et qu'il est sur le point de commettre à nouveau sur sa petite fille. La promiscuité d'une vie dans les bidonvilles d'Old Delhi. L'intolérance communautaire qu'a vécue le héros durant sa jeunesse en 1947 et qui menace de resurgir avec l'assassinat de Rajiv Gandhi.
On l'aura compris : ce roman plonge dans la fange de l'âme humaine avec une délectation qui peut susciter la nausée. Lorsque son héros raconte ses virées dans des bordels d'adolescentes on n'est pas loin de l'overdose. Et la peinture nuancée de ce héros méprisable, si elle évite le manichéisme facile que ce genre d'histoires peut susciter, n'est pas loin de provoquer une réaction de rejet.
Réaction qui culmine à la conclusion de ce roman, trop excessif, trop radical.
J'aime sa richesse, sa touffeur. J'aime ses histoires compliqués, ses héros hauts en couleur..
Je n'ai pas été déçu avec ce roman d'un jeune prodige né en 1971 (comme moi) (zut, il n'est donc pas si jeune)
Comme dans les grands romans indiens, Akhil Sharma parvient à entrelacer la petite histoire avec la grande.
D'un côté l'Inde des années 90. Rajiv Gandhi est assassiné. La mainmise des Nehru sur l'Inde touche à son terme. Le parti du Congrès, omnipotent depuis l'Indépendance, va peut-être perdre les élections face au BJP, le parti hindouiste.
De l'autre une famille. Un père qu'on nous dit être obéissant, Ram Karan, employé au ministère de l’Éducation nationale. Il vit à new Delhi dans un quartier misérable. Sa femme est morte et sa fille, Anita, devenue veuve, s'est installée avec lui en compagnie de sa petite-fille, Asha.
Mais, dans la petite histoire comme dans la grande, ce qui intéresse Akhil Sharma, ce sont les sujets brûlants. La corruption qui gangrène la vie politique indienne et dont Ram Karan est un agent zélé. L'inceste commis par ce même Ram Karan 20 ans plus tôt sur sa fille et qu'il est sur le point de commettre à nouveau sur sa petite fille. La promiscuité d'une vie dans les bidonvilles d'Old Delhi. L'intolérance communautaire qu'a vécue le héros durant sa jeunesse en 1947 et qui menace de resurgir avec l'assassinat de Rajiv Gandhi.
On l'aura compris : ce roman plonge dans la fange de l'âme humaine avec une délectation qui peut susciter la nausée. Lorsque son héros raconte ses virées dans des bordels d'adolescentes on n'est pas loin de l'overdose. Et la peinture nuancée de ce héros méprisable, si elle évite le manichéisme facile que ce genre d'histoires peut susciter, n'est pas loin de provoquer une réaction de rejet.
Réaction qui culmine à la conclusion de ce roman, trop excessif, trop radical.
February 17, 2015
This is not an easy book to review; nor is it easy to read. The main character, an overweight alcoholic, political crook and child molester, tells most of the story from his point of view. Although he is mostly a vile man, there are some times you forget yourself and feel some sympathy towards him.
He molests his oldest daughter, Anita, when she was 12. Twenty years later, Anita is a widow with a young daughter of her own. She is forced to take her daughter and move in with her father, who she has grown to hate deeply. She is increasingly paranoid that he may attempt to molest her daughter. Amidst this story are stories of political corruption and intrigue that her father is involved in. I enjoy Indian fiction, and although this novel is a little crazy at times, I love Sharma's writing. His characters are so well drawn that I can practically picture them.
He molests his oldest daughter, Anita, when she was 12. Twenty years later, Anita is a widow with a young daughter of her own. She is forced to take her daughter and move in with her father, who she has grown to hate deeply. She is increasingly paranoid that he may attempt to molest her daughter. Amidst this story are stories of political corruption and intrigue that her father is involved in. I enjoy Indian fiction, and although this novel is a little crazy at times, I love Sharma's writing. His characters are so well drawn that I can practically picture them.
April 12, 2015
I wish I could give this book five stars and one star, simultaneously. I love Akhil Sharma. A radio interview with him inspired me to consider that literary fiction can be "comforting" to the reader--his word. This is not the book that Sharma wrote to inspire hope. It was so grim that I had to speed-read it. It's a brilliant examination of how the web of abuse, political corruption, and hatred can draw the most well-intentioned into its inescapable corrosion. When children are involved, it's even harder to take.
It was like a story of cancer from the point of view of the cancer. I shut down while I was reading it.
It was like a story of cancer from the point of view of the cancer. I shut down while I was reading it.
August 3, 2007
If you had a hard time reading Lolita you might want to take this one off your 'to read' list. The primary theme is the impact of rampant corruption on the life of one family in Delhi, India. I thought I wouldn't be able to finish the book, its written from the point of view of a man that rapes his own daughter. Tough topic but great writing, at one the point the grime that quickly accumulates on your skin in the Delhi slum is compared to the inside of a smokers' lung. Surprised by the somewhat hopeful ending.
April 9, 2022
This will not be on the blog.
I found the effort to mix controversy and politics a failure - leading to many pages of shocking paragraphs with dull political passages.
Equally uncomfortable and boring. Avoid
I found the effort to mix controversy and politics a failure - leading to many pages of shocking paragraphs with dull political passages.
Equally uncomfortable and boring. Avoid
May 14, 2023
///a trigger warning///
Sexual assault is a central part of this book. Please know that if you step closer to this book and mentions of it.
I read this book because I was so moved by Family Life and bc of Obedient Father’s imprint. I was extra intrigued by the fact that Sharma reworked this book after releasing it first in 2001. How often do artists get to do that? Sure, musicians re-release songs all the time, Monet kept reworking the same view over and over and over! But books? No… and so what an exciting artistic endeavor. That aside, I otherwise would not gravitate toward the premise of this book—this is just flatly not the kind of art I seek out. Predictably I suppose, I found many scenes to be stomach turning.
Having finished it I can say I believe this to be successful art. I was fully immersed in this story. The depravity of the acts committed are never made into a triviality, nor were they there to buttress a heavy handed melodrama. The book was engaging from page to page, with so much to think about where patriarchy, power, integrity, misogyny, family are concerned. And all the while I felt like I was riding a dusty bus through the turgid heat of Delhi, hearing the scrape of a metal cot on the floor, staring with flaming rage at Ram Karan.
I would have benefited from more of an understanding of Indian politics—all I know is that irl politician Modi is a BJPer—but while elections and corruption are central to this story, Sharma makes clear that power (which is to say money) is but a little shuttlecock tossed about from party to party. Obedient Father is at its heart a domestic story about a family cruelly bound together by patriarchy, poverty or the threat of it, and one man’s bitter, wounded, disgusting acts.
Sharma does not offer much justice or happy resolution to buoy a reader, but he does give us extremely refined writing (one of the prettiest phrases I’ve ever read, about the light of the moon, is embedded in one of the book’s most disgusting scenes) along with fully alive characters, and a final scene that’s more crushing for its honesty than its tragedy.
Do I recommend this book? I don’t know. But I was very moved by it. I am in awe of Sharma’s ability to pull this off.
Sexual assault is a central part of this book. Please know that if you step closer to this book and mentions of it.
I read this book because I was so moved by Family Life and bc of Obedient Father’s imprint. I was extra intrigued by the fact that Sharma reworked this book after releasing it first in 2001. How often do artists get to do that? Sure, musicians re-release songs all the time, Monet kept reworking the same view over and over and over! But books? No… and so what an exciting artistic endeavor. That aside, I otherwise would not gravitate toward the premise of this book—this is just flatly not the kind of art I seek out. Predictably I suppose, I found many scenes to be stomach turning.
Having finished it I can say I believe this to be successful art. I was fully immersed in this story. The depravity of the acts committed are never made into a triviality, nor were they there to buttress a heavy handed melodrama. The book was engaging from page to page, with so much to think about where patriarchy, power, integrity, misogyny, family are concerned. And all the while I felt like I was riding a dusty bus through the turgid heat of Delhi, hearing the scrape of a metal cot on the floor, staring with flaming rage at Ram Karan.
I would have benefited from more of an understanding of Indian politics—all I know is that irl politician Modi is a BJPer—but while elections and corruption are central to this story, Sharma makes clear that power (which is to say money) is but a little shuttlecock tossed about from party to party. Obedient Father is at its heart a domestic story about a family cruelly bound together by patriarchy, poverty or the threat of it, and one man’s bitter, wounded, disgusting acts.
Sharma does not offer much justice or happy resolution to buoy a reader, but he does give us extremely refined writing (one of the prettiest phrases I’ve ever read, about the light of the moon, is embedded in one of the book’s most disgusting scenes) along with fully alive characters, and a final scene that’s more crushing for its honesty than its tragedy.
Do I recommend this book? I don’t know. But I was very moved by it. I am in awe of Sharma’s ability to pull this off.
June 28, 2019
4.5 stars. A memorable, powerful, interesting, sad, disturbing story about Ram Karan. The story is set in Dehli, India, mostly around 1990 to 1991. Ram's wife had died 12 months ago and his daughter, Anita, aged 32, and her daughter Asha, 8 years old, have to live with Ram as Anita's husband was killed in a scooter accident. Early on we learn Ram repeatedly raped Anita when she was 12 years old. Ram's wife found out and measures were put in place that ensured Ram's atrocious act never occurred again. Anita hates Ram and only lives with him as she has no alternative.
The story is about how Ram, Anita and Asha reside together and about Ram's role as the corrupt money man for Mr. Gupta who is seeking election to Parliament. The narrator in the first person is mostly Ram.
The novel provides lots of interesting information on the Indian way of life, family, corruption and politics, with an interesting plot and well developed characters. Highly recommended.
Here is a random example of Sharma's writing style:
Ram writes: "My father was the village teacher. I had two older brothers who were, even then, so exactly as they are now - inward, always planning, ready to hate - that I believe some people are born nearly complete and life provides just the details of their personalities." (Page 68 of Faber and Faber edition)
Winner of the 2001 Hemingway Foundation / Pen Award.
The story is about how Ram, Anita and Asha reside together and about Ram's role as the corrupt money man for Mr. Gupta who is seeking election to Parliament. The narrator in the first person is mostly Ram.
The novel provides lots of interesting information on the Indian way of life, family, corruption and politics, with an interesting plot and well developed characters. Highly recommended.
Here is a random example of Sharma's writing style:
Ram writes: "My father was the village teacher. I had two older brothers who were, even then, so exactly as they are now - inward, always planning, ready to hate - that I believe some people are born nearly complete and life provides just the details of their personalities." (Page 68 of Faber and Faber edition)
Winner of the 2001 Hemingway Foundation / Pen Award.
July 18, 2019
It's hard to give a rating based on "like" for this book. The events in the book are vile. But the writing is compelling. Everyone in the book seems to live by corruption. The main character claims to be "not very good" at bribery, but this is belied by his undoubted successes at negotiating his way between two avaricious political parties.
The "blurb" that introduces this book claims "In the past, his body has often been beyond his control." Only a guy could write that. Your body is NEVER beyond your control because you have a BRAIN that tells you that what you are doing to YOUR OWN DAUGHTER is evil. When he seeks forgiveness from that daughter (Anita), she forces him to pay her hush money, promise to leave her the apartment when he dies, and locks him in his room. On the other hand, she is doing these things because she catches him in the early stages of doing the same thing to her daughter, Asha. When these measures give her no satisfaction, she abuses him by telling all his neighbors and co-workers what he did, which of course, gives her no peace.
The one who suffers the most is Asha, who has lost her father, lost her mother to her mother's depthless anger, and lost her grandfather also to her mother's anger.
The ending is very weird. Asha is on a plane to the US talking about the paths in Hyde Park with her aunt as they fly over it.
The "blurb" that introduces this book claims "In the past, his body has often been beyond his control." Only a guy could write that. Your body is NEVER beyond your control because you have a BRAIN that tells you that what you are doing to YOUR OWN DAUGHTER is evil. When he seeks forgiveness from that daughter (Anita), she forces him to pay her hush money, promise to leave her the apartment when he dies, and locks him in his room. On the other hand, she is doing these things because she catches him in the early stages of doing the same thing to her daughter, Asha. When these measures give her no satisfaction, she abuses him by telling all his neighbors and co-workers what he did, which of course, gives her no peace.
The one who suffers the most is Asha, who has lost her father, lost her mother to her mother's depthless anger, and lost her grandfather also to her mother's anger.
The ending is very weird. Asha is on a plane to the US talking about the paths in Hyde Park with her aunt as they fly over it.
February 14, 2022
Truth be told I found this book hard to finish. He’s a good writer, even masterful in parts! But the subject and his choice of themes and characters left me quite uninspired and unmoved. If you want to spend your time reading about how incestuous fathers and their miserable families justify their existence and choices and come away with nothing redeeming at all, this is the book for you. Cannot understand why this book got the rave reviews it did and. It was another nail in the “naked emperor of modern art” coffin that I am increasingly convinced is the reason for the failure of our literary imaginations. Depressing and deeply saddening stuff!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2022
darkly gripping and powerful. if lolita was a sin, this is a crime. the characters weren’t particularly compelling, and Pitaji’s voice is much as if Hemingway were relaying unnatural abuses of love
January 21, 2015
A very kind bookcrosser (Edwardstreet) sent me this book after seeing it on my wishlist.
Why I put this book on my wishlist, I have no idea, but after hearing the author Akhil Sharma on a podcast from The Ubud Writer's Festival I quickly dragged this off my bookshelf to read over the holidays.
Having no idea what the book was about, and pulling it out of my beach bag to read last month on the sand I groaned audibly when I realised where the story was going. Generally not what I choose to read - especially on holidays.
But, stuck a bookmark in this and continued to read once I got home. And, I am glad that I did.
This book and it's author have won several awards and after reading this review the structure of the story made more sense. Parts of the book had been published as short stories.
The review is rather harsh, in my opinion and overall the story follows the members of a family after an heinous crime has been committed - repeatedly. Told in the first person I particularly preferred 'Anita's' passages, and did find myself flicking forward to see when the story would change voices again. The majority of the story is told by 'Ram', and in hindsight I would have liked a little less from him. The final passage is told in the third person, following 'Kusum' and this worked really well. While I would have tinkered with the perspective I disagree that it feels hurried, composed of a patchwork of brilliant moments strung together by an often lackluster story line.
And isn't Akhil Sharma incredible? He deserves all those awards, and clearly he's worked hard as a writer and craftsman. According to wikipedia he's not only an investment banker, but has studied as a writer at both Princeton and Stanford. Wow! And some of the writers he studied under...!
There are more then a few 'brilliant moments' and several times as a reader I marvelled at how as a writer he cleverly expressed little tid-bits that a Western reader perhaps would not be familiar with. There is a passage (which I cannot find now in the book, and wish I had read it as an e-book now - so much easier to search) where Ram is reading a holy book and a god instructs a man that he's responsible for his actions, but not the repercussions. A viewpoint and idea that I had not encountered before, but adds obviously to the story and highlights the differences between cultures.
The ideas of cycles, rebirth, change, renewal, cleansing subtly sit on the page beside crimes, punishments, penances, and betrayal. Following 'Ram' through the story, following his ups and downs both within his family and at work it's clear that this unreliable protagonist is unbalanced. This, I found most believable, and was a credit to the author that as a reader I would keep reading about such a vile man and occasionally wondered if he could redeem himself and find peace.
Such an incredible book.
Being ignorant of modern Indian politics and history I did think about skipping some passages, but Akhil Sharma deftly guides the reader, showing the political parties, the bureaucracy, the socially accepted corruption and religious tensions as aspects of the overall story, placing the story firmly in a certain time and place.
Was 'Ram' a product of his generation?
Returning to the NYTimes review, the bi-line reads: A first novel focuses on an Indian bureaucrat whose life follows the path of least resistance. Personally, I don't agree with this seeing 'Ram' actively making decisions and shaping his own life and that of his family.
This is a novel I will be thinking about for some time.
Akhil Sharma's new novel is just out and made The New Yorker's 'Top 10 books for 2014. In a recent New Yorker article he spoke about the difficulties of writing his second novel and how it took him 12 years. I have no doubt that this too will be an incredible read, and will add it to my wishlist also.
Thank you again Edwardstreet.
Why I put this book on my wishlist, I have no idea, but after hearing the author Akhil Sharma on a podcast from The Ubud Writer's Festival I quickly dragged this off my bookshelf to read over the holidays.
Having no idea what the book was about, and pulling it out of my beach bag to read last month on the sand I groaned audibly when I realised where the story was going. Generally not what I choose to read - especially on holidays.
But, stuck a bookmark in this and continued to read once I got home. And, I am glad that I did.
This book and it's author have won several awards and after reading this review the structure of the story made more sense. Parts of the book had been published as short stories.
The review is rather harsh, in my opinion and overall the story follows the members of a family after an heinous crime has been committed - repeatedly. Told in the first person I particularly preferred 'Anita's' passages, and did find myself flicking forward to see when the story would change voices again. The majority of the story is told by 'Ram', and in hindsight I would have liked a little less from him. The final passage is told in the third person, following 'Kusum' and this worked really well. While I would have tinkered with the perspective I disagree that it feels hurried, composed of a patchwork of brilliant moments strung together by an often lackluster story line.
And isn't Akhil Sharma incredible? He deserves all those awards, and clearly he's worked hard as a writer and craftsman. According to wikipedia he's not only an investment banker, but has studied as a writer at both Princeton and Stanford. Wow! And some of the writers he studied under...!
There are more then a few 'brilliant moments' and several times as a reader I marvelled at how as a writer he cleverly expressed little tid-bits that a Western reader perhaps would not be familiar with. There is a passage (which I cannot find now in the book, and wish I had read it as an e-book now - so much easier to search) where Ram is reading a holy book and a god instructs a man that he's responsible for his actions, but not the repercussions. A viewpoint and idea that I had not encountered before, but adds obviously to the story and highlights the differences between cultures.
The ideas of cycles, rebirth, change, renewal, cleansing subtly sit on the page beside crimes, punishments, penances, and betrayal. Following 'Ram' through the story, following his ups and downs both within his family and at work it's clear that this unreliable protagonist is unbalanced. This, I found most believable, and was a credit to the author that as a reader I would keep reading about such a vile man and occasionally wondered if he could redeem himself and find peace.
Such an incredible book.
Being ignorant of modern Indian politics and history I did think about skipping some passages, but Akhil Sharma deftly guides the reader, showing the political parties, the bureaucracy, the socially accepted corruption and religious tensions as aspects of the overall story, placing the story firmly in a certain time and place.
Was 'Ram' a product of his generation?
Returning to the NYTimes review, the bi-line reads: A first novel focuses on an Indian bureaucrat whose life follows the path of least resistance. Personally, I don't agree with this seeing 'Ram' actively making decisions and shaping his own life and that of his family.
This is a novel I will be thinking about for some time.
Akhil Sharma's new novel is just out and made The New Yorker's 'Top 10 books for 2014. In a recent New Yorker article he spoke about the difficulties of writing his second novel and how it took him 12 years. I have no doubt that this too will be an incredible read, and will add it to my wishlist also.
Thank you again Edwardstreet.
September 6, 2009
The write-up on the back of the edition that I read describes Sharma's protagonist as a bit of a Dostoevskyian anti-hero. This makes sense: Sharma gives us a corrupt, alcoholic, child-molesting bureaucrat as the vehicle through which most of the story is told. And—call me old fashioned—this makes the story just that much harder to get through; any time you have a protagonist so wretched, so miserable, so abhorrent that you are viscerally—even physically—angered by them... Well, good luck finishing; you're unlikely to enjoy the story.
So where does that leave us? Is this worth reading? Yes, perhaps.
The catch is that there is a fine line between what's gratuitous and what is simply graphic. Fortunately, Sharma gets all (or at least most) of this out of the way in the first 50 pages or so. But you may find that you need a strong stomach to get through those first 3 or so chapters. That said, if it weren't for chapter 2 {†}, I might have abandoned it.
At the heart of this story is a tale of the consequences that follow corruption and moral ambiguity. It is gripping and powerful at moments but kind of shambling and listless at others.
---
† = Sadly (and confusingly) one of only two where the first-person narrator is not Ram; and that final dangling chapter in the third-person... how does that fit in?
So where does that leave us? Is this worth reading? Yes, perhaps.
The catch is that there is a fine line between what's gratuitous and what is simply graphic. Fortunately, Sharma gets all (or at least most) of this out of the way in the first 50 pages or so. But you may find that you need a strong stomach to get through those first 3 or so chapters. That said, if it weren't for chapter 2 {†}, I might have abandoned it.
At the heart of this story is a tale of the consequences that follow corruption and moral ambiguity. It is gripping and powerful at moments but kind of shambling and listless at others.
---
† = Sadly (and confusingly) one of only two where the first-person narrator is not Ram; and that final dangling chapter in the third-person... how does that fit in?
November 13, 2015
This is a very well written book, but the author puts the reader in a place where they don't want to be, inside the mid of a pedophile. Most of the book is told form his point of view, he collects bribes for a living, and is hiding from the fact that he molested his daughter as a young girl. Occasionally the story switches and is told from his daughters point of view, which I found quite disconcerting.
There is also a backstory of corruption in India's political system, and how the main character get caught up in betrayal as he tries to position himself in the best (i.e. most profitable) position.
I would definitely read more from Akhil Sharma
There is also a backstory of corruption in India's political system, and how the main character get caught up in betrayal as he tries to position himself in the best (i.e. most profitable) position.
I would definitely read more from Akhil Sharma
November 27, 2013
ERC Book Club, June 2004 selection
Boring ... especially regarding Indian politics which the author assumes the reader might have an inkling of what's going on. The father and daughter were both not enviable and dissatisfying. You would think the reader would identify or empathize with the daughter who was raped. Instead I felt more sad for the father and distaste for the daughter who gained nothing for herself in telling the truth. The ending was abrupt and, like the rest of book, went absolutely nowhere. -- eps, 06/21/04
December 31, 2008
Ugh. I am still sick to my stomach from reading HALF of this book.
I just want to say ONE THING.
In the way that I am against gratuitious sex and violence on stage as it is jarring---
I feel that same way about written descriptions of molestation.
There is something good I am sure in this book, but when i reached the point where i disengaged and felt my soul and psyche being damaged i closed the book and put it back on the shelf.
I just want to say ONE THING.
In the way that I am against gratuitious sex and violence on stage as it is jarring---
I feel that same way about written descriptions of molestation.
There is something good I am sure in this book, but when i reached the point where i disengaged and felt my soul and psyche being damaged i closed the book and put it back on the shelf.
September 24, 2015
When books are really good, as this one was, it's hard for me to think of anything to say about them - it's always so much easier to criticize, haha. But yeah, amazing and emotionally devastating. Be forewarned though that it's mostly told through the voice of a child molester, so reading this is a pretty intense emotional commitment! It's worth it though.
January 19, 2018
Finally finished reading this book and I just don't know how to react.. It made me angry, cringe on the situations, irritated by the choices that the main character made and had me on the edge of my seat when he was being unmasked off his wrong doings.. Definitely worth a read.
I'll have a detailed review of this book on my channel www.youtube.com/c/jasminedayal very soon.
I'll have a detailed review of this book on my channel www.youtube.com/c/jasminedayal very soon.
April 3, 2023
The author may have his reasons for writing this book, but the main character is so utterly despicably hateful and disgusting that there is no saving this book. Do not bother. Utterly contemptible. If you want to feel awful, read this book. I hated it so much I left it behind while traveling. Just to put many miles between me and it. Should have put a warning on it. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. ZERO stars.
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