Reader's Paradise discussion

Update 2- Till now, our journey had been very beautiful. We found a suitable boy for Lata, although we couldn't find a suitable boy for Nirmala and we feel guilty about it for being a part of a society with double standards, but we met two remarkable boy in this our remarkable journey. They were Holden Caulfield and Bruno Wisitzki.

Update 1- After the wonderful journey of Malgudi Express, now we are searching a suitable boy for Lata.

Original -The Guide, masterpiece of R.K. Narayan.
Sahitya Akademi Award winner of 1960.
People are invited to join this wonderful, spiritual and unforgettable journey.

Read
1. The Guide by R.K. Narayan

Remark- Loved by both.
Average rating- (4+4)/2=4

2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Remark: A Goddam book that killed us.
Average rating- (4+4)/2=4

3. Nirmala by Munshi Premchand

Remark: We sympathised with Nirmala.
Average rating- (4+4)/2=4

4. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

Remark: This book taught us that finding a suitable boy is not THAT easy.
Average rating- (5+5)/2=5

5. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Remark: Ohh Bruno!!
Average rating- (4+3)/2=3.5

6. The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Remark:
Average rating- (4+4)/2=4

7. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Remark:
Average Rating- (3+3)/2=3

Currently-reading
1. The Man-Eater of Malgudi by R.K. Narayan

To-be-read (in no particular order)
1. Godan by Munshi Premchand
2. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
3. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
4. The Space Between Us

common tbr wishlist :
1. A Fine Balance
2. Premchand's works - Godan, Sevasadan....
3. Khushwant Singh's.
4. RKN's.
5. Interpreter of Maladies

Arpit's recommendations (non classics) :
1. Siddartha
2. Lajja
3. Between Shades of Gray
4. Goodbye Mr Chips
5. Of Mice and Men

Gorab's tbr:
Illicit Happiness of Others
Em and the Big Hoom
Gora
Sevasadan (not immediately)


Wishlist from Arpit's bingo challenge :
Fahrenheit 451
The Stranger
The Godfather
Waiting for the Mahatma

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My copy of The Guide has an introduction by Michael Gorra, and after reading the introduction, I feel it should have been at the end of the book (or totally not there). Who puts spoilers about the book by dissecting some of its themes in an intro??
Should have skipped it.
Anyways planning to read Chapter 1 today.
P.S. : Thanks Arpit for creating the thread.

Gorab wrote: "My copy has an introduction by Michael Gorra, and after reading the introduction, I feel it should have been at the end of the book (or totally not there). Who puts spoilers about the book by disse..."

The same thing happened with me when I was reading The Pearl. Again when I was trying to read Untouchable and I started with the introduction by E.M. Forster; now I don't want to read the book.
That's why I decided to skip 'introduction'.

Have you seen the movie?

Arpit wrote: "Have you seen the movie?"

In bits and pieces, never in a single sitting. Will watch it after the book. How about you?

Arpit wrote: "Gorab wrote: "My copy has an introduction by Michael Gorra, and after reading the introduction, I feel it should have been at the end of the book (or totally not there). Who puts spoilers about the..."

Lesson learnt : Whenever someone other than the author is writing introduction, better skip it! At least should not be read at the beginning of the book.
Lesson learnt the bitter way :(

Gorab wrote: "Arpit wrote: "Have you seen the movie?"

In bits and pieces, never in a single sitting. Will watch it after the book. How about you?"

Almost same. I remember a scene of Dev Anand with Waheeda Rehman (Did I spell them correct?) or maybe any other, not sure.
But I know the story because a columnist in my daily news paper usually talks about movies and books and without any warning gives spoilers. (I HATE him.)
He spoiled this book for me, also The Hungry Tide.

Now we both are spoiled.

Chapter 1 done.
I enjoy first person narration more than third person. (I feel more connected to central character.)
It's third but when he narrates his story, it's becomes first, so OK.

Whenever I hear about it or think about it, the very first thing which comes to my mind is Waheeda Rehman in her sky-blue saree, dancing and singing 'Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai, Aaj Phir.......'

Now let's see If I will be successful in imagining Rosie other than Waheeda Rehman.

Thankfully I don't remember much from the bits and pieces of movie that I saw. But still Dev Anand comes to mind for Raju.
I like the passive subtle narration style... for instance -> "Raju inspecting his beard and chin for he had his last shave couple of days before and paid with his hard-earned coins of jail life."
A nice way to hint he had his past in jail.

I'm also done with Chapter 1. Will be reading chap2 today.

If it is by RKN, it has got to be awesome :) :) Thanks Manasa.

@Arpit - Same pinch on liking 1st person narration more than 3rd.

On chapter 4. (tell me if I am too fast)

There is something missing in Little Raju, don't you think?
He's little DRY, when I compare him to Swami.
{I should not do this.I know, every character is unique.
He's not Swami that's why he's not like Swami.......But I can't help. Even (Lil) Raju's story is almost same to mine, (I, too, am a shopkeeper's son and when my father goes for his lunch, I have to sit in the shop and I'm always like "Papa, How much for 500gm almonds ?" ) but still something is missing or it's just me or it's just starting? }

What about you?

Gorab wrote: "If it is by RKN, it has got to be awesome :) :) Thanks Manasa."

No doubt.

Have you read Siddhartha? (sometimes Raju (older) reminds me of Siddhartha. Especially when he was talking about silence.)

I'm done with Chapter 2. Won't be able to read further today. But I'll catch up with you in a couple of days Arpit.

I don't see the character as dry. Rather I'd say Swami was more innocent, cute and naughty :P whereas Raju seems more mature... hardened by the ways of life. And much more cunning too. May be dry in the sense Swami used to do so much stuff whereas Raju is not that proactive.

When you told Raju's story same to yours, I thought you also served in prison :P just kidding!
I used to sit in my uncle's shop when I was a kid. It was a video library and thats how my exploration with movies and video games started :)

And I noticed your programming style of writing with proper syntax {... (...)......(....."...").. }
:D

I haven't read Siddartha and neither seen the Shashi Kapoor movie which I guess is based on Herman Hesse's work. What kind of book is that? Spiritual? Abstract?Or a simple story?

Haven't read the part where he talks about silence. And can't read further today because I forgot the book in office.

Gorab wrote: "I haven't read Siddartha and neither seen the Shashi Kapoor movie which I guess is based on Herman Hesse's work. What kind of book is that? Spiritual? Abstract?Or a simple story?

Haven't read the ..."

Well, it's philosophy. (I'm not interested in THAT movie, I mean how can you show the philosophy in movies? OK, maybe you can but it's not as impressive as in a book. )
It's a philosophical but simple story of spiritual journey of a man named Siddhartha (not Buddha, misleading cover and title).
Actually if you have a little knowledge of Hindu philosophy (which you have; your interest in Mahabharata shows it, right?), Buddhism and Jainism, then it's not that great.

Non-Indian will probably like it (and they do), but we live in a country of zillion religions and societies; each has their philosophy, ideology and morals and we face them daily, so the last thing we want 'more philosophy' from them.

But I'd recommend it. Hesse's lucid style makes it great.

Gorab wrote: "I'm done with Chapter 2. Won't be able to read further today. But I'll catch up with you in a couple of days Arpit.

I don't see the character as dry. Rather I'd say Swami was more innocent, cute a..."

Actually that was only about swami, so we had plenty of time to soak that character but it's just a fast-forward flashback, so we can't connect to Lil Raju as we connected with Swami. That's why, I think, I felt in that way. Maybe.

You can take your time, meanwhile I can complete Tom Sawyer.
And about that style, you are right. It's programming effect.

Arpit wrote: "Gorab wrote: "I haven't read Siddartha and neither seen the Shashi Kapoor movie which I guess is based on Herman Hesse's work. What kind of book is that? Spiritual? Abstract?Or a simple story?

Hav..."

Yes I have the basic understanding of Hindu philosophy, spiritual beliefs of Buddhism and minimalistic living style of Jainism. But I do like simple stories and would like to give it a try sometime.

On Chapter5 now... Here comes Rosie! And suddenly I'm getting all the flashbacks of Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman which I didn't even remember till now! Enjoying it immensely.

One doubt in Chapter3... regarding deal of hiring carriage. "I'll hand you two rupees a day and one rupee a month for the use of shed"
a bit confused here. Shouldn't it be 60 rupees a month? or may be 40... but surely much more than 1 rupee for a month?
Or is it (2X30 days + 1X1 month) 61 rupees per month. I know its irrelevant to the story....

Gorab wrote: "One doubt in Chapter3... regarding deal of hiring carriage. "I'll hand you two rupees a day and one rupee a month for the use of shed"
a bit confused here. Shouldn't it be 60 rupees a month? or ma..."

Second option is right.
Once my father proposed the same scheme for a person to handle our shop.
A certain amount monthy (here 20*3=60) plus a certain rent (here 1 rs. per month.)
Totalling 61.

Not serious-
You know you is the biggest Narayan fan?
Guess who...
It's Narad.
(Bad joke, isn't it?)

Arpit wrote: "Not serious-
You know you is the biggest Narayan fan?
Guess who...
It's Narad.
(Bad joke, isn't it?)"

LOL!

Arpit wrote: "Gorab wrote: "One doubt in Chapter3... regarding deal of hiring carriage. "I'll hand you two rupees a day and one rupee a month for the use of shed"
a bit confused here. Shouldn't it be 60 rupees ..."

You seem to have gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom from your father's shop :)

Gorab wrote: "You seem to have gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom from your father's shop :)
"

Oh, thanks. It's a great experience to meet new and different people (customers) daily.
But they (customers) don't like me. I give no discount (If it's 731, then it's 731. No. 730 won't do. While my father would accept even 720. And I don't talk to them, the same way our lil Raju doesn't and my father knows each and every customer and always listens to them.) so they, generally, HATE me.

I'll complete Tom Sawyer today (75% done) so I can give more time to our Guide.
Tom Sawyer is definitely a five star.

I hate shops where you have to do bargaining and prefer fixed price shops. Wonder how the shopkeepers keep themselves sane with every 2nd customer trying for a hefty bargain! Including me because I think I'm greedy :D

I should be done with Chapter 7 before I sleep. And I feel Marco is intentionally letting these two mingle for he wants to get rid of Rosie! Or may be those are not his intentions and he's just being indifferent as portrayed.

You are fast. I'm on 6 chapter. I have to pause it because tomorrow is my exam, so I'll continue it after my exam. OK?

Rosie was a Devdasi, according to description?

Gorab wrote: "I should be done with Chapter 7 before I sleep. And I feel Marco is intentionally letting these two mingle for he wants to get rid of Rosie! Or may be those are not his intentions and he's just being indifferent as portray..."

This book introduced me to Marco Polo.
Well, I know the reason for this behaviour of our Marco, but I'm not sure about it because ages have passed when I read the story of Guide (the movie) in newspaper, so you have to wait (but I don't) to know the actual reason.

And I'm not able to digest his whole sainthood chapter.
If he's just acting, then people should not be THAT idiot.
He just came from jail and now people are treating him like a SAINT without knowing about him or his past.
Jail-life gave him wisdom or what?

Arpit wrote: "You are fast. I'm on 6 chapter. I have to pause it because tomorrow is my exam, so I'll continue it after my exam. OK?"

All the best for the exams Arpit! Which subject? Used to hate exams in college days but now I kinda miss them dearly! Nostalgic.... and here I started talking like an old man :D

Arpit wrote: "Rosie was a Devdasi, according to description?"

Whats a Devdasi? Family of courtesans?
The funny thing about the sainthood part is it almost looks like non fiction to me! Yes indeed I have seen people who are THAT idiot. Consider this, most of the people don't know about background of saints... and there are real life cases where a famous saint was later discovered to be a convict in India!
See this for instance : https://robertpriddy.wordpress.com/20...

To be a real saint needs lots of wisdom, patience, knowledge and what not. However, to pretend to be a saint needs a much more cunning and convoluted mind! If you see how he became a guide, Raju was cunning from the beginning.

I will surely wait and read Chapter 8 with you when you are done with your exams. No hurries.

Well, I know that you've already googled it but if you didn't read the whole page, then...

In South India, a devadasi (Sanskrit: servant of deva (god) or devi (goddess) ) is a girl "dedicated" to worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. The dedication takes place in a Pottukattu ceremony which is similar in some ways to marriage.

Yeah, married to God, but a public woman, strange, ain't it?
This tradition is now not-so-popular and almost dead but still in some places it's so horrible.
They are, usually, illiterate, so they can't question the authority.
Girl can't marry to anybody after being a Devadasi and people, usually priests and trusties of temples, use them.
Did I use the word 'USE'?
Yeah, because they are treated like a thing.
I read about them in newspaper articles, especially Sudha Murty works for them.

Gorab wrote: "Arpit wrote: "You are fast. I'm on 6 chapter. I have to pause it because tomorrow is my exam, so I'll continue it after my exam. OK?"

All the best for the exams Arpit! Which subject? Used to hate ..."

Well, I'm a CSE student and subject is OOPs.
Nostalgic....hmm...in the same way I feel about my school-days, now?

That article, you provided, is really long, though I checked some. I've no problem with any other but I really trust OSHO. I've read a little by him but his philosophy is the only one I agree with. And I don't think he should be labelled as a Hindu saint. BTW you know he was Jain.

Cunning, indeed, he was but this all happened too fast. He became guide; Narayan told us how but it didn't satisfy me. He just wrote that by reading and by helping the customers, he became Guide but he didn't told us why. for money? for passion? for an alternative business? I'm satisfied with Guide Raju but lil Raju or Shopkeeper Raju were not described adequately.
I think this book must be long so each character could have his own time.

Just wondering, what if Khushwant Singh wrote this?
1. Maybe during the end of chapter 5 (where Raju enters in Rosie's room) and starting of chapter 6, there would be one more chapter depicting what happened inside.

2. I think Raju's portrayal would be more detailed. (I love his characters especially in I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale)

Arpit wrote: "Yeah, married to God, but a public woman, strange, ain't it?"...
... Did I use the word 'USE'?

(married to God) + (God resides in everyone) => Public woman!
Hence proved :P
Jokes apart, its a pity these traditions still exist and such women are being abUSEd :(

Arpit wrote: "subject is OOPs"

OOPS (along with Data Structures, and Software Engineering) are the subjects which still comes handy in my day to day IT life... and I'm into IT for 8 years now!

Arpit wrote: "in the same way I feel about my school-days, now? "
Yes. But to me college exams are more memorable for I stayed in a hostel and we used to have combined study sessions... which were way more fun than studying alone at home in school days :)

Arpit wrote: "That article, you provided, is really long, though I checked some. I've no problem with any other but I really trust OSHO. I've read a little by him but his philosophy is the only one I agree with...."

I am nobody to comment on authenticity of these allegations. The point is its not strange (atleast to me) for a saint to have a criminal past. And I lay more importance to the philosophy rather than whom it is coming from - be it a reputed saint or my neighbor next door. I don't know much about Osho and haven't read any of his works.

Arpit wrote: "I'm satisfied with Guide Raju but lil Raju or Shopkeeper Raju were not described adequately.
I think this book must be long so each character could have his own time."

Same pinch. Would have loved if the book was longer to soak in more with the characters. And we discussed that while comparing Raju with Swamy that lil Raju was not as proactive as Swamy... who would have known that one day lil Raju was going to indeed become a Swami :)

Arpit wrote: "Just wondering, what if Khushwant Singh wrote this?
1. Maybe during the end of chapter 5 (where Raju enters in Rosie's room) and starting of chapter 6, there would be one more chapte..."

HA HA HA Big LOL on point 1. And true also! :D
It would be like a chef (Singh) famous for spicy Punjabi items is given to cook the rustic Dal Rice recipe of another chef (Narayan).... result would be Dal Rice with spicy Tadka!!

Haven't read Nightingale.

Gorab wrote: "Arpit wrote: "Yeah, married to God, but a public woman, strange, ain't it?"...
... Did I use the word 'USE'?

(married to God) + (God resides in everyone) => Public woman!
Hence proved :P
Jokes ap..."

Lol.You are very clever with words. What do those victorians say?
Yes! Witty. Indeed, you are a witty person.

Gorab wrote: "Arpit wrote: "subject is OOPs"

OOPS (along with Data Structures, and Software Engineering) are the subjects which still comes handy in my day to day IT life... and I'm into IT for 8 years now!

Ar..."

Oh! I'm missing that fun. I don't live in a Hostel (though I lived when I was in Kota *now it's nostalgic*).
I live in a PG.

Gorab wrote: "HA HA HA Big LOL on point 1. And true also! :D
It would be like a chef (Singh) famous for spicy Punjabi items is given to cook the rustic Dal Rice recipe of another chef (Narayan).... result would be Dal Rice with spicy Tadka!!
"

Oh! you just made my point more clear, in a general way.
Dal Rice with Spicy Tadka:D:DXD

BTW read this

Of the many novelists I read, the two who impressed me most were Aldous Huxley and Somerset Maugham. I wished I could evolve the Huxleyan turn of phrase and malicious wit with Maugham’s ability to hold the reader’s attention. But, to be quite honest, what inspired me to write were not great authors but the second-raters, mainly Indians, who had been published in England and the United States. I read Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao and R.K. Narayan. I felt that I could write as well as they, and if they could be published abroad, so would I. I was not far wrong in my self-estimate.

From Truth, Love and a Little Malice by Khushwant Singh
Second-raters??? Yes, and this is the second time he wrote such things about the-early-indian-english-novelist-trio. The first one was in his other book The Good, the Bad and the Ridiculous.

He was really a bold person and that's what I love about him.
'Spicy' really suits him.
(Although Mr. Singh you can't change my thought about Mr. Narayan. I really like his work.)

BTW, do you know about 'Misguide Guide'?
Well, RKN did not, usually, allow his books to turn into a movie, but he did it for 'The Guide'. He was very excited, but when the movie released, it didn't do well on Box-office in its starting, so RKN became so angry that he wrote a column for a newspaper (IDK which one.) thrashing the movie, named 'Misguide Guide'.
Although later the movie did very well becoming a CLASSIC in Indian cinema.
After completing the book and watching the movie (probably), I'll read that. RKN thrashing something!! Wow, it'll be exciting.

On the middle of chapter 7-
I don't see any feeling from Rosie's side. Raju is crazy for her but her feelings....I doubt.
I think she just wants to live her life fully, wants a company, an admirer of her dance or just physical intimacy. That's why she is TRAPPING Raju.
Oh, Rosie! you are very complex to understand, like other women.

Arpit wrote: "Lol.You are very clever with words. What do those victorians say?
Yes! Witty. Indeed, you are a witty person."

:) thx