tales of Suchita

There used to be a time in my life where I could read an 800-page book in two and a half days. Kudos to her but what the heck were you thinking girl? Now, it’s a given that I will take a minimum of five to seven business days to complete a book, irrespective of its length.

BUT. I did read five books this year in under two days and here is what I think about them.

1. #1: The Comeback by Annie Zaidi
2. #2: At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop, Anna Moschovakis (Translator)
3. #3: Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
4. #4: I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, Ros Schwartz (Translator)
5. #5: For the Love of Apricots by Madhulika Liddle

#1: The Comeback by Annie Zaidi

Time taken to read: 1.5 days

What’s it about: It’s about a lot of things starting with friendship and how we often taken advantage of our closest friends. It’s about theatre and the bond you develop when you share a creative pursuit. Themes like authenticity, jealousy, self-aggrandization, marriage, parental love and how far you’ll go to get back the approval of someone you admire are also explored in this book.

What did I think? This was a quick read and Annie Zaidi is an exceptional writer. The flow was so effortless that I was already towards the end of the book before I realized I was reading it. I was oddly charmed by the story and yet it answered none of my questions, had no arc to speak of or a final punch which really aggravated me.

Is it worth your time? If theatre is something you like or what it takes to stick to your principles in the face of odds, then definitely give this book a read.

#2: At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop, Anna Moschovakis (Translator)

Time taken to read: A few hours (I listened to the Audiobook while reading the book)

What’s it about: This story is narrated from the point of view of Ndiaye, a Senegalese soldier from World War 1. He feels guilty for not showing mercy to Mademba, a fellow soldier and friend, when he asked Ndiaye to kill him and end his suffering. This leads to a downward spiral where Ndiaye starts to mete out his own sense of justice to the “blue-eyed” soldiers he meets on the battlefield.

What did I think? This is a gruesome, graphic tale of what happens during war. While the war-torn land and trenches are compared to women’s bodies, it was interesting to read the objectification of men’s bodies as well. Just like a family slash man’s honour resides in the purity of women’s bodies, this book explores the strength, patriotism, victory and honour of a country slash land residing in the virility of men’s bodies.

It was sad, lyrical and never before have I read about a war so stripped of its valour, grandeur and chest thumping.

Is it worth your time? Only if gore, violence and disturbing details about war don’t trouble you.

#3: Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

Time taken to read: About 2 days

What’s it about: In Sci-Fi parlance, this book is about humanity’s contact with an unexplained BDO i.e. Big Dumb Object. Humans have conquered space and one fine day, a foreign object is detected in space that is dubbed Rama. Though the object has made no attempts to communicate, a team of astronauts is corralled to go meet it.

What did I think about it? I loved the careful and respectful way the team of astronauts enter Rama’s otherworldly domain. It is an almost documentary-style exploration of what they discover (or don’t discover).

Is it worth your time? Absolutely. This is classic Sci-Fi, immensely readable and it restores your faith in humanity, simply because the captain of the team commands and demands respect as they explore Rama.

#4: I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, Ros Schwartz (Translator)

Time taken to read: A few hours

What’s it about: This is the story of an unnamed protagonist who has been imprisoned since she was a baby. She shares a prison with other women of varying ages and the book is written in the form of a diary that lends itself a realism that can feel quite spooky. Since all of her memories are contained within four walls, her only lens of how to self-regulate are the women and the fact she has never had a conversation with men, forget about any form of intimacy.

What did I think? It was absurd. It tested my patience for a time but it was a fascinating read, especially since our protagonist does not have the usual filters we develop since we’re a part of society.

Is it worth your time? If you like absurd books that begin nowhere and go nowhere. Read it for its sheer audacity. It is a thought experiment to showcase how little rules mean (in terms of the gender roles you play) but at the same time, how important community and companionship is for humans.

#5: For the Love of Apricots by Madhulika Liddle

Time taken to read: One and a half days

What’s it about: The story explores how love can develop between two seemingly different individuals who have not been so lucky in love (Vikas and Nandini) against the backdrop of a mountain town, achars and jams, and the meddling but well-meaning interferences of their support staff.

What did I think about it? This is a well-loved book that did not work for me at all. I was bored. I disliked almost everything about Vikas and Nandini. I especially disliked how certain attributes were shamed like being simple is better than dressing up and caring for fashion, crying in a dignified way as opposed to sobbing or howling and being a career woman as opposed to raising kids.

Is it worth your time? Well I wouldn’t recommend this book since it didn’t work for me. But if you’re curious, go for it.

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This is written as part of #BlogchatterHalfMarathon