“The societies, culture, and traditions of countries like Tibet, Pakistan, India and others are becoming diluted by western influences,” this has long been the grievance of many patriots and thinkers. Echoing this reflection, the mutability of cultural boundaries is a familiar theme in Pankaj Mishra’s works, as in his latest book “Temptations of the West: How To Be Modern in India, Pakistan, Tibet and Beyond,” which raises several questions about the cultural, political and social upheavals currently taking place in Southern Asia.
Mishra, an erudite intellectual in this book, his fifth one to date, identifies the more important issues that have risen out of such intense cultural change. From the pressures and temptations presented by Western style modernity, the lure of prosperity, and the paradoxical nature of globalization, as both an agent for change and an eraser of cultural history, Mishra astutely juggles the ever increasing number of problems currently facing the people of Southern Asia.
From Bollywood stardom it’s mafia and it’s financiers, to India’s post-independence politics, to the troubled state of Kashmir, to packaging Tibetan Buddhism to tourists, Mishra furnishes a vivid picture of modern India and it’s counterparts, that is straightforward and candid while at the same time describing the real life human beings who struggle to understand their constantly changing way of life.
His references to Muslim insurgency, his declaration that Hinduism in the hands of these Indians has never looked more like the Christianity and Islam of popes and mullahs and less like the multiplicity of unselfconsciously tolerant faiths it still is for most Indians, might infuriate many Indian readers, not to mention those of the middle class that seek Western endorsement.
The toughest of critics though have been captivated by Mishra’s latest book, which is partly autobiographical in nature. John Gray of the “Guardian” encapsulates Mishra’s latest book perfectly, “Like his study of the Buddha this is a genre-bending book. It begins autobiographically with an account of Mishra's time as an unofficial student, reading voraciously in the decaying libraries of a run-down Indian university, and continues with his adventurous travels throughout India, Kashmir, Pakistan and Tibet.” Ben Macintyre of the New York Times is all praise as well, “Mishra has a talent for discovering such extraordinary, even lurid characters to illuminate his account of dashed dreams, clashing religions, huge wealth, crushing poverty, corruption, oppression and, almost unbelievably, hope.”
While one may argue that Mishra, since he lives in India part of the time and in London for the other art, is not really an insider, his writing has always been inspiring and thought provoking. Temptations of the West, though angry and passionate, is insightful and eloquent. His vivid and lyrical language, make his experiences all the more rich and exotic. This is a book about history in the making and about a conflicted world, which is explained lucidly by a writer with an analytic mind and the skills of a journalist.
Reviewed by Visi Tilak
for those who love good prose... Suprose aims to encourage and support literature, authors, books and audiences of SA prose. Think of this as a watering hole where conversations begin and friendships develop.
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Why Su-prose? "Su" in Sanskrit is a prefix for "good". This is a place where we will discuss and analyze prose (with a South Asian Connection) - that which is good, awesome, excellent, and maybe rant about prose that could be better.
Whether you love prose, are a prose expert, or want to learn more about prose, or to put it simply want to have anything to do with prose, this blog is for you.
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Friday, July 27, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Splendid Reading For A Thousand Suns And Beyond
Khaled Hosseini’s second novel,“A Thousand Splendid Suns” debuted as the #1 book in the nation, and it held the top position for four straight weeks. In addition to being #1 on The New York Times hardcover fiction list, it was also #1 on nearly every national bestseller list, including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, Publishers Weekly, and Fort-Wayne Journal-Gazette.
At the axis of a nation that is changing politically and socially, in the midst of carnage and bloodshed, two women from completely different backgrounds, develop a strong relationship that even death cannot do apart. This is the story that is told in a Thousand Splendid Suns, a touching, emotional tale of a friendship that grows stronger in the heart of a nation that falls apart and tries to rebuild itself.
Mariam, a “Harami”, illegitimate daughter of a wealthy businessman from Herat, is forced into marriage with a much older shoemaker from Kabul. Mariam’s mother has recently committed suicide, something she blames herself for. After coming to terms with her marriage, she fails to bear her heavyset husband, Rasheed a child. The relationship between Rasheed and Mariam becomes abusive and highly matter-of- fact in the midst of a changing Afghanistan.
Laila, a neighbor’s child whom Rasheed and Mariam have watched growing up, loses her love and her siblings and parents to the war and fighting. Having been brought up in an intellectual environment she is saved by Mariam and Rasheed, whom she eventually agrees to marry for reasons that are only known to her.
Two women from two completely different backgrounds and of very different upbringing are thrown together in the middle of war. They suffer the oppression of their husband, the fighting and political environment together. Though Laila and Mariam begin their relationship as co-wives with hostility, it wanes quickly and becomes an eternal companionship that goes beyond mortality.
Hossieni’s first book, The Kite Runner, which is still on the top ten list, is about the relationship between fathers and sons. His second book is about the relationship between two Afghani women, told magnificently and succinctly in simple and effortless prose by a skilled storyteller, while interweaving the factual history of a besieged nation in the background.
A Thousand Splendid Suns went back to press almost daily its first week on sale, building to 1,255,000 copies in print in the U.S. Rolling into its second week, the book continued to fly out of stores, with another 150,000 more copies printed. Now in its sixth week, the current in-print total for A Thousand Splendid Suns is over 1,400,000; and growing…
Visi Tilak is an award winning writer who lives in Ashland, MA
At the axis of a nation that is changing politically and socially, in the midst of carnage and bloodshed, two women from completely different backgrounds, develop a strong relationship that even death cannot do apart. This is the story that is told in a Thousand Splendid Suns, a touching, emotional tale of a friendship that grows stronger in the heart of a nation that falls apart and tries to rebuild itself.
Mariam, a “Harami”, illegitimate daughter of a wealthy businessman from Herat, is forced into marriage with a much older shoemaker from Kabul. Mariam’s mother has recently committed suicide, something she blames herself for. After coming to terms with her marriage, she fails to bear her heavyset husband, Rasheed a child. The relationship between Rasheed and Mariam becomes abusive and highly matter-of- fact in the midst of a changing Afghanistan.
Laila, a neighbor’s child whom Rasheed and Mariam have watched growing up, loses her love and her siblings and parents to the war and fighting. Having been brought up in an intellectual environment she is saved by Mariam and Rasheed, whom she eventually agrees to marry for reasons that are only known to her.
Two women from two completely different backgrounds and of very different upbringing are thrown together in the middle of war. They suffer the oppression of their husband, the fighting and political environment together. Though Laila and Mariam begin their relationship as co-wives with hostility, it wanes quickly and becomes an eternal companionship that goes beyond mortality.
Hossieni’s first book, The Kite Runner, which is still on the top ten list, is about the relationship between fathers and sons. His second book is about the relationship between two Afghani women, told magnificently and succinctly in simple and effortless prose by a skilled storyteller, while interweaving the factual history of a besieged nation in the background.
A Thousand Splendid Suns went back to press almost daily its first week on sale, building to 1,255,000 copies in print in the U.S. Rolling into its second week, the book continued to fly out of stores, with another 150,000 more copies printed. Now in its sixth week, the current in-print total for A Thousand Splendid Suns is over 1,400,000; and growing…
Visi Tilak is an award winning writer who lives in Ashland, MA
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