Monday, February 21, 2011

wolf hall - hilary mantel


This Booker Prize winning story is truly one of the   most exciting novels on Henry the VIII. Like most people I 've been fascinated by the life and times of Henry VIII, this book offers a ring side view of the people who made those times remarkable.

The story revolves around Thomas Cromwell - the most influential man between 1530-40. He is shown to be very astute, able to work under the Cardinal Wolsely and Henry VIII. Cromwell manages the transition of England from Catholicism to Protestantism, arranging the marraige of his King to Anne Boleyn and also to come out on top of all the intrigues of court in those tumultous times. In the book, Cromwell tries unsuccessfully to ensure that Thomas More shows support for the decision of Henry VIII to break away from the Papacy in Rome and accept Anne Boleyn as Queen. 

On the personal front he is a warm and caring man with the interests of his dependents always on his mind. Such a rich and full life so captivatingly described!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

the gospel according to jesus christ - jose saramago

this is an unusual book on christ that i have recently read. it has a distinct narrative style, which i subsequently wanted to emulate. in the book, there are no chapter numbers or names. there is no punctuation except the comma and the full stop. the comma is used to indicate start and end of conversations, thoughts that the characters have and the description of the places.

it describes the life of christ as a very ordinary individual with just a passion for seeking God. But even in that pursuit it shows Christ to be full of doubts. The narrative of Christ's life with his parents, with his siblings, in a civilisation which is struggling under the yoke of the Romans is so vivid that it is necessary to continuously remind oneself- this is a book on THE Jesus Christ. There is nothing so sacred or so profane that it it becomes out-of-bounds for discussion in the book.

There is also a chapter devoted to a brilliant conversation between the Devil and God himself. This is the forty days when Christ was lost in the mists of the Sea of Galilee.This chapter where Christ speaks to God, with the Devil also invited, is a very thought provoking one. In the course of the discussion, the Devil proposes that for the word of God to spread to all corners of earth, God should receive the Devil into his heavenly kingdom, redeem the Devil's past offences by those he would not commit in the future, that God should also accept and preserve the Devil's obedience as it was in the happy days when the Devil was one of god's chosen angels -Lucifer. however God refuses the offer and tells the Devil that it is inconcevable that Good can exist without the Devil, the death of one would mean the death of the other, and that unless the Devil lived like the Devil, God cannot live like God.
God also predicts the manner in which Jesus Christ and his followers will die, as well as hundreds of thousands of people through the centuries who would be put to death because they believe in God - not because they will doubt Him. And the Devil says that one has to be God to enjoy so much bloodshed.

What i liked the most is the candid manner in which the foundations of christianity are discussed and questioned. there is no feeling of awe in the prescence of God which inhibits one's thought. It reminds me of the genius poet Kalidas, who prayed to Godess Kali till she appeared before him and offered him a boon. Kalidasa then said that he wanted both wit and wealth to make his way in the world, pleased by his boldness, Kali called him a 'vikatakavi' and granted him two boons instead of one.

a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in Jesus Christ.

Friday, February 18, 2011

juliet, naked - nick hornby

this book was an easy read by nick hornby.
i started reading this author after seeing the movie 'about a boy' which is based on a book by the same name.
juliet, naked- is about a musician -Tucker Crowe-who suddenly disappears from public life at the peak of his popularity.
a woman Annie, who works at a museum and is not too happy with her job, her live in boy-friend Duncan, her lack of a child... It is actually Duncan who is devoted to all things Tucker-Crowe and the book begins with Annie and Duncan visiting the house where Tucker was last seen. Duncan also runs a website on Tucker- famous songs, concerts, last sighted, fan following and any trivia that can be collected from round the world on Tucker. 
the novelty of the book lies in the lucid description of Tucker Crowe's life and the  loneliness of the three main characters-annie, duncan and tucker. Annie's life gets enmeshed with that of Tucker and she falls out with Duncan with whom she has shared her life for 15 long years. 
Despite the fact that Tucker has slipped out of public life, he continues to have women  fall in love with him, share their lives with him and he also has chidren with them...multiple serial live-in relationships, without the formal bondage offered by marraige.
The part that i found the most interesting is when Tucker is in hospital after a mild heart attack and his entire life congregates- his past girl friends with his children, his child from his current girl friend and Annie.
Nick Hornby has been able to highlight through Tucker, Annie and Duncan, a deep rooted need that we have for attention, respect and affection. It is done in the context of current day society which places a premium on individual freedom, sexual liberty and the Internet age. All great achievements in our world today but sadly flawed as we see in the lives of Annie, Duncan and Tucker.