Tuesday, July 28, 2009

SHANTARAM & KITE RUNNER

Lately i have been reading many books, but I just loved these two books , so I want to share my views.......
SHANTARAM.....

I was delighted when somebody gifted this book to my son, as it has been on my to read list for a long time. Initially when I started reading it,I was a little skeptical It was like...a criminal is writing such holistic things, but slowly it grows on you. This is about Bombay , actually India as seen from the eyes of a foreigner and its a lovely description of very little things and how we as a Indian react to so many things. This is the account of a person whose love for India comes through in every line, but mind it, he is not dreaming anything, it is as realistic as our life in itself. This is what I loved. The Slumdog millionaire's account of slums and everything about India came as is India seen by people who deride it,and dislike it. But here a person writes about reality..what he felt and experienced when he came here. And he says India is all heart...so true.There is this one thing..like if abroad someone appreciates any guide or taxi driver, they will just give a smile, say thank you and will go on with their life, but here in India, they try to be helping and want to do something for you. The writer lived in slums, opened a clinic there, worked with underworld, saw so many rackets running here, but he found many good people here..good at heart..be it Prabhakar, the guide or his family, or the people in slums or even in underworld.
Its a very interesting book from many perspectives...the way writer has analysed the honor and virtue, complexities in our day to day behaviours, and the thoughts and working of a human mind... a very readable book...interesting as well as stimulating one's mind also.

KITE RUNNER

I was finding that this book was recommended by all of my blog readers and I was very curious to read this. So when I found it at my sister's place, I didnt miss the chance. It is based in troubled Afghanistan and is very interesting account of loyalty and love. Basically these type of books i find very interesting for two reasons...one I get to know the culture and lifestyle of different countries and then we come to know that core values are same everywhere wherever one lives. The protagonist here is very human with all the frailities and weeknesses which come with this but he is a good human being also, and this is what redeems him in the end.

28 comments:

moon said...

Then you should read his other book, A thousand Splendid Suns....

Jayashree said...

I found Kite Runner very touching too....do read A thousand splendid suns....it is by the same author and just as good.

Renu said...

Sunder: oh I read it before this, and that one is splendid, just too good, and I am very much affected by that book:)

Renu said...

Jayshree: I have read it and that is really a very good book, better than even Kite runner, I loved that.

Amrita said...

Have read both and like both of them a lot.. both are in my orkut profile fav books list :D
this s what i said abt shantaram
http://cherriesblogs.blogspot.com/2007/05/shantaram.html

Jiggy said...

I started reading Shantaram , but left it after a 100 pages. It became too monotonous, with similar things repeated over and over again. But I am sure the book would have picked up pace later on.

I haven't read the Kite Runner, only saw the movie, and HATED it. But people say the book is really nice. Have read A Thousand Splendid Suns and it is amazing, as the other bloggers also say.

Renu said...

Amrita; Wah:) you read them long time back:), now going to read your views:)

REBEL: Most of these books pick up after 150 pages min.:), see its a very thick one some 950 pages:)..I found some really good, wise observations or surmises whatever. someday I am going to quote them also for posterity:)

Kite runner is good but not as much as thousand splendidi suns. And I am yet to see a movie doing justice to the book, except may be Name sake did a little, otherwise all i saw on....second lady. rage of angels, bourne identity,or the ones on bengali literature, seem to forget their name.

Anonymous said...

SHANTARAM - I tried hard to understand but may be I am weak in english language but yes, the synopsis typed by you impressed a lot.
Thankyou ! Thankyou ! Thankyou !

Renu said...

Hobo: hello..........you are from Mumbai, so me thinks u must have enjoyed more:)..I am curious now to know what you thought of the book?

Rush said...

anil has read both books and he loved shantaram, kite runner didnt gel with him he said.
and wat a coincidence, both have been turned into movies, shantaram still awaiting release!

Deeps said...

I have read Khaled Hosseini's Thousand Splendid Sons and I was moved to tears.I just love the way he wrote it so poignantly.I'm yet to read Kite Runner and its been recommended by quite a few of my other friends too.Will be picking it up soon for sure.
And Shantaram too.It sounds like an interesting read.

Thank you for the reviews,Renu :)

Sandhya said...

I have got 'Kite runner' with me. My niece recommended and as you said, many bloggers also mentioned about it. So will start reading it!

I read the review of 'Shantaram'. Will get it and read it sometime.

When are you coming back?

Sparkling said...

Hey Renu, are you back in India?

I want to read 'Shantaram' but the size of the book scares me.

I haven't read 'Kite Runner' but I read the book 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by the same author, and when you see Afghanistan thru' this book, it scares the hell out of you!

Renu said...

RUSH: I just hope that movie does the justice to the book and if they do, movie will be an interesting one to watch:)


Deeps: yes its a touching story..thousand splendid suns, kite runner is also good but not on the same label.
Shantaram is good for many reasons, biggest one is..its about Indians..Bombay and then its a real take on everything good or bad.


Sandhya: I will be back after one moth:)..how is namma Chennai?

Sparkling; hey you have changed the name, I was wondering who is this:) and then why i havent seen you for ages:)
Will be back in the end of Aug, presently enjoying the alps:)

yes the pages of Shantaram initially scared me also, but after 200 pages..you feel so engrossed that you cant leave it:)

Sparkling said...

Amazing!
You're the only one who recognised me instantly! ;)

Renu said...

How couldnt I:)? earlier you were still thinking and now you are SPARKLING, so what brought this change.i mean literally:)

Sandhya said...

Chennai is hot one day and the next day drizzling...! Has your husband joined you? In Switzerland, right?

Anonymous said...

I have the book with me but I never understand what he is trying to say and the book is too thick to read atleast for me who is not good in english and only understand plain simple english.

Renu said...

Sandhya: No:(, my husband couldnt come, as usual he couldnt get leave from his work:)

Hobo: If you have the book, read it, he is not trying to say anything, he is just describing what he saw and whom he met here and how life went.and in that description you get a lot of feeling about people and places and certain observations about the character of people here.........I mean it will sort of grow on you.

muthu said...

hmhm-

U should try -- the life of Pi by yann martel...

its one great read.

Renu said...

Muthu: Thanks for telli me, I have noted the title and will try to get it once I reach India.

Unknown said...

Hv always been a lil curious why Fiction gets much more acceptance & attention often..... even in some of my talks I hv observed the moment I mention .. There is a story like .... & the audience immediately comes to attention.. It seems Fiction attracts the attention naturally...

Jane said...

All the books mentioned in this commentary are pretty great stuff. Though I have to admit, Life of Pi, for me, was probably the least favourite of this lot...

Renu said...

sHADES oF gREY: glad to see you here after a long break:)....I am getting very curious now about life of Pi..must read it:)

Renu said...

Prafull: HI Prafull ! Welcome to my space !
Fiction gets attention only if it is based on reality.Total fiction is never very interesting or popular.

Unknown said...

Kiterunner is a fabulous book and its so engaging that you are into the story.I've heard some good things about Shantaram,would like to read that,too.

Renu said...

Sara: I agree:)..I really loved this book and couldnt stop till it was finished..and Shantaram is also good , try to read it.

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