Sunday, January 31, 2010

TWO STATES BY CHETAN BHAGAT

I bought Two States by Chetan Bhagat..and yesterdsay I started reading it..its so engrossing that I couldnt keep it down, had to finish it at one go..after a long time there is this book which I read till late at night.
His way of writing is so natrurla, and I read somewhere that he has made fun of south Indians..nothing like that,,infact north indians come out more as a shallow people. After rreading the book I loved Ananya the most..and then her parents, couldnt admire a single person of Krish family, even Krish doesnt come out so haloed as Ananya..how I would love to see a girl like that...she is a sooper:)..can you believe it that she has certain traits which I dislike but still I love her...cant get her out of my mind..she is a lovely person.

There are certain things everyone can identify with...

Boy's mother having a chip on her shoulder..about being groom's mother,

A girl bringing more dowry considered better:).(education and compatibility be damned)

Groom settled in US get more weightage.

Bride; earning more will get more respect.

many things one can relate to completely....like he writes..

Tamilians love to irritate non-Tamil speakers by speaking only in Tamil in front of them. This is the only silent rebellion in their otherwise repressed, docile personality.

But it is true with most of the people except north Indians may be, when I was in WB, wherever two bengali met, they will start chattering in bengali leaving me bewildered and isolated and the same happens with marathis also...I also sometimes feel like saying something in Hindi in conversation, but stops my self, but here on blog I take that liberty, so i am also equally guilty.

One of the fellow blooger Rich has dont the review..a detailed one and agree to her:)..you may read it here


Most of the characters in the book are well sketched..be it Bala, Ajay or the girls in Krissh's family. yesterday i read an article in TOI written by Chetan Bhagat on language issue..its worth reading, very well written.

All in all a good book and I will recommend to everyone...it gives us insight onto the life of IIM hostel life also:)

26 comments:

The Rustic Goddess said...

The book is just too good. Each character has been defined well.

Sandhya said...

Nicely reviewed! I have read two of his earlier books and liked the way he writes.

Will keep this in mind, Renu, thank you.

April said...

Renu, when we'll see each other some day..we'll start to talk in Sanskrit. Just kidding. :D But believe me..i know Sanskrit language a bit.
hmm..i'm eager to read Chetan Bhagat's novels. Thanks for pointing out.
Hope all is awesome with you my friend! :)

Chandni (Chanz) said...

I have read this book too.. And i loved it... Chetan Bhagat is too good... He is just too good.. :)

And yeah... I didnt like the way punjabi culture was portrayed... it was true but still dint like it.. No offense to any punjabis.. :)

Renu said...

Shalini: welcome here!..yes thats what I felt:)

Sandhya:...he is a fabulous writer.

April:..Glad to see you back!..Try him..he tells everything the way it is..no frills:)...feeling awesome after reading your comment:)

Chanz:..his three mistakes..I didnt like, but rest are good...

No community is good in toto, everyone has its own pros and cons:)

Ashish Gourav said...

I admire Chetan bhagat for coming up with easy to "finish-in-one-reading" books not once or twice but for the fourth consecutive time...

I too loved the character of Ananya

Amrita said...

I somehow feel Chetan Bhagat lacks any literary talent. He just puts his vaguest thoughts as he feels. I enjoyed the book but never liked it much somehow.

Sparkling said...

Well Renu, if you recommend, then I shall definitely consider coz his last book (3 mistakes of my life) didn't impress me in the least.

Renu said...

SPARKLING: OH i I recommend bigtime:)..even I hated that three mistakes, so didnt buy any more of his books, but its story line attracted me and when i read it..its awesome:)

Renu said...

Ashish: Welcome here! I have read his speech also and a few articles too, and he comes out as a very articulate man.plus pricing of his novels is also very moderate..having said that I would say that this one is worth a read independently...How I loved Ananya and if his wife is like that..he is a lucky man.

Renu said...

Amrita: is that so? did you read his speech at I think it was Symbiosis Pune? and his article in TOI?..He may not be a literary man, but writing an story where people can identify themselves and enjoy is also an art...plus his characters are very real and dont propagate vices..I like that about him.

Tara said...

I read it too and in one day .. His style keeps us addicted !

Jayashree said...

I like all of his books....all his characters are very much drawn from real life.

Renu said...

Tara:.exactly that..same way I feel too.

Jayashree:...That is his main plus point...I also like all is books except three mistakes.

Dreamer said...

I did not like CB's One night @ call center at all, so was a bit wary of this book. But this one seems to have got decent responses.

manju said...

Nice review, I will have to read the book now!

I liked 'Five Point Someone' but not 'One Night @ the Call Centre'. I think I shall like this one. :)

Jane said...

Though I always considered Bhagat to be a masala writer, Two States really made me laugh. I respect him for makng fun of BOTH cultures and bringing out areas where they clash in such a funny way. I wonder what his in-laws thought of all the sex scenes, especially as he dedicates the book to them :D A good read over all.

As for Tamilians speaking in Tamil around non-Tamilians - I have to say they are not the only guilty ones - it is probably the most comfortable language they have to express what they want to say. I have suffered equally with Hindi, Telugu and Kannada speakers.

Piper .. said...

Renu,
I`ll definitely get hold of the book now :) you`ve made me curious!:)
I`m still thinking of a way to reply to your previous post. Of course I have plenty to say :) most of it, disagreeing with your views :) but then you already know that, dont you? :)

SG said...

Since you have given a good review, I would buy this very soon.

Shrutzz said...

I loved the book too...amazing ...It just makes you imagine the charaters playing and relate so much to our daily life...

Infact I have loved reading all Chetan's book..

deeps said...

thanks a lot for that... havent picked it up yet...

bye the way, as for you had scribbled in my post.. not all are you ha? i guess there are poeple who want to live forever and there fore the brains are working to make something that will bring them that boon...

Renu said...

Dreamer:But i liked that one also:)..but this is a family drama and so totally different.

manju: I am yet to read .Five point someone..but I liked call centre one also, specially those calls from God.

Shades of grey: How happy I am to see you here after a long time:)...for speaking in your own language, that happens for every community:) as I have written in my post also:)..

By and large he has written in a very natural and unbiased way:)

Piper: tell me your views, I like disagreements:) and frank opinions, they give me also something to think plus I can elaborate more on my views also.

But Mishy basically all things apart..being a good human being only can solve everything in life.

SG: Looks like I must take a cur from Mr. Bhagat, as I am popularising his book..but its worth a buy.

Shrutzz;..to me its all very novel..that hostel life today..I love reading about that:)

deeps:..this is a good book for entertainment plus showing the way to people in love:)
I believe in the quality, not quantity of life.

Urmi said...

You have given a very nice review. I read this book and liked it very much. Wonderful post.
The house made of bottle ofcourse works and it is located at Rhyolite, Nevada.

Kanupriya said...

Me too read the book & loved it...Its hilarious and so relatable.
BTW nice blog template :)

Anonymous said...

I loved first 3 books of CB and ended up being a big fan of him.So i brought this book on the same week of its release with lot of expectation.But unfortunatily i didn't enjoy it as his earlier works.Yeahh i loved ananaya's charachter(that character is based on his wife).
between good review

Renu said...

Babli; Thanks for info on that house, its really amazing.

kanupriya: yes the main USP of this book is ..so relatable.

Anishthomas:..same happened to me when I bought 3 mistakes..I didnt like that:)

How lucky he is to get a wife like Ananya!!

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