An old fisherman man, unlucky but still hopeful, goes out for a big catch and thus regain his pride and sense of purpose. He has a battle of wills witAn old fisherman man, unlucky but still hopeful, goes out for a big catch and thus regain his pride and sense of purpose. He has a battle of wills with himself, questions about whys and wherefores, but he perseveres. Why persist? Just because, that is life. A couple of sharks demolish his victory but he still has the bones of the fish. People know he caught the biggest and the noblest fish of all time.
This book is really a short and savoury read. Rage against the dying light in novel form. Overall, a recommended read to keep up your hopes against despair and darkness and also learning how to write clearly and succinctly....more
A long, sprawling, dramatic revenge tale filled with multiple characters who have their own plot lines but ultimately succumb to the web of consequencA long, sprawling, dramatic revenge tale filled with multiple characters who have their own plot lines but ultimately succumb to the web of consequences weaved over a long time by the Count of Monte Cristo, a man of infinite wealth and resources, who was formerly Edmond Dantes, a simple sailor from Marseille. This is a very famous novel and rightly so. It is quite a big book but then you realise how much time, energy and forethought was spent in preparing the banquet of revenge.
Alexander Dumas fleshes out everything. He describes the route a character takes, he describes the houses, the rooms, he describes the dresses, the paintings. The novel is chock full of historical and political references of the times. He is also very good at the characters. No matter how minor a character, at least one good para is devoted to him or her. Even the infant Edward gets quite a bit of action.
It is not a completely feel good novel though. The endings for some of them are not just desserts, so to speak. He definitely overdoes the revenge and justifies them with the belief that he is only the God’s tool in exacting retribution.
Overall, an excellent novel. I started off quite slow, reading 50 pages a day. During the middle, I was reading 100 pages. The final denouement was finished in a couple of days. So have patience and you will be rewarded. ...more
I finished it as it was in my bucket list. If not for that obligation I would have left it less than half way through. I lost interest in chasing up oI finished it as it was in my bucket list. If not for that obligation I would have left it less than half way through. I lost interest in chasing up on the allusions by the fourth chapter itself. Some of the prose is quite funny and some of it very nice sounding with rhymes, alliterations and all that. But there is a huge amount of material in this book that is just dross. Answering questions without leading to a point. I admit that I am quite obviously not well read since a vast majority of the novel went over my head.
Overall, a very dry read. Read it only if you are very well read, have a lot of time and inclination to chase up on the allusions....more
I had attempted to read this around twenty years back. But I gave it up. Now finally, I managed to finish it after all these years. And boy, it was a I had attempted to read this around twenty years back. But I gave it up. Now finally, I managed to finish it after all these years. And boy, it was a great read and quite sad and funny at the same time. Since this book is over 400 years old now and the readership different from what Cervantes’ world was used to, the pacing and the style takes a bit of time to get used to. But content wise, it is as relevant as ever. The consequences of our follies and the follies of those around us and the cruelties that people can force on others for a laugh or for a dogma - these are ever present and needs constant awareness from ourselves.
Overall, a very good read but you should be prepare for a quite an antique style of narrative....more
This is a short and sweet novel describing four episodes of an antihero, Pechorin, who is intelligent, a veritable lady killer and disinterested in evThis is a short and sweet novel describing four episodes of an antihero, Pechorin, who is intelligent, a veritable lady killer and disinterested in everything. He only does anything because he is bored and wants to throw a tantrum on somebody. He does get bored very quickly. Although the character is very unlikable the book is very delightful. The narrative sequences of the Caucasus mountains take us to the clean air, gorgeous vistas of the mountains, even in translation. The book does not also dwell too much on the psychology and philosophy like Dostoyevsky. The author just mentions them, muses them on a bit and then goes on to the next outrage perpetrated by the protagonist.
Definitely, a good read which I will recommend to everybody.
It is a bit of a coincidence that the last three novels that I read have the same kind of character - a very charming, rich, intelligent person who nevertheless is an outsider and has a tragic end - Pechorin in this novel, Stavrogin in Demons and Dick Diver in Tender is the Night. Is Don Draper in Mad Men based on this type?...more
It is a difficult book for me to review because I felt that the author has made more references and allusions that I could understand from the text. IIt is a difficult book for me to review because I felt that the author has made more references and allusions that I could understand from the text. It is a readable novel detailing the decline of a man who was the pinnacle of success with a beautiful wife, two kids and the centre of a social circle of wealthy people and film starlets. The author talks about the all devouring machinations of wealth, causal racism and sexism and of course massive economic inequality, exploitation and its effects on everybody.
Overall, a readable tragic novel but not to be taken lightly....more
This book is widely regarded as a masterpiece and landmark novel. I found it difficult in starting - I could read one chapter per day only for the firsThis book is widely regarded as a masterpiece and landmark novel. I found it difficult in starting - I could read one chapter per day only for the first week. Then in the middle or so I got my pace going and it was quite enjoyable. Since this was my first 19th century novel after a decade or so, I gave myself time and patience to read slowly. I am glad that I did. This is both a romantic novel exemplified by the character of Fabrizio and realist novel exemplified by Count Mosca. Of course, the actual protagonist is Duchess Sanseverina who shows both. The plot is basically the story of Fabrizio who has a glimpse of battle in Waterloo and then is geared up to be established as a Bishop in Parma by his aunt, the Duchess who loves him very much. Supporting her is the Count who loves the Duchess. The plot has several court intrigues and Stendhal gives good characterisations to almost all the characters. He does not go as much into the characters’ heads as Dostoyevsky, but he is still quite detailed and consistent. This novel is supposed to be in the first realist novels even though it has a number of love stories going on at the same time.
Overall, a very good read after a slow start....more
It has been a long time since I read Dostoyevsky. This a reread since I had not completed it my first time around. Now I liked it a lot. It is a somewIt has been a long time since I read Dostoyevsky. This a reread since I had not completed it my first time around. Now I liked it a lot. It is a somewhat big book at around 800 pages. Of course he is obsessed about God, evil and redemption. But I felt this is one of his more impersonal novels as he spends a bit of time criticising the nihilistic and revolutionary ideologies and the persons who espouse them. He also makes fun of Turgenev a lot as noted in the footnotes by the translators. The characters also have a lot of range from the two main psychopaths to the ineffectual and naive teacher and his dictatorial keeper. There are a lot of other naive characters who fall victims to the aforementioned psychopaths’ machinations. His criticism of evil, injustice, foolishness, herd instinct and empty ideologies remain relevant today.
Overall, a must read provided you have read his shorter works like Crime and Punishment and Notes from Underground so that you are not off the deep end with this huge book....more
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