Rating: 
Summary: Floating Aimlessly Down a River Sutra
Review: When I began to read A River Sutra, I expected it to exhibit the qualities of a well-written novel that my English teachers would approve of; after all, the school assigned it to me as a summer reading project. As I tried to understand the novel, however, I initially felt confused by the story line, or lack thereof. The theme Gita Mehta tried to convey, her overall message, also left something to be desired; although she made an effort to show that desire stands as the root of all human emotion, the stories she told to try and convey that theme didn't connect in the way she presumably wanted them to.
Unfortunately, creation of confusion and failure to express her thesis properly were not the only ways in which Mehta did not succeed. In the different accounts she used to try and communicate her theme, she wrote of many different characters, each with different styles of speaking; many of these characters spoke in a strange, often grammatically incorrect dialect. Regrettably, Mehta failed to make the transition between clumsy dialect and what should have been graceful narrative; instead, the parts of the stories that she recounts seem awkward, as if written by an immature author without any literary instincts. The text also left me in need of closure and fulfillment about many issues; one specific example rests in the main character, who, despite hearing stories that would normally change a person's entire outlook on life, does not change one bit by the end of the novel.
Thankfully, the novel did exhibit some good features. Mehta based her work on stories surrounding the Narmada River, a holy river in India; she did an excellent job of describing the myths and doctrines concerning the river, and the reader truly can understand why pilgrims came from afar to worship the holy body of water. Mehta also represents her characters well by having them speak in styles congruent with their personas.
The novel would have been much more enjoyable if the different stories Mehta recounted had related to each other in a more fluid and relevant manner. She also should have tried to make the theme more consistent throughout the novel; it seemed as if she attempted to make a different point in each of her stories. If one were to read this book, one should expect to be confused by Mehta's writing style, yet enamored by each individual story she tells. One should read this book if he or she doesn't like to be led through a novel by the hand; someone who wants to interpret a theme without knowing what the author wishes the theme to be.
Rating: 
Summary: what the heart can take
Review: Gita Mehta uses fantastic imagery, allowing the reader to feel as if he or she was actually taking in the view of the Narmada River. The story is a classic example of the love that can exist between man and woman, and parent and child. It also describes in detail the culture of India. The overall message may show that people should follow their heart, unless this would cause a lot of damage to others. The people the narrator meets and talks to convey this purpose. The plot describes the narrator as learning from several people he meets, about the true values of the human heart, what it can take and what it can't and what it will give up and what it will hang on to in order to keep love. The best features of this work include the imagery and the way the reader realizes how cruel the world can be. The characters suffer because of this cruelty that often rips them from their loved ones. The imagery is very good. I felt as if I was the narrator, or some other character watching the stories take place. While the narrator ponders on philosophical statements, he meets another person who is willing to share a story. The reader is never bored, because story follows story, which usually does not only capture the attention of the narrator, but also that of the reader. What the Gita Mehta could perhaps improve in her work is to make the characters a little more different to make the story more interesting. Imrat, the blind boy, and Uma, the adopted child of the Naga Baba are very similar in the way that they both are adopted by lonely men that want to have a little more love in their life. Of course, the two also share their talent for singing. It is possible that the author meant to make Imrat and Uma so similar, in order to give the novel a better effect when Imrat is killed while Uma grows up and becomes successful. There are also several pages on the syllable "Om". This comes right out of the blue, and the reader is very confused. Some readers may also not like the book because of the confusing philosophy. For example, when the monk says he is to poor to renounce the world twice, it is hard to figure out what he means. Perhaps, he means that he has to get going to meet up with his fellow monks, or he will be kicked out of the group. Or, he means something deeper. One could perhaps improve the book by clarifying the philosophy. The reader would be less confused. Also, it would be good to define what is meant with the section on music. If the author could clarify what "Om" means, it would perhaps make it more interesting. When the reader reads the first few lines of this part in the book, he sometimes just turns the pages until the part is over, because it doesn't seem to have to do with anything else in the book. What also makes the book interesting to read is, that both people who enjoy philosophy, and those who dislike philosophy and prefer more adventure, can read this book without getting bored. For sure, any reader can expect a good story, and even if he or she dislikes philosophy, they will have something to think about at the end of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: A River Stupid
Review: The title of Gita Mehta's novel, A River Sutra, refers to the Narmada River, a holy body of water which attracts a variety of characters with a variety of stories; stories which would be completely unrelated if not for a common narrator who is used as a tool to invoke some sort of theme pertaining to love and stages of human existence. Unfortunately, none of the stories or the characters are interesting. The book, in fact, is quite boring. The fable-like stories appear simple despite strange characteristics that result in confusion and some reader-indifference, like in the case of the courtesan's apparent suicide, or the tacky diary of the "insane" Nitin Bose. Most of the stories have subtle, underlying thematic qualities to them, but it takes a great deal of contrived thought to derive these qualities. For example, the final story of the Naga Baba could be perceived as a conclusion to all the other stories, but the idea isn't particularly exciting or rewarding (truly representative of the book's nature).
Despite the book's lackluster personality, much can be said about the way the novel was approached. Boringness aside, the format of having many unrelated short stories, tied together by a narrator without a common premise handed to the reader on a platter, is innovative. The language is also beautiful, written modestly in what some would call a "minimalist" style (without fluffy verse or hokey dialogue). One story had the effect of invoking actual human emotion: the story of the suffering Master Mohan and the singer Imrat. It was, however, quite unbelievable, and became lost in the effort to evoke some broad premise (whatever that may be).
Aside from boring characters, inactive stories, and a passively tiring narrator, the story's theme could be interpreted in too many ways, and they're all rather general, tackling "the meaning of the human heart" or "existing on a higher plane". Mehta incorporates many specific religious beliefs without saying anything substantial. And though I've already mentioned it, the narrator is a very frustrating character, who spews a mist of haze all over the story, making it ambiguous, and thus, more difficult to exhume a theme from. Some critics may have derived a theme from the book, but I doubt it's a theme you couldn't find on a page of a book filled with very "deep" yet general conundrums.
If Mehta cared to improve her novel, she would construct a PLOT-LINE before speaking with publishers. If nothing else, the book's language and short-story value will nearly outweigh it's bore, so I give Mehta's A River Sutra 2 out of 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Well Written, but a Little Unsatisfying
Review: A River Sutra has much to teach the reader about life, love, death, and acceptance. The unique stories in the novel demonstrate to the reader different ways to deal with the changes life can deal out, both good and bad. Some characters choose violent ends to their pain; others choose a new life from their positive changes. All their stories come together fluidly to evoke the theme of acceptance in the novel. Gita Mehta combines stories with endings that make the reader feel satisfied, unfulfilled, pleased, and sorrowful. All these stories within the novel together to weave the message of acceptance in respect to the life, love, and death every character experiences. I believe Sandeep R. agrees with me in that he talks about all the characters' stories link the their experiences with love.
I enjoyed most the chance to delve into the lives of several different characters with each his own story. A River Sutra allows the reader to enjoy the rehabilitation of Uma's soul and sympathize with the musician's daughter's rejection of the stranger's love. The vivid imagery that Gita Mehta uses also permits the reader to enter another world. The individual stories are different yet sewn together in such a way that they seem to flow from one to another. Sometimes connections between two stories are harder to find, leaving the reader the delightful challenge of figuring out similarities himself. The loose connections also allow each individual reader to take away something different from the novel. I believe that almost anyone can find a theme, idea, quote, person, etc. in the novel that applies to his life. There are also many universal truths laced within the book for the reader to see in a new light. From greed to passion to loss, Mehta shows the reader how to view daily emotions and ideas in a new light.
I have only one major complain about the novel; I feel the narrator of the book ruined the mood of the novel. I believe that in the end of the book, he gained nothing from all the individual stories. Indeed he has regressed in his retirement of the world in questioning whether or not he made the right choice in leaving the world behind. He does not take to heart enough the wise words that Tariq Mia deals to him. The fact that he changed for the worse in his retirement of the world left me feeling unsatisfied at the end of the novel. The purpose of the book seemed ruined at the end when the main character learned nothing in the end when he had so much to gain from all that he was told by those people he met.
I highly suggest this book to deep readers who would likely reflect on what they have read. A River Sutra has much to offer if the reader is willing to dive in beneath the surface and get to the heart of the novel's purpose. The more casual reader might enjoy the book at face value, but might not obtain the lessons the book has to offer. I must say that I myself would have enjoyed the novel more if not for the imperceptive narrator who seemed to me to get in the way of the novel's message more than convey it.
Rating:
Summary: Religion and Culture
Review: I found Gita Mehta's novel A River Sutra thought provoking, and enjoyed the read immensely. There are many stories combined in this novel, and each gives an interesting outlook on the major theme or themes about the human heart. The story of Master Mohan and Imrat, for example, talks about how people do not always find love where it is expected, but in people who are practically strangers, and also about how fate can give and take away love in the blink of an eye. My favorite part, which contradicts some other reviews of A River Sutra..., is in fact the many different stories. One review said that the different stories made the book disjointed and confusing. I found it to be more interesting; the reader spends a lot of time with Narrator, and hears second hand, or third hand, stories of love and life. Therefore, instead of only two points of view (the reader's and the speaker's), there are three. There is a sub-plot in all the plots, which is the Narrator's search for enlightenment or love.
I also thought that the book did a good job of describing or explaining Indian culture and the religions without taking time to explain everything about them. I started to read this book knowing very little about Indian culture, or about Jainism or Hinduism, and although I did not become an expert, I learned enough to understand the book, and Ashok's and the Naga Baba's points of view. I really enjoyed the book. I think that anyone interested in religion or different cultures should read this book. I recommend this book also to anyone at all; especially those with time to read and try to understand the book.
Rating:
Summary: Not my first choice!
Review: "A River Sutra" demonstrated an overall theme, which I thought, was rewarding. Knowing how people flow into and out of your life and leave you with experiences you will learn from and grow relates to all the people you have ever met in your whole life. Although I could reflect from this text I didn't think the book did a good job to encourage the reader to find some personal significance, because the narrator never did. The narrator would never ponder reasons why these people have entered his life and he never did anything about his beliefs.
The reason why I'm not too fond of this text is because of the language and style. The characters and stories were developed in such a way so the reader would be left asking, "What will happen next?" The stories were just placed sporadically with totally different characters. Once you become attached to the characters or found some personal significance you were lost to search for new attachments in this so called "flowing river". One had to draw conclusions to provide closure for oneself. The book didn't allow the reader to know endings or to make a conclusion. It challenged the reader by not provided enough closure and asking the reader to create their own.
Geta Mehta helped me to understand different cultures and religions throughout the book but I wouldn't recommend this book unless you wanted a challenge. For people like me who want an adventurous and creative book, go for something else!
Rating:
Summary: If you want a good read, read this
Review: As I began to read this work it seemed like a long tiresome task. However, Mehta quickly entrances you with her expressive language and vivid imagery. Mehta explores common everyday "truths" and exploits the wrong in them. Throughout the novel Mehta explores love and strings the individual stories with a narrator. The narrator is never named a quality that adds to his innocence and believability. The novel explores the different stages of love and does this through a series of short stories linked by the narrator. The work's characters compare incredibly well with real people and every person can relate to at least one character in this work. I enjoyed the way that Mehta was able to clearly convey her message by building up to an unusual conclusion. The novel requires a close read in order to fully understand the true meaning of the work but even if one reads it on the surface the message comes across well.
Metha conveyed Indian tradition and diversity in a way that one feels that they really understand the entire work. The startling conclusion brings the novel to a rapid close. The ending does not entirely justify the message of the novel but effectively closes the novel. By reading this work I felt that the ending to the novel could have been better but still accomplishes the necessary task. If Metha had brought the novel to a close slower perhaps by adding some more stories I feel that the novel would have brought the reader a more satisfying conclusion. This novel especially appeals to those of Indian heritage or those interested in Indian culture. Readers can expect a good read that explores love in a unique way.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Some, A Must Not for Others!
Review: "A River Sutra" aided me in my knowledge of India. I found many of the religious customs and culture interesting. Although I am surrounded by diversity, this book gave me insight to the actual practices of Hinduism and Jainism, customs that I was not familiar with before reading this book. Each story carefully expressed a different theme yet they all intertwined. I would have liked to have more resolution in each tale. Each character disappeared after their tale was told. I understood each character's story and basic message of human emotion and habits but I was not sure if the narrator did. I feel that the book would have been more enjoyable if I could have understood the narrator more or if he had been more intelligent. Some of the stories could seem very realistic in a middle class American society, stories that I really can relate to. Although the setting was so unfamiliar to me, I could understand each story and identify with some of the characters.
Mehta's writing evokes clear, descriptive pictures in my head. Her style is easily understood, yet extremely thoughtful. Instead of stating the obvious, she leaves the reader to infer what could possibly have happened. Each story was pessimistic in that it was not the ideal happy ending many readers would have been content with reading. I enjoyed that aspect, but I also would have liked a little more clarity. As far as Mehta's diction, she uses many Indian words. The glossary was very helpful!! I would recommend this book to others if they were interested about learning about other cultures.
Rating:
Summary: lacking continuity, yet intriguing
Review: What is my most honest opinion of the novel? I have read better books. Although occasional chapters were captivating and intriguing, as a whole I felt the novel was choppy and lacked continuity. The self-contained chapters seemed to disrupt the fluency of the novel and the ease with which I read it. Despite this choppiness however, the novel held some very important and very relevant themes. The underlying messages of the book about the truths of the human heart, pertains to all humans regardless of their religion, race, age, or gender. Many readers and reviewers of this novel agree on the fact that "A River Sutra" is interlaced with vital and meaningful messages. By weaving many different tales of trial, love, hatred, and disappointment,the narrator has effectively expressed the idea that there are innumerable levels and layers to the human heart.
"A River Sutra begins with a chapter told by the narrator, followed by a chapter which tells a different characters story. This pattern is continued throughout the novel, and for the most part every other chapter is a story. I applaud the effectiveness with which these "story" chapters were written. The independent chapters flowed brilliantly, and the language was spellbinding. While reading these portions of the book, the reader forgets the roughness of the previous chapters and realizes that Gita Mehta is an enchanting and engaging writer.
One aspect of the novel that I disliked however was the lack of character development. The narrator is introduced to numerous people with contrasting personalities, yet most characters only appear in one self-contained chapter, and then are rarely-if ever-mentioned or heard from again. The character who I feel should have been the most developed, as you follow him from page 1 to page 282, seemed to be the least developed. The reader, although given a brief background on the narrator's life, never seems to know/understand the narrator. Perhaps the ambiguous nature of the narrator was intended to accentuate the personalities of the other characters of the story, however I did not get that sense.
The novel was well thought out book however the fluidity of the story could have been improved, as could the development of the characters. "A River Sutra" is a book that will appeal to readers who are looking to learn about Indian culture through a magnificent set of stories and those who enjoy vivid imagery and explorations into the human heart.
Rating:
Summary: Exploration of life
Review: The heart holds many secrets, the capacity to love, to hate, to be selfish, altruistic. In order to understand the world, one must be exposed to all the experiences the world offers. The secrets of the heart are a main theme throughout the novel. Mehta expertly weaves together stories of the heart with vivid imagery and captivating characters. Readers from any background will be able to find a deep connection with at least one character. Being Indian myself, I found the book quite enjoyable. I could connect with numerous characters and understand the customs of the people. Mehta explains the customs so someone without an Indian background could understand somewhat, but it's a little confusing. An understanding of Indian culture and religion enhances some aspects of the novel, while an understanding of Buddhism or Jainism enhances others. Musicians and artists will also find deeper understanding in certain aspects, as will mothers, daughters, teachers, sons, and many other people. Any reader will learn something about themselves, love, death, and life. This is a novel well suited for readers of any ages and background. I strongly recommend it.
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