The House of Blue Mangoes: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Running on Empty
Review: This book was a gift from a dear friend whose judgment I deeply respect. The explanation I tell myself for his giving me this novel is that he only read Part 1 of it. Indeed, those first 100 or so pages are terrific stuff, well written, descriptive, exciting, dramatic passages about caste hatred at the end of the 19th century in the south of India. I thought I had a great book on my hands. But then I went on to Part 2 and it's as if the world had spun around 180 degrees. The writing became turgid, dull, forced, absurd, uninteresting, and even pointless in many places. I ran out of energy to go on with it, but forced myself forward, hoping for the fireworks that started the whole thing off, but I was sorely disappointed. At Part 3, I shamefully admit I simply skimmed through, because I knew the convention of going forward to the next generation was taking place with the "plot" and frankly, I didn't care much about these rather characterless, flat parodies of people anymore. I blame the publisher for not more firmly editing the material and for not giving the author constructive criticism and direction. But there are few good editors, just as there are precious few good writers out there. I think Davidar has a gift, but it needs nurturing. I hope he gets it.

Rating:
Summary: It feeds the Western stereotypes of India
Review: This is another novel in the genre of the Macaulayite Indian trying his/her best to describe India to the West. The problem is that the synthesis is wanting because the author's understanding is based on stereotypes that muddle where a straighter look would have shown reality for what it is.