“Do NOT” read Shoba De!!!

It has been a long time since I have written here and most you might have even stopped visiting. But I am back again but this time not something that would enlighten you (as the title and purpose of this blog goes) but to warn you about something that would do just the contrary.

It’s about “Snapshots” written by “Shoba De”. I really don’t understand the hype of Shoba De. What is she famous for? Her book “Snapshots”, the first and last I have read, is shallow of all that ought to be there in a novel. It’s the kind of a novel a 10th class student could write. In spite of her efforts to seduce the readers she has failed adversely. And comparing to the other literature that exist in the league she is an underdog.

An epitome of cheap voyeurism, it is devoid of actual feelings or sexual desires and contains nothing but plain sex. I know the comparisons can never be made but after reading the works of literature from D.H. Lawrence or even Sydney Sheldon, it becomes almost impossible to read Shoba De.

You can’t find good English, good grammar and her writings are nothing more than zilch, cipher, void, naught. But it reckons that to criticize something you should actually know about the thing and that was the only reason I read about it, without doing which I might have not been able to write about it.

So guys read if you have nothing else to do in this world.

 Cheers!!!

Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain

This novelette is a work of one of the greatest names in the American literature, Mark Twain. Author has very successfully depicted the adventures that serve as a good entertainment. Not only does it depicts the adventures of a child protagonist but also brings forth the unchecked racial discrimination with the niggers in the West at the time as earlier as 1884. Though harsh treatment of niggers seems to be on author’s mind, his central theme appears to be the adventures of the little Huck Finn.

The story begins with Huckleberry Finn, living at her aunt’s place. His inclination for adventures and tendency to set himself free from being under his father’s duress prompts him to run from his father’s place to the forests. He finds solace on the discovery of Jim, his aunt’s nigger. They both while trying to escape being caught again shares a good time in the forests. In spite of some untoward incidents like – being bitten by snake and on the brink of being landed in the trap of the people searching for them, they manage to escape and keep together. The way little Huck outdo the two acquaintances, claiming themselves to be the scions of older kind dynasty, is spectacular.

The efforts put in by Huck to protect his comrade Fin from being victim of nigger hunt are worth appreciation. But he could not help preventing Jim from being the prisoner at some southern village. The last adventure played by both Huckleberry Finn and his friend Tom Sawyer lends a captivating grace to the denouement.

The language seems controversial at some places but the author’s intentions have been best revealed the way he has written this tale. Some adventures in the story seems to be ordinary and does not live up to the reader’s expectations. But the author has been very true in the declaration in the beginning of it-

“Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted;

Persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished;

Persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.”

It also puts to rest the controversies of racial plot being considered one of the author’s intentions in writing this book.

Great Expectations – by Charles Dickens

“Great Expectations” written by the renowned author – Charles Dickens in mid nineteenth century, is a tome of literature. Dickens stick to his theme of child protagonist through the character of Phillip Pirrip(Pip) who’s life is transformed from the poor village boy apprenticed to a blacksmith, to an educated middle class city lad.

In an event of fulfillment of his dream to be a gentleman, supported by his unknown benefactor/benefactress, he does not show any infliction of being parted away from his dearest friends Joe, Biddy and his sister who brings her up. He leaves the country with the memories of Estella, an adopted daughter of Miss Havisham.

Through the apparent financial help from Mr. Jaggers a well established person in London, he leads financially comfortable life in the beginning but soon runs into debt. In the wake of different life of city, he could not rest his thoughts about Estella. With the help of his friend Herbert and his guide Wemmick he unravels the hidden secrets about Estella’s parentage. In spite of all his efforts he does not succeed in saving his benefactor Mr. Magwitch from being granted death sentence by the law.

After marriage of his love Estella he leads a life of solitude and despondency when Joe reappears and takes Pip out of his troubles by paying his debts and curing him in his illness. Pip then truly realizes his mistakes and visits back his country to see Joe and Biddy. He then returns to the city, truly transformed and leads a life of hard work to stand upto his requirements.

Though author’s description of various scenes and characters is extremely vivacious and vibrant but number of scenes run parallel and it becomes difficult for the reader to bind them all in one common thread and it deviates reader from the main central theme of the story.

Author’s description of Estella as an epitome of beauty and rich use of words in describing the characters of Havisham, Joe, Biddy and others is highly appreciable. The volume is a classic illustration of English literature and one wonders the dexterous use of it to make everything look so real. The vibrant us of expressions binds reader in the feeling of characters and make him(reader) feel for the them(characters)

In the end, I would say that this is the best novel to get a feel of expanse and classic use of English language. Though it needs great concentration to juxtapose various scenes running in parallel into one common theme, it is a best read for lover of English language.

LOVE STORY – by Erich Segal

• Love Story is a delightful novel written by Erich Segal, one of the best authors of fiction. The wit and charm, the most important characteristics of this adept author, are clearly evident in this great masterpiece of him. The novel truly depicts the spiritual relationship between two lovers and the power of love that can turn lifeless figures into emotions.

• The whole story revolves around Mr. Barett, a sporty and intelligent student of Harvard University. In spite of being the son of an affluent person he never takes everything for granted and gives his best effort to be the jack of all trades. The meetings of Mr. Barett and Ms. Cavillery, whom he meets at Radcliffe, are very aptly described to keep reader guessing about the course of their love story. After there marriage, there comes a sharp emotional turn in the story when Mr. Barett gets to know that her wife is having countable days with him. The events transform Mr. Barett from stubborn to very sensitive person shouldering the burden of loss of her partner.

• Though Mr. Barett is presented as a stubborn and emotionless person in the beginning, his sporty and intellectual attitude is indeed very impressive. The wit and charm of character he shows in his meetings with Ms. Cavillery wins him reader’s appreciation. The loss of her love makes one feel for him. Through this character the author has highlighted the love, being highly spiritual feeling.

• On the whole story is very interesting and one admires the use of words and expressions which are very fitting to the circumstances. The rich use of language and exciting story makes the reading a memorable experience for all especially the young generation.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

• The story of Animal Farm written by George Orwill is very well written story of various animals and birds living together in a single farm. The novel depicts the existence of pedagogy not only in humans but also in animals. It is a very unorthodox story with different animals occupying the centre stage highlighting the fact that lack of harmony does not exists amongst humans only but is also there in animals. It also presents the importance of literacy amongst all species. Not only humans but animals also needs to be literate and aware of one’s surroundings to prevent themselves from being coaxed and exploited.

• The story begins with the Manor Farm owned by Mr. Jones who exploits animals of the farm for monetary gains and in return gives them starvation and slavery. The way animals hold clandestine meetings against the human whip keeps the reader’s anticipation high about the spate of imminent events. Unlike expected, that the things will improve with the successful win of animals over Mr. Jones, the farm goes more disarrayed, thanks to the clever and “literate” pigs. The writer has clearly depicted the politics being involved even amongst animals through the pigs who enjoy all the comforts without any hard work unlike their fellow animals, by exploiting the natural tendency inherit in all animals to set themselves free from human atrocities.

• Author has also highlighted a strong quality of loyalty in animals through a very strong and lively character of Boxer, a horse strongest of all animals in the farm. The way he fight battles with the humans to prevent his farm, and the loyalty he carries for his master makes him earn the tag of being best of all animals of the farm. But the event in which their pig master Napoleon sends him to the horse slaughterer, after being old and incapable of working for him, is indeed very emotional and touching. And the Napoleon enjoys all his powers and control over the animal farm.

• But finally the intentions of corrupt Napolean are exposed when he celebrates with humans in charge of other neighboring farms. All the animals know the politics their leader played with them in the name of providing them with liberty from starvation and slavery of humans.

• It’s one of the most interesting but at the same time a sarcastic book. The language is very simple and lucid but also very apt and substantive. It is a good reading for people of all age group and will be very appealing because of it’s analogy with modern world politics that exist at every level.