The New Book Review

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Showing posts with label Fiction:. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiction:. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Wisconsin Tale Impresses Reviewer

Legends of the Lake

By Philip Nork

Author's Website: www.PhilipNork.com


ISBN: 978-146804369

Also available for Kindle


Review: Originally posted on www.AngieMangino.com by Angie Mangino
Rated 4 of 5 stars


In Legends of the Lake, Nork has shared a unique look at four generations of family in a backdrop of Chicago, and most especially, a lake in Wisconsin, spanning the years from 1910 into the 1980’s.


Central to the story is Eddie and Connie Kron, the narrator’s great-grandparents, who bought the cabin by the lake. Readers venture into this summer cottage from the start, watching it change and develop as the family grows and changes. The cottage on the lake is the visual constant that reflects the roots of this family.


In the true definite of legends, the family story credits Eddie and Connie as the inspiration for many a unique well-known invention and neighbors with an infamous man. These add a perfect balance of levity to bring a chuckle to readers, while leaving the rare possibility that some of it may actually be true.

 
What is most important, however, and is the true strength of this work, is the family dynamic. This is a family to which readers can relate, with real dialogue and characterization that truly brings this family to life.

Connie’s favorite quote was, “If it makes you happy, that’s just fine with me.” This reviewer can almost hear her saying that to readers today who will be happy reading Legends of the Lake.
 
About the Author: Phil Nork, author of Misguided Sensitivity, Legends of the Lake, You're Never Alone and coming soon Life Is a Balance ... It's Not Only About You.  www.philipnork.com
Follow him on facebook at www.facebook.com/authorPhilipNork
 
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Medical Fiction From India Grabs New Book Review Spotlight


Title: Mahashweta

Author: Sudha Murthy.
Genre: Indian fiction, medical fiction.

Originally published at  Book Reviews Galore

Step into the world of leukoderma and understand it complexity, problem and the various Indian superstitions revolving around it. Before you groan and go away, let me tell you that this isn't a book a la 'Emperor Of Maladies'(though I am told it is a fascinating book) but rather a fictional story of the struggles that a woman suffering leukoderma faces. 'Mahashweta' by Sudha Murthy, from the synopsis at the back and the glittering praise from well established newspapers, promises to be a unique read that delves into the suffering of a disease that afflicts many but doesn't find its way in the stories. Unfortunately, the novel fails to live up to those promises for which there are many reasons to which we will get back to later on.

'Mahashweta' is aptly dedicated to women suffering from leukoderma and urges them to fight and not be oppressed by their disease. The story begins on a congratulatory note with the birth of a girl child which is a means to establish the single status of Dr. Anand-the successful, handsome and rich doctor- who helped give birth to the baby girl. Later while at his work, Anand is coaxed into buying a Rs. 1000 ticker for a play he has no idea about by the 'incomparable' Anupama. The play is a love story between Mahashweta and Pundalik and is part of the book 'Kadambari' written by Bhana Bhatta. Anupama plays the heroine and as expected Dr. Anand is mesmerized by her beauty and acting skills. After a few irrelevant incidents, they both get married(how predictable!) despite the difference in their economic status. It is only after marriage that Anupama develops a white patch and it begins to spread despite her clandestine treatment. When her mother-in-law realises this, all hell breaks loose. She accuses Anupama of having tricked her son into marrying him and begins to consider her inauspicious because of leukoderma. She eventually returns to her father's house, disgraced. Her evil stepmother's taunts and ill treatment just worsens the situation. To top it all, Dr. Anand- being a doctor at least should know that leukoderma is nothing but a disease and not something that turns a person inauspicious-also does not support Anupama and abandons her when she needed him the most. Anupama, however, does not let the circumstances get the better of her. She bravely decides to go to Mumbai, away from her callous family and in-laws, to eke out a living and carve a place of her own free from any pain, stigma and stereotypes. She is quite successful is achieving her dreams and standing proudly on her own two feet.

'Mahashweta' is a conventional story of the suffering bravely overcoming their difficult trials and tribulations. The only redeeming aspect of the story comes at the end when Anupama decides to remain her own master and be economically independent rather than being bound by someone else's rules and regulations. Other than this, the novel as a whole is marred by a fragmented narrative, dollops of stereotypes, amateurish writing, no smooth narration and a very soap operatic treatment of the entire story. In fact, I wouldn't be wrong in saying that 'Mahashweta' is a soap opera in prose style as it has all the prerequisites of one-the constant preoccupation with marriage, the evil mother-in-law and sister-in-law twist, the evil stepmother convention, the too good to be true daughter-in-law who suffers silently, the narrow minded and religious focus of the story at time and the list is endless.

While Sudha Murthy does take up a relatively lesser known disease to tell her story, she does not break any new ground on it as the entire novel is steeped in too many stereotypes particularly about girls and marriage. For eg, on the first page itself, the nurse who assisted in the birth of the girl ponders over how the female child is stronger at birth than the male but later on becomes the one who suffers. The nurse attributes this as being 'a fact of life' which is not really true because being feminine or masculine is not a fact of life but rather a cultural construct. The system of patriarchy conditions women to expect suffering in their life. Anything that is exploited or oppressed is associated with the female sex. For eg. it is 'mother' earth and never 'father' earth. The novel is replete with such redundant stereotypes. Murthy may have wished to challenge them but she does not do a good job as she merely states them with no attempts at challenging them much like any commonplace Indian soap opera.

Moreover,her writing does not have the emotional depth that is perhaps required in such a sensitive story. Most of her attempts at philosophy(through Anupama) are also blunt and shallow.

Although, 'Mahashweta' educates the reader about leukoderma and the debilitating superstitions that even 'educated' Indians follow, the novel becomes a drag to read. It reveals the hypocrisy of the Indian society in their attitudes to leukoderma but does not do so in a profound, erudite and personal manner.
Final Verdict: It is best to skip 'Mahashweta' altogether. If you really want to know more about leukoderma, then contact you nearest dermatologist. Or if you don't have the time, then just click here to know more!

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :