How I am close to achieving my writing challenge for the year 2015, of 75 posts. So I shall copy paste a review (of sorts) which I put across in goodreads for the book which I read recently. (rather shamelessly of course)
Cheers,
Here goes the review
Title - Bombay Stories
Author - Sadat Hasan Manto.
Rating - 4/5
How I love Manto, and how obscure I have been about his writing all these days! Pity me, but not anymore.
I have read multiple books on Indian History, Indian freedom struggle, set during 1930's. This particular book too is set round about the same time and it covers quite a lot of ground as it chugs along covering topics other than the freedom struggle.
How the author has portrayed his stay in Mumbai during the pre-independence era, what occupation the people were into, a glimpse into the film industry during the 1930's, it has left me with no other option that to order few more books of Manto as well as Bombay and start reading them too.
So many people get introduced in this book and each one has a different tale to tell. Its a great work, the translation might have taken off some luster but overall its a gem worth taking some time out and reading. That's my perspective though, I hope you agree!
I could literally visualize an era, where the population was less, technology was not that advanced, life was laid back, where a journey from Lahore to Bombay could be taken by a train, plus an age where letters, telegrams and occasional roaring of an engine, still held a charm.
How I wish I could have heard such stories from my grand parents. Never mind, but with Manto's stories for company, I am sure, I can fill that void and instead come closer to understanding the day to day life of a (Indian) common man during the 1930's and 1940's.
Yet, for me, the shortcomings include
- Most stories revolved around prostitutes/pimps. Other occupations could have been written about.
- Alcohol, few stories carried instances of this,
so though I like the way its written, things could have been a bit more broader, but never mind, I still love them.
Cheers,
Here goes the review
Title - Bombay Stories
Author - Sadat Hasan Manto.
Rating - 4/5
How I love Manto, and how obscure I have been about his writing all these days! Pity me, but not anymore.
I have read multiple books on Indian History, Indian freedom struggle, set during 1930's. This particular book too is set round about the same time and it covers quite a lot of ground as it chugs along covering topics other than the freedom struggle.
How the author has portrayed his stay in Mumbai during the pre-independence era, what occupation the people were into, a glimpse into the film industry during the 1930's, it has left me with no other option that to order few more books of Manto as well as Bombay and start reading them too.
So many people get introduced in this book and each one has a different tale to tell. Its a great work, the translation might have taken off some luster but overall its a gem worth taking some time out and reading. That's my perspective though, I hope you agree!
I could literally visualize an era, where the population was less, technology was not that advanced, life was laid back, where a journey from Lahore to Bombay could be taken by a train, plus an age where letters, telegrams and occasional roaring of an engine, still held a charm.
How I wish I could have heard such stories from my grand parents. Never mind, but with Manto's stories for company, I am sure, I can fill that void and instead come closer to understanding the day to day life of a (Indian) common man during the 1930's and 1940's.
Yet, for me, the shortcomings include
- Most stories revolved around prostitutes/pimps. Other occupations could have been written about.
- Alcohol, few stories carried instances of this,
so though I like the way its written, things could have been a bit more broader, but never mind, I still love them.
