Roopa Farooki's Bitter Sweets was a novel I picked up from the library for the lack of finding anything less 'lighter' to read, and what a perfect pick I made! It's an easy breezy read that you'd want to take on your next long flight.Now here's a writer who spins simple yarns even if they transcend continents and generations. Apparently inspired by her " father, a charmingly unrepentant rogue who found telling the truth rather dull" and his colorful life, Ms. Farooki has written a charming novel about characters who test and eventually break many long held socio ethnic taboos. The story presents a breaking away from ones native land (Pakistan) and its traditions; willingly or otherwise. However, despite this serious theme of breaking away, Ms. Farooki's novel is not given to overt sentimentality or laden with maudlin characters; in fact she is able to weave humor, satire, and mockery in the most charmingly delectable way. The novel moves at a lethargic pace, which I perceive is deliberate as it takes away the pinch and the barbs out of every difficult situation; something that I enjoyed tremendously. There is nothing 'do or die' in or about the novel, and that lets the reader enjoy the feel and flavor of each of the many foibles that the characters indulge in.
Roopa Farooki's first novel is an easy and interesting read and has deservingly received good reviews.
13 comments:
you have some amazing gripping ones. will be back again for a long read.
Yes, seems to be interesting reading.
I'll put the book on my list. Thanks.
Georg
Id it is said...
Thanks for so vividly coloring my thoughts!
I'm going to ponder on the question you posed on my blog
A poet is...
-~~Id it is ~~-
Net-net4 said...
Thanks for so vividly giving me your thoughts !
Looking forwards to read what a poet is for you :)
Cheers..
Excellent. This is the next one that I read. I like the way you are open to newer styles...I seem to sometimes become impatient with novels that move at a lethargic pace without giving them the credit for creating a much desired aura. Cheers!
Sounds interesting. It is difficult to find novels which are humourous and light from south asia.
The only one I can think of is Michael Ondaatje's memoir Running in the Family.
Hmm, i was reading the "other reviews" you mentioned in the post.
I guess this would only fit in as a casual read on a flight, just the way you mentioned - I could siggest this to a freind who is fond of light reading... thanks.
try Kunal basu's The Japanese Wife, if you havent. Its a collection of his short stories but most of them deserves to be read and re-read for its simplicity and imagination.
not much into women's books, but love, absolutely love books that move at a leisurely pace. this sounds like one of those that you hope never ends. will give it a read, thanks for the recommendation
to clear up.. i'm not into books about women's issues. love women authors!
wow .. god site thanks for the reviews
Nice review...
I believe its not the languid and lethargic pace of a book that determines its intrinsic value, but the way the author manages to describe everyday situations that relates to you in a very primal sense.
I am sure Bitter Sweets will be quite a good read on a lazy saturday evening.
Thanks for the review 'n keep writing.
Cheers,
Rahul
how do you have time to read this much?
i have a bunch of books, i bought with the great desire and have only read a few....
but i have the intention to read them...i will ....just a matter of when...
:0
made me interested enough to add this to my reading list...
love your reviews because of impressive imagery and reasoning:
"The novel moves at a lethargic pace, which I perceive is deliberate as it takes away the pinch and the barbs out of every difficult situation..."
thanks
I do believe that I would really like to read this book. It seem like perhaps she was able to make even the difficult times as her title says, bitter sweet.
Easy to read, easy to follow, that's for me.
Now if I could just find it. That is no easy task where I live.
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