The Inheritance of Loss – Book Review

Despite winning the Man Booker Price’s award in 2006, despite nailing a fiction award from National Book Critics Circle in 2007 and rave reviews from literary critics around the globe: Kiran Desai’s novel, The Inheritance of Loss, fails to move me.

The author penned her first book, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, in 1998. Desai currently divides her time between India and the United States. She is a daughter of Anita Desai, a noted author herself.

The Inheritance of Loss lags in speed and its subplots are too chaotic; resulting in me losing in the book after the seventh chapter. The over-poetic nature of Ms. Desai’s style, in my humble opinion, is a little “overboard” to enable her readers to appreciate her passion in poetry.

Desai arouses my curiosity with her outstanding first few chapters; leading me into believing that I will not be able to put the book down. First impression can be deceptive. But as the story unfolds and as the novelist interweaves the story line with too many subplots, one simply gets lost from the main plot of the novel.

Desai writes long sentences which I find difficult to grapple with. Personally, I am of the view that the author “abuses” the use of comma in this book. I think she should apply dashes and semi colon more often; these two are the luxuries in punctuation often use by creative writers. Short and powerful sentences can make a huge difference in a book – especially when the genre is fiction. I may be bias here because I love John Steinbeck’s writing in its simplicity. Tunku Halim also shares his view on short sentences to get a point across in his post “The Economy of Words“.

On a positive note, Desai is a mistress of details. The story is set against a background of a beautiful village at the foot of the Himalaya. The author asserts Indian values – or lack thereof – in her characters denoting her readers with Indian’s lifestyle and tradition.

The book has a lot of history anecdotes which has been painstakingly researched by Desai. She captures her reader’s attention with multiculturalism and her definition of the different forms of love, giving an edge to the book compared to other fictions in the market.

The story evolves around the lives of the people living in an old bungalow in Kalimpong. Western-educated Jemubhai Popatlal is an embittered and vengeful Indian judge, who thinks that the Indians are a despicable lot despite being Indian himself. One day, he found his granddaughter at the doorstep of his house after her mother died. He grudgingly accepts responsibility for his granddaughter, Sai, but treats her with disdain. The only creature he loves is his dog which he treats like a princess; he treats others like lepers. A man who thinks the world of himself, he believes he is above mere mortals.

The judge lives with his devoted cook, who takes care of him and the household. The cook has a son, Biju, who is living as an illegal immigrant in the US. The life of Biju is the main subplot of the story as the author struggles to make the connection between the life of the son and his father, the cook, in Kalimpong. Sai falls in love with her tutor, Gyan, during the Nepalese insurgency.

Strangely, I find reading about Biju’s difficult life in the States – his fight to avoid captures by the authorities and the ill-treatment by his employer – more captivating than the main plot.

The author took seven years to complete this books which explains the myriad of plots and details in the book. The novel demands your absolute attention otherwise you will loose focus in no time. You will also find yourself longing for the words “the end” just to reach the long-awaited conclusion of the story.

A dismal read.

• Local Price: RM34.00 (MPH)
• Publisher: Grove Press (357 pages)
• Genre: Fiction
• ISBN: 0802165052

Enrique’s Journey – Book Review

Fearless journalist amazes me; Sonia Nazario certainly fits the bill. Evolving from her award-winning newspaper series in Los Angeles Times, she writes a story of an arduous journey of a Honduran boy, Enrique. In 2000, 16-year-old Enrique left his home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to North Carolina in search of his mother.

While most writers conduct research in the comfort of their library or by “googling” or surfing the internet, Nazario retraces Enrique’s 1,600-miles-journey from Honduras to Texas by foot, train and living in motels. She interviews people who have helped and met Enrique along his journey.

Nazario claims that she is not a brave person; however, this book proves otherwise.

Enrique’s mother, Lourdes, leaves Honduras without saying goodbye to him and his older sister-Belky. Unable to feed her children, Lourdes decides to follow the foot steps of thousands Central Americans who left their country to travel north to the USA in pursuit of a better life. She promises herself that she’d return home as soon as she earns enough money. Enrique was five when she left him. Years passed but Lourdes fails to keep her word.

In her absence, Enrique was passed along from a relative to a relative in search of a better home. He grows up in rebellion; what he fails to understand is that he lacks maternal love every growing child deserves.

Honduras – like her other Central American’s counterparts – is steeped in corruption, caught in political turmoil, poverty and drug abuses. Enrique makes up the rising statistic of drug users by sniffing glue. Glue sniffing is a form of escapism for him to forget his frustration. Enrique’s salvation comes in a form of two women – his grandmother Maria and his girlfriend, Maria Isabel.

At 16, Enrique sets off his journey of 1,600 miles from Tegucigalpa to Texas – with little money but abundant of naive bravery. He must pass Guatemala before attempting to get to Mexico before proceeding to cross the 2,000 miles stretch of Mexico-Texas border.

Enrique begins his journey by sitting atop of moving freight train dubbed as El Tren de la Muerte (The Train of Death). Aboard this train, Enrique encounters the worst part of his journey, where he and other immigrants, risk being captured by the authority; or pushed off from the train. Gangsters, bandits, the Mexican police force and La Migra (Mexican immigration authority) hinder Enrique’s path. They prey on immigrants like dogs. The authorities and bandits push the immigrants off the train, extort their money and, sometimes, beat them senseless.

Immigrants, onboard Train of Death, strap themselves atop the coach to avoid falling off from the moving train. At times, they talk to each other loudly to combat sleepiness at night. They duck out and flatten themselves to the coach as branches of tree graze the train. Often, they go without food or drinks for days on end. In writing this story, Nazario, once spots an immigrant child drinking from a puddle of dirty water laced with diesel by the rail track.

Enrique progresses to La Arocera after his 7th attempt. He endures being beaten up on the train. He seeks help from a local named Olga in Chiapas. Nazario tells the story beautifully as she sits atop the train herself to experience, what she calls, only a fraction of what the boy has gone through.

Enrique fears capture and deportation back to Honduras more that death itself. He eludes the authorities by sleeping at cemeteries and working with locals in exchange for food and boarding. His misery continues as he reaches Nuevo Lavedo, the US-Mexican border. He lost his mother’s phone number in North Carolina and he doesn’t have any money to call home so that they could provide him the same. In Nuevo Lavedo, Enrique shelters with other immigrants by the riverside controlled by El Tirindaro, a heroin addict and immigrant-smuggler. Enrique washes cars and begs in the street to earn the pesos he desperately needs to buy the phone card.

On May 19, 2000 Lourdes hears Enrique on the phone saying “Mami?” She answers with with “Hola mi hijo.” Hello my son. Lourdes pays El Tirindaro $1,200 to smuggle her son to her. Enrique fears desert and its inhabitants; raucous hyenas and poisonous scorpions. He chooses to cross the river of Rio Grande to get into Texas. Once again, he tempts death. Many immigrants have drowned while trying to cross the dangerous river.

God must be listening. Enrique arrives at Lourdes’ doorstep.

In North Carolina, Enrique finds that life isn’t bed of roses either. Despite making decent money doing painting job, he struggles to bond with his mother. They know nothing about each other. He resents Lourdes for abandoning him and Belky. Lourdes thinks he should be thankful because it had been a struggle for her to send money home to him.

Nazario made further research on the relationship between migrant parents and their children after the much-awaited reunion. Often, the family reunion among them disintegrates. The emotional scars are just too much to be ignored. Some seek ways to rectify the damage; others remain restless wanderers.

The writer takes five years to complete this book. Apart from sitting atop the Train of Death, she traces Enrique’s steps by visiting the places he went. She interviews the people who helped or met Enrique in his journey. She bugs Mexican authorities to give their side of the story. She climbs hill to meet Enrique’s grandmother. Amidst doing all these, she realizes the grave danger she puts herself in. Hers is path less-traveled.

My reading journey has been immensely enriched by this book. It humbles me and, hopefully, other readers too. I feel for Sue, my domestic helper, who leaves behind her two growing children and husband in Jawa Barat. She leaves anyway to give them more than what her country has to offer her. I fervently hope that she will not loose the love of her children like Lourdes.

Nazario concludes the book by leaving her readers wondering whether the immigrants’ choice to leave their native country is worth risking losing their children’s affection. You will also be asking whether the US’s policy on illegal immigrants would have any effect at all when the economy of the Central-Americans continues to plunge deeper into misery.

This is one non-fiction you must read. Highly recommended. Happy New Year.

• Title: Enrique’s Journey
• Local Price: RM55.90 (Times)
• Publisher: Random House
• Genre: Biography/Non-Fiction
• ISBN: 978-0-8129-7178-1

Monsoon Books

 

The publisher of Monsoon Books, Phil Tatham, privately emailed me about the offers and promotions in his independent publishing house based in Singapore.

Monsoon Books is also a publisher for Growing Up in Trengganu (GUiT). GUiT is now smiling from No.1 spot in MPH bestseller’s list. Way to go AG!

For books on discounts from Monsoon Books, please click here.

For FREE books from Monsoon Books, please click here.

p/s: Psssssttt! Awang Goneng is reading his book in Bangsar on the 29th December 2007. Read about it here.

[Picture courtesy of David Robert Books]

Sunday Evening with Awang Goneng

Few bloggers gathered on Sunday the 9th of December 2007 at Kinokuniya, KLCC to meet the author of Growing Up in Trengganu (GUiT) – Wan A. Hulaimi together with his lovely wife, Zaharah Othman. The event was arranged by Jaflam who was kind enough to extend the invitation to us all. For better coverage of the event, please click Captain Ancient Mariner and Pak Zawi.

I had a ball of a time and as for Luqman, well, he has fun everywhere he goes so long as he doesn’t have to be still! Sigh.

Shall we proceed with pictures then? Kindly take note that pictures are courtesy of Mat Salo of Borneo Blues.

Standing from left: Dr. Bubbles, Pak Zawi, Jaflam, Zabs & Mat Salo

Sitting from left: Wan, Awang Goneng, Kak Teh, Captain Yusof, Akmal, Luqman & Mommy

I heard he hates being photographed (evil laugh – muahahahahaha!)

I have to strain my eyes to actually believe that he is writing my name. Nice hand, don’t you think?

Luqman and the Author with Jaflam looking on. Luqman is AG’s youngest fan. LOL!

Tender moments with the Author…

Pak Zawi & his newly-acquired grandson

Yours truly, Awang Goneng & Luqman Zain

*9th of December 2007 also marks the lovely couple’s 28th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary to Awang Goneng & Kak Teh.

GUiT oh GUiT! Where art thou?

  [Update 7 December 2007, 11.00 am: I received an email from Captain Yusof Ahmad of The Ancient Mariner extending an invitation to meet Awang Goneng and Kak Teh at Kinokuyina KLCC on 9 December 2007. Please bring your copy of GUiT with you. See you there at 4 p.m.]

If you are still looking for a copy of GUiT, kindly take note of the following locations and latest comment on my book review:

Borders at The Curve is retailing the book under the tag of “buy 3 for the price of 2″ together with other chosen titles. I must say, their chosen titles are well thought after.

Kinokuniya at KLCC. Pak Zawi bought his copy there and he was impressed with the service of Kinokuniya. Personally, I think, Kinokuniya is one of the best bookstores on our shore.

Times at Pavillion, Bangsar Shopping Centre and KLCC. Please be rest assured that their shop assistants are absolutely helpful and do not have their heads in clouds like some other bookstores.

Exemplary MPHs at Bangsar Village II, Midvalley and One Utama. Please don’t bother going to MPH at Alpha Angel or Great Eastern Mall. They don’t know nuts what you are looking for, trust me on that.

To doctor-blogger of Dari Bilik Ini, GUiT is now available in Kuala Terengganu. Karim Omar has the details for you. That would save you a postage fee from KL that I fully intend to claim from you!

To my brother Mat Salo, oh well, nothing much I can do from here if you are stucked there in the swamp! LOL! To doctor-holiday maker-blogger Tokasid, dah abis ke belum?

Happy reading folks and don’t forget to peep over to Tunku Halim’s blog. The seasoned author has, what I call, a rave review on GUiT. Lastly, I heard that Awang Goneng and Kak Teh are in Singapore and will be back in town soon. We look forward to hear from them.

GUiT – Book Review

Personally, this book is a walk down the memory lane for me. Kuala Terengganu always holds a special place in my heart. The people, the intriguing dialect, the mouth-watering delicacy and miles and miles of white sandy beaches in Terengganu calm the heart of many. Of course, the unforgettable MRSM Kuala Terenganu, Wakaf Tengah, Mengabang Telipot. That would need another posting in the future: only if I manage to jog my poor memory.

Where was I? Ah, the book review, of course. I read the flattering introduction right there at the bookstore (classic case of being an impatient person) and headed home with my head giddy in anticipation. The rest of the weekend was reduced to curling in bed in a vicious attempt to finish the book.

Awang Goneng (AG), whose real name is Wan A. Hulaimi kicked off his writing career after a brief stint in academic and jornalism. Originally trained in law, the man moved to a greener pasture as many law degree holders have done save for the dense ones who insist on practising the trade. The writer is currently residing in the cold and gloomy London with his adorable wife Kak Teh of Choc-a-Blog Blog.

Growing Up in Trengganu (GUiT) originates from AG’s postings in his blog; Kecek-Kecek. He started his blog in November 2004 and the rest, as they say, is history. From what I read, the publisher thought the postings are too good to just remain virtual in blogsphere and therefore they decided to publish it in an immortal form of a book.

When I first read GUiT the blogger-version, I couldn’t help but think that the postings, in some ways, reflect a research paper on Terengganu’s dialect; or as AG aptly calls it “Trengganuspeak”. But be warned, this is not some dull research papers, AG wittingly peppers his postings with cynical humor and satirical thought of his mind.

Reflective of its title, GUiT vividly narrates the childhood of its writer. AG weaves the story in astonishing details that feed your realm of imagination. He will hook you on the pages from his witty introduction right to the glossary at the back of the book. Whilst not being exactly a page-turner, this book is highly intriguing that you just need to know what else he has in store.

The writer captures the essential essence of satisfying the reader’s mind by describing the sense of smell, sound and taste of everything Terengganu. The setting and description of the characters in the book evoke the sense of belonging in you. You could almost touch the atmosphere in Terengganu from his unique writing style.

As you probably know by now, it is either you understand the “Trengganuspeak” or you just simply don’t. If you fall under the latter catagory – god bless you – kindly refer to the glossary I mentioned before.

If I have to choose, my personal favourite would be “Ice on the Gunny”. The story transports me back to my childhood when ice was covered with sawdust to prevent it from melting. Of course, this was before the advent of refrigerator in my kampong. AG also cruelly teases my taste bud by writing about the sinfully sweet nekbat, puteri mandi and lompat tikam. Ah, when is the next flight to Kota Bharu please?

Undoubtedly, GUiT is not an ordinary book. I am of the view that not many creative writers can narrate their childhood experience to be a charming read. Most of our growing up memories would be in an unfathomable patches and usually hard to recall.

This is not just a book, it is indeed a keepsake.