Book Reviews - Contemporary Fiction

Thread started by Oldposts on 2nd January 2005 10:53 AM

Topic suggested by Gokul on Fri Aug 14 17:21:48 .


Reviews of contemporary fiction, contemporary being anytime after WWII. .

Responses:

• Full Thread

• From: baroque on 19th September 2011 10:31 PM [Full View]

  
  
  

  I am reading a slow progressing, very atmospheric novel (Not action packed novel)
  
  IN THE SHADOW OF THE CYPRESS by THOMAS STEINBECK.
  
  very interesting facts on rich Chinese culture, historical back ground, novel set in
  Monterey Bay, California.
  
  
  Attachment 451

  
  

• From: P_R on 14th November 2011 01:20 PM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Just finished reading Shehan Karunatilake's Chinaman- the legend of Pradeep Matthew.
  
  One of the best novels I have read in a loooong time.
  
  
  The book is about a spent-force, alcoholic, bitter, cynical cricket journalist W.G.Karunasena trying to write about the man who he thinks is his country's greatest cricketer - one incredibly inventive spinner Pradeep Maththew. Details about him seem hard to find because he seems to have been at odds with the authorities. WG suffering from liver cirrosis, realization that life is slipping through his fingers, purpose, drink, his friendship with fellow cricket-lover Ariyaratne Byrd, his love for his wife are what the book is about. This is not to mention characters like midgets who secretly wire mics into dressing rooms, sour-grapers who run for BCCSL presidency, corrupt politicians, pompous cricketers, insecure commentators, underground betting dens, a match-fixing Tiger liaison-guy, estranged rock-musician son and many such.
  
  It is fully peppered with part-imaginary inside stories about the the mystical Maththew - who allegedly got the softspoken Ranatunga to sledge back, insisted Sanath play his natural game and not listen to foreign coaches, and blast people who try to mend the action of a certain up-and-coming boy from Kandy. We get a portrait of SL cricket before and around the glory of '96, the ethnic conflict and related politics in the background.
  
  The sense of humour is just fantastic. It is unrelenting even in the darkest of places, subtle in many places and enjoyably loud in others. And many a poignant moment wrapped in lovely prose.
  
  Strongly recommended it.
  
  Plum, methinks you will like this one. Do read and let us know.
  
  Roshan, you may be able to appreciate more of the local nuances in the book.

  
  

• From: Plum on 14th November 2011 06:03 PM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Feeyaar, yes I marked this one after reading a Guardian review. Right now, my book budget has been frozen by the Fin. Min on account of not having dusted the latest Amitav Ghosh epic(whose first part, sea of poppies, I had fervently recommended earlier in Kamal threads to you) 3 months after buying it. This review tips it. Konjam doubt irundhudhu - next purchase I'll buy this

  
  

• From: Plum on 14th November 2011 06:06 PM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Btw, I believe the troubled genius in real life whose life has been used in part by the writer, I believe, is KT Sadasivam, a tamil Cricketer - genius I believe before Lanka got Test status though. Philanderer(not Vernon) and Alcoholic details apparently match. Atleast, that's what the review said.

  
  

• From: P_R on 14th November 2011 06:19 PM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Not Sathasivam.
  Sathasivam find mention as himself quite extensively in this book. And he was a batsman.
  This is a Tamil left arm spinner who played sparingly. I google-guessed Sridharan jeganathan. But then they mention him too in the book
  
  This guy is just anti-authority. He disrespects captains, cuts Yorkshire commentators down to size and defends Murali's action. I guess that should sell the book to you rightaway

  
  

• From: P_R on 14th November 2011 06:22 PM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Matthew is anything but a philanderer. The narrator is the alcoholic. padinga, pEsuvOm.
  
  Ghosh, mind-la vachurukkEn. Nesst meet paNREn.

  
  

• From: 19thmay on 15th November 2011 09:53 AM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Prabhu - After reading your review I bought this book yesterday. But I am not going to read it now, lot of books are in queue. Right now reading God of small things, long pending actually.

  
  

• From: 19thmay on 9th March 2012 09:41 AM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Originally Posted by P_R

  Just finished reading Shehan Karunatilake's Chinaman- the legend of Pradeep Matthew.
  
  One of the best novels I have read in a loooong time.
  
  
  The book is about a spent-force, alcoholic, bitter, cynical cricket journalist W.G.Karunasena trying to write about the man who he thinks is his country's greatest cricketer - one incredibly inventive spinner Pradeep Maththew. Details about him seem hard to find because he seems to have been at odds with the authorities. WG suffering from liver cirrosis, realization that life is slipping through his fingers, purpose, drink, his friendship with fellow cricket-lover Ariyaratne Byrd, his love for his wife are what the book is about. This is not to mention characters like midgets who secretly wire mics into dressing rooms, sour-grapers who run for BCCSL presidency, corrupt politicians, pompous cricketers, insecure commentators, underground betting dens, a match-fixing Tiger liaison-guy, estranged rock-musician son and many such.
  
  It is fully peppered with part-imaginary inside stories about the the mystical Maththew - who allegedly got the softspoken Ranatunga to sledge back, insisted Sanath play his natural game and not listen to foreign coaches, and blast people who try to mend the action of a certain up-and-coming boy from Kandy. We get a portrait of SL cricket before and around the glory of '96, the ethnic conflict and related politics in the background.
  
  The sense of humour is just fantastic. It is unrelenting even in the darkest of places, subtle in many places and enjoyably loud in others. And many a poignant moment wrapped in lovely prose.
  
  Strongly recommended it.
  
  Plum, methinks you will like this one. Do read and let us know.
  
  Roshan, you may be able to appreciate more of the local nuances in the book.

  Completed... As I was reading I was googling a lot about Pradeep Sivanathan Mathew. Is it a real character? am not sure but this is a splendid work by Shehan Karunatilaka. I miss W.G, Ari a lot now... Need to revisit later. The two writing styles [ W.G and Shehan's ] were well differentiated. Probably Garfield's long search @ NZ could have been reduced. W.G's final moments were well captured. Many incidents, Many legends..A must read.
  
  Ken Rutherford incident was real or just his imagination?

  
  

• From: P_R on 17th March 2012 09:26 PM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Originally Posted by 19thmay

  I miss W.G, Ari a lot now.

  Glad you liked Sridhar.
  Extremely well written book.
  uNmai-kaRpanai kalandhu kattu adichchirukkAr.
  
  Roshan,Flau, padichchAchchA?

  
  

• From: raagadevan on 1st January 2020 05:21 PM [Full View]

  
  
  

  Best fiction books of the decade
  
  Books that break out of the rut, books that are heavy with promise of things to come — our list of the best fiction of the decade
  
  -The Hindu: December 28, 2019
  
  https://www.thehindu.com/books/best-...le30410721.ece