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ibk's review
4.0
A fascinating character study and a wonderful cultural insight. The book has you gripped from early on and it continues to keep you hooked until the end.
The development of the relationship between characters is wonderful. The limited almost-omniscience of the narrator increases the tension, as you can observe how the characters influence each other.
It seems like some of the work got lost in translation; the flow seemed jagged at times. The language also seems awkward at times.
My main qualm with the book was that the ending fell flat.
The development of the relationship between characters is wonderful. The limited almost-omniscience of the narrator increases the tension, as you can observe how the characters influence each other.
It seems like some of the work got lost in translation; the flow seemed jagged at times. The language also seems awkward at times.
My main qualm with the book was that the ending fell flat.
veenasoujanya's review
Yesterday I finished reading Choker Bali by Rabindranath Tagore and for the first time, I didn't know how to rate a book. Because it is Tagore's work are we supposed to give a 5star rating? To be frank I couldn't do so.I have seen many reviewers rating it less saying it is because of poor translation. I feel even that notion is wrong. I felt that there is a huge problem with the plot. In fact, if any other person other than Tagore had written the book I would have not even bothered to pick it up because of the storyline.Again, it is my opinion as for me the plot and the idea matters.The story, I understand is a great evolution for that period but if you pick it now, not knowing the title or author, I feel you can't read further after a few pages.
Choker Bali is supposed to be the story of two women. Again wrong. It is the story of an arrogant, spoilt and selfish man who decides that the world should revolve around him. The characterization of every character might be very real in accordance with that period, but now I think we evolved from accepting crap.
I won't go deep into the story. The basic outline is, a supposedly intelligent and smart Mahendra (he is going to be a doctor so let us assume him to be intelligent), marries Asha after seeing her for the first time though the match was originally designed for his best friend Bihari.(Ok, love, at first sight, I get it🤨) After the marriage, he constantly discourages his wife to learn any household work, making her look bad in front of her mother in law's eyes (as she is only14, she has to learn much of the work) as he wants her to study further. And again it is he who always disturbs her saying that he is not able to concentrate on his studies because of her, so how can she concentrate (I hate this logic😖) Then enters Binodini in their life. The woman who was supposed to be married to Mahendra but later was given in marriage to his cousin and becomes a widow after his death. Binodini and Asha become great friends and Mahendra eventually falls in love with Binodini (oh...he tries very hard to be a virtuous male 🙄) When the whole thing comes out everyone blame Binodini and she leaves to her old place, but after, confessing her love to Bihari. Mahendra by this time becomes mad about Binodini and decides to leave his wife. He chases Binodini and compels her to spend time with him. Binodini by this time realizes her mistake (oh, by the way, the mistake was to TALK to a married man which made him come after her) and realized she deserves the rejection of the society and Bihari (Like seriously 😨) Finally Mahendra realizes that Binodini can never become his he decides to go back to his wife where the true love exists (how convenient🙄) All gets well when Asha accepts her husband, she being a true and innocent soul all the while curses herself that it is her inefficiency which made her husband love another woman (I DO NOT THINK A WOMAN TO BE PURE AND INNOCENT IF SHE BLAMES HERSELF FOR HER HUSBAND'S AFFAIR. THE WOMAN IS NOT PURE, SHE IS STUPID) And Oh...Binodini rejects Bihari's proposal of marriage saying that marrying a widow will malign his reputation and decides to leave for Kasi as a penance for her mistake.(WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS HER MISTAKE 😣)
I am not at all saying that Tagore has been partial. For that age and society what he attempted was brilliant. But I realized that I cannot read these kinds of works.It is better I stay away from Classics like these than bang my head as to why I am not able to see their greatness.
Choker Bali is supposed to be the story of two women. Again wrong. It is the story of an arrogant, spoilt and selfish man who decides that the world should revolve around him. The characterization of every character might be very real in accordance with that period, but now I think we evolved from accepting crap.
I won't go deep into the story. The basic outline is, a supposedly intelligent and smart Mahendra (he is going to be a doctor so let us assume him to be intelligent), marries Asha after seeing her for the first time though the match was originally designed for his best friend Bihari.(Ok, love, at first sight, I get it🤨) After the marriage, he constantly discourages his wife to learn any household work, making her look bad in front of her mother in law's eyes (as she is only14, she has to learn much of the work) as he wants her to study further. And again it is he who always disturbs her saying that he is not able to concentrate on his studies because of her, so how can she concentrate (I hate this logic😖) Then enters Binodini in their life. The woman who was supposed to be married to Mahendra but later was given in marriage to his cousin and becomes a widow after his death. Binodini and Asha become great friends and Mahendra eventually falls in love with Binodini (oh...he tries very hard to be a virtuous male 🙄) When the whole thing comes out everyone blame Binodini and she leaves to her old place, but after, confessing her love to Bihari. Mahendra by this time becomes mad about Binodini and decides to leave his wife. He chases Binodini and compels her to spend time with him. Binodini by this time realizes her mistake (oh, by the way, the mistake was to TALK to a married man which made him come after her) and realized she deserves the rejection of the society and Bihari (Like seriously 😨) Finally Mahendra realizes that Binodini can never become his he decides to go back to his wife where the true love exists (how convenient🙄) All gets well when Asha accepts her husband, she being a true and innocent soul all the while curses herself that it is her inefficiency which made her husband love another woman (I DO NOT THINK A WOMAN TO BE PURE AND INNOCENT IF SHE BLAMES HERSELF FOR HER HUSBAND'S AFFAIR. THE WOMAN IS NOT PURE, SHE IS STUPID) And Oh...Binodini rejects Bihari's proposal of marriage saying that marrying a widow will malign his reputation and decides to leave for Kasi as a penance for her mistake.(WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS HER MISTAKE 😣)
I am not at all saying that Tagore has been partial. For that age and society what he attempted was brilliant. But I realized that I cannot read these kinds of works.It is better I stay away from Classics like these than bang my head as to why I am not able to see their greatness.
pratikshyamishra's review
5.0
http://www.magic-moments.in/2017/02/dear-binodini-fridayreflections.html?m=1
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