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misspalah's review
5.0
“It was at this corner that i learnt that love can show itself in perverse ways, that one could find loyalty in the most unlikely places. It was here that i began to understand that contradiction is in the nature of things : animosity is bound to affection, deception to loyalty, fantasy to reality : in much the way as chap ji ki number is linked to its spirit”.
- Oh by Gopal Baratham (Memories that glow in the dark)
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Collections of short stories tend to have stories that are really strong and there are the weak ones BUT this is definitely an exception. There are 13 stories and all of them are good in their own way. Gopal Baratham’s subject matter is diverse - Some did display the life of Indian community in Singapore, some were involved in the love affairs, some were assailed by the traumas of Japanese Occupation in 1940s, some were part of British espionage to resist communism, some were confused and in dilemma of whether assimilating into the new country or holding on to the past. Gopal Baratham stories is bold — too bold at certain point, i would say. I got uncomfortable of how many times pointy nipples were being mentioned in ‘Korean Agate’ story or does the intense male gaze is done intentionally as a way to bewilder and baffle the readers. I am not sure. However, i have to credit the author as he managed to link between foreignness and loneliness and illustrate the connection that tie people and their history. These were done beautifully in “Memories that glow in the dark” and “Personal history of an island”. In “The Japanese girl” and “the providence”, they illuminate the mundane traumas, the controlled anguishes that blink unspoken and unacknowledged but followed by the reconciliation moment that Main Characters went through in it. “Main-Main” is another favourite story of mine. It is witty but it did not take away from the story in highlighting the desire to be accepted and to fit in. Overall, An enticing book with lovely writing and slightly provocative content. There is a closeness and vulnerability of the characters in his stories that are genuine. A highly recommended book!
- Oh by Gopal Baratham (Memories that glow in the dark)
.
.
Collections of short stories tend to have stories that are really strong and there are the weak ones BUT this is definitely an exception. There are 13 stories and all of them are good in their own way. Gopal Baratham’s subject matter is diverse - Some did display the life of Indian community in Singapore, some were involved in the love affairs, some were assailed by the traumas of Japanese Occupation in 1940s, some were part of British espionage to resist communism, some were confused and in dilemma of whether assimilating into the new country or holding on to the past. Gopal Baratham stories is bold — too bold at certain point, i would say. I got uncomfortable of how many times pointy nipples were being mentioned in ‘Korean Agate’ story or does the intense male gaze is done intentionally as a way to bewilder and baffle the readers. I am not sure. However, i have to credit the author as he managed to link between foreignness and loneliness and illustrate the connection that tie people and their history. These were done beautifully in “Memories that glow in the dark” and “Personal history of an island”. In “The Japanese girl” and “the providence”, they illuminate the mundane traumas, the controlled anguishes that blink unspoken and unacknowledged but followed by the reconciliation moment that Main Characters went through in it. “Main-Main” is another favourite story of mine. It is witty but it did not take away from the story in highlighting the desire to be accepted and to fit in. Overall, An enticing book with lovely writing and slightly provocative content. There is a closeness and vulnerability of the characters in his stories that are genuine. A highly recommended book!
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