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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Once in a while, you come across a book which makes you question the very foundation your life has been built upon, the norms you have been following all your life. The Wall is just that kind of a book. It urges you to take a leap of faith. A leap beyond things no one thought to even look beyond, and those few who dared, were silenced.
It is set in a world called Sumer, which is bound by a wall. The wall has been there since time immemorial and it stands in the present day as a protector to the people of Sumer. However, things begin to change when a group of young people dare to question its existence and see a future without it. The book follows the journey of Mithila and her friends, as their mere dream of a horizon transforms into a revolution. It is a tale of rebellion, of rights, of duties, of curiosity, of yearning and above all, of love. Love for not just the people in your life, but for your own thoughts and ideas.
The writing style of the author is one of the best things about the book. The way it traverses between stories revolving around the history of Sumer and the present day plot, without seeming abrupt at any point, is something quite appreciable. I really like how the book is presented to the reader, with excerpts from original texts of Sumer, songs and poetry which compliment the story all along.
The world building is quite intricate and detailed. The nomenclature, inspired by Hindi and Sanskrit, is also something worth mentioning. Also, Gautam places women at positions of power in his story, breaking all the stereotypes and that too, effortlessly. It seemed as if there was nothing unique with women leading a government, it was something equally likely for both the genders in Sumer. The romantic relationships too were not bound by the gender norms of our world.
But, at the same time, I could draw so many parallels between our world and Sumer-how people’s right to express themselves are curbed by fooling them, how the loopholes of governance are hidden successfully from the people because of their unawareness, how inter-caste relationships are still forbidden and so on.
There were times, I felt the story to be a bit dragged. In my opinion, it lacked action, adventure and twists, which would have made it all the more easy to get one hooked to it. I also felt that the romance was way too subtle. It could have been written about more. Also, I struggled a bit with the functioning of the world in the beginning. Too much information was given to the reader without much time to process it .I found myself struggling to understand what was happening in the first hundred pages, I would have appreciated a little more explanation of how things worked in Sumer.
Nevertheless, The Wall is a beautifully written book which will make you stand against whatever wall the society has built around you or even you yourself have managed to trap yourself in. It will make you question things, for no reason in particular but just because they exist.
Looking forward to the next installment!
It is set in a world called Sumer, which is bound by a wall. The wall has been there since time immemorial and it stands in the present day as a protector to the people of Sumer. However, things begin to change when a group of young people dare to question its existence and see a future without it. The book follows the journey of Mithila and her friends, as their mere dream of a horizon transforms into a revolution. It is a tale of rebellion, of rights, of duties, of curiosity, of yearning and above all, of love. Love for not just the people in your life, but for your own thoughts and ideas.
The writing style of the author is one of the best things about the book. The way it traverses between stories revolving around the history of Sumer and the present day plot, without seeming abrupt at any point, is something quite appreciable. I really like how the book is presented to the reader, with excerpts from original texts of Sumer, songs and poetry which compliment the story all along.
The world building is quite intricate and detailed. The nomenclature, inspired by Hindi and Sanskrit, is also something worth mentioning. Also, Gautam places women at positions of power in his story, breaking all the stereotypes and that too, effortlessly. It seemed as if there was nothing unique with women leading a government, it was something equally likely for both the genders in Sumer. The romantic relationships too were not bound by the gender norms of our world.
But, at the same time, I could draw so many parallels between our world and Sumer-how people’s right to express themselves are curbed by fooling them, how the loopholes of governance are hidden successfully from the people because of their unawareness, how inter-caste relationships are still forbidden and so on.
There were times, I felt the story to be a bit dragged. In my opinion, it lacked action, adventure and twists, which would have made it all the more easy to get one hooked to it. I also felt that the romance was way too subtle. It could have been written about more. Also, I struggled a bit with the functioning of the world in the beginning. Too much information was given to the reader without much time to process it .I found myself struggling to understand what was happening in the first hundred pages, I would have appreciated a little more explanation of how things worked in Sumer.
Nevertheless, The Wall is a beautifully written book which will make you stand against whatever wall the society has built around you or even you yourself have managed to trap yourself in. It will make you question things, for no reason in particular but just because they exist.
Looking forward to the next installment!
This is a novel packed cover to cover with ideas. I'd ask any reader to pay very close attention to them, and reflect on them.
Once in a while, you stumble upon fiction that makes you question your place in the world, the nature of social construct and what it means to be human. The Wall draws you into the city of Sumer from the get go, setting the stage for what you'll read, learn and feel.
It forces you to think about personal relationships, dissent, invisible walls around us and how we as humans engage with each of these. To me, personally, Sumer felt like it could be placed anywhere and in any place that needs a disassembling of status quo. You'll also find that the author takes the time to talk about social class, democracy, dependence on oral history and our drive, as humans, to engage with the great unknown.
With that said, the novel takes some time to get into. Push through, and you'll begin to see why the writer choses not get into details and spell everything out for the reader. He lets you choose your own Sumer in a way - allowing you to build the scene for yourself. The map of Sumer included in the paperback edition really helps.
If you're looking for some fresh SF to explore, The Wall is a no-brainer.
Once in a while, you stumble upon fiction that makes you question your place in the world, the nature of social construct and what it means to be human. The Wall draws you into the city of Sumer from the get go, setting the stage for what you'll read, learn and feel.
It forces you to think about personal relationships, dissent, invisible walls around us and how we as humans engage with each of these. To me, personally, Sumer felt like it could be placed anywhere and in any place that needs a disassembling of status quo. You'll also find that the author takes the time to talk about social class, democracy, dependence on oral history and our drive, as humans, to engage with the great unknown.
With that said, the novel takes some time to get into. Push through, and you'll begin to see why the writer choses not get into details and spell everything out for the reader. He lets you choose your own Sumer in a way - allowing you to build the scene for yourself. The map of Sumer included in the paperback edition really helps.
If you're looking for some fresh SF to explore, The Wall is a no-brainer.
The Wall is different from your usual speculative fiction offering. At least I found it so. The politics of the world it's set in is intricate and the system of government in it, interesting. The yearnings and strivings of the characters are conveyed in beautiful, poetic prose and their philosophical musings and banter will have you taking frequent breaks, to allow for the richness and depth of this amazing piece of literature sink in. Something I believe won't even happen, till after several reads and a lot of introspection after. The book examines a wide range of interesting and serious themes. Personal freedom, civil liberty, the validity or extent of the validity of history, religion, free thought to a society trying to choose between existence and quality of life that's worth risking everything for. The conflict as characters agonize over the two choices, none an easy one. It manages to do all this in a way that still keeps you surging through its pages, never bored, always wondering what's next, a journey that ends in a gasp of delight/horror. No spoilers, but it's definitely worth checking out. And definitely a 5 star for me.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“There is a world to discover, isn’t there?”
Gautam Bhatia’s debut fictional novel is what I’d like to call a masterpiece in the making. A story of a walled city – Sumer - which knows nothing of the world beyond it and of curious minds who feel caged up inside. A story of revolution, of yearning, of smara.
The city of Sumer is divided into 15 mandalas (circles/rings) which is separated from the farmer’s land by a river Rasa which flows through the middle. The society has a matriarchal structure and the people don’t seem to be evidently homophobic, which is a welcome change from the world we live in today. Despite these developments, like every society there are flaws in this one too. There’s a difference in the opportunities you have based on the mandala you live in, you can consider the mandala system similar to that of a class-system, where the first five mandalas are superior to the next ten.
There are various groups/clans within the city with different ideals, the Shoortans who preach their incendiary doctrines, the Select who rise to oppose them, the Coterie who teach a new creed, the Young Tarafians who call for bringing down the wall and lastly the Hedonists who simply cause general chaos in the city because they have nothing more adventurous to do.
The focus of the book is mainly on the Young Tarafians and their leader Mithila. Her determination to breach the wall is inspiring while her will to sacrifice everything for what she believes in lights a fire inside you which might’ve been dimmed over the years of adulthood. The Shoortans and the council of Elders will infuriate you enough throughout the book to keep that fire raging.
The Wall speaks of various issues surrounding a society like class divide, power struggle, freedom of speech and expression, population and even the question way too many people seem to ask these days, “Who is a citizen?” My favourite chapter in the book was when the all the members of various groups gather together to try and ban the young Tarafians, dismissing their ideals like a crumpled bit of paper. The speeches given, the points made, the questions asked... it is most captivating.
But if I were to give you five reasons as to why you should read this book, they are:
1. The book is well-paced and the story structure is as such that while dropping enough hints of what may be yet to come, also keeps you wondering and hence you continue to keep reading on.
2. If you love beautiful personifications used for nature, you’ll definitely love this book.
3. Are you a sucker for MCs who will give everything they have to stand by what they believe in? Yes? Get ready to meet Mithila and her friends!
4. If you’re looking for a SFF that isn’t centred on a patriarchal Caucasian culture with a straight lead, then this one fits the bill
5. Lastly, The Wall is capable of stirring up a storm of emotions, especially towards the end and while it’s a duology and while you may have a lot of questions, the author does a brilliant job of not leaving you at a cliff hanger which will make you feel angry.
Gautam Bhatia has done brilliantly in bringing us an SFF in the form of Sumer and makes sure that he encapsulate just enough aspects of Hindu mythology and Indian culture.
I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks, knocking off 0.5 because of the disconnect I felt in between chapters on rare occasions and also because I believe the cover doesn’t do justice to what a masterpiece this story is. I loved this book for how thrilling it was. I have not felt that way after reading a book in a very long time and will definitely recommend that you give it a chance on your TBRs.
I’d also like to thank Harper Collins India for this beautiful copy of the book and congratulate the author on his fictional debut!
Gautam Bhatia’s debut fictional novel is what I’d like to call a masterpiece in the making. A story of a walled city – Sumer - which knows nothing of the world beyond it and of curious minds who feel caged up inside. A story of revolution, of yearning, of smara.
The city of Sumer is divided into 15 mandalas (circles/rings) which is separated from the farmer’s land by a river Rasa which flows through the middle. The society has a matriarchal structure and the people don’t seem to be evidently homophobic, which is a welcome change from the world we live in today. Despite these developments, like every society there are flaws in this one too. There’s a difference in the opportunities you have based on the mandala you live in, you can consider the mandala system similar to that of a class-system, where the first five mandalas are superior to the next ten.
There are various groups/clans within the city with different ideals, the Shoortans who preach their incendiary doctrines, the Select who rise to oppose them, the Coterie who teach a new creed, the Young Tarafians who call for bringing down the wall and lastly the Hedonists who simply cause general chaos in the city because they have nothing more adventurous to do.
The focus of the book is mainly on the Young Tarafians and their leader Mithila. Her determination to breach the wall is inspiring while her will to sacrifice everything for what she believes in lights a fire inside you which might’ve been dimmed over the years of adulthood. The Shoortans and the council of Elders will infuriate you enough throughout the book to keep that fire raging.
The Wall speaks of various issues surrounding a society like class divide, power struggle, freedom of speech and expression, population and even the question way too many people seem to ask these days, “Who is a citizen?” My favourite chapter in the book was when the all the members of various groups gather together to try and ban the young Tarafians, dismissing their ideals like a crumpled bit of paper. The speeches given, the points made, the questions asked... it is most captivating.
But if I were to give you five reasons as to why you should read this book, they are:
1. The book is well-paced and the story structure is as such that while dropping enough hints of what may be yet to come, also keeps you wondering and hence you continue to keep reading on.
2. If you love beautiful personifications used for nature, you’ll definitely love this book.
3. Are you a sucker for MCs who will give everything they have to stand by what they believe in? Yes? Get ready to meet Mithila and her friends!
4. If you’re looking for a SFF that isn’t centred on a patriarchal Caucasian culture with a straight lead, then this one fits the bill
5. Lastly, The Wall is capable of stirring up a storm of emotions, especially towards the end and while it’s a duology and while you may have a lot of questions, the author does a brilliant job of not leaving you at a cliff hanger which will make you feel angry.
Gautam Bhatia has done brilliantly in bringing us an SFF in the form of Sumer and makes sure that he encapsulate just enough aspects of Hindu mythology and Indian culture.
I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks, knocking off 0.5 because of the disconnect I felt in between chapters on rare occasions and also because I believe the cover doesn’t do justice to what a masterpiece this story is. I loved this book for how thrilling it was. I have not felt that way after reading a book in a very long time and will definitely recommend that you give it a chance on your TBRs.
I’d also like to thank Harper Collins India for this beautiful copy of the book and congratulate the author on his fictional debut!
"Garuda looked at him. ‘Fine,’ he said, ‘let the poet speak. If the world beyond is like a poem, which would it be?’
Alvar let himself rest against his shovel, and pondered. ‘Zaid’s, I think. Like nothing you’ve felt before — but once you have, you know it’s the only thing that will ever feel real.’ "
Quote from The Wall, by Gautam Bhatia
The first thought I had, when I finished reading The Wall, is that I needed the sequel to the book, immediately.
The second thought I had, is that I needed to read this book again. Because The Wall is simply the kind of book that has to be read twice, to be fully experienced.
My first reading was driven by curiosity. I was deeply invested in the characters, even the minor ones, and I just had to know what would happen. So I flew through the book, marking passages and quotes that struck me deeply.
My second reading has been slower, and at the time of writing this review, ongoing. Now that my curiosity is satisfied, I’m taking the time to think over the ideas in the book.
The Wall has that philosophical depth.
Sumer is a circular city, surrounded by an insurmountable wall. Mithila, our protagonist, wants nothing more than to see what lies beyond this boundary, the crossing of which is forbidden.
Sounds like a simple plot, right? However there are layers to it, that add complexity and flavour. Ursula K Le Guin, in her author’s note to The Left Hand of Darkness, talks about how science fiction is like a thought experiment. The Wall, though it fits within the larger umbrella of speculative fiction, and is not only science fiction (some may argue it is not sci-fi at all, but let’s just say I see glimpses of what might be), layers a number of thought experiments. about freedom, reality, justice, revolution, religion, love, family, responsibility etc. It is also sociopolitical commentary, and those who read deeply will surely see the parallels to our society.
The world building is top notch. It took me a while to get used to the geography of Sumer — a map given at the beginning of the book was useful, however, I could not zoom in to the map on my Kindle copy and so had to struggle to read it. That is my only complaint. But other than that, the world of Sumer is fascinating. Even though the book is set in a fictional world seemingly unlike ours, the effect is much like considering a ‘civilization in a box.’
That the author , Gautam Bhatia, has not sacrificed character development while pursuing a complex plot and world building, is to his credit. Even minor characters stand out as individuals rather than as caricatures. They casually defy gender roles, and are relatable.
On the whole, The Wall is a much needed and greatly welcomed addition to the Indian SF canon. I have my theories, based on the events and ‘clues’ in this book, about what may happen in the sequel, and I can’t wait too see if I’m right. In the meanwhile though, I’m sure I’ll keep discovering new things in this book with each reading.
Alvar let himself rest against his shovel, and pondered. ‘Zaid’s, I think. Like nothing you’ve felt before — but once you have, you know it’s the only thing that will ever feel real.’ "
Quote from The Wall, by Gautam Bhatia
The first thought I had, when I finished reading The Wall, is that I needed the sequel to the book, immediately.
The second thought I had, is that I needed to read this book again. Because The Wall is simply the kind of book that has to be read twice, to be fully experienced.
My first reading was driven by curiosity. I was deeply invested in the characters, even the minor ones, and I just had to know what would happen. So I flew through the book, marking passages and quotes that struck me deeply.
My second reading has been slower, and at the time of writing this review, ongoing. Now that my curiosity is satisfied, I’m taking the time to think over the ideas in the book.
The Wall has that philosophical depth.
Sumer is a circular city, surrounded by an insurmountable wall. Mithila, our protagonist, wants nothing more than to see what lies beyond this boundary, the crossing of which is forbidden.
Sounds like a simple plot, right? However there are layers to it, that add complexity and flavour. Ursula K Le Guin, in her author’s note to The Left Hand of Darkness, talks about how science fiction is like a thought experiment. The Wall, though it fits within the larger umbrella of speculative fiction, and is not only science fiction (some may argue it is not sci-fi at all, but let’s just say I see glimpses of what might be), layers a number of thought experiments. about freedom, reality, justice, revolution, religion, love, family, responsibility etc. It is also sociopolitical commentary, and those who read deeply will surely see the parallels to our society.
The world building is top notch. It took me a while to get used to the geography of Sumer — a map given at the beginning of the book was useful, however, I could not zoom in to the map on my Kindle copy and so had to struggle to read it. That is my only complaint. But other than that, the world of Sumer is fascinating. Even though the book is set in a fictional world seemingly unlike ours, the effect is much like considering a ‘civilization in a box.’
That the author , Gautam Bhatia, has not sacrificed character development while pursuing a complex plot and world building, is to his credit. Even minor characters stand out as individuals rather than as caricatures. They casually defy gender roles, and are relatable.
On the whole, The Wall is a much needed and greatly welcomed addition to the Indian SF canon. I have my theories, based on the events and ‘clues’ in this book, about what may happen in the sequel, and I can’t wait too see if I’m right. In the meanwhile though, I’m sure I’ll keep discovering new things in this book with each reading.