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saareman's review
3.0
Dark Farce
Review of the English translation edition (New Directions 2019) of the Bengali original [b:হারবার্ট|16110380|হারবার্ট|Nabarun Bhattacharya|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1466233591l/16110380._SY75_.jpg|18363608] (1993)
This recent translation of the 1993 Bengali cult novel includes an extensive Afterword by [a:Siddhartha Deb|56929|Siddhartha Deb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1309160964p2/56929.jpg] and extensive Notes by translator [a:Sunandini Banerjee|4847246|Sunandini Banerjee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. These are the type of translation editions that I appreciate and love the most as they endeavour to provide increased context and interpretation for readers who may not be familiar with the language and culture of the author and his world. Harbart definitely does this very well.
I suppose I had hoped for an ending that provided for some sort of clever triumph by the anti-hero Harbart Sarkar after his grifting career of communing with the dead is exposed by a team of myth-busters. The ending instead was sad and pathetic, with an added bizarre and murderous twist. I should probably also admit that my Eastern European background makes for an aversion to anything where the Communists are portrayed as the heroes, although admittedly the Indian Naxalite movement here is seen as the downtrodden being persecuted and murdered by the authorities. My mood probably wasn't in tune to appreciate all of the dark farce aspects of this short novella but I still very much appreciated the packaging of this edition. It seems like a strong candidate for the International Booker or Best Translated Book Award down the road.
The translation read very well and the extensive notes on the italicized Bengali words were helpful throughout and did not disrupt the reading flow.
Trivia and Links
This seems to be the second English language translation, with [b:Harbart|13183153|Harbart|Nabarun Bhattacharya|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331801656l/13183153._SY75_.jpg|18363608] translated by Arunava Sinha appearing in 2011 for the South Asian market.
See the trailer on YouTube for Herbert (2005) the film adaptation directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay here (includes English subtitles). The film also has a cult following.
You can view the entire Herbert (2005) film here, also with English subtitles.
Review of the English translation edition (New Directions 2019) of the Bengali original [b:হারবার্ট|16110380|হারবার্ট|Nabarun Bhattacharya|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1466233591l/16110380._SY75_.jpg|18363608] (1993)
This recent translation of the 1993 Bengali cult novel includes an extensive Afterword by [a:Siddhartha Deb|56929|Siddhartha Deb|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1309160964p2/56929.jpg] and extensive Notes by translator [a:Sunandini Banerjee|4847246|Sunandini Banerjee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. These are the type of translation editions that I appreciate and love the most as they endeavour to provide increased context and interpretation for readers who may not be familiar with the language and culture of the author and his world. Harbart definitely does this very well.
I suppose I had hoped for an ending that provided for some sort of clever triumph by the anti-hero Harbart Sarkar after his grifting career of communing with the dead is exposed by a team of myth-busters. The ending instead was sad and pathetic, with an added bizarre and murderous twist. I should probably also admit that my Eastern European background makes for an aversion to anything where the Communists are portrayed as the heroes, although admittedly the Indian Naxalite movement here is seen as the downtrodden being persecuted and murdered by the authorities. My mood probably wasn't in tune to appreciate all of the dark farce aspects of this short novella but I still very much appreciated the packaging of this edition. It seems like a strong candidate for the International Booker or Best Translated Book Award down the road.
The translation read very well and the extensive notes on the italicized Bengali words were helpful throughout and did not disrupt the reading flow.
Trivia and Links
This seems to be the second English language translation, with [b:Harbart|13183153|Harbart|Nabarun Bhattacharya|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331801656l/13183153._SY75_.jpg|18363608] translated by Arunava Sinha appearing in 2011 for the South Asian market.
See the trailer on YouTube for Herbert (2005) the film adaptation directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay here (includes English subtitles). The film also has a cult following.
You can view the entire Herbert (2005) film here, also with English subtitles.
paromita_m's review against another edition
2.0
বইটির কোনো মানে পেলাম না। Kafka style absurdism যদি হয় তাহলেও অনেক সময় তার থেকে জগত বা জীবনদর্শন সম্পর্কে কিছু individual reader level এ পাওয়া যায়। এখানে সেটা হল না। কয়েকটা শব্দ, তা দিয়ে বাক্য, সেই বাক্যের সমষ্টি পড়ে গেলাম। Not for me, underwhelmed.
sas_lk's review
dark
informative
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I feel like I need to reread this a couple more times with a bit more preparation because I felt like a lot of the historical context was lost on me. Nonetheless Harbart felt like a true fever dream, and I definitely enjoyed reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness
dhanushgopinath's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
pearloz's review
3.0
More like 3.5. The book is too short for a fairly enjoyable character--Harbart follows the titular character and his brief life as a prophet/medium, from down on his luck orphan living at his uncle's house unloved to his (not a spoiler!) suicide (it's not a spoiler because the opening scene is a fly's eye view of the scene of his death. I enjoyed it, I like Harbart the character, but we spent so little time with him. The last scenes, the cremation after his suicide, were great as well.
readingsofaslinky's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is one of those books that give you an acute look into a certain place and time and culture. This book was dark and funny and odd. I feel like a lot of the historical context was lost on me, but nonetheless Harbart had me engrossed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Colonisation
Minor: Gun violence
chloelees's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
shriyani's review against another edition
4.0
I never understood modern art; while I was reading this book I realised there’s a category as modern storytelling which I don’t understand as well.
I was reading it still, some pages I liked some parts I didn’t understand, some made me think, some were depressing.
In only 80 pages author successfully captured many flavours of life and misery and simple dreams, aspire.
It was a mixed feeling till last chapter. I thought I would give it somewhat 3 stars. Then in the end when his dead body bursts it took away that extra star from me.
I was reading it still, some pages I liked some parts I didn’t understand, some made me think, some were depressing.
In only 80 pages author successfully captured many flavours of life and misery and simple dreams, aspire.
It was a mixed feeling till last chapter. I thought I would give it somewhat 3 stars. Then in the end when his dead body bursts it took away that extra star from me.
urbi_shmurbi's review
3.0
3.5
Pirma karta skaičiau Indų autoriaus knygą. Vertimas max gražus ir daug mandrų žodžių, bet dėl ju buvo tiek pat sunku skaityt. Also žiauriai kietai kad nevengė tokių žodžių kaip as hell, fuck, stupid.
Ngl kinda sunku plot suprast gal čia tik man arba jis tikrai toks a bit random.
Pirma karta skaičiau Indų autoriaus knygą. Vertimas max gražus ir daug mandrų žodžių, bet dėl ju buvo tiek pat sunku skaityt. Also žiauriai kietai kad nevengė tokių žodžių kaip as hell, fuck, stupid.
Ngl kinda sunku plot suprast gal čia tik man arba jis tikrai toks a bit random.
bharati's review against another edition
5.0
"বৃথা আসি, বৃথা যাই/ কিছুই উদ্দেশ্য নাই" , আত্মহত্যা দিয়ে শুরু আর সেই আত্মঘাতীর অন্তিম সংস্কার দিয়ে শেষ এই ছোট্ট উপন্যাসটিতে যত মৃত্যু, হতাশা আছে তা সাধারণত কোনো বিশাল আকৃতির উপন্যাসও থাকে না, রচনাশৈলী খুব অভিনব এবং কঠিন, কোন লাইনে কোন ঘটনার পর কোথায় চলে গেল সেটা বুঝতে বুঝতে সময় খরচ হয়ে যায় এবং সেটাই এই উপন্যাসের বিশেষত্ব, ঠিক যেন সত্যজিৎ রায়ের ছিনেমা দেখছি। সর্বোপরি উপন্যাসটি জীবনের বহু পর্যায়ে বারংবার পড়ার ইচ্ছা রইল।