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A review by __booksandanimes__
Mother of 1084 by Mahasweta Devi, Samik Bandyopadhyay
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Why is it that when you don't like a book you have so much to say (rant) about it but when it comes to a book you loved, you are left incapable of writing a proper review.
This book is such a beautifully, translucently written description of a mother's grief for the son she had loved so much and yet all that I have to say surmises in the words, "I love it!" And I do, I really love this book.
Set in the midst of the Naxalite revolution of Kolkata, this relates the tale of a mother whose son, Brati, is reduced to the mere number, 1084. I loved every bit of this book, from beginning to the end. The poignancy of the prose where it lays out Sujata's thoughts as she realises the hypocrisy of the world she lives in and fully comes to terms with her son's death and what it symbolises, it truly is so soulfully written, even though it's but a translation of the original work.
There were so many moments where I came close to crying because the way the author had laid out Sujata's emotions were just so soulful. And the way Devi has built her mc's character, how amazingly realistic it is. We see her change throughout the narrative as she slowly realises what the death of her son really means. I also loved the complex dynamic the author had built between the many characters of the story and their personal struggles that made them more into real people than mere characters on paper.
Like I said, I loved this book too much. Even though this book was built on the basis of a violent revolutionary movement, it also showcased the side that most people never really got to see, the other side of the revolution that led to so many senseless deaths. It truly was one of the most wonderfully written and artfully crafted books I have read in a long time.
Bottom line: A poignant dealing of loss and grief of a mother.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
This book is such a beautifully, translucently written description of a mother's grief for the son she had loved so much and yet all that I have to say surmises in the words, "I love it!" And I do, I really love this book.
Set in the midst of the Naxalite revolution of Kolkata, this relates the tale of a mother whose son, Brati, is reduced to the mere number, 1084. I loved every bit of this book, from beginning to the end. The poignancy of the prose where it lays out Sujata's thoughts as she realises the hypocrisy of the world she lives in and fully comes to terms with her son's death and what it symbolises, it truly is so soulfully written, even though it's but a translation of the original work.
There were so many moments where I came close to crying because the way the author had laid out Sujata's emotions were just so soulful. And the way Devi has built her mc's character, how amazingly realistic it is. We see her change throughout the narrative as she slowly realises what the death of her son really means. I also loved the complex dynamic the author had built between the many characters of the story and their personal struggles that made them more into real people than mere characters on paper.
Like I said, I loved this book too much. Even though this book was built on the basis of a violent revolutionary movement, it also showcased the side that most people never really got to see, the other side of the revolution that led to so many senseless deaths. It truly was one of the most wonderfully written and artfully crafted books I have read in a long time.
Bottom line: A poignant dealing of loss and grief of a mother.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)