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A review by mr4du1
The Painter of Signs by R.K. Narayan
4.0
Disclaimer: This book bites the unsuspecting reader
This book is awesome. Not as a drama or tragedy or even as an outright comedy. This book is the one of the most subtle books I have ever read, in the way it evokes emotions. In the initial part of the book, I identified with the lead character and his rationale and later I was sucked into his emotional state and as the plot approached climax I was as dumbfounded, vexed and perplexed as the lead character himself and I finished the book with an impulsive reaction of throwing it away. It was only later I realized that the lead character too had a similar reaction in the end. This is how awesome this subtle book is.
The style
- RK writes in the most Indian style possible: with simplistic sentence structures juxtaposed with
heavy words here and there that would cause most native speakers to feign. Reading this book made me feel like listening to a narration by some paternal figure.
The Plot
This books tell the story of a rational boy whose rationality aligns with the reader int the starting and the story keeps rolling and then, with a few turn of events the character is cajoled amidst impossible circumstance, unable to make any sense of how did those happen much like the reader. The phrase "painter of signs" will mildly irritate you forever after reading this book. And obviously the book would be more relatable to Indians than to others.
It was claimed on some corner of goodreads that his simplistic narration lacks punch for the matter written. Well, that is not entirely true. The book is written in a light-hearted manner and not a tragedy or a drama. There were ample spots where the writing evokes laughter. Similarly, the book will irritate you when it wishes to do so. You might not think so, but RK is always in control and he will get the intended response out of the reader without the reader noticing.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a tragedy or drama look for another book. Though, if you are looking for a light-hearted, mildly-funny, Indian fiction short read, I couldn't recommend it enough.
This book is awesome. Not as a drama or tragedy or even as an outright comedy. This book is the one of the most subtle books I have ever read, in the way it evokes emotions. In the initial part of the book, I identified with the lead character and his rationale and later I was sucked into his emotional state and as the plot approached climax I was as dumbfounded, vexed and perplexed as the lead character himself and I finished the book with an impulsive reaction of throwing it away. It was only later I realized that the lead character too had a similar reaction in the end. This is how awesome this subtle book is.
The style
- RK writes in the most Indian style possible: with simplistic sentence structures juxtaposed with
heavy words here and there that would cause most native speakers to feign. Reading this book made me feel like listening to a narration by some paternal figure.
The Plot
This books tell the story of a rational boy whose rationality aligns with the reader int the starting and the story keeps rolling and then, with a few turn of events the character is cajoled amidst impossible circumstance, unable to make any sense of how did those happen much like the reader. The phrase "painter of signs" will mildly irritate you forever after reading this book. And obviously the book would be more relatable to Indians than to others.
It was claimed on some corner of goodreads that his simplistic narration lacks punch for the matter written. Well, that is not entirely true. The book is written in a light-hearted manner and not a tragedy or a drama. There were ample spots where the writing evokes laughter. Similarly, the book will irritate you when it wishes to do so. You might not think so, but RK is always in control and he will get the intended response out of the reader without the reader noticing.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a tragedy or drama look for another book. Though, if you are looking for a light-hearted, mildly-funny, Indian fiction short read, I couldn't recommend it enough.