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A review by mahimabh
The Painter of Signs by R.K. Narayan
1.0
R.K. Narayan is a good writer, I admit. I quite liked his Swami and Friends. But here's the thing. What he writes, though in beautiful words, is very simplistic. In the case of Swami and Friends that was fine because simplistic writing worked with its subject matter. But this book - its idea and concept was superb, so much so that it could've been a brilliant book had the idea been executed properly - but, really, this book required much more depth. As simplistic as it was, the idea behind it completely lost ground. It really lacked substance.
More than that, as far as the characters are concerned, Raman is a dick. That's all. He's a big stupid jerk. He's obsessed with somehow making Daisy dependent on him. Daisy is definitely an empowered woman and that's something the jerk cannot handle. He wants to be a modern man and wants the world around him to change its ways but he himself, especially when it comes to women, is not. He's deeply misogynistic. Also while Daisy is an empowered woman to us she is not exactly presented in a positive light as it is through Raman's eyes that we see her.
The only thing I liked about the book was that Daisy, resolute in what she wanted and completely sure of herself, didn't stay with Raman. But that's not nearly enough to make this a good book. Besides, it didn't feel like this book was presenting a critique of the condition of Indian women even though that might have been the author's intention. I don't know if (and how) people see it as a critique; I just couldn't.
So, yes, I really did not like this book. I'll find it hard to pick up R.K. Narayan again, but maybe he's at his best when the characters are kids? I don't know, and I'm not sure I'm willing to find out.
More than that, as far as the characters are concerned, Raman is a dick. That's all. He's a big stupid jerk. He's obsessed with somehow making Daisy dependent on him. Daisy is definitely an empowered woman and that's something the jerk cannot handle. He wants to be a modern man and wants the world around him to change its ways but he himself, especially when it comes to women, is not. He's deeply misogynistic. Also while Daisy is an empowered woman to us she is not exactly presented in a positive light as it is through Raman's eyes that we see her.
The only thing I liked about the book was that Daisy, resolute in what she wanted and completely sure of herself, didn't stay with Raman. But that's not nearly enough to make this a good book. Besides, it didn't feel like this book was presenting a critique of the condition of Indian women even though that might have been the author's intention. I don't know if (and how) people see it as a critique; I just couldn't.
So, yes, I really did not like this book. I'll find it hard to pick up R.K. Narayan again, but maybe he's at his best when the characters are kids? I don't know, and I'm not sure I'm willing to find out.