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A review by chandanakuruganty
The English Teacher by R.K. Narayan
4.0
"The English Teacher" is R K Narayan's thoughts on dealing with death of a loved one through a story of a normal English teacher.
What strikes me is how this book has a sharp change in writing style: first half of the book revolves around minute details, mood changes and description of surroundings. Post the death of the protagonist's wife, the thoughts move into emotions, turmoil and reflections. This maybe incoherent and imperfect to a seasoned reader but R K Narayan as a writer is someone who ensures through his works that we understand imperfections instead of criticizing.
On a concluding note, the final line leaves us with bitter-sweet feeling- "It was a moment of rare, immutable joy- a moment for which one feels grateful to Life and Death."
What strikes me is how this book has a sharp change in writing style: first half of the book revolves around minute details, mood changes and description of surroundings. Post the death of the protagonist's wife, the thoughts move into emotions, turmoil and reflections. This maybe incoherent and imperfect to a seasoned reader but R K Narayan as a writer is someone who ensures through his works that we understand imperfections instead of criticizing.
On a concluding note, the final line leaves us with bitter-sweet feeling- "It was a moment of rare, immutable joy- a moment for which one feels grateful to Life and Death."