Vikram Chandra: Red Earth And Pouring Rain

[Igu Soni]

The only accurate word I can think of to describe this book is big. Not in terms of length, not even in terms of scope and imagination but in terms of the realistic universe Chandra creates. Here, by realistic, I mean rooted in reality: it could very well have happened and we don't know about it because we just didn't see it. Every new element of fantasy he brings in first looks like it is only there to satisfy Chandra's sense of humour. Then, we eventually get to see the self-wrapped ness, so to say, of the universe he's created and how every element fits in.
I absolutely love the way he layers story-telling upon story-telling to create a web of stories within stories(most of the book is a monkey telling a story about a man telling a story about someone telling him about the monkey's previous life). This circle of stories also adds to the impression of bigness that you get.
His writing is remarkably accurate, modelling most of the narrative style according to the style of the narrator at that point, which tops off in the war scenes where there are sentences spanning pages; this is how people talk in that sort of epic excitement.

The only problem with the book that I could find was that it was too verbose in some parts (that is, more verbose than the style of the moment demanded).

PS: I'm sorry I could not give specific examples here, but I read the novel almost three and a half months ago(couldn't write the article sooner because of a series of exams).

[Max Cairnduff]

I was vastly impressed with his Love and Longing in Bombay, which I wrote up over at my blog (it's linked to in my sig). I'm pleased to hear this is also worthwhile, I think he's a big author and one worth following.

[karan]

Ohh! I love this book...one of the first I read!
Love the cricket sequence...intend to re read it soon

[Igu Soni]

Originally Posted by karan

one of the first I read!

Please explain. (Does this seriously mean that Red Earth and Pouring Rain is one of the first books you ever read?)

[Igu Soni]

Originally Posted by hudflismi

for me this makes perfect sense though.

It's just that for me this was too complex a novel to be able to get past very easily. Kinda hard to believe that someone just entering the world of books managed to read it fully.

[karan]

Originally Posted by Igu Soni

Please explain. (Does this seriously mean that Red Earth and Pouring Rain is one of the first books you ever read?)

Yeah..one of the first ones I really enjoyed. Want much of reader before it