What should have been the occasional spice to vary the regular menu had become the main course, leaving the appetite often confused or unfulfilled.
– Rohinton Mistry in A Fine Balance. P.60
Folks, to describe A Fine Balance as a gorgeous masterpiece would be an understatement.
Yes, this is our first book by Rohinton Mistry.
And we paid all of five-cents at our local library for the castoff, worn-out, paperback copy.
No, the book was not recommended to us by anyone. As we were desultorily eying the huge pile of discards on the shelves, we stumbled upon this book.
Never has an accidental discovery been so serendipitous.
Without doubt, the best five-cents we’ve spent in our life. 🙂
Meaning
As for the above quote, it’d be impossible to tell y’all the context without losing the magic.
It’s about Dina and Fredoon, as those who have read the book will recollect.
Of course, the quote is about sex. 😉
While it appears humorous at first glance, there’s infinite sadness behind the statement. For Dina and her loss.
If you are curious, you can read about Rohinton Mistry on his Wiki profile here.
Quote of the Day – Rohinton Mistry added by SearchIndia.com on
View all posts by SearchIndia.com →
He was interviewed by Oprah many years ago…he was one of the guys that got caught by the police while he was sipping his tea and forced to have vasectomy under the Family Planning Programme by Indira Gandhi. On another note, did you guys catch Eeram?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You Write: He was interviewed by Oprah many years ago…he was one of the guys that got caught by the police while he was sipping his tea and forced to have vasectomy under the Family Planning Programme by Indira Gandhi.
Really? We were unaware of that.
You are a well informed girl/lady/grandma. 😉 We are impressed.
BTW, the Emergency has just been imposed in the book.
If ever any woman deserved to be called a b*itch, it was Indira Gandhi for the trouble she inflicted upon countless Indians through the Emergency.
BTW, we’ve never watched a single episode of Oprah. Except maybe a brief YouTube excerpt of that clown Tom Cruise jumping on her couch.
Obviously a granny wouldnt be raving to house music rite 😛
If I’m not mistaken, some excerpts from the book was based on his life….If I remember correctly
Oprah’s got some good stuff but her show caters to female audiences. You guys gonna catch The Legion? Would you believe it, its playing here on the 21st when its playing worldwide on the 22nd…I wonder if it has anything to do with out exploding piracy market here 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Unlikely. We saw the trailer and didn’t think much of it.
We may see Harrison Ford’s Extraordinary Measures based on a book by a desi writer (Geeta Anand)
Geeta Anand is not very lucky.. RT has given Extraordinarily Rotten ratings..
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/extraordinary_measures/
What about AO? I think all of us are under the impression that you are going to watch it.. don’t disappoint us! Buy a plane or something.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Thanks for the RT link. It does look like Extraordinary Measures will have an extraordinarily hard time at the BO.
2. AO? Parkalam…we’ll see.
BTW, we got a bunch of DVDs from India – Subramaniapuram, Vallavan, Thillu Mullu, Ranga, Moondru Mugam. Chennai 600028 et al.
Oh you got Ranga in DVD. The Tamil movie Ranga right, if it is, It is a okay movie of Rajini. Any Professional drums player should watch this movie to see how easily Karate Mani play the drum in the song Patukottai Ammalu. Very Funny!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We’ve seen Ranga in the theatre long back. Will rewatch it now.
He is one of my favorite authors…and co-incidentally I read Fine Balance first. I have read all his books and particularly liked Such a long journey and there is also film on it..with brilliant actors…even other books are really good like Family Matters and Tales from Firosha Bagh. I couldn’t get hold of his latest work Scream-its a limited edition stuff plus its like 48 pages long..
I am eagerly awaiting his next book but I believe Fine Balance is his finest work and it is one of the most moving books i have ever read . I am glad you liked the author ..he is very humble in person..
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: and co-incidentally I read Fine Balance first.
Likewise here.
We’re enjoying the book immensely.
We’d rate Rohinton Mistry much higher than Indian writers like Jhumpa Lahiri, R.K.Narayan et al. Vikram Seth’s Suitable Boy we read so long back that we’re not sure if he’s as good as Mistry. If our memory serves us right, Suitable Boy also starts off in the pre-independence era.
Maybe, we’ll do a full review of A Fine Balance after we complete it.
plus I really liked Maneck’s character …The author creates such compelling characters..same case in his other book Such a long Journey…..
Off-topic Have you read English August by Upamanyu Chatterjee …Its hilarious account of IAS officer posted in a south indian village.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Have you read English August by Upamanyu Chatterjee
Yes. We purchased the book too (sadly, now lost).
That’s the only book by Upamanyu Chatterjee we’ve read. Nice style.
2. So far, we like Dina. Kinda feel sympathetic towards her considering her run of bad luck.
Her brother Nusswan is a more complex character. Has shades of goodness too that occasionally rise to the fore.
“he still had Avinash’s chessmen”–one of the most gut-wrenching lines.!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We haven’t come that far yet.
The tailors (mainly Om) are harassing Dina, the landlord’s agent Ibrahim is harassing Dina and the Chamar’s two boys have grown up a little and are apprenticed to the Muslim tailor in the town….that’s where we are.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book. Regarding risks and guesses,the big problem is in the case of a movie,a VCD might cost 70-80 and a theatre ticket-Rs.50;so nothing much would be lost in experimenting (I.e,watching without reading reviews or not knowing anything about the cast etc.),if it turns out to be bad and max. it’ll be a 3 hour affair. But,in the case of books;the best-sellers cost Rs.400+ and need to spend more hours to finish reading it.So can’t afford to waste time and money for a book.
If you recommend this book,I’ll try to read it. 😉
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: But,in the case of books;the best-sellers cost Rs.400+ and need to spend more hours to finish reading it.So can’t afford to waste time and money for a book.
A Fine Balance is 603 pages. Most libraries should have it.
The novel is a gem. A classic about India.
2. We are doing a post cursing you. No kidding. 🙁
You stole 2 hrs 45 mts of our life. 🙁
Why curse me?I don’t recall recommending a bad movie to you!(Be it Fistful,Few Dollars,Josey Wales,Yojimbo or Rashomon)
2 hrs. 45 minutes?What’s it?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Why curse me?I don’t recall recommending a bad movie
You kinda did (in November).
And the movie is Happy Days. 🙁
I said it was better than Godavari, didn’t ask you to watch it 😀 .
SearchIndia.com Responds:
In context, it sounded like a recommendation. 🙁
Junk Movies – Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Happy Days
//BTW, we got a bunch of DVDs from India – Subramaniapuram, Vallavan, Thillu Mullu, Ranga, Moondru Mugam. Chennai 600028 et al.//
Watch Subramaniapuram first,then Chennai-600028
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Will do.