- Paperback
- ISBN-10: 0330491326
- ISBN-13: 978-0330491327
- Shipping Weight: 503 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Small slices of life in Bombay and Calcutta, intensely observed and exquisitely described, characterize the stories in Chaudhuri's first collection, after the highly praised novels Freedom Song and A New World. These vignettes, rendered in minute, sensuous detail, rarely relate a dramatic event; rather, they illuminate a moment in time. It's a measure of this talented writer's skill that on the small scale of 16 stories he is able to conjure, with sunstruck clarity, the different qualities of these cities and their inhabitants. Most of the tales are set between the 1970s and the present day (with the exception of two based on the Ramayana), and the characters are generally upper-middle-class. Some are minor administrators, others are employees of British industries; most appear content to adopt British language and customs. The incongruity of grafting Western standards on an ancient culture is central to many of these tales, and in the title story and elsewhere, Chaudhuri subtly mourns the fading of tradition. In other stories, and in two autobiographical selections, the protagonist is a would-be writer, and it's clear that many of Chaudhuri's themes come from his pampered upbringing in Bombay. In the affecting "The Old Masters," the narrator realizes that the financial and social success his ambitious father had achieved for the sake of his family will be "leveled out" by a son who vows to make a living through literature. "The romance of literature," the quality of being "enveloped in [the] contentment of reading," is summoned with both concrete detail and mystical yearning. One wishes, however, that some of the Indian terms and other references had been explained. For instance, David Davidar is mentioned but not identified, and it's unlikely that the average reader will know that he is India's most famous publisher.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
The clash of cultures and lifestyles in modern India is palpable in this first book of stories by Calcutta novelist Chaudhuri (Freedom Song: Three Novels). In "The Man from Khurda District," Bishu, a cleaner, and his wife, Uma, are totally dependent upon the good will of their employer for all of life's necessities. Then they are fired and are forced to leave the housing provided for them: "Now that phase of their lives, which, after all, was so relatively brief that they had hardly become used to it, was ending, and another was about to begin." In stark contrast is the life we are shown in "White Lies," in which a successful CEO and his wife can have whatever they desire, including a guru. The everyday lives and diversities revealed here are beautifully described, but the use of many native words, unexplained and not evident by context, detract from the stories' effectiveness. The selections have no plot, their sole purpose evidently being to portray the many facets of Indian culture. These short, teasing vignettes left this reader wanting more. Patricia Gulian, South Portland, ME
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read,
By Rish (Mumbai , India) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Real Time: Stories and a Reminiscence (Hardcover)
While reading this book I was strongly reminded of Chekhov, exhorting a writer to feel compassion down to his fingertips. The stories in "Real Time" amply demonstrate how this is a key to good writing.Amit Chaudhuri is one of the most promising writers from India, in recent times. Four novels old, he has been often accused of writing full-length novels without even a semblance of a plot. At times his writing does feel like one has prepared a delightful gourmet meal without adding any salt. Beautifully crafted sentences, his cadences are that of a poet. There does seem to be a presence of Gurudev Tagore, which pervades all his writings. (Me no Bong) However, Mr. Chaudhuri has failed miserably in at least two of his narratives, "Prelude to an Autobiography" and "The Great game". The poet and raconteur seems have fallen an easy prey to one of those seven deadly sins - Envy!! Not his magnum opus -but a good read all the same.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating glimpses,
By stackofbooks "stackofbooks" (Walpole, MA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Real Time: Stories and a Reminiscence (Hardcover)
Amit Chaudhuri's latest work is called: Real Time: Stories and a Reminiscence. Within the pages of this (all too) slim volume, he perfectly captures many small samples of Indian middle class life. Most of the stories are not really so in the classical sense. Instead they are essentially snapshots from various parts of life all framed in "real time".I loved all the vignettes very much. Amit Chaudhuri is very gifted at describing subtle facets of everyday life that might escape the rest of us. His descriptions of apartments either in Calcutta (adorned with white curtains with printed flowers) or Bombay are accurate enough to induce a warm sense of nostalgia. My favorite stories in the collection are: "The Man from Khurda District" and "Beyond Translation." The former is a simply told story of a chowkidar and his life that revolves completely around his employer. Beyond Translation details the summer reading pastime that the author enjoyed along with his Bengali cousins. Most of the people described in Chaudhuri's stories are solidly upper middle class if not downright rich. In a wonderfully fluid poem, E-Minor, at the end of the volume, the author informs us "I disowned our Mercedes-Benz, took the 106 bus, but remained unable to solve my lack of want." Real Time demonstrates very ably, how good Amit Chaudhuri is at portraying a slice of Indian society that, in my opinion, is not adequately represented in modern Indian fiction.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read,
By Rish - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Real Time: Stories and a Reminiscence (Hardcover)
While reading this book I was strongly reminded of Chekhov, exhorting a writer to feel compassion down to his fingertips. The stories in "Real Time" amply demonstrate how this is a key to good writing.Amit Chaudhuri is one of the most promising writers from India, in recent times. Four novels old, he has been often accused of writing full-length novels without even a semblance of a plot. At times his writing does feel like one has prepared a delightful gourmet meal without adding any salt. Beautifully crafted sentences, his cadences are that of a poet. There does seem to be a presence of Gurudev Tagore, which pervades all his writings. (Me no Bong) However, Mr. Chaudhuri has failed miserably in at least two of his narratives, "Prelude to an Autobiography" and "The Great game". The poet and raconteur seems have fallen an easy prey to one of those seven deadly sins - Envy!! Not his magnum opus -but a good read all the same. 2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Slapdash,
By krebsman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Real Time: Stories and a Reminiscence (Hardcover)
This book is subtitled "Stories and a Reminiscence." I'll go with the latter, but in all honesty, there is not, technically speaking, a single short story in the entire book. Instead, there are a lot of doodlings and undeveloped ideas for short stories. A couple of these "stories" are simplified retellings of Indian mythology (although they are incomprehensible without notes), but most of them are little formless vignettes about the author's childhood and youth. Once in a while there is a poetic image or a minor epiphany, but not one of these "stories" has a plot. Although this is a thin book, it was a struggle to finish it. I do not know what Mr. Chaudhuri's novels are like, but after this inept gathering of "stories," I would be loath to read them. He has talent, but mere talent is not enough. Good fiction writing needs craftsmanship and structure. There is very little evidence of either in this book.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bore yourself to death,
By Bhadralok - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Real Time: Stories and a Reminiscence (Hardcover)
I have seen bookshops in india selling this book at 80 % discount yet it turned out to be a boring flop.There is one story in this book about a lady who is an aspiring writer - I think it might be autobiographical. Get a life Mr Chaudhari
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