It is fascinating to witness the audacity of simple words to triumph all over you. Those that hand you the palette and brushes. Those that hand you the kaleidoscope glasses and sepia photo-albums. Brings forth the urge to turn back.
I am always fascinated by English tales rooted deep in Bengali consciousness, culture and craft, something which tells our tales, evokes our emotions. The fascination lies with appreciating the writer's abilities to transcreate specify imageries/entities/identities of purely Bengali soul and substance. How successfully can one paint such a scene without the measured directness/subtlety (as the case may be) and tremendous flexibility of Bengali language? How much is lost between the lines, the thoughts and the printed words? Did s/he miss those nuances of understatement. or fleeting emotions, subdued gestures?
But she didn't.
She doesn't.
She speaks of brothers growing up together, supporting each other as they venture forth in this world and seek their way out. She speaks of Calcutta with its old-world charms of Adi-Ganga Tollygunge and boisterous Jadavpur and Presidency. She speaks of red-blooded, educated opinions and violent political consciousness of the '60s. She speaks of secretive, fragile love.
And brotherly love.
' Brotherly Love ', part of the upcoming 'The Lowland' book of stories by Jhumpa Lahiri is set in her recurring pattern of immigrated Bengalis and their crisis and sensibilities, and wins over yet again. Because it is very relatable, identifiable and dear. And because of the simplicity of her words that conjure up the most vivid of emotions.
Eager awaiting for the release of the book in September.
PS : The taste of caramel is further intensified with Balmorhea's Stranger or Tycho's Dive in the background.
I am always fascinated by English tales rooted deep in Bengali consciousness, culture and craft, something which tells our tales, evokes our emotions. The fascination lies with appreciating the writer's abilities to transcreate specify imageries/entities/identities of purely Bengali soul and substance. How successfully can one paint such a scene without the measured directness/subtlety (as the case may be) and tremendous flexibility of Bengali language? How much is lost between the lines, the thoughts and the printed words? Did s/he miss those nuances of understatement. or fleeting emotions, subdued gestures?
But she didn't.
She doesn't.
She speaks of brothers growing up together, supporting each other as they venture forth in this world and seek their way out. She speaks of Calcutta with its old-world charms of Adi-Ganga Tollygunge and boisterous Jadavpur and Presidency. She speaks of red-blooded, educated opinions and violent political consciousness of the '60s. She speaks of secretive, fragile love.
And brotherly love.
' Brotherly Love ', part of the upcoming 'The Lowland' book of stories by Jhumpa Lahiri is set in her recurring pattern of immigrated Bengalis and their crisis and sensibilities, and wins over yet again. Because it is very relatable, identifiable and dear. And because of the simplicity of her words that conjure up the most vivid of emotions.
Eager awaiting for the release of the book in September.
PS : The taste of caramel is further intensified with Balmorhea's Stranger or Tycho's Dive in the background.
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