Recent Readings

The Hungry Tide – Amitav Ghosh

I guess its pretty lame that I’m writing about this book considering the fact that Mr. Ghosh’s next book hit the stands almost a year back and got nominated for the whatchamacallit award.

But it took me almost a year to finish reading the Hungry/Boring Tide, so I think I won’t be too hard on myself.

The Hungry Tide is one of those books that is supposed to make you think about life and love in that oh-I’m-supposed-to-feel-moved-but-I’m-not-sure-why kinda way and make you sigh thinking about the sunset in an oh-so-gay way. ( No offence intended to gay people or people who’re not yet sure )

The gist of the story is this.

1. Man1 and Woman1 on a crowded train from Kolkatta to the sundarbans
2. Man1 – Educated city boy with ego and speaking posh angrezi
3. Woman1 – NRI who has come to India for the same reason that all other NRIs do, whatever that may be. By the way, she happens to be some discovery channel type biologist.
4. Woman1 does not like Man1
5. Woman1 and Man1 stay on the same island surrounded by muddy Ganga water
6. Extensive descriptions of the Sundarbans, their ecological significance, man-eating tigers and the muddy Ganga water
7. Woman1 ends up doing research about strange dolphins using the boat of Man2
8. Man2 – Uneducated Sundarbans simpleton who has been through pretty much every struggle in life
9. Woman1 likes Man2
10. Man1 stays at a guest house where the aaya / female butler is Woman2
11. Woman2 – Sundarbans simpleton with sharp mind. Studying hard to become a nurse. Also working to put food on the table at home. Basically Erin Brockovich without the looks, the clothes or the attitude. And we also don't know if she'll succeed at the end.
12. Man1 likes Woman2
13. Plot thickens – Man2 married to Woman2 – whatte twist !!!
14. Extensive descriptions of the Sundarbans, their ecological significance, man-eating tigers and the muddy Ganga water
15. More extensive descriptions of the Sundarbans, their ecological significance, man-eating tigers and the muddy Ganga water
16. Man1 reminisces about childhood, part of which was spent on the island.
17. Man1 remembers his first sexual experience under a tree/bush with a village female while watching a movie on the island. Father of said village female gets eaten by a tiger. Said village female tells him that story and there is a general feeling of sympathy all around.
18. There is the grandmother of Man1 somewhere in all this.
19. Further descriptions of muddy water. Seriously Mr. Ghosh ! You’re a famous writer yaar. If you say the water is muddy, we’ll believe you na !!!
20. Man1 somewhere on the island trying to make a pass at Woman2
21. Woman2 not interested in Man1, or so I think
22. Woman1 still on boat with Man2
23. Major cyclone hits the area.
24. Extensive descriptions of the Sundarans during a cyclone, the ecological impact, man-eating tigers and their behaviour during a cyclone, and the muddy Ganga water
25. Man2 saves Woman1 and dies in the process. Both realize they like each other just before he pops off.
26. Everyone returns to island after cyclone says tata
27. Man1 happy that Woman1 is back.
28. Woman2 finds out that Man2 is dead. Does not know what to do. Breaks bangles.
29. Story ends with more extensive descriptions of the Sundarbans, their ecological significance, man-eating tigers and the muddy Ganga water.
30. THE END