It’s four something a.m. The two power-points I had to make are done and mailed to “mommy” at some unearthly hour for which I know I won’t be appreciated! “Mommy” likes me to follow a “few” rules and most often they are the ones most difficult to follow! I do try though! Anyway, sleep eludes me or I it- maybe it’s not a unidirectional relationship- maybe it’s bidirectional- I’ve stopped wondering about it though. I pick up a copy of “Keep off the grass” that my brother bought but left behind. The jacket cover says it’s about a twenty five year old “hot shot” American Born Confused Desi (ABCD)investment banker from Wall Street going off on a soul searching experience- destination India! The reviews say it’s “An unlikely, remarkable story”. For want of something to read/ do since I can’t even go for a walk for want of light outside I decide to try it.
The novel centers around the quest for “self” by the ABCD/ the central character who decides to come down to India, in an attempt to understand himself, fill the emptiness of life, and question materialism by enrolling himself in IIM-Bangalore. That kind of is supposed to depict his general level of confusion one supposes! The soul searching consists of predominantly the following activities alcohol binges, smoking up, smoking up and more smoking up. A trip to the Himalayas and Benares included. The cliché. There’s friends of course-a patriotic friend (ex-army) and a dopey son of a politician- sidekicks both. There’s little apart from that- a justification for the title perhaps! The ABCD finds he loves the sights and smells of India (made more acute by weed) and then moves to what apparently is the next level- to return or not to return. Well, that’s solved easily enough through utilization of social support from a stranger- a British born author based in India he admires. The high point of the novel being that the ABCD goes all the way traveling by train and asks the author what made him stay. The author’s reply of India being the best fit solves his existential dilemmas and his parting comment “Keep off the grass” (i.e. lawn) before shutting the door creates in the ABCD the resolve to keep off the “grass”! How cool is that!!!
I plod through looking for the “remarkable” story- plodded right through the end having failed miserably in finding it! On the bright side – it’s bright outside!
The novel centers around the quest for “self” by the ABCD/ the central character who decides to come down to India, in an attempt to understand himself, fill the emptiness of life, and question materialism by enrolling himself in IIM-Bangalore. That kind of is supposed to depict his general level of confusion one supposes! The soul searching consists of predominantly the following activities alcohol binges, smoking up, smoking up and more smoking up. A trip to the Himalayas and Benares included. The cliché. There’s friends of course-a patriotic friend (ex-army) and a dopey son of a politician- sidekicks both. There’s little apart from that- a justification for the title perhaps! The ABCD finds he loves the sights and smells of India (made more acute by weed) and then moves to what apparently is the next level- to return or not to return. Well, that’s solved easily enough through utilization of social support from a stranger- a British born author based in India he admires. The high point of the novel being that the ABCD goes all the way traveling by train and asks the author what made him stay. The author’s reply of India being the best fit solves his existential dilemmas and his parting comment “Keep off the grass” (i.e. lawn) before shutting the door creates in the ABCD the resolve to keep off the “grass”! How cool is that!!!
I plod through looking for the “remarkable” story- plodded right through the end having failed miserably in finding it! On the bright side – it’s bright outside!
7 comments:
i haven't come across that book yet.
but going by your read, i guess if it were soul searching, he would have stopped at grass, :)
nice, a double entendre to end with..
both the book and your post..
he he...this soul-searching business, has really become a full business in all the means possible....still i don't give up:)
Simply.. somedays (or few more of them) i too have my sleep cycles flat...i am sitting in this dark moment of the morning, writing comments:)
jo i've laerned that "the darkset moments come before dawn" from my insomniac observations :)
nice name- cutting chaai? refreshed aamchi mumbai memories...
for one thing, i see the (rural) patients are feeling previliged to get treated in the new blocks that have come up with amazing space, glittering mirrors, shiny floors and abundance-- at such cheapo rates.
no worry, they wont read thee blog to know the various tips to make their stay short!!
rules r really tough keeping off is he best resolve but it makes difference if done in the light....
Well good that ur helping me "Keep off this book"...
Why dont you write abt a book that is something other than soul searching,philosophy books??? well i like ur blog though!
Hey,
As i know you, you have lot of potential and can write better than what you have written here (all the posts). In what way? I will leave that for you to figure out.
PS: You can delete this comment and please do so.
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