tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post4891538272797795758..comments2024-03-27T14:57:37.031+05:30Comments on Jabberwock: A tree called Franklin (and other names and markers in Anees Salim’s novels)Jabberwockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-60095056008219918802015-05-29T22:08:40.954+05:302015-05-29T22:08:40.954+05:30I'd like to read 'Vanity Bagh'. I'...I'd like to read 'Vanity Bagh'. I've read 'Tales from a Vending Machine' and while it was mostly a fun read, I think you're being too kind in calling Hasina a 'spirited, winsome, occasionally muddled girl'. At many points in the novel she's just downright malicious... some of the stuff she cooks up is amusing enough on paper, but in real life more than a few people would probably want to maintain a safe distance from her. It's a light hearted novel and the author appears to have a gently mocking, yet often empathetic attitude towards her. Outsiders not used to hearing the conspiracy stuff she churns out with respect to 'America, Juice and all' may find it amusing if slightly discomfiting. But she believes it all in good faith, and views like that become dangerous when they are collectively held by a significantly large number of people (which they arguably are). Salim presents her as she is, and making her the subject of light raillery is perhaps a good way of dismantling some of those ideas, even if he hasn't set out with that specific project in mind.<br /><br />In reading the novel you do appreciate the way Hasina has aspirations for herself and her brother, and for me some of the funniest and best scenes in the book include her excitedly dashing to the Global Distance Education Institute to see Professor Nair, and the earnestness and childish aplomb with which she declares 'My name is Hasina Mansoor. I would like to earn my graduation'. Her entrance essay was a hoot and nicely done by Anees Salim. So perhaps I'm taking things in far too serious a vein when I make the following observations, but they sort of occured as an afterthought. <br /><br />The kind of revenge Hasina orchestrates against her real/percieved enemies actually has the potential to completely devastate thier lives. She's OK with Eza being belted until he's half dead; even if she despises Laila auntie its surprising that the latter''s grief and utter desperation to get her son back makes not an ounce of difference to Hasina. She loathes both her mother and Eza after what she witnesses from the tree, and the former is henceforth exclusively referred to as 'the exhibitionist'. It was obviously ugly but Hasina can be said to have pre-empted her mothers death, in asking her dad to defer the operation her mother needed. When she dies Hasina's response approximates to something like 'she had it coming'. Cutesy winsome girl? I ended up liking Shamla more than her sister. When she's esctatic at the at end at having secured a job as domestic help in Dubai I was just like 'awww..poor thing'. <br />silverambrosiahttp://www.silverambrosia.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com