Narayan, R. K.

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trauma of departure of a loved one
Coping with loss
His best work...
Narayan's best
touching

The English Teacher
R.K. Narayan
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0099282283

Customer Reviews:

trauma of departure of a loved one.......2004-05-03

This book is autobiographical. It depicts painful struggle of the author to come to terms with passing away of his young, beloved wife- dreams, nightmares, spirits, planchet et al.

In fact after reading the book you ask- How did the author survive to tell the tale?

On another level this book is almost therapeutic if you read it after you lose some one very dear to you. I read it again after I lost my own mother and experienced its healing touch.

Coping with loss.......2002-05-15

Of the few novels by Narayan I've read (each of which are, I think, early ones) I thought this was by far the most accomplished. "The English Teacher" is a well-written, controlled and moving piece of work.

It's the story of Krishnan, a teacher in the fictional Indian town of Malgudi, who sets up home with his wife and young daughter. A tragedy unfurls which exposes Krishnan to feelings of loss and isolation. Narayan explores how humans cope with the ensuing disorientation, and in the end (of course), it's the living rather than the dead who continue to suffer.

A short, but worthwhile read.

His best work..........2002-02-28

This one's my favourite Narayan - along with the Maneater of Malgudi, this occupies a very special place in my book-shelf. The English Teacher - a.k.a. Grateful to Life and Death - is a sad story, sadder than most of Narayan's Malgudi novels. But the tragedy is softened by the wry humour that runs through the novel.

'The feeling,' Narayan writes on the first page, 'again and again came upon me that as I was nearing thirty I should cease to live like a cow (perhaps, a cow, with justice, might feel hurt at the comparison), eating, working in a manner of speaking, walking, talking, etc, - all done to perfection, I was sure, but always leaving a sense of something missing.' You can see what I'm talking about.

The story, as Narayan narrates in his autobiography 'My Days', is intensely personal.
'The English Teacher is autobiographical in content, very little of it being fiction. The "English Teacher" of the novel ... is a fictional character in the fictional city of Malgudi, but he goes through the same experience I had gone through...'

'That book,' he writes, 'falls in two parts - one is domestic life and the other half is "spiritual."'

The second half comes as a bit of a surprise, but Narayan tackles the difficult subjects of death, deprivation and desolation masterfully. Narayan takes you through the story gently. There are no shocks, nothing disturbing. This is a sad tale, gently told.

The book ends on a note of hope - 'it was a moment of rare, immutable joy - a moment for which one feels grateful to Life and Death.' The reviewer who spoke of how Narayan manages to 'communicate ... the extra-ordinary ordinariness of human happiness', I think hit the nail right on the head.

Narayan's best.......2002-02-25

Through his unobtrusive insights, Narayan paints a beautiful picture of a small fictional South Indian town - Malgudi (which is in reality, a mixture of images derived from his hometown in the Kumbakonam District of Tamilnadu and Mysore in Karnataka. Narayan's description of the life of South Indians- their simple houses, grandmothers, earnest young men, garrulous retired men, street dogs, cricket playing youngsters- all make for a compelling picture, funny and poignant simultaneously.

I cannot recollect the number of times I have read this book - The old Indian TV serial "Malgudi Days" immortalized Narayan's imagination on Indian television. Of course, Malgudi days dealt primarily with Narayan's celebrated "Swami and his friends", but the small town also serves as the backdrop for this semi-autobiographic novel of Narayan.

The English teacher- Krishnan leads a blissful life with his wife and daughter. Life takes a cruel turn when his wife dies of typhoid. The rest of the book deals with Krishnan's struggle, seances through which he communicates with his wife's soul and finally- the magnificent ending of the book, when the author finally realizes the true meaning of life and he experiences "a moment of pure immutable joy; a moment for which one feels grateful to life and death"

The book is based on Narayan's real life; In his own words, very little of the book is fiction...There are loving references to Susheela- her height (in reality, Narayan's wife was taller than him!), the description of her midnight-blue silk saree, the fragrance of jasmine that enveloped everything associated with her....One can only begin to sense the magnitude of Narayan's loss. Through this book, Narayan has accorded the Indian way of life and his love the greatest possible respect and honor.

touching.......2001-07-18

amazingly tender. Narayan is a master story-teller.

Average customer rating:

One of the best Indian writers
India calling
Revisiting the old classic.. Nostalgia makes it sweeter
Incredible stories!
Believe me, the world I left behind is like this

Malgudi Days (Penguin Classics)
R. K. Narayan
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0143039652

Book Description

<B>Four gems, with new introductions, mark acclaimed Indian writer R. K. Narayan's centennial</B> <BR><BR> Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India “the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story.” Powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color, revealing the essence of India and of human experience.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best Indian writers.......2006-10-11

This book is a collection of short stories written in very simple language. What really makes the difference is the connection it establishes with the readers. Stories are about simple people and simple issues in life. RNK is one of the best authors I have read. He has his own style of writing.

India calling.......2005-11-09

Malgudi Days, a collection of short stories by R. K. Narayan happens to be my favourite book. The book is a compilation of different short stories that covers a plethora of emotions. It is the right balance between humour, and a dose of drama to cater to different moods of the reader. What makes this book unique is the simple, yet artistic narrative style, used by the author. The descriptions make the reader see the setting clearly. Add to it the perfect blend of beautiful Malgudi, with its rural charm and eccentric to ordinary characters, the narrative is complete. Most stories deal with normal people and their lives in a mainly middle class milieu in south India. In reality, Malgudi is an imaginary town set in the southern part of the country. But its description can be traced to any real town.

The tales come with sprinkling of gentle irony along with a humour. The endings are rather abrupt, which leave an indelible impression on the mind. The simple narrative that Narayan uses is his typical style. So, if you want to take a trip down south and explore the colours of India, you must indulge in the book and read it to your heart's content.

The stories deal with normal lifestyle of the middle class people in South India. Actually, Malgudi is an imaginary town in the southern part of India but its characteristics match with any real town. The tales come with a gentle irony and witty humour. The endings are rather abrupt and it leaves an impression in your mind. This way you are bound to think of them even after reading. The simple way, in which the book comes, is typical to Narayan.

So, if you want to explore the colours of India, you must indulge in the book and read them to your heart's content

Revisiting the old classic.. Nostalgia makes it sweeter.......2004-08-25

I reread Malgudi days after 20 or so years! It was a delight just as it was when I read them the first time. Only this time; being in the US, made the Characters more endearing! Looking through the mist of time the village with all its sounds sights and smells looked prettier than a real one. This is a book for you all ex-pats to curl up on a snowy winter day with a hot cup of tea (even better if someone makes hot Pakoras to go with!) and enjoy.
To the non-Indian friends, may be a hot coffee and some chicken nuggets (or soy nuggets!) and winter days.
To the couple of readers who were disappointed! Well the whole point behind these stories is to capture the life as it flows. The climax is in the journey itself.

Incredible stories!.......2004-07-07

Malgudi Days was my introduction to R.K. Narayan and frankly I have been wondering where he's been all my life. These stories are wonderful. They are the kind of stories that will stay with me for several days after reading them. Narayan brings you to a time and a place with each story. His characters are believable, his stories moving, his writing impeccable. Each story is full of humanity. I love this classic author! I really enjoyed this collection and look forward to reading more of his work.

Believe me, the world I left behind is like this.......2004-05-03

Indian village despite its problems of scarcity of drinking water,electricity, poor sanitation, unemployment and lack of health care, holds a charm to all Indians. Mahatma appealed to all Indians to return to villages, Ambedkar asked Dalits to escape them.

More Indians now leave their villages than ever to come to cities.
However, even if they leave their village, its memory remains with them for rest of their life. People call it by different names. Author R K Narayan calls it Malgudi Days!

A delightful book.

The Guide: A Novel (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)

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A Saint Despite Himself
A tale of rural India that fails to capture the imagination
Guide for your spiritual journey
a very funny tragedy
A work of genius

The Guide: A Novel (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
R. K. Narayan
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 014018547X

Book Description

Formerly India's most corrupt tourist guide, Raju—just released from prison—seeks refuge in an abandoned temple. Mistaken for a holy man, he plays the part and succeeds so well that God himself intervenes to put Raju's newfound sanctity to the test. Narayan's most celebrated novel, The Guide won him the National Prize of the Indian Literary Academy, his country's highest literary honor.

Customer Reviews:

A Saint Despite Himself.......2007-03-23

I am in complete agreement with G. Young's review. In essence, the book is an account of the spiritual journey of a man who becomes a saint despite himself, written with humor, compassion and consummate skill. My favorite book by my favorite author.

A tale of rural India that fails to capture the imagination.......2006-10-31

Narayan does an excellent job of depicting rural life in India, in all social classes, in the mid-twentieth century, and this tale of an engaging but flawed protagonist whose life takes unusual turns is reasonably readable.

However, the narrative style seems slow and oddly detached. Perhaps Narayan wanted it to be plain, straightforward, and hypnotic. But it comes across as simplistic and even a bit superficial.

The ending is dramatic and is one point in which Narayan's narrative strategy succeeds. But much of the book could have been told in a much more sprightly and nuanced manner.

Guide for your spiritual journey .......2006-05-10

Caveat- if you have watched the Hindi film Guide by Dev Anand and think you already know enough about the book, you are wrong! The author hiself was almost disgusted with the film.

Book is sublime. Raju the guide is very ordinary person but his story shows us how extra-ordinary one's life can become. Indeed it is one. One has to just discover it.

a very funny tragedy.......2005-11-03

This book is a first-person account of a charmingly neurotic character, whose materialism, protectiveness, and dishonesty lead him to success as often as they get him into trouble. His fortunes rise and fall as a shopkeeper, a tour guide, a lover, and ultimately an unwilling saint. He even finds success and happiness in prison, where his charisma leads him to build many friendships amongst fellow prisoners and security staff alike.

This book successfully treads the narrow space between tragedy and comedy, bringing lightness to an otherwise heavy theme.

A work of genius.......2005-09-04

Despite other reviewers' insistence that this is a "beach book," "a light read," you should read this book and carefully. Its deprecators need to try again; not everything is to be read and understood on a superficial level. Their comments say more about them than the book, and I wonder if they're not a little condescending. I was always disappointed that Narayan did not win the Nobel for literature; his is a wondrous gift of language and humanity. Your heart and mind will be enriched by reading it, and it will always stay with you.

The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)

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Interesting and fairly easy to understand
Narayan's Ramayana
A Gripping Story out of a Great Epic.
Dissapointing Version of a Great Epic
Wonderful Retelling

The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
Anonymous
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140187006

Customer Reviews:

Interesting and fairly easy to understand.......2006-11-08

This book was required reading for one of my college classes. It proved to be interesting and not terribly difficult to read.

Narayan's Ramayana.......2002-06-09

As a fan of Narayan's work, I was fascinated to see how he would tackle the grand subject of the Ramayana, a work that runs through and certainly influences all of Narayan's stories. The result is one of his most delightful and beautifully written novels. I think it is important to approach this book not as "THE" Ramayana, but one storyteller's unique vision of the timeless epic--even as a variation on one of his Malgudi novels (the characters certainly bare a distinct resemblance). Narayan's writing is extremely sensitive, refined, yet full of humor and charm. Throughout he adopts the tone of a storyteller, openly acknowledging that he is only "retelling" a story by a much greater storyteller, and leaving out the juciest parts at that. His little asides where he explains, "And here the poet described the scene so touchingly..." are at once reverent and amusing, as Narayan wisely omits anything too excessive or poetic that might derail his narrative. But the story itself is wonderful, a colorful, full-blooded telling of the Ramayana, sparse, fast-moving, but with all the hallmarks of Narayan's style. This book is a must for any fan of Narayan's fiction, Indian writing, or mythology. Narayan effectively conveys the epic's timelessness, with characters and situations that echo throughout literature and film, full of profound human emotions. And this is always one of Narayan's chief strengths, to create believable, complex human characters. In his treatment, even Rama and Sita emerge as sympathetic individuals, not the cardboard cut-outs all too common given their extraordinary powers. In short, this is a magical and engaging work that I know I will read again and again in the years to come. I invite you to do the same!

A Gripping Story out of a Great Epic........2002-04-09

The story of Ramayana is in the blood stream of everyone from India. The original epic was written in the 4th century BC in Sanskrit, by Valmiki. Poets in every Indian language have retold this story. This present book relying on the Tamil Kamban version, presents before the reader the essential story of Ramayana. R.K Narayan, with the command of the English language and love for fast story movement, narrates the kernel of the epic poem in an engaging manner, for the sake of the English reader not familiar with the original version. Naturally, some of the elaborate details had to be left out and some narratives had to be condensed. This made the enormous epic into an enjoyably gripping story, in less than 200 pages.

Dissapointing Version of a Great Epic.......2000-09-05

Given the extensive length and painstaking detail of the original Ramayana, I welcomed the idea of a shortened prose version. Unfortunately, Narayan's version is poorly executed. First, he never quite manages to settle into a specific way of telling the story. Sometimes he writes as though he intended this to be a text book relating the events and variations of the original story. At other times, he writes as though he is a story teller himself. This uncomfortable juxtaposition detracts from the flow of the book. Also, while I realize that this is intended as a shortened version, I think Narayan goes too far. 171 pages is not nearly sufficient to adequately convey the stories and their intricacies. Narayan skips between detailed passages and quick, choppy narratives which ends up being distracting and interupts the book's continuity. Finally, I was appalled by the frequent gramatic errors in the book. Most noticeable were the dangling prepositions scattered throughout the text, which prove very distracting. All of these problems combine to make this book an unrewarding read as well as a shoddy version of a wonderful epic.

Wonderful Retelling.......2000-06-06

This is a condensed version of not the original Ramayana as handed down to us in Sanskrit, but of the Tamil version of the story that Sri Narayanji grew up with. There are versions of the Ramayana in nearly all Indian dialects and languages, and as Tamil is one of the oldest, it is also quite interesting to see a translation from that language. The tale is told fairly faithfully, although much is left out (this is necessary to avoid having to sell several volumes to tell the whole tale, as the original tale is HUGE). I thought that it may have been a rather boring story, especially to a modern reader, but boy, was I ever wrong! This was one of the most entertaining and gripping books that I have ever read. It tells the story of Ramachandra's youth to his betrayal by his stepmother, his journey in the desert, and how he defeated Ravana, who had kidanapped Sita and brought her to Sri Lanka, as well as Hanuman's revelries. Rama is still an excellent example of Hindoo ideals, but the primary value of the story for me was not so much religious or ethical as much as it was simply a fascinating journey into the vast world of Indian literature. A wonderful read; I would recommend it to anyone.

The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (Penguin Classics)

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The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic (Penguin Classics)
R. K. Narayan
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0143039679

Book Description

A sweeping tale of abduction, battle, and courtship played out in a universe of deities and demons, The Ramayana is familiar to virtually every Indian. Although the Sanskrit original was composed by Valmiki around the fourth century BC, poets have produced countless versions in different languages. Here, drawing on the work of an eleventh-century poet called Kamban, Narayan employs the skills of a master novelist to re-create the excitement he found in the original. A luminous saga made accessible to new generations of readers, The Ramayana can be enjoyed for its spiritual wisdom, or as a thrilling tale of ancient conflict.

Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts, The Dark Room, The English Teacher (Everyman's Library Classics & Contemporary Classics)

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Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts, The Dark Room, The English Teacher (Everyman's Library Classics & Contemporary Classics)
R. K. Narayan
Manufacturer: Everyman's Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1400044766
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Book Description

R. K. Narayan (1906—2001) witnessed nearly a century of change in his native India and captured it in fiction of uncommon warmth and vibrancy. The four novels collected here, all written during British rule, bring colonial India into intimate focus through the narrative gifts of this master of literary realism.

Swami and Friends introduces us to Narayan’s beloved fictional town of Malgudi, where ten-year-old Swaminathan’s excitement about his country’s initial stirrings for independence competes with his ardor for cricket and all other things British. The Bachelor of Arts is a poignant coming-of-age novel about a young man flush with first love, but whose freedom to pursue it is hindered by the fixed ideas of his traditional Hindu family. In The Dark Room, Narayan’s portrait of aggrieved domesticity, the docile and obedient Savitri, like many Malgudi women, is torn between submitting to her husband’s humiliations and trying to escape them. The title character in The English Teacher, Narayan’s most autobiographical novel, searches for meaning when the death of his young wife deprives him of his greatest source of happiness.

These pioneering novels, luminous in their detail and refreshingly free of artifice, are a gift to twentieth-century literature.

The Man-Eater of Malgudi (Twentieth-Century Classics)

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A story of triumph
Ok
The Maneater Rulez
One of Narayan's best
One of Narayan's best

The Man-Eater of Malgudi (Twentieth-Century Classics)
R. K. Narayan
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140185488

Customer Reviews:

A story of triumph.......2006-06-08

This is a story of the triumph good over evil. In some ways it is much like the many mythological stories told to young Indian children at temples and schools by their elders.

The important thing in those tales and in this one as well, is to realize that just because something is "evil", it isnt entirely unholy or deviod of any good. Bhasmasura, the demon whom this tale is based on, was a very powerful and devoted disciple of God. Similarly, Vasu has his strengths as well. The reader will notice how the two faces of the same coin start merging. The simple print shop owner who was docile and timid enough to print the lawyer's invites for "free" changes over the course of the book to become more street wise and less of a push over much like Vasu.

Every form has its good and bad. R. K. Narayan wraps up this little nugget of truth with some very humurous touches in The Man-Eater of Malgudi.

Ok.......2001-11-06

It was an ok book. Didn't really come together till the end, made it hard to understand and really enjoy.

The Maneater Rulez.......2001-07-21

This is the most unexplainable book! I cant say whether its stupid or ot. its so hilariious but has too much of inimportant and useless stories which have no relation with anything. i have to write a book report so i read it. anyone else who has too will really like it. i didnt think it would be good but pretty much liked it. i like the ending especially. anywayz, now i'm going to copy the other persons review, give it to my teacher and get 5/5. thanx amazon and the reviewer from manchester!

One of Narayan's best.......2000-06-27

"Man eater of Malgudi" by R.K. Narayan,one of India's first internationally-known writers who chose to write in English, is easily one of the author' best works. Vasu,a big blustering bully, moves into the lazy little South Indian town of Malgudi,the fictional town in which nearly all of Narayan's stories are set, and overturns the life of Nataraj the town's printer. A colourful retinue of other characters: the "sizzling" prostiute Rangi,a poet, Nataraj's practical assistant, the lovable temple elephant Kumar...all add to the novel unique charm and fascination. Much of the novel's complexity lies in the fact that Narayan loosely bases his tale on the ancient Indian myth of a blustering demon Bhasmasura who terrorises the world of mortals. Much has been written about Narayan's 'comic vision'. Beneath the frothy light-heartedness of 'Man eater...' is a serious and complex exploration of many issues central to life in modern India - an individual's caste and how it determines his life and relationship with others, the battle between 'good' and 'evil' and how these values are determined by a society, the confrontation between modernity and tradition - a way of life which is thoudands of years old.These issues are further highlighted by the fact that Narayan uses English the language of 'modern' India and, at the same time, adopts the rhytmns, sytanctic structures and diction which make for a unique brand of 'Indian English' The novel also transcends the regional in that it touches on some of the tragi-comedy of human life, some of the boredom, horror and glory that make up our existence.

One of Narayan's best.......2000-06-20

'Man eater of Malgudi' by R.K. Narayan, one of India's first internationally acclaimed writers who chose to write in English, can easily be rated one of the author's his best efforts. A story set in the small South Indian town of Malgudi in which most of Narayan's stories are set,'Mane eater ...' captures much of the mind-bogglingly intricate aspects of modern Indian life. Much of the complexity of the novel comes from the fact that Narayan's plot is loosely based on the Indian myth of 'Basmasura' a powerful demon who wreaks havoc on the world and is finally destroyed in the most ridiculous manner. Much has been written and said about 'Narayan's comic world view'. It is perhaps wise to think of this novel as a good instance of the writer's amazingly complicated use of the comic mode - under the light-heartedness, charm and cheer is a powerful awareness of the complexities of Indian society and indeed,life itself : the conflict between tradition and modernity, the intricate inter-caste dynamics which dictate the way characters think and relate to each other, the war between 'good' and 'evil', 'weak and 'strong'. Narayan captures some of the beauty, the sadness, the laughter and the glory of human existence. The author's use of English is especially interesting because Narayan's very 'Indian' English capttures the syntactic structures and rhythmns of India's native languages. Besides,the use of a 'modern' Western language in this little Indian town which is still deeply rooted in a way of life which is thousands of years old, itself signifies some of the novel's themes.Narayan's mode of story-telling owes much much to the ancient Indian tradition of ofolk-narrative . One can say without any much, exaggeration that this one of the best books in English ever written by an Indian.

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The Sweet-Vendor
R.K. Narayan
Manufacturer: The Bodley Head
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0370006224

Average customer rating:

The Book You've Been Looking For
Excellent
What's wrong with being a beast?
A different kind of classic
A good book from the first page...

A Tiger for Malgudi
R. K. Narayan
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670712604

Customer Reviews:

The Book You've Been Looking For.......2007-02-18

Original, entertaining, deeply thoughtful, and ultimately profoundly spiritual, this simple book takes the reader on an adventure within the being of a magnificent tiger. The tiger evolves from a proud, ruthless, and mighty ruler of the jungle to a sadly domesticated circus creature to a spiritually aware and transfigured being. His growth is mirrored in the life of his "master," to whom he refers from the very start of this account and whom we finally meet toward its glorious end. Along the path of the tiger's evolution, we also meet many an animal and human whose essential personalities and quirks are clearly drawn. The reader can easily overlook Narayan's inconsistent narrative voice, which is sometimes from within the tiger himself and sometimes from the third person. Too, one is amused by the absurdity of Indian bureaucracy and corruption as "officials" at one point try to figure out what to do with the tiger as he freely roams from village to village, and the book is flavored by India's "gestalt." But simple spiritual messages are delivered in the last 25 pages or so as the master and tiger make their way to the master's retreat and reside there in peace: "It's often said that God made man in his own image, it's also true that man makes God in his own image." "When you address a prayer to God, you are only praying to yourself...or at least you are entitled to half that prayer...". "...only the foolish waste their lives in fighting."

I wonder if the author of "The Life of Pi" is familiar with this work. Also, the author of "Water for Elephants" would love this work. Narayan is a world-class author who deserves to be read, particularly now as the world lurches toward a delusional catastrophe.

Excellent.......2005-04-06

I had to read this for a class and I thorougly enjoyed it. It's a simple read but there's so much in there for you to think about. I would very strongly suggest A Tiger for Malgudi!

What's wrong with being a beast?.......2003-01-25

The protagonist of this story is a tiger! He is young and ferocious (as we all fancy we are), he faces the cruelties of the world (being made into a show animal), he reacts through murder and carnage (as might be natural for a tiger), and he evolves into a philosophical and detached being, no longer quite " a beast."

The story of his evolution into an enlightened soul is uplifting.
The message, I think, is that every soul, not just human, has a consciousness, and strives for something.

The proof in the power of Narayan's crystal clear narrative is that the reader feels for the tiger, respects him, and admires him for the soul he has become. (Few lucky folks can attain the state of this smart cat!) Like many Narayan stories, he tackles a challenging premise and makes it appear effortless.

READ THIS! READ THIS!

A different kind of classic.......2002-09-07

Is it true than only human beings can think? Do not animals have the ability to think? Well, never mind; but what if they did? Well, if animals did think, then you get a classic book, 'A Tiger for Malgudi' by name.

I picked this book up because R.K. Narayan is my favorite author. And when I read the title, I thought the story was about how a man-eater or something enters Malgudi and terrifies the townsfolk and the like. But the blurb bemused me. Wait a minute, this book is different, I thought.

And it really was. The entire story is narrated by a tiger. It recounts its younger days, how it gets caught and is made to perform in a circus, how it escapes only to be captivated by the magical powers of a saint who leads it into the forest. An entertaining philosophical discourse follows, and finally the saint entreats the tiger to enter the protection of a zoo.

The entire novel can be completed in a couple of hours, but when one recounts the tale, one will break into fits of laughter. The humor and sarcasm are so very characteristic of Narayan. And there is no better scene in the story as the one when the tiger enters a local school. If anything, you'll discover India in that one scene.

A good book from the first page..........2001-12-02

From page one I was entranced by the intricity of this marvelous book. It runs back to the times of the ancients, and uncovers their wisdom in a way never heard before. I absolutely love this amazing book.

Mr. Sampath--The Printer of Malgudi, The Financial Expert, Waiting for the Mahatma (Everyman's Library)

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Mr. Sampath--The Printer of Malgudi, The Financial Expert, Waiting for the Mahatma (Everyman's Library)
R. K. Narayan
Manufacturer: Everyman's Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1400044774
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Book Description

In the novels of R. K. Narayan (1906-2001), the forefather of modern Indian fiction, human-scale hopes and epiphanies express the promise of a nation as it awakens to its place in the world. The three novels brought together in this volume, all written after India’s independence, are masterpieces of social comedy, rich in local color and abounding in affectionate humor and generosity of spirit.

Mr. Sampath–The Printer of Malgudi is the story of a businessman who adapts to the collapse of his weekly newspaper by shifting to screenplays, only to have the glamour of it all go to his head. In The Financial Expert, a man of many hopes but few resources spends his time under a banyan tree dispensing financial advice to those willing to pay for his knowledge. In Waiting for the Mahatma, a young drifter meets the most beautiful girl he has ever seen–an adherent of Mahatma Gandhi–and commits himself to Gandhi’s Quit India campaign, a decision that will test the integrity of his ideals against the strength of his passions.

As charming as they are compassionate, these novels provide an indelible portrait of India in the twentieth century.

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