First published in 2004, The Hungry Tide tells the story of Kanai, the owner of a Delhi translation firm, Piyali, a US based Cetologist (One who studies marine mammals), and Fokir, a fisherman who navigates the deceitful waters surrounding the Sunderbans - a group of islands off the Bengal coast. It is in the meeting of these three distinct worlds that much of the beauty of the novel lies, along with the studied, visual detailing of flora, fauna and life in the Sunderbans.
Amitav Ghosh writes with deliberate verbosity, the words do not seem wasted, they only kindle a sense of both mystery and surprise - especially in the relation between Piyali and Fokir. It is a depiction rarely seen in modern literature, of how two different people can still form a deep, silent relationship without ever understanding each other's spoken language. Evoking a sense of tragedy, despair and wonder, the book is a treat for literature lovers.
(Article by Snehith Kumbla)
(Article by Snehith Kumbla)
After going through your site, I realized I love the simplicity of your reviews; which say a lot more somehow than my long rants.
ReplyDeleteI have this book sitting on my shelf patiently waiting, I suppose, for me to finally get around to reading it. I've come to expect a deep, poetic prose from Ghosh now, and I'm glad that The Hungry Tide has his quintessential verbosity as well. What I like the most is how he plays with language, like the sailor-speak in The Sea of Poppies. You do make this book sound like a real treat! Thanks, I might pick it up next.
To each their words, Priya. I guess as long as as we stay true, the length doesn't matter.
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