The Story

I almost gave up the book during the first chapter. That our protagonist took about 6 pages to brew a cuppa tea, to me, seemed ominous. I dreaded the pace at which the book would progress. Mind you, I’m not averse to the tomes or the slow moving books, but this, for some reason, set alarm bells ringing.

Before long, though, we were in the world of Aum and Karna was telling us his story…

Unfolding in the mountains that seem to be located somewhere in the far north of India, the story is of one of Aum’s people who is born into his world. The premise is of a new land based on ability and meritocracy but one that also has its failings. Despite promoting the ideals of equality (every ‘brother’ in the land looks identical thanks to a mask, ergo Valley of Masks), the valley does have a hierarchy. From the Gentle Father down to the Helmsmen to the Wafadars to the Pathfinders to the Kiln and to the granaries… there is a place for everyone.

Women of the land – despite a woman being one of their revered Aum’s most trusted – are entrusted with only two duties: give birth and please the men. When one does go against the norm, she is found in the ‘Nest of the Unabled’ which is where our protagonist (by now, he has no name and is only a combination of numbers and letters) loses his faith and his belief.

Impressions

Graphically written, the book builds a beautiful valley where natural resources abound. The idea that being at harmony with nature will ensure nature provides for you does make an impact. Unfortunately, the idea that equality is the answer to the world’s problems is not tackled with great aplomb. Towards the end, the book seems to have been wrapped up rather hastily and the turning point of our hero’s life seems trite given the fact that he is almost a fundamentalist in his own world up until that point. For various reasons, the book reminded me of the TV series “Lost” at different junctures.

Conclusion

If you like to read complex plots and a slow moving narrative, this book is worth the read simply for its language. Few books by Indian authors have laid such emphasis on the quality of the prose. Tejpal’s journalistic background is perhaps the reason behind the emphasis he has laid on it. Rating a book is not a smart idea. We all have different reasons for liking or disliking this. I’m just going to end with a ‘Recommended Reading’ rating for The Valley of Masks.

True Dummy

Indian authors excite me. After years of searching for good Indian authors whose writing one could relate to, it has been a great ride for the last few years to find young authors with new stories to tell. So everytime I pick up a book, I try to find the early work of an author. It’s usually not jaded or typecast by himself/herself.

So when the opportunity arose to read Ashish Jaiswal’s debut novel “True Dummy“, I wasn’t going to pass. With no idea of the story line and little expectation (as I always maintain from debutante authors), I took the book along on a a trip. With about three hours to kill at the airport in the evening, I figured this was as good a time as any to start.

What are the essentials of a book that can keep you engrossed? A taut story, interesting characters, great setting and perhaps a happy ending? Some humor, romance or other ‘masala’ aspects always help keep it moving! Mr Jaiswal is:

…currently reading for his DPhil (PhD) in Business Education from New College, University of Oxford researching on curricular and pedagogical innovation in business schools. He lives in Oxford, UK…

So it is no surprise that the book is heavy on words that could be simplified. One can still understand that considering that the book talks about a struggle and hopes to inspire people never to give up. As a reader, I have never been a fan of the self-improvement or motivational genre. I love fables, though. And this is where the book enters murky waters. Bear with me.

As a fable, the book is set in a faraway world where one has to assume everything and anything is possible. Everything is personified and has a form and function. What is still not clear to me, though, is what time the book is set it. There are buses and there are kings, there are roads and radios and also caravans and fortune-tellers. And this mish-mash of the time period doesn’t allow me to form a picture of the setting or the characters.

As a motivational book, it offers me little. The surroundings in which the characters normally roam remind of dark, damp places that don’t always inspire much happiness. And therefore, I cannot be convinced that there could be any good that could come here. Interestingly, that sets the tone for a positive finish with a flourish. Unfortunately, it never comes.

Normally, when reading any book — especially fiction — one can create a setting in their own heads. What the protagonists’ home looks like, what he may look like and what he will do in a situation. But here, characters are moving in and out too quick without having made a lasting impact.

The story that Mr Jaiswal attempts is an honest one with a simple moral — don’t give up. I do feel, however, that at times, the book  has meandered on for too long without direction. There seems to be an incessant need to force-fit big quotations and emphatic statements by some know-all characters whose source of experience or knowledge is unknown. That makes it hard to take their word!

Oh, and the lowest point has to the the literal translation of jungle mein mor nacha, kisi ne na dekha. That line anyways reminds me of Johny Walker (from Madhumati) and the classic song!

To be fair, this is his first attempt at writing and I have never written a book. I shouldn’t be as harsh since the book has come to me free of cost. While the language of the book does offer great joy at times, the story does tend to meander. Some tighter editing may have helped.

For those who are looking for inspiration and often turn to books, this is worth a read. It hits bookstores today. Price, unknown!