The difference between a book like "The Tiger's Wife," by Tea Obreht, and "Half Gods," by Akil Kumarasamy is like cooking with fresh ingredients versus Bisquick. One yields satisfying results, and one does not.
I am afraid "Half Gods" is the Bisquick. Both books are short stories strung together, but "Half Gods" is not strung together well; it is all over the place. Siblings, India, Sri Lanka, war, parts of New Jersey, including two places known to me--the Raritan River and New Brunswick--should make for a compelling read. But it does not, because, unfortunately, the author is not skilled enough to tie it all together. Oh, she can write a sentence, but none of the sentences have any passion or make the reader care about the characters. I could not wait for this book to end, and, had it been longer, I might not have finished.
This is Akil Kumarasamy's first published work, and she came out of one of the writing programs--Iowa's, I think--so her writing is all about technique and not heart. Without the latter, no matter how skilled the technique this is a sure way to lose the reader fast.
"Half Gods" should have been a better book. Someone should really have worked with the author on this one. On the basis of this effort, I am not sure I want to risk a second work, even if a full length novel.
This was an unsuccessful, disappointing book.
Save yourselves the trouble of reading it, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Since I’m not going to read it, what were some of the main points??
ReplyDelete(If there even Were any main points.)
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
Good question, and one I wanted
to address. Some sentences make
references to things that are
more interesting than the actual
stories themselves. For instance,
a couple argues about a Pakistani
family nearby who was arrested for
torturing their maid. THAT would
have been an interesting story.
One of the final stories deals with
a man who is invited each year to a
Christmas gathering for friends. It
has gone on for years, but at some
point in the present he reaches the
realization that he has been invited
all these years only out of pity.
The last line is comparable to Blanche's
about dependence on the kindness of
strangers.
Otherwise the same old--domestic disputes,
political upheaval. The author is no Jhumpa
Lhari, and that is whom I think she is trying
to be.
Don’t bury the headline!!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
Don't worry, I won't!