A Book Review: Ghachar Chochar by Vivek Shanbhag - NO SPOILERS

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Would I recommend this book: Yes !! It's short and sweet and definitely worth it.

Ghachar Ghochar is one of those novels that leaves you wondering about the contents of the book days after you finish it.

It reminds me of a more subtle and tamer version of 'An Inspector Calls', a play that I absolutely adore.

It's a very short story, only 118 pages long, but I think it captures everything really well. The writing mirrors the shallowness of the characters, and the open ending leaves you reeling.

Nothing changes with the family. Everything is the same as it was at the start. No one learns any lessons, a commentary on the attitudes of typical bourgeois families. But there are so many implications within the lives of all the characters and what transpires.

The nameless, unreliable protagonist stands for everything that's wrong with families such as his own. He knows what they're doing isn't right, but he still continues to benefit from the rewards and does nothing to oppose the other family members. Through his silence, he joins the oppressors.

As Anita says, the only decent person in the book (besides her) is Appa. He speaks out on his disapproval (unlike the protagonist who sits quietly), but again, he does nothing to change and reaps the rewards.

I have to say, the translation of this book was near perfect. I feel like it's written incredible well, and there wasn't a point where I felt as though the words were dull or lacking. The translation is just superb. It's so easy to but also has a lot of depth and meaning. One of the critics said that the book has 'limpid prose and quiet insight', which sums it up perfectly, I think.

Anyways, that's all for now folks. Until next time xD

Peace and love,

Aziza