More on books

Originally posted on 9th Mar 2006

A couple of books I read and liked recently: Towelhead by Alicia Erian and Maps for Lost Lovers by Nadeem Aslam, in that order. While Maps is a considerably better written book with very lyrical language, I liked Towelhead more simply because I could empathize with the lead charecter more.

I've recently (yesterday) discovered that the books I liked the most had charecters I could empathize with. This does not mean that the books be about someone situated similarly in life (South Indian, immigrant, woman, educated, married etc.)...That would restrict my reading considerably! It does not even mean that the charecters and I should have had the similar life events at some point in our lives. I think it depends on the skill of the writer in conveying the emotions, feelings and experiences of that person so convincingly you start to believe that you would behave the same and think the same under similar circumstances even if they may never happen to you. I like to think it also to some extent depends on the imagination of the reader. How willing are they to transcend their immediate experience and see themselves in another person?

Thus I could empathize with Teresa and her vulnerability (Unbearable lightness of being) even though my husband is no philanderer; with Maman and her overwhelming love for an only son (Life is elsewhere) even though I've no children yet; with Becky Bloomwood (Shopaholic), Kaukab (Maps for lost lovers) and most recently Jasira (Towelhead). Looking at the list though, maybe I am all wrong about the whole skill-empathy thing. Maybe I only like books with neurotic women! :-)

More about Towelhead: Jasira is a pretty 13 year old with a father prone to violent tempers and a mother who couldn't care less. Her parents are divorced and cannot agree on anything except when it comes to disciplining Jasira for her 'misdeeds' such as wearing a tampon or kissing a black boy. Starved of affection and confused by her changing body and harmones, Jasira decides the only reliable indicator of good and bad was her body itself... and if her body liked her neighbor's touch, that must mean that she was in love with him. The neighbor himself is no horrible monster - merely a conflicted man who takes advantage of a pretty girl inspite of his misgivings.

It is a good read and conveys the viewpoint of the girl quite effectively. One of the reviews of this book called it an erotic read. For the most part this is not true. It is more of an abuse story with a redemptive feel-good end.