Gun Island
Ratings5
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings5
Average rating4.1
Bundook. Gun. A common word, but one which turns Deen Datta's world upside down. A dealer of rare books, Deen is used to a quiet life spent indoors, but as his once-solid beliefs begin to shift, he is forced to set out on an extraordinary journey; one that takes him from India to Los Angeles and Venice via a tangled route through the memories and experiences of those he meets along the way. There is Piya, a fellow Bengali-American who sets his journey in motion; Tipu, an entrepreneurial young man who opens Deen's eyes to the realities of growing up in today's world; Rafi, with his desperate attempt to help someone in need; and Cinta, an old friend who provides the missing link in the story they are all a part of. It is a journey which will upend everything he thought he knew about himself, about the Bengali legends of his childhood and about the world around him. Gun Island is a beautifully realised novel which effortlessly spans space and time. It is the story of a world on the brink, of increasing displacement and unstoppable transition. But it is also a story of hope, of a man whose faith in the world and the future is restored by two remarkable women.
Reviews with the most likes.
I found this to be a surprisingly light read. I enjoyed all the characters involved and found them really sympathetic. The novel is very 21st century in a way that I'm not actually used to reading, but I enjoyed how much of it was really just the world as it is, with no excuses on how terrible people and the world can be but simply stating it as how it is.
I did have a bit of a problem with the way this book was written, but it didn't mean that I was unable to enjoy the story. But it is written in a way that with every meeting comes a new story/tale, and sometimes these stories just felt too much like plot points rather than organic storytelling. I also found some issues with the dialogue, but overall it was good, enjoyable.
I honestly think my biggest gripe with it has to do with Tipu's stubbornness. He's in a distinct situation where he can ask for help from people who care about him, instead of doing things the hard way, but he doesn't make use of it, and risks his life (and Rafi's) several times because of it. That was really annoying and unnecessary in my opinion.
Picked the book up from the library last night. Finished it now. The only breaks were for visitors and sleep. An unputdownable book, specially for anyone who likes Amitava Ghosh's mixing of cultures and timelines, fiction and facts.
