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“Life is about making Right things and going on……..”

– R.K. Narayan

About the Author

Born on October 10th, 1906 a third child in seven brothers and two sister. Narayan was a reader and a book lover since childhood, it would not be incorrect to say he got this quality inherited from his father who was a headmaster at a local school in Madras. In one of his interviews Krishnaswamy, nephew of Narayan told the media that R.K along with his younger brother had privileges of staying long in the school library. During the summer breaks when no student was allowed to enter the school, the library clerk threw open the shelves at all hours for both of them.

Narayan’s reading habits were taken over by pen, when one of his father’s closest friends died. That was the first time when Narayan wrote a ten pages long essay on Friendship, Death and Grief. Rest as it says is history.

In 1935, Narayan’s grandmother gifted him a notebook on graduating as a Bachelor in Arts, little did she know that it will lead to a birth of fictional town called “MALGUDI”. The series of the book “SWAMI AND HIS FRIENDS” became the first book of Narayan. Due to it’s huge success soon became an entire T.V. Series that was aired on Doordarshan in 1986.

Narayan’s second novel “Bachelor of Arts” was published in 1938, which bought him fame in England and was awarded as the bestseller of times. However, in 1939 Narayan went through a tough phase of life which left him devastated, his wife died of Typhoid. In 1945, Narayan got his forth book published which is also considered his partly autobiography, “THE ENGLISH TEACHER” had a subject a struggle of an English teacher to cope up with his wife’s death. This book bought him an international fame, and eventually became one of the prestigious writers.

His memorable and best works included “GUIDE”, a success novel which soon took an adaptation of a movie starrer “Dev Anand” saab.

Book Review #5

Malgudi is a collection of 32 stories which is a great amalgamation of fun and wit. An imaginary village Malgudi has always been a fantasy dreamland for the 90’s kids in India including myself. While writing this review I am both happy and nostalgic. Each story revolves around the valuable relationships in the family, friends and the acquaintance. This book is like a fresh breath in today’s busy life.

Although seems like faintly similar stories, but they are vastly different from each other. The stories about the ordinary men and women makes this book extraordinarily beautiful. It will take you on a roller coaster ride where you laugh, cry and connect to each character so easily.

Highly recommended for all the age groups, beginners, non readers and anyone who wants to smile in their busy schedule. This book will always carry a special place in my book shelve and heart.

ta nana tana nana na