Galina

Well, it was first time since I saw any book by Alexander Serafimovich. Writer attracted me de to his Russian name. Alexander Serafimovich is also a very great Russian writer such as his contemporaries Gorky, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Gogol, Solzhenitsyn and many others. He was much praised by almost all of his contemporaries. Lenin, Tolstoy, Sholokhov and many other notable Russian people praised literary work of Serafimovich greatly.

So, here we are talking about Serafimovich' long story or rather it can be called a novel titled "Galina" which is a character-driven story of pre-revolution country side of Russia. Based upon social realism, the novel is an account of a female character named "Galina" who is transferred to a remote village in Russia. 

Galina observes backwardness, submission of people in fate, helplessness, family dynamics, tragedy, student enrollment issues, heath issues, debt of farmers, exploitation of farmers by landlord, inhuman human conditions, inflation, deteriorating condition of roads, young-old relationship, human sufferings and over-population among others. Apart from Galina, a church clerk and a doctor are also main characters in this novel. 

Key theme of novel is "Teacher as a Social reformer". The account narrates unexpected difficulties and challenges faced by Galina in the village. During her interaction with teachers appointed at other schools in neighbouring villages, she feels they do not care much about children and human lives over there. She clearly realises her colleagues' insensitivity. However, Galina strongly realises her morality and ethics to perform her duty honestly. With her spark and hard work she seems a positive change in her students' academic activities. 

As the author has strived to portray pre-revolution Russia, therefore, he has mainly focused on Russian villages, condition of education, identity, class struggle, social change, personal growth, transformation, the human condition, existential crisis, the search for meaning which, collectively altogether when achieved, pave the way for revolution. The story invites dispersed human beings to be collective and united f they want to achieve something greater for the society. This is not necessarily a revolutionary y novel yet it invites collective human thinking to bring revolution for a greater good. 

I don't know why but I have always been fascinated by Russian literature. Perhaps, it always reflects my own country. It is true.. Whenever, I read any Russian novel of 19th or 20th century I always see the reflection of my own homeland in that piece of literature. Russian values, traditions, behaviours and attitudes of people always remind me that we people are still at the behest of those issues which were faced by Russians in 19th century. 

This novel, though short in length, speaks volumes of conditions of millions of people still today in many developing countries. My homeland is one of them. This novel wholly reflects many developing countries where education and village reforms have never been part of any government's plan. Many Western people may find this novel irrelevant in 21st century. Yet it is still very much relevant for almost half of the globe. 

Russia developed after the revolution, perhaps it seems, many other nations are still looking forward to the path of revolution as well. Only revolution can lead to getting our identities by bringing a social change. 

Requiem for a Woman’s Soul

Never have I read a novel, which has made me shed tears of blood and made me shudder every time I tried to read it. Though containing only 100 pages, but this book made me utterly difficult to finish. I have to leave it unfinished many times due to the degree of violence portrayed by author. Anyway, finally I succeeded to finish this literary masterpiece written by Argentinian author and journalist Omar Rivabella.

Once I read a review on Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” where the reviewer stated that she started contemplating suicide after finishing the said book. She was wrong in saying so about Conrad’s famous work. However, the statement can assertively be given about Rivabella’s literary fiction for this is the tale that will unfailingly make you feel how brutal is the world. It offers a psychological insight into violence individually as well as collectively.

One cannot authoritatively claim this account is based upon a true story but, simultaneously, it must be based upon true events. Because everyone knows it what happened in Argentine during dictatorial regime of Jorge Rafael Videla (1974-1983). Vidala ordered to conduct an infamous military operation known as “Operation Condor” through which political dissidents were abducted, tortured and murdered in various concentration camps. Since, Omar Rivabella is a journalist therefore he must have had enough interactions with survivors of those concentration camps. From there he got the idea of writing this novel.

The story is set in an unknown Argentinian village where brutalities, atrocities, torture and violence are inflicted upon ‘dissents of the state’ by making them disappear enforcedly. This novel encapsulates such incidents by portraying a main character of a literature student called Suzanne. Suzanne anyhow manages to write a diary in prison and smuggles it out to prison to a trustworthy Father Anotnio. Father Antonio tries his level best to serialise that uneven account of prison memoirs because the diary is written on small papers, matchbox, cigarette pocket, toilet papers and all other things, which were available to the inmate in the prison. Thus starts an emotional journey of a character enduring every type of violence in the prison.

Initially Father Antonio starts working on received jail diary reluctantly. Slowly and gradually, he manages to recall Suzanne. Then Antonio works tirelessly upon the diary without even taking care of his own health. Because, it seems, Father Antonio and Suzanne share the same suffering and bond of violence. During working on the diary, father Antonio himself falls ill due to the effects of violence he reads and feels.

Since I do not like to add spoilers in my review. Therefore, keeping in view my tradition, I will not write here much about the climax and the way of storytelling of the author. This is the story of trauma, recovery, grief, mourning, self-discovery, spirituality, symbolism. The novel symbolises Suzanne not an individual victim but a symbol of those all people who have remained victims of violence throughout the world.

Published first in 1986 in English, this novel became an instant best seller throughout the world. This novel does not tend to answer many questions regarding any brutal dictator society. Instead, it dares ask questions about it. It asks many questions regarding, attitude of torturers towards victim, behaviours of torturers toward society, the role of torturers in their own homes, and mainly the psychological state of victim. 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson is popularly known for his famous works such as “Kidnapped”, “Treasure Island”, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and many others. Above mentioned three works are his most famous works. Today, we are going to review the last one. “The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a classic novelette which is full of suspense, psychological thriller case of two mentioned characters.

Commonly known as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” falls in the category of Gothic horror. Gothic horror refers to loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. Well, maybe it is not considered horror in 21^st century but the time when this novelette was published it fell under the category of horror that’s why it is categorized as Gothic horror. Main themes of this story are good vs. evil and dual identity.

The story is set in London where a lawyer Mr. Utterson notices a dwarfish and devilish man named Mr. Hyde. Utterson remembers that his closest friend Dr. Henry Jekyll has named this Hyde as his successor in his will. Upon discussion with Dr. Henry Jekyll on the subject, Utterson finds Dr. Jekyll at ease. The story takes a good turn when Mr. Hyde murders flees the city after murdering a famous political celebrity. Police is unable to find him. 

Due to some substantial evidences, Mr. Utterson becomes suspicious that Dr. Jekyll is trying to forge for a murderer. After this incident Dr. Jekyll gets into seclusion and stops seeing anyone one not even his best friends. Upon Utterson’s inquiry via letter, Dr. Jekyll responds him that “he brought on himself a punishment and danger which he cannot name”.

Mr. Utterson receives a letter from deceased friend Dr. Lanyon which reads that it must not be opened till disappearance or death of Dr. Henry Jekyll. Likewise, after Hyde’s suicide, the lawyer receives another letter from Dr. Jekyll asking him to read the Dr. Lanyon’s letter first and then read Jekyll’s confession. These two letters contain the secrets of the whole story and last two chapters of the novel are based upon these letters. It is interesting to read those two chapters and disclose heart of the story before reader. I am not going to add any spoiler in my review and urge reader to read the novel themselves so that they may enjoy it fully.

The story is full of suspense. The reader never knows the reality of two characters until he has read more than two/third of the novelette. The last chapter of the novel is the most interesting one. Chapter is titled as “Full statement of Dr. Henry Jekyll. It discloses the suspense and secret of whole story but here I am not going to write about it. The potential reader will lose interest otherwise in the story.

Sometime the story sounds boring but with a little consistency a reader can enjoy a good read. Strange incidents happen which are told in third person. With every page readers’ curiosity arouses about where Mr. Hyde has disappeared and what has happened to Dr. Jekyll. Why such a lively person has become secluded in his house. Sometimes feelings of horror come over a reader and sometimes psychological thriller pushes reader to read more and more of it.

The Old Man and The Sea

American journalist, short story writer and novelist Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) has written extensively. His genres include journalistic writings, short stories, drama and many novels. His major novels include “The Sun Also Rises”, “For Whom The Bell Tolls”, A Farewell to Arms”. Today, we are going to present a review for our audience on one of his most famous novel titled “The Old Man and The Sea”.

This novel’s protagonist is an old fisherman called Santiago whose sail is patched and gives the impression of permanent defeat. His whole body is wrinkled and leaves an impression of oldness and tiredness. But his eyes are full of brightness, cheerfulness and undefeated. His shoulders are old but still powerful.

Once called ‘El Campeon’ (The Champion) in his youth, now Santiago is considered a ‘Sulao’ (The worst form of being unlucky). Santiago goes eighty-four days without catching a fish. But he is never disappointed or hopeless. He believes eighty fifth day will surely bring luck because in the past it has happened once. Then this story starts from eighty fifth day of Santiago at sea. It definitely brings luck for Santiago. He goes too far in the sea. He catches a big fish even bigger than his own skiff.  He has never caught such a big fish. With his limited resources at hand, it becomes very difficult for him to keep the catch.

Then it starts. One of the truly greatest stories of twentieth century. The old man spends four days alone at the sea with scarce resources and manpower except himself. During his struggle, the old man faces many physical as well as psychological issues. He is alone at the sea and that is difficult for him. His hands are injured by the fishing line. One hand becomes cramped. But even then he does not lose his will and continue his mission. I will not mention the full story here. It might contain some spoilers.

Like George Orwell’s “1984” and “Animal Farm”, this is also a symbolical novel in which the author has tried to express in his best form the power of human strength and will. The old man named Santiago represents human will, hope, confidence and strength. The sea represents a deluge of problems faced by every man in their life time. The fish is achievement of any man after a long span of hardships and struggle. The sharks attacking on Santiago’s catch are those hurdles you face while bringing home your achievement.

Its thesis statement is “A man can be destroyed but cannot be defeated”. Some feminist friends and gender activist might take it as offensive and may raise the question why only “man” is mentioned. So the man does not necessarily refer to gender of man here but it refers to whole human being.

Though it is a shorter novel (Less than one hundred pages), but it always keeps reader captivating and every one will not leave the book after he has started it. It does not allow your attention to wander here and there at all. When Santiago is waiting for the fish to appear, he keeps talking to himself which is a wonderful monologue. Or sometimes he thinks about his past and recently caught fish.

This book is among those inspiring and encouraging novels which revive human soul with enthusiasm and new sort of energy. This novel is strongly recommended for people of every age and profession. I will give it five out of five stars.

“Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”

“It was considered a virtue not to talk unnecessarily at sea and the old man had always considered it so and respected it”.

“No one should be alone in their old age, he thought. But it is unavoidable”.

“I will show him what a man can do and what a man endures.”