The English Teacher by R. K. Narayan

[Aside: I'm blogging like it is work. But my memory is like a leaky cauldron and I'm afraid that if I don't pin it down with words, I'll lose it forever. So I soldier on...]

Narayan writes like Dickens. His characters are so eccentric and his descriptions so colourful that the people and the town take a life of their own. I'm pleasantly surprised by this novel. I wasn't expecting very much because the blurb at the back of the book sounded boring: "After (some tragic event), main character comes to realise what he really wants to do, and makes a decision that will change his life forever." Erm, okay, whatever you say Mr. Blurb-writer.

But the novel was really quite good. The blurb also made me place way too much emphasis on (some tragic event) when it really isn't about (some tragic event) but about stuff like life, death, happiness, and fear. It is a deeply Hindu book actually, teaching about the importance of letting go of earthly distractions, a calm inner life, being one with nature and the important things in life. It is practically impossible to talk about this novel without a Hindu framework.

Think I will check out his other work Malgudi Days when I'm done bulldozing through the books on my table.