Perceptions of an Ambivert

He He He! I wondering why would someone pick up something written by Chetan Bhagat? Five point someone was OKAY and not great, it was different compared to the normal Indian writing we used to get those days! Then came an absolute waste of natural resorces and an insult to ones intelligence, in the name of "One night at a call center", after which I decided that Chetan Baghat's writing will get the same response that I would give for the Teleshopping channels! I wouldn't even carry as an easy read during my train journeys! His books are targeted at the kind of people who would enjoy the WWE shows on TV, or atleast people with that level of intelligence. However there is a market for this brand of writing and Chetan Bhagat and his publishers are the ones who are going to have the last laugh!

Ah and forgot to recommend! Check out the debut novel by Arvind Adiga called The White Tiger. A morbid tale set in the real India where we live but fail to recognize while we are glued to the trash that the class biased english News Channels dish out 24x7!

Hi Ranjani,
Hey...I thought Chetan Bhagat was a phenomenal writer and his earlier 2 books were a hit and so was this one (until I read this).
I do not read his books (I'm actually not allowed by dad....but he is an even more avid reader than me...guess that's where I got the habit)
I guess diff. ppl hav diff. thgts! Many ppl liked it....and so did some of my friends who read it!

PS- Sorry for keeping out of touch...was on a vacation...BTW, I am yearning to read ur encouraging comments once again on my blog...eagerly waiting sis....

I TOTALLY understand girlfriend! I liked '5 point someone'.. only because certain phrases were insightful. The call center one make me nauseous. So I'm totally not going to read any more of his.

I think most people read these days to 'show' others that they're 'well read'. Why can't people read for the sheer enjoyment? For the play of words? For the pictures that a good book can draw? Bleddy naansense!

I remember reading my first Shoba De and dropping dead from sheer incredulous shock. No, seriously. :| This is my ghost.

@ Meghna: Yes, the first two books of his were a "hit", however merely being a hit does not maketh a good read! Da Vinci Code was a "Hit" and a easy read too but it was a pure masala potpouri than anything! You have plenty of those hits on the big screen every week sans any messages!

:) u just made sure that i read the book!

well, i didnt like his other books too.. for reasons unknown.. let s see.. wht happens with this one!

@green alien,ha!thanks for the big lovely comment!You are right when you say only stereotypes read such kinda novels!

I don't know why but i have become overly critical of indian authors. I don't really know if they deserve some laurels but rampantheart is a worst critic, mind you!

The thing is, i would like reading genuine humor and people, please suggest me books that are of the "genre".

@green alien, thanks a lot for the recommendation!Can't wait to read the book!

@meghnam you are such a sweetheart!you know, you don;t have to ask sorry and stuff!no formalities with me, meghna!:)You called me your sis, and hwy, sisters don't behave formally!ha ha!:)

Yes, meghna, that's where people go wrong!Young minds think the books actually portray great humour and go behind it. This gives me great displeasure and agony. As a reader who loves classics and other awesome books, i wouldn't want people to stoop low and read these base books which brainwash the young minds and misguide them. uh, huh!I am yearning to write more, but this comment will become a post!

@mac, i am really glad people are actually feeling the same way as i do!ha!this is a welcome change!:)

Thanfully, i have not read Shobha De. Now, after hearing your comment, i won't read the book even if i were offered a million bucks!

@green alien, but i loved reading the da vinci code. it was like, very intriguing and know what?i even googled things out about the scion and stuff and read 2 more books on the chalice and the gospel stuff. sadly, they were not so insightful. the silver chalice by thomas costain is kinda okay but not a great read. it was fun reading it though. But i couldn't digest some of the points in that, which is a different story!

@mat,Gee, there's gonna be another mutual community on orkut!:D

How we have similar tastes is still a mystery to me!:)

Gotta read that book!

The review for the White Tiger is here:
http://nrnikhil.blogspot.com/2008/06/arvind-adiga-white-tiger-opinion.html

While passably enjoyable as a first book that may not have had any pretensions, Chetan Bhagat's,
'Five Point Someone' was a relatively easy read on a really lazy evening. There was an
insouciant quality to his writing that appealed to the casual reader who wasn't looking for
anything more than harmless disposable entertainment. I also believe, the biggest hook for the
the success of the book was...the price. At ninety five rupees, the book, came to just less than
the price of a McDonald combo burger (exclusive of the tax) and as far as disposable
entertainment go this was even more affordable than your average outing to a multiplex playing
the latest bollywood movie. While I agree 'Five Point someone' was okayish...'One Night at the wherever' was abominable and been on some kind of masochistic streak I picked up and read 'The Three Mistakes...', calling it juvenile is an understatement and I started to do a review and thought the better of it. It didn't deserve anymore of my time. But that's just me...am sure there are people out there who liked it and opinions and tastes are very individual, so I can't really comment on why it sells. Look at your average bollywood movie that makes money...nobody ever accused it of being high-art, and art itself is subjective. So, I guess, kudos to Mr. Bhagat for the moolah he is raking in...

But, yes like Green Alien said...you should try out 'The White tiger' by Arvind Adiga...am sure you will like it. Its wickedly topical and yes drips with sarcastic anger.

Another longish comment...but isn't it fun to read lengthy comments :)

you know i started reading Five PointSomeone advised by few indian friends, hardly got through few pages. Humour is good but the style should be there as well. And if it lacks i just stuck and cant read any further..
if a book is a hit, it still does not mean the author is great

@freako, i will certainly buy the book.. thanks!the review was very useful!

@readnryte, you are right!Well, i will certainly try to grab a copy of book you guya hve recommended!And i shall also review it.. soon!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by to comment!And yes, big, lengthy comments are always fun!

@lena, thanks for stopping by to comment!Well, yes, sadly, most think the element involved i such books is humour and satire. At least there are sensible people like you out there who can differentiate.