Jul 11, 2012 01:36 AM
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(Updated Jul 11, 2012 05:52 PM)
Jaipur Lit fest 2012 was famous for reasons more than one. Apart from Salman Rushdie, there was a lot of good literature to look forward to. While checking some sites, I jumped into an article in rediff about “10 books to possess this season”. Following fish caught my fancy instantly for tricky title and ever since I wanted to get hold of it. The title succeeds to catch the spark but the sour content made it “a foul catch”.
SamanthSubhramaniam is a journalist by choice. He currently works for a publication and writes for many as a guest columnist. This book is just a step ahead in narrative journalism to entertain his gut.
An Overview.
In Kolkata, author is devouring up Hilsa for b’fast, lunch & dinner like crazy.
In Hyderabad, he gives rich journalistic account on the famous fish swallowing treatment for Asthma patients.
He is moving around Kerala, tasting toddy (country liquor), hopping from one toddy shop to another.
In Mangalore, he came longing for Mangalore fish curry and falls in love with its cook instead!
In Goa (part 1) he is out in the ocean following the fastest fish, Sailfish.
In Goa (part 2) he comes up with yet another rich journalistic account on the effect tourism cast on fishing trade, the sea and the beaches and why fishermen are turning to tourism for livelihood.
In Mumbai, he is on a drive to eat at Gomantak & Malvani (old cuisines & run by fishermen families) joints.
In Gujarat, he moves around to explore the commerce & art of the fishing boat making industry.
A chapter on Tamil Nadu talks about the history of old fishermen community in Tuticorin. I didn’t read through this one as it was far too unappetizing.
The theme was interesting..travelling around Indian coast!! But this is poorly conceptualized and inconsistent. Travelling through these states doesn’t mean travelling through coastline, else he would not reach inland Hyderabad! In the spell of toddy in Kerala, he forgets he was following fish and starts following toddy!
This one is touted as a travelogue but author doesn’t provide any travel dope. This is not a food diary either as except Kolkata, Mangalore & Mumbai, author doesn’t talk of fish as a food. There is no uniformity of thoughts throughout the book and author is doing random stuff to suit himself. The reason to follow fish is a gimmick and this book is nothing but a poor assortment of heterogeneous fancies.
Another claim “nine essays through fish country” translates to travelling through nine states dotting the necklace in Indian Ocean. But you find beautiful and vivid Orissa conspicuously missing unjustifiably & deliberately. One can’t fall short of stories from Orissa if one intends to write about. Instead, Goa has been served with an additional essay.
Narration is journalistic/investigative journalistic in mild to strong flavors. It bores to the core, trust me.
The narrative lacks sentiment. A sentiment which weaves common through the book and fastens the reader to it is not evident. Though, this is a nonfiction, but hollow at the very heart of it.
What next? Probably the author will be “tasting tea” from Munnar to Kangra! Anything but SPARE ME!
PS: This review is in the service of the humanity!
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Anshuman Maini
