Book Review 81
Name Of The Book : Poonachi or The Story Of A Black Goat
Author : Perumal Murugan translated by N. Kalyan Raman
Publisher : Context (an imprint of Westland Publications)
Year : 2018
Category : Fiction
Review :
Through a seeming act of providence, an old couple receives a day-old female goat kid as a gift from the cosmos. Thus begins the story of Poonachi, the little orphan goat. As you follow her story from forest to habitation, independence to motherhood, you recognize in its significant moments the depth and magnitude of your own fears and longings, fueled by the instinct for survival that animates all life. Masterly and nuanced, Perumal Murugan’s tale forces us reflect on our own responses to hierarchy and ownership, selflessness and appetite, love and desire, living and dying. Poonachi is the story of a goat who carries the burden of being different all her life, of a she-goat who survives against the odds. It is equally an expression of solidarity with the animal world and the female condition. The tale is also a commentary on our times, on the choices we make as a society and a nation, and the increasing vulnerability of individuals, particularly writers and artists, who resist when they are pressed to submit.
I had heard a lot about this book and I was really looking forward to reading it. Also, it was a real surprise to discover that I had got a signed copy from Amazon. I don’t have any books signed by authors, so this really made me happy. Recently, this book was shortlisted for The JCB Prize for Literature 2018. It is the story of Poonachi, a black goat kid who is gifted to an old couple by an unknown person. The couple decides to keep the goat kid and the book is the story of Poonachi’s life and struggles. This book gives importance to animals over humans and only goats have a name in this book. It is a political satire which talks about social and gender norms through anthropomorphism. There is a lot of depth and we need to really delve into the book to understand the implicit meaning and the message that the author is trying to convey. It is a refreshingly new theme in Indian literature and it can be compared to ‘The Animal Farm’ by George Orwell. The language is simple without compromising on the subtle nuances and the translator has done a really commendable job. I cannot say that I was completely awe-struck by the book or that the book was exceptional. For me, this book did not live up to the hype. A lot of people adore this book, but I think it is not my cup of tea. I like how the author has made use of anthropomorphism, but personally, I am not a huge fan of animals and thus I couldn’t find that connection with the book. Political satire is also not one of my preferred genres and I prefer non-fiction over satire where the idea is more explicitly conveyed. If you are a fan of this genre or love animals and can emotionally connect with them, then this book will become your favourite.
Rating : 4/5
Name Of The Book : Poonachi or The Story Of A Black Goat
Author : Perumal Murugan translated by N. Kalyan Raman
Publisher : Context (an imprint of Westland Publications)
Year : 2018
Category : Fiction
Review :
Through a seeming act of providence, an old couple receives a day-old female goat kid as a gift from the cosmos. Thus begins the story of Poonachi, the little orphan goat. As you follow her story from forest to habitation, independence to motherhood, you recognize in its significant moments the depth and magnitude of your own fears and longings, fueled by the instinct for survival that animates all life. Masterly and nuanced, Perumal Murugan’s tale forces us reflect on our own responses to hierarchy and ownership, selflessness and appetite, love and desire, living and dying. Poonachi is the story of a goat who carries the burden of being different all her life, of a she-goat who survives against the odds. It is equally an expression of solidarity with the animal world and the female condition. The tale is also a commentary on our times, on the choices we make as a society and a nation, and the increasing vulnerability of individuals, particularly writers and artists, who resist when they are pressed to submit.
I had heard a lot about this book and I was really looking forward to reading it. Also, it was a real surprise to discover that I had got a signed copy from Amazon. I don’t have any books signed by authors, so this really made me happy. Recently, this book was shortlisted for The JCB Prize for Literature 2018. It is the story of Poonachi, a black goat kid who is gifted to an old couple by an unknown person. The couple decides to keep the goat kid and the book is the story of Poonachi’s life and struggles. This book gives importance to animals over humans and only goats have a name in this book. It is a political satire which talks about social and gender norms through anthropomorphism. There is a lot of depth and we need to really delve into the book to understand the implicit meaning and the message that the author is trying to convey. It is a refreshingly new theme in Indian literature and it can be compared to ‘The Animal Farm’ by George Orwell. The language is simple without compromising on the subtle nuances and the translator has done a really commendable job. I cannot say that I was completely awe-struck by the book or that the book was exceptional. For me, this book did not live up to the hype. A lot of people adore this book, but I think it is not my cup of tea. I like how the author has made use of anthropomorphism, but personally, I am not a huge fan of animals and thus I couldn’t find that connection with the book. Political satire is also not one of my preferred genres and I prefer non-fiction over satire where the idea is more explicitly conveyed. If you are a fan of this genre or love animals and can emotionally connect with them, then this book will become your favourite.
Rating : 4/5