I admired Anita Desai’s writing style after reading Cry, ThePeacock...Which was the first book I read by her(and I think that is her first book too....).
That basically made me read more of Anita Desai’s books...She picks up very common yet very sensitive issues and presents them in the tenderest way...And that is when we are bound to think...ya, this has happened with me so many times...Her characters leave great impact onus...
The protagonists are usually women. All her books are vivid.Now, talking of Village by the Sea, I think it is an excellent book...The story plot is set up in a small village (by the sea)called Thul, which is near Mumbai, the city of dreams.It is about a family having six members- A sick mother (who is anemic and getting weaker day by day), a drunkard father (who is basically a parasite to all their earnings) and four children.
The family lives in utter poverty.The eldest child, Lila, is still very young to manage the house hold. But since the mother is ill she is bed-ridden and Lila has to manage every thing from cooking and cleaning to taking care of the other three siblings. Hari is Lila’s younger brother is mature enough to understand that something has to be done to earn money and he dreams big. One day, fed up with the poverty and father, Hari simply leaves for Mumbai.
Poor Lila is left all alone now. Now, I wont reveal the entire plot as there are many twists and turns... The book proceeds with Hari’s struggle in the city and Lila struggle in the village. The story has a lovely and unexpected ending and you will fall in love with Anita Desai’s style of writing. I also respect her for writing such marvelously on such common and important issues. The book makes us realize that there are so many Haris and Leelas spread allover the country and there is a constant fight for survival....
The kids are so overburdened with the family responsibilities that somehow their childhood is lost and they are bound to behave maturely.But the best part (One thing I love about Anita Desai’s style) is that the author has not left us unanswered and pitying (without solution). She has very beautifully, through her story, given an apt solution for the problem. She makes us think that life is after all beautiful, and shouldn’t be wasted. And that is when we are bound to smile and thank her for such a lovely book... Even though my favorite book by her is ‘Cry, The Peacock’ (Would love to write a review on that too, but it is not on the list and I don’tknowhow to add it), I would simply say that people, do read the book. You will love it...
FYI-
Other books (I have read) by Anita Desai-:
1.)Cry, The Peacock
2.)Fire On the Mountain
3.)Bye-Bye Black Bird
I must say, all the books are masterpieces in themselves...Like them all...