An Interesting Take on Life…
A good read...you'll laugh, you'll enjoy, you'll remember!
Have you heard of this new author? I picked this book up off of Barnes & Noble.com thinking it might be something interesting to look at. I was pleasantly surprised. I’m always on the lookout for new and up and coming authors, and I think this one makes a home run! The author, Dushyant Rajan, has had an interesting life…to say the least. I enjoyed his journeys through India, Europe, and the United States. He obviously has a strong command of the English language, as I had to have a dictionary with me to understand some of the ecletic words he used, but that was no big deal. I would encourage all who are from different countries, have parents/ancestors/relatives from different countries, and those who just would like a taste of someone who has traveled extensively and to see their life story, to pick up this book. The title is one that caught my attention: “Knots, Gnarls and Rough Bark.” With a picture of a long pathway of trees, it seemed interesting. On Barnes & Noble’s site, they have a summary of the book, and that too intrigued me as well. Here it is:
“How well do immigrants from other countries adjust in the United States after emigration? What talents and gifts do they bring to their adopted country? Is their life in their adopted country much different from what it would have been had they remained in their native country? In this collection of essays, author Dushyant Rajan examines his life growing up in India in a military household with all the benefits of an upper-middle-class upbringing in post-colonial India. The essays describe Rajan’s quest for heroic solutions to life’s everyday problems, the compelling forces which obstruct him in his mission, his conclusions and resignations, and the beginning of a fondness for the life he left in India. Knots, Gnarls and Rough Bark includes stories about the influence of important figures in his life: his maternal grandfather, Nana, an avowed Anglophile; his father, an officer in the Royal Air Force and the Indian Army from which he retired as an artillery Brigadier; and his mother, the Brigadier’s wife. Colorful and insightful, these essays provide a broad world view from the eyes of this intrepid author who concludes that whether in the United States or in India, life presents the same blessings and curses.”
I think this would make a great Father’s Day gift, as the author speaks a lot about his father and grandfather, both who had a tremendous effect on his life. The stories in themselves are very interesting. The author is really able to convey a gripping tale, whether about his journey through Europe, or his times out and about in Los Angeles. Talk about making it from one side of the world to the other: from India to Los Angeles? Wow. I believe this book is a compelling tale and I would hope that the author would come out with a sequel. I would read it! And I recommend this tale to whomever is interested in reading something different for a change. Get out of your box of nothing but sex, drugs, action, and whatever else and sit down to something that will enrich your life, not to mention educate you a little. Like I said, this would be a GREAT gift for a father to give his son, or a son to give his father/grandfather, etc.
Happy reading!
P.S. Hardcover is $26.95, paperback is $16.95 on BarnesandNoble.com, but if you are a member, you get a discount! Also available on Amazon.com, Target.com, and iUniverse.com
