BOOK REVIEW: LATITUDES OF LONGING by SHUBHANGI SWARUP
GET LOST IN THE VERSE OF THIS MAGNUM OPUS! A HIMALAYAN DEBUT!
BOOK: Latitudes of Longing
BOOK: Latitudes of Longing
AUTHOR: Subhangi Swarup
PUBLISHER: Harper Collins
RELEASE DATE: 31/7/2018
Blurb:
SHORTLISTED for 'The JCB PRIZE for Literature 2018'
LONGLISTED for 'DSC PRIZE 2019'
An astounding exploration of intense longings, Shubhangi Swarup's novel begins in the depths of the Andaman Sea, and follows geological and emotional faultlines through the Irrawaddy delta and the tourist-trap of Thamel, to end amidst the highest glaciers and passes of the Karakorams. The story sweeps through worlds and times that are inhabited by: a scientist who studies trees and a clairvoyant who talks to them; Lord Goodenough who travels around the furthest reaches of the Raj, giving names to nameless places; a geologist working towards ending futile wars over a glacier; octogenarian lovers; a superstitious dictator and a mother struggling to get her revolutionary son released; a yeti who seeks human companionship; a turtle who turns first into a boat and then a woman; and the ghost of an evaporated ocean as restless as the continents. Binding them all together is a vision of life as vast as the universe itself. Richly imaginative and irresistible in its storytelling, Latitudes of Longing announces the arrival of an incredible new literary talent.
REVIEW:
"Dreams, memories, desires... Come closer, let me tell you the marvelous tales this tree tells me."
The debutante Subhangi Swarup is calling you to live her magnum opus creation. The author wrote in one place - "Some dreams are so beautiful and fragile.. they are left unrealized."
Just like that some stories are so beautiful that it's hard to describe & impossible to review. I am just speechless, my words have lost somewhere in the trap of her magical writing. The book is just.... Mesmerizing. Still let's discuss something in very brief. I don't want to talk about the plot, just read the blurb, buy the book(if you still didn't) & drown in it.
It's magic realism, purely. The nomenclature, exceptional writing, the lyrical flow, the metaphors, the tone, setting, character development, the rich research, detailing - everything is magical & brilliantly original. There is island, mountain, sea, rivers, water, snow, human, goddess, ghost, fossils, joy, melancholy, dreams, stars, cosmos and everything but only magic! You will be mesmerized by the writing modus. The author's perspective to see the world is so enchanting that you will forget everything about the outer world & will stick to this beautiful world. The author compared the geological & natural events with human interactions. The intense research is evident on every pages. Every single characters are created with so much passion. I read it slowly as I am a slow reader but it's dream like narration & flow will bound you to finish as soon as possible.
You have never read anything like this. Its is a dreamy debut & a novel to remember. Eagerly waiting to see what the genius author do next. Pick it, read it & live it, it's going to be one of the finest experience of life, without any doubt. A full five star & infinity!
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SHORTLISTED for 'The JCB PRIZE for Literature 2018'
LONGLISTED for 'DSC PRIZE 2019'
An astounding exploration of intense longings, Shubhangi Swarup's novel begins in the depths of the Andaman Sea, and follows geological and emotional faultlines through the Irrawaddy delta and the tourist-trap of Thamel, to end amidst the highest glaciers and passes of the Karakorams. The story sweeps through worlds and times that are inhabited by: a scientist who studies trees and a clairvoyant who talks to them; Lord Goodenough who travels around the furthest reaches of the Raj, giving names to nameless places; a geologist working towards ending futile wars over a glacier; octogenarian lovers; a superstitious dictator and a mother struggling to get her revolutionary son released; a yeti who seeks human companionship; a turtle who turns first into a boat and then a woman; and the ghost of an evaporated ocean as restless as the continents. Binding them all together is a vision of life as vast as the universe itself. Richly imaginative and irresistible in its storytelling, Latitudes of Longing announces the arrival of an incredible new literary talent.
REVIEW:
"Dreams, memories, desires... Come closer, let me tell you the marvelous tales this tree tells me."
The debutante Subhangi Swarup is calling you to live her magnum opus creation. The author wrote in one place - "Some dreams are so beautiful and fragile.. they are left unrealized."
Just like that some stories are so beautiful that it's hard to describe & impossible to review. I am just speechless, my words have lost somewhere in the trap of her magical writing. The book is just.... Mesmerizing. Still let's discuss something in very brief. I don't want to talk about the plot, just read the blurb, buy the book(if you still didn't) & drown in it.
It's magic realism, purely. The nomenclature, exceptional writing, the lyrical flow, the metaphors, the tone, setting, character development, the rich research, detailing - everything is magical & brilliantly original. There is island, mountain, sea, rivers, water, snow, human, goddess, ghost, fossils, joy, melancholy, dreams, stars, cosmos and everything but only magic! You will be mesmerized by the writing modus. The author's perspective to see the world is so enchanting that you will forget everything about the outer world & will stick to this beautiful world. The author compared the geological & natural events with human interactions. The intense research is evident on every pages. Every single characters are created with so much passion. I read it slowly as I am a slow reader but it's dream like narration & flow will bound you to finish as soon as possible.
You have never read anything like this. Its is a dreamy debut & a novel to remember. Eagerly waiting to see what the genius author do next. Pick it, read it & live it, it's going to be one of the finest experience of life, without any doubt. A full five star & infinity!
Please follow my blog to get latest Book, Movie & music reviews. Thank you.
This book sounds like such an awesome read, the cover really made me hooked from the start. Great review darling! 💜
ReplyDeleteWith love, Alisha Valerie x | www.alishavalerie.com
This book is really mesmerizing, Thanks for your praise. Your blog is looking lovely, have subscribed it.
DeleteLoved your review.
ReplyDelete