Once Again, By The River

Swati Varma is heading back to Panayur, Kerala, with his beloved wife8217;s ashes in an urn. Heartsick over her sudden loss, he isn8217;t prepared for the rush of memories he has to deal with on his return. A direct descendent of its last king, he has to confront the ghosts of his past. As well as the fact that his home is no longer the paradise he remembered it to be. The present had caught up with it and brought into it religious differences and tensions.

Also waiting for him at home is his childhood friend Antara, custodian to his home and history. Family legends and mysteries are evoked. Explanations are sought and the book is liberally peppered with a heady mix of myth and lore. This is the intriguing story of the Varma dynasty. The myth of the tiger. Murder, love, kingdoms and kings. The detailing of tradition 8212; 8220;The Spell Of Blood8221; 8212; are all particularly evocative. And none of the detailing is lost in the translation. In fact Etteth makes the transition with ease 8212; with a huge degree of comfort.

And yet this is a difficult book to read. Simply put, it is too wordy. At many places several sentences are used when just the one would suffice. At other times the descriptions are so dense it is almost imperative that one gets fatigued. And at no point can you get away from the writer8217;s complete glee: 8220;Look at me, I am brilliant.8221; It trips you up every time you start to enjoy the book.

It is also due to this self-congratulatory quality that the second half of The Tiger by the River completely unravels. A sub-plot of a half-brother based in America, Vel Kramer, is suddenly introduced. While the writer tries to connect him with Swati8217;s family8217;s past, it is a totally redundant attempt at globalising the novel. Vel has to set out on 8220;a quest for the truth about his family that will take him from America to Berlin, and ultimately, to Panayur.8221; Of course, his path is neatly charted out for him 8212; he reaches 8220;home8221; without a hitch. In fact his visit is heralded by a carpets of crow! But not before he 8220;happens8221; to chance upon 8212; during the course of his visit to Berlin 8212; the woman, Kay, who will be his partner for the rest of his life.

Needless to say, Swati is delighted to meet Vel. Vel understands Indian traditions and customs 8212; more specifically, those of the kings of Panayur 8212; even better than Swati quite normal for a boy brought up in America!. And Antara is killed by the forces that have taken root in this once-upon-a-time paradise 8212; when religious differences prove to be the death of her. Of course, how can Swati be far behind? In his search for the tiger and his son, he finds Salim Antara and Swati8217;s love child and his death. Which of course is a blissful event!

There is no denying that the author has put in reams of research. And that as a writer he is gifted in his command over the language. However, in trying to achieve a balance between magic realism, myth and modern writing he has fallen short in the storytelling department. In spite of all the obvious pros, the book isn8217;t an easy read. Far from it.

Nonita Kalra is executive editor, ELLE.