I am frankly a little disappointed with myself. Because this is the longest I have taken to finish a book. And so this is the longest I have kept my readers waiting for a new post from me.
This, however, is not a book that you can hope to get over with in a day or two. You need to savour it, live in the moments that the author creates, sit back and let yourself be immersed in the Renaissance art and come out feeling humbled.
"The Agony and the Ecstasy" written by Irving Stone is the biography of Michelangelo Buonarroti, more popularly known as Michelangelo, the creator of David, the Sistine Chapel Frescoes, Madonna and the Child, the architect of St. Peters dome. A Perfectionist, a Passionate lover and above all a Brilliant artist who was honest to his trade.
The novel traces Michelangelo's life from the time he was 13 and was apprenticed to learn painting in Florence till the time of his death.
The author maintains a steady pace throughout the book, falters not even once and takes the readers on a journey through the turbulent Renaissance period.
The highlights of this book are the sequences where Michelangelo envisions and thereon proceeds to create some of his finest masterpieces -- Madonna of the Stairs, Battle of the Centaurs, David, and the Sistine Ceiling; also worth a mention is the description of his rivalry with Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael.
So deep is the impact of this book that unknowingly, you feel the inner turmoil of Michelangelo when he had to waste years quarrying for the finest of marble that was never used, you feel his anger at being called a "Stone Laborer", his agony when a splinter of marble enters his eye and renders him sightless for days and his ecstasy when his fellow countrymen tell him that his David gave them back their self respect.
My Verdict: "The Agony and the Ecstasy" is a must read for all the serious Bookworms who want to read something offbeat, insightful and profound. Casual readers will want to abandon the book within the first 50 pages or so. Art and History enthusiasts will find it to be a priceless treasure.
Last words: Make sure that you have an internet connection at hand, because you will want to Google and see the artworks and sculptures mentioned in the book.
Word of Thanks: To Mr. Bookworm. Though it was a date, I still could not keep myself away from Landmark and I pleaded that I be allowed just 10 minutes to rush inside and buy a book. This was the first one on the racks near the bill counter and ultimately I ended up buying one of the most beautiful books that I have read so far :)
Sometimes you come across a book that is so simple yet so profound in its writing, that it keeps haunting you long after you have finished reading it.
My Book of the Month for April is one such book that has left a lasting impact on me, so much so, that no matter how many times I read it, it never fails to dazzle me with its simplicity!
The English Teacher is the story of Krishna, who teaches English in the Albert Mission College in Malgudi, while his wife Susila and new born daughter Leela stay with his in-laws in another town nearby. A move into a new rented house, brings the promise of a life of marital bliss for the young couple and they look forward to the simple pleasures of everyday life.
But a cruel twist of fate snatches away Susila, leaving Krishna alone to care for his now 3 year old child and face a life of loneliness and despair.
And then, just when Krishna thinks that he has lost everything, he receives a message from an unknown source which promises to bring the sunshine back into his grey world.
Written by R.K. Narayan, one of the most iconic Indian authors, The English Teacher is a simple yet beautiful tale which has love, life and the afterlife as its central theme. The flow of the book is dreamy, almost lyrical, and you are transported into a tranquil little world where life exists without its usual complexities.
Read it to get the stress out of your mind. Read it also if you want to read a classic which has been written in the simplest of English. But most importantly read it to get a taste of Malgudi, the wonderland that was created by R.K. Narayan and cherished by young and old alike.
P.S. Since I am suffering from a very serious bout of "Cricket Fever", much due to the fact that my Team India has been A-W-E-S-O-M-E so far and will be playing the Cricket World Cup finals in Mumbai, I am being a little lazy about posting reviews regularly. Sincere apologies to everyone... I will be back after 3rd April!! (:
