This novel follows a different style of story-telling. It tells the stories of the different occupants of Wadia Baug, an apartment complex in Bombay, housing a well-knit Parsi community. In the throes of their late middle-age, the members of the community nostalgically look back at their lives and wonder at the early dreams, hopes and happiness their lives held, and the detours and disappoints that fate threw their way to break their wings of hope. Despite the uneven bittersweet journey they traveled, they were grateful for one robust pillar of support - the friendship of the Wadia Baug community. The novel is a seemingly simple story of the importance of community and companionship. But the stories are heavily layered with so many aspects of life, especially of life in Bombay.This is a character-driven book, as some people would classify. The book teems with interesting characters, reminiscent of people we know, of people we probably are turning into, and of people we have struggled to understand. What I respect and marvel at is Umrigar’s honest and insightful psychological appraisal of these people. Despite the characters’ numerous flaws, she shows us the true person they are at heart. She articulates my hypothesis that people are inherently good, and even, simple. Yet, they become complicated, and sometimes reprehensible, because of the disappointments, tragedies, and painful experiences they are forced to go through. They continue to live life as their vulnerabilities, insecurities, guilt, regrets, and wounds threaten to never heal, and fester just under the surface.For instance, we admonish and hate the gossipy, old woman in the neighborhood, but have probably never taken a moment to consider how her life had been before she became so; why she seems to unfailingly provide food and help when you need it; and why your parents implicitly trust her with their house keys, despite her petty talk and inquisitiveness. Or why the “apartment board” never fires the inefficient, ill-tempered, weak, watchman. Every person has a story, a reason for why there are they way they are. With a little empathy, and a little consideration, we look into the unsoiled person within them. Although we will continue to resent their flaws, their stunted maturity, their cloistered thinking, their intrusion and comments on your life, we need them just as much to establish a community and rely on their basic (sometimes, well hidden), harmless, good nature. We realize, grudgingly at that, that our quintessential Indian neighborhood does indeed do more good than the secluded islands of the western residential communities.Digested Thoughts: Although at times I felt there were a tad too many characters and stories to keep track of, Umrigar beautifully unwraps the stories of six different Parsi families, and their connection to the Wadia Baug apartment complex. The stories cannot be more real, and honest, and they each involve the role played by Bombay - its boisterous, harsh, unforgiving part. They also shed light on subtle Indian customs, traditions, and its social and political dynamics that complicate life needlessly. As much as Umrigar emphasizes the benefits of being part of a community, she also brilliantly and subtly shows the flip-side. If we wrap ourselves too very tightly and comfortably in the safe cocoon of our little ethnic community, we remain ignorant, indifferent and callous towards the rest of the world operating around us. Secluding oneself within a community is just as bad as being intolerant of other communities. We all need to realize that we are part of something bigger than just our tiny community. It is important to connect with all of humanity, as being part of one big society. This is especially true of India, where there are a million different sectarian groups, that we tend to see ourselves as total strangers if we so much as move to a different religious neighborhood within the very same city. This feeling of being an alien if we step two streets away from our community, is the cause for communal tension and violence.Anyway, to wrap up, I enjoyed reading this book, especially the character analysis, and will definitely recommend it. Umrigar's writing is simple, but evocative and insightful.
Thrity Umrigar continues to be one of my favorite Indian authors! This story takes place in Bombay. A group of "young" Parsi friends gather as "old" friends at the wedding of a son of one friend. Each friend at the wedding has a story that he/she relives at the wedding. The father of the groom left for England as a young man, to be educated, only to come back to Bombay as a lawyer, to become a big fish in a small sea, feeling comfortable being Indian only in India. This same friend lived his dream of old, becoming rich with good business sense, married to a wonderful woman he adores and visa versa. One of his friends, when he was young, felt betrayed by a loved one who left Bombay for Israel with her family, leaving her beloved behind, alone with his memories of her, for life. Another friend was killed in a chemical plant, leaving his beloved wife bereft all of her life. Another friend mistrusts his wife and puts up his guard for years when his young, loving wife placed him between her tirades against his loving mother. This same friend used to have dreams of grandeur, but his lack of business sense left his family with a lot less than other friends. Some dreams are realized in life, others are dashed by circumstances unforetold. Most of the heartfelt stories that were relived at this wedding were extremely sad, for both the characters and the reader. Bombay kept these childhood friendships together for life, in sickness, in health, whether they were rich, or poor. Each of the characters' memories of their youth kept them bonded. It took a gift of photo albums to make each friend realize how lucky they were to have each other.
What do You think about Bombay Time (2002)?
Umrigar's gift for storytelling is quite rare, and reading this book was purely engaging. . . not to mention highly recommended. In addition to broaching the topics of a changing India (and an increasingly commercialized world), Umrigar deftly incorporates the intriguing tales of a number of people. After meeting the protagonists on the pages of this book, you feel as if they are old friends, folks you should call to make sure they are doing all right. Exceptionally memorable characters, creative prose -- a must-read for its characterization of both the human spirit and the changing world in which we live.
—Naomi
Un'India senza malattia, senza Madre Teresa, senza piaghe e lebbra.Un'India parsi, benestante, diversa, forte, ma non meno umana.Proprio così, non meno umana.Adi aprì la bocca per protestare, ma Philomena si era già alzata dalla sedia e troneggiava su di lui come una montagna: fiera, imperiale, incollerita. "Pensavo davvero che tu fossi diverso dagli altri uomini" gli disse, la bocca in una piega amara. "Ma hai dimostrato di essere un bambino, proprio come tutti gli altri".da bc.com: http://auro.bookcrossing.com/journal/...
—Aurora
i absolutely love the books by this author! She brings you into the various lives of Parsi people who live near Bombay and how their lives change with time and circumstances. Then toward the end, many realize the changes in their lives and how they use to be before and therefore strive to return somewhat to the people they really want to be once again. It made me reflect on myself and how life can change or distract me from who i really am and the dreams I once strived for...and to realize it really is not too late to dream and do.
—Dee
