A review by ruchidas
Dopehri by Pankaj Kapur
2.0
I never thought I'd say this, but I wish I'd read the book in its original language, Hindi. Not only would it have given me the chance to read something in a language I speak every day but don't interact with its written word, but I would also have been in a better position to judge the book.
Dopheri attracted me with its grounded premise and its cover. The pretty hardcover is, without a doubt, one of the best I've seen to date. However, in the story, the gaps stand out like sore holes.
The narrative is set in Lucknow, one of the most culturally rich cities in India. This city is also personally close to my heart for a variety of reasons. I have fond memories of it. Naturally, I expected a heartwarming glimpse of the city in Dopheri, but the book disappointed me in more than one way. Firstly, Amma Bi, the protagonists' character building is weak. She of the haveli has a lot to offer, but the author barely touches the surface. In fact, I get to see more of Jumman, the shrewd servant, than her, and Jumman is a character executed beautifully. The climax of the story, too, falls short of the buildup.
I can see that some more work into the world-building, the protagonists' back story, and a more powerfully and dramatically executed climax could have amped the content to the level of the cover. In its current form, especially in its translated form, Dopheri comes across as a half-finished product that overpromises, but underdelivers.
I give the extra one star only for the benefit of the doubt that the prose reads better in Hindi. And another one for the cover design, which is going to adorn my bookshelf for a long time.
Edit: Yep, the prose is beautiful in Hindi. Guess this will be my first Hindi novel as I pick it up in the next few weeks.
Edit 2: I wrote this review in a rotten mood. Looking back, I feel it's not that bad a story. Amma Bi is adorable in some ways, and her story poignantly portrays how, sometimes, a purpose and a single person is all it takes to color your dull life and make it seem liveable again.
Dopheri attracted me with its grounded premise and its cover. The pretty hardcover is, without a doubt, one of the best I've seen to date. However, in the story, the gaps stand out like sore holes.
The narrative is set in Lucknow, one of the most culturally rich cities in India. This city is also personally close to my heart for a variety of reasons. I have fond memories of it. Naturally, I expected a heartwarming glimpse of the city in Dopheri, but the book disappointed me in more than one way. Firstly, Amma Bi, the protagonists' character building is weak. She of the haveli has a lot to offer, but the author barely touches the surface. In fact, I get to see more of Jumman, the shrewd servant, than her, and Jumman is a character executed beautifully. The climax of the story, too, falls short of the buildup.
Spoiler
was waiting with bated breath to read about the fate of the two lovers who secretly meet on Amma Bi's terrace every day, but sadly, I never got to know. The author could have done a much better job by saving this revelation for the end of the story.I give the extra one star only for the benefit of the doubt that the prose reads better in Hindi. And another one for the cover design, which is going to adorn my bookshelf for a long time.
Edit: Yep, the prose is beautiful in Hindi. Guess this will be my first Hindi novel as I pick it up in the next few weeks.
Edit 2: I wrote this review in a rotten mood. Looking back, I feel it's not that bad a story. Amma Bi is adorable in some ways, and her story poignantly portrays how, sometimes, a purpose and a single person is all it takes to color your dull life and make it seem liveable again.