Book Review- Gun Island

Hello! This blog is assigned by Megha Trivedi Ma’am. This blog's goal is to teach how to properly cite sources. It discusses Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh as a book review.

Book review

GUN ISLAND

What is a Book review?

A book review is a critical evaluation of a book. It is a written assessment of the book's content, strengths, and weaknesses. The purpose of a book review is to provide a summary of the book's main points and to give an evaluation of the book's overall quality. A book review can also provide a personal opinion of the book, and whether or not the reviewer would recommend it to others.

Book reviews can be written by professional critics, journalists, or other experts in the field, or by regular readers. They can be published in newspapers, magazines, websites, or on social media platforms. They can be formal or informal and can range in length from a few sentences to several pages. Book reviews are important because they help readers decide whether or not to read a book. They provide information about the book's content, style, and themes, and can give a sense of whether the book is worth reading. They also help authors by providing feedback on their work and by promoting their books to potential readers.

A review of Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island.

Gun Island is a 2019 novel by Indian author Amitav Ghosh. It is a modern retelling of a Bengali myth. The novel is set in the Sundarbans, a region in the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers in the Indian state of West Bengal and the neighboring country of Bangladesh. Gun Island is a captivating and thought-provoking novel by Amitav Ghosh. The story follows the journey of Dinanath Datta (deen, Dinu), a rare book dealer. The novel is richly detailed and expertly crafted, with vivid descriptions of the places and cultures that Deen encounters. Ghosh expertly weaves together elements of science, myth, and history to create a complex and compelling narrative. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their journeys are both emotional and enlightening.

One of the novel's strengths is its exploration of the impact of climate change on the world. The novel raises important questions about the role of humans in causing and addressing the issue, and it highlights the urgent need for action. Ghosh does an excellent job of bringing this important issue to the forefront of the story without overwhelming the narrative. One of the weaknesses of the novel is that it takes a while to get into the story, and it can be confusing at times. The story jumps around between different characters and locations, which can make it difficult to follow.

The Novel Gun Island is divided into Two Parts- The Gun Merchant and Venice. The novel begins with The narrator Dinanath’s introduction to the words Bonduki Sadgar when he comes to his domicile place. Through various characters, he gets to know the story of The Gun Merchant and Manasa devi. The whole novel is driven by Deen’s exploration of the Myth. The novel is a sequel to Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide and it seems as if it is answering Ghosh’s question which he raised in his non-fiction The Great Derangement. Throughout the novel, Deen is forced to confront his own beliefs as he uncovers a series of secrets that have been passed down through generations. Ultimately, the novel is a story of how one man's journey leads him to an understanding of the interconnectedness of all things, and the power of storytelling to shape our understanding of the world.

The narrative primarily addresses climate change and mass migration. But in the background, we read different topics like

• The Importance of Documentation
• technology vs Book
• The etymology of the words/ transformation of language in translation or carrying stories mouth-to-mouth
• History
• Power of journalism
• Human trafficking and organ smuggling
• Homosexuality

There is a lot of uncanniness in the book. We feel as Amitav Ghosh has pushed the novel along by situations that one could just as easily attribute to “mere chance,” global warming, or the wrathful vengeance of a Goddess scorned.

Lives and events don’t evolve with inevitability but are forced forward, obliged to make a point. An evening walk ends with Cinta and Deen swamped by shipworms, a creature that is proliferating because of warming sea waters and is now eating up Venice’s wooden pilings. A beach visit sees the abnormal appearance of a deadly yellow-bellied sea snake. One might argue that these occurrences are essential in a novel about climate change, but they are arranged like set pieces, stilted and obvious, exposing the novel’s compulsion to bring together as many uncommon natural phenomena as possible.

In one of his interviews, he says that Climate-related 

migration and displacement… change is 

uncanny, and disoriented. So to write about it today is to 

write about uncanny. We don't know what's happening worldwide... 

Uncanny is the heart of the book. In depicting 

a wide range of diverse characters from 

various countries and subtly invoking the myth 

and history, fact and fiction, Ghosh has 

created a work that contrasts nostalgia 

for a lost past with concerns for the contemporaneous.

Amid the freak cyclones and oxygen-starved waters comes the story – or stories – of migration across the ages; tales of escapology, of deprivation and persecution, of impossible yearnings for a new world that bring us, inexorably, to the terrified refugees on the Mediterranean. This is, perhaps, Ghosh’s essential point; a shaggy dog story can take a very roundabout path toward reality, but it will get there in the end. It has to, or we’re all doomed. (Clark in TheGuardian)

Overall, Gun Island is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy literary fiction with a strong sense of place and culture. Ghosh's writing is masterful and the story is both enlightening and emotionally engaging. I would highly recommend this book to readers who are looking for a novel that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. In a way, it is a complex novel and It is very difficult to tell a straight story. Every character in the novel has its own story which brings newness to the tale. It gives us a way of looking at myths, Insight into climate change and migration not only of humans but also of the animal world.

These are some phrases from the book that I enjoyed and represent my personal learning outcome. It also gives a beautiful insight into life.

• ‘Don’t set yourself up to fail, yet again.’
• ‘Do you think that people elsewhere don’t believe in such things?’
• ‘People think that knowing the future can help you prepare for what is to come – but often it only makes you powerless’
• ‘It’s always a mistake, to do the easy thing, just out of habit.’
• ‘Impossible is nothing’ – ‘Just do it!’
• ‘Time itself is in ecstasy.’

Visit my Blog on Gun Island

Works Cited

Amitav Ghosh: Gun Island. Chicago Humanities Festival, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPsj_lstkBs. Accessed 10 1 2020.

Amitav Ghosh on "Gun Island" | 2019 National Book Festival. PBS Books, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1ThLi0wkMw. Accessed 10 1 2023.

Amitav Ghosh - Reading and Conversation on Gun Island. Institute of the Humanities and Global Cultures, 2019, https://youtu.be/pixQalTh0xQ. Accessed 6 January 2023.

Barad, Dilip. “Gun Island (Sem 4-2022).” YouTube, 19 February 2022, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSmZQVxjN9_iDDfODO-NC3Le2cOAd9Xnt. Accessed 6 January 2023.

Battaglia, Ian J. “On Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh - The Kenyon Review.” Kenyon Review, 2019, https://kenyonreview.org/reviews/gun-island-by-amitav-ghosh-738439/. Accessed 6 January 2023.

Clark, Alex. “Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh review – climate and culture in crisis.” The Guardian, 5 June 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/05/gun-island-amitav-ghosh-review. Accessed 6 January 2023.

Ghosh, Amitav. Amitav Ghosh : Home, https://www.amitavghosh.com/. Accessed 10 January 2023.

Iyengar, Vidya. “B’luru artist illustrates Amitav Ghosh’s latest novel.” The New Indian Express, 24 June 2019, https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/2019/jun/24/bluru-artist-illustrates-amitav-ghoshs-latest-novel-1994386.html. Accessed 8 January 2023.

Joshi, Rita. “Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh.” World Literature Today, 2019, https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/2019/autumn/gun-island-amitav-ghosh. Accessed 6 January 2023.

Here is a poem Generated by ChatGPT on Amitav Ghosh’s 2019 novel Gun Island.

Gun Island, a novel by Amitav Ghosh

Takes us on a journey, a tale to tell

Of myths and legends, of Deen's quest

To unravel the secrets, to put them to rest

Through Venice's canals and Bengal's storms

We follow Deen, as he transforms

From a rare book dealer to a seeker of truth

Uncovering the past, to face the youth

The Gun Merchant, a figure of lore

Deen's quest leads him to explore

The history of guns and their role

In shaping our world, a story to unfold

Climate change, a theme so real

Ghosh brings it to light, making us feel

The urgency of the issue, the impact on our land

A call to action, to take a stand

The characters, rich and diverse

Their journeys, emotional and diverse

A tapestry of cultures, a feast for the mind

Gun Island, a novel of a different kind

A thought-provoking read, with a pace that's slow

But the writing, masterful, the story, a flow

Gun Island, a novel to treasure

A journey worth taking, a literary pleasure.

[Words- 1540
Photos-4
videos-2]

Bridge Course: Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical Ballads

PREFACE TO LYRICAL BALLAD

This blog is in response to the task of a bridge course about the Wordsworth’s Preface to Lyrical Ballads given by Dr Dilip Baradsir. In this blog I am sharing my understanding about the preface to lyrical ballads and the topics discussed by William Wordsworth in the preface along with how the romantic age came into existence.

Romantic Age:

Romantic period begins exactly after the neoclassical period with the publication of lyrical ballads combined work of William Wordsworth and S.T. Coleridge in 1798. Lyrical ballads was considered to be the prominent work of romantic period. It was published in four editions and its editions are discussed in my presentation which I have shared below.

Lyrical ballad from Jheel Barad

Difference in Romanticism and Classicism:

What is the basic difference between the poetic creed of 'Classicism' and 'Romanticism'?

We would start with the discussion of the difference between classicism and romanticism. Romanticism and classism and not just to the age or period of English literature but there are two different ideologies, two different Schools of thoughts or techniques of writing certain things. It is not about the difference of ideology but it also has a difference in their approach to life and also in their approach to look towards the art and world.

Romanticism	Classicism
imagination	intellectuality
No restraints	restraints
medievalism	Classical masters
Rustic/ countryside life	City dwellers
Subjectivity	Objectivity

Here we see the table which shows the difference between classicism and romanticism. intellect was the guiding principle of classism while imagination was the guiding principle in romanticism. restraint was the ruling word in neoclassical while in romanticism they believed in liberty and freedom to express. In the Neo classical age writers relied on the classical Masters like Aristotle, Plato, Socrates for inspiration while in the romantic age the writers turned towards medievalism for inspiration. Classism represented urban life while romanticism represented rustic countryside life and also the class was more about objectivity, romanticism was basically about subjectivity.

Romanticism was influenced from:

Romanticism was in its full swing when Wordsworth and Coleridge started writing. The beginning of this new ideology was propelled by the French Revolution which was the agitation for the abolishment of the monarchy. This revolution was about the rights and equality of the common people. The three main watchwords of the French Revolution work fraternity, equality and liberty. Writers were also greatly influenced by it and desired to write with a free will, individual liberty and equality. It was a kind of Democratization of the society. After the French Revolution the common man was gaining its prominence, women were also aspiring, people were asking for their rights, new things were happening, women were also fighting for their equal rights. In this period Mary Wollstonecraft wrote ‘ A Vindication of the Rights of Women’ (1792)

We do find the Law of oscillation i.e. pendulum from Elizabeth and age to classism and from classism to romanticism, oscillation is a reactionary process. It is not a derogatory term. It seems like a slow and gradual development of society from the time of the Chaucer to the 19th or 20th century. The gradual development of the society to democratic society began from the time of Chaucer, the Church gradually started losing its hold on society, monarchy gradually started coming up; Commonwealth rule was the beginning of a new society where people had on voice. We do also find Romanticism in the Elizabethan age but it is different from the age of Wordsworth. In the Elizabethan age we found the place for imagination, there was nationalism, no classical rules were followed but it was different from the age of Wordsworth.

Preface to Lyrical Ballads:

In general preface is an introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope, or aims. William Wordsworth preface to the lyrical ballads in the Second Edition of lyrical ballads which was published in 1800 with the name of William Wordsworth. The reason behind writing the princes was to inform the people the aim behind writing the Preface to lyrical ballad was to inform the people the aim behind writing the lyrical Ballad. He wrote in the preface that it is Different kind of poetry from the poetry written in the neoclassical he was announcing the advent of new poetry. He also bought an advertisement in the first edition of the lyrical ballads published in 1798 declaring that it is an experiment of using a conversation language of middle class and the lower class people in poetry.

Reason to write preface:

We interpret that, it was necessary for him to give his idea of the process of composition of the poetry that he has initiated because he was given a concrete shape to his idea of poetry. If he would have not given us the preface, introduction to his poetry then we might have misunderstood or would have understood his ideas in a different context. He gives the subject matter of his poetry that it should have rustic life or countryside life. Imagine if Wordsworth had not given all the introduction of his poetry. We read the poem of William William Wordsworth and we don't understand the idea behind it and the reasons for writing this poem would have been given after the publication of the poem. We would feel that these are the excuses of the writer so to clear his idea of poetry he wrote the preface in the beginning was necessary.

In a preface to lyrical ballads William Wordsworth talks about what is poet, poem and poetic diction which we will discuss in detail.

Poet:

Wordsworth says that poets can create something even if it is not existing. The preface asked the question ‘what is a poet’ and inspite of ‘who is poet’.

‘He is a man speaking to men: a man, it is true, endued with more lively sensibility, more enthusiasm and tenderness, who has a greater knowledge of human nature, and a more comprehensive soul, than are supposed to be common among mankind; a man pleased with his own passions and volitions, and who rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life that is in him; delighting to contemplate similar volitions and passions as manifested in the goings-on of the Universe, and habitually impelled to create them where he does not find them.’

The above is the definition given in the preface which says a Poet is such a human being who is more in degree, a far better human being than ordinary man. A romantic poet has an inherent capability of imagination and writing poetry. He has a greater knowledge of human culture, he has a more comprehensive soul than other human beings and he rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life he has a habit of creating.

We can also compare it in a contemporary type it must have happened with you that when we are standing in a group of a people and someone introduces and artist of any field saying that he is an artist the reaction of the people changes that shows the artist has some different abilities some different power that is not present in everyone which impresses others and the same thing is said by William Wordsworth in the preface of lyrical ballads while talking about a poet.

Poem:

What is poetry? 

OR 

Discuss 'Daffodils - I wandered lonely as a cloud' with reference to Wordsworth's poetic creed.

Wordsworth defines the poem in his preface to lyrical ballads which is as below :

‘Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility’

Definition says that poetry is overflowing with the feelings which a poet has already captured in his mind or heart. If we try to understand this definition in a practical way then It means that when a poet moves towards nature or any specific place, he enjoys nature and collects the feeling that he gets at that place. Then a poet sits in his free time, in tranquility, in rest and remembers the feeling he got during that time and then refines the words and writes the poem. The aim of Wordsworth’s poem was to write a poem in a conversation language but a poem cannot be written in the words which comes in the mind directly as in the regular life we use the words which are vulgar or can be said as a bad words so the poem should be in a simple words but in a refined word.

We would understand the definition of the poem by the example of Wordsworth's poem Daffodils. Daffodils was the poem published in 1804; the poem is in 4 stanzas; the first three stanzas of the poet are in past tense while the last stanza is in present tense.

‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’

‘They stretched in never-ending line’

‘For oft, when on my couch I lie’

After reading the whole poem we can imagine a poet reclining on the couch and recollecting his nature walk which usually the lake poets used to take, there he must have seen the spread of Daffodils and in his inward eyes, must have captured that and at present he is sitting in his pensive and the vacant mood, recollecting the view of Daffodils which he had during his nature walk. Here the past tense in the first three stanzas of the poem and the present tense in the last stanza of the poem clearly justifies that definition of the poem in the wordsworth's poem. The present tense of the last stanza depicts that the poet in his free time is collecting his memory about Daffodils and is writing the poem on Daffodils.

Poetic Diction:

What is poetic diction? Which sort of poetic diction is suggested by Wordsworth in his Preface?

In general, Poetic diction means the choice of words. Poetic diction means choice of words which lends a unique style for each individual poet or author. The writing style of William Wordsworth or of romantic poets is completely different from the poets or writers of The neoclassical age. In Preface William Wordsworth mentions poetic diction which seems like attacking the writing style of neoclassical writers. He believed that speech of poetry should be organic, use of diction, ornamental language was highly unnecessary which was done in the neoclassical period. This type of writing is only understood by the city dwellers because there are more educational institutes in the city. As a result he proposes to write a poem in a language used by real men.

The controversy was raised by his one time go to friend S.T. Coleridge in ‘Biographia Literaria’ in an extensive selection of Coleridge’s disagreement with his poetic diction. He questioned what Wordsworth meant by real men? Aren't the people living in the city real men?

Controversy is explained in detail in this video:

Conclusion:

After Dryden, Wordsworth offered a proper definition, as Aristotle gave of tragedy Dryden of Play and Wordsworth of Poetry. As the romantic age was dominated by poetry. In conclusion we can say that Wordsworth overall tried to propose that real poetry is what comes from the heart. Imagination is greater than intellectuality; it helps to create art which is not even existing.

To read above topics in detail CLICK HERE

I hope my blog was useful to you thanks for visiting.

[words- 1818]

Poem: Light

                                                 LIGHT

                    The poem the light is written by a British poet and translator F.W.Bourdillon. He is also known as bibliophile and scholar. he was born on 22 march 1852 in Runcorn, united kingdom and died on 13 January 1921 in Midhurst, United Kingdom. Francis William bourdillon is popular for his short poems. He is famous for his single short poem Light: night has a thousands eyes. He also published many collections like among the 'flowers and other poems', 'minuscula: lyric of nature, art and nature'. He also published novels and translated books. 

                    The poem light is of two stanzas of total eight lines. The poem is perfect example of Personification. the rhyme of poem is a-b-a-b. The poem is based on love. different elements of nature is used to symbolize love. poem says as we cannot survive without sun similarly we cannot survive without love in the world.

                    The theme of  poem is love, love is force of nature, most profound emotion the human experiences. Love can be towards anyone animals, family, nature, friends, work, partner etc.  love encompasses strong and positive emotional and mental states. The best technique to evaluate love is happiness. Happiness is directly proportional to love. Love is a condition of mind brought by serenity of soul, it is state of peace. Light of love is power for human being.

'The night has a thousand eyes,

and the day but one;

yet the light of the bright world dies

with the dying sun.'

                    In the first stanza poet describes about the stars as the thousand eyes of the night and about the sun as only eye of the day. Day have only one star yet the whole world dies sinks in darkness when the sun dies. In this stanza stars, sun and world are personified by giving human qualities. stars are compared with eyes and world and sun is given quality of dying. Where the word dying is associated with humans. Thus here poet uses personification figure of speech. 

'The mind has a thousand eyes,

and the heart but one;

yet the light of whole life dies 

when love is done.'

                    The second stanza says that the mind have thousand thoughts, it never remains empty without thoughts. While, heart thinks only in one direction. Last two lines of the poem yet the light of whole life dies when love is done. It states even mind have more thoughts when heart falls in love it stops the mind and its thousand eyes are of no use. One falls in love the life dies, thoughts stops and only heart beats. Last in two lines whole life dies also shows that once a person falls in love he sees nothing else then love which destroys his/her life or when the beloved leaves you alone you loose your own-self

                    The poem concludes that the entire human life depends on love. life is dark without love. Thus, by using personification the poet draws attention of the reader towards the love and loved ones in life.