This space has been silent and deserted for months now. Well, I have no excuses – it is just that whenever I think about penning down thoughts about a book I read or a recipe I tried, words do not pour out. I think I am going through an extreme case of blogger’s block (or is it writer’s block?). Anyways, so what am I doing here today? Well, I accepted a book review request from Leadstart Publishers and I am going to rant about the same here. I must apologize to them first as I took ages to read and review the book.
The Gods, Demons and People of Kunhimangalam by Sunil Kuman KN is an unusual book for me to pick up – to be frank it is not the kind of
genre I frequently read. But, I just wanted to read something different, something
intriguing and something that is not run-of-the-mill. Well, I think the
book mostly fits the bill – but still there is something missing.
Kunhimangalam is the name of a small village located in the
Kannur district of Kerala. The author through his book takes you on a journey by
chronicling the various folklore, old tales and historical events associated
with the place. Every chapter in the book takes you through a different story –
each with its own flavour – some are rich in myths, some tell you about the
traditions of the place and some dwell on the historical happenings that shaped
its destiny. But, there is a problem in the way things are narrated – I did
feel the flow of the book was not smooth and it didn’t connect with the readers
as it should. After I was done with one part, I didn’t feel the tenacity to
read the next part right away. I do feel if the legends and tales of the place were interwoven
with a fictional story, it would have made a more interesting read.
To sum up my opinion on the book - it makes for a good slow
read for those who are interested in knowing about the legends and folklore of
not-so-popularly-known places in the country. I do admire and commend the author
for his choice of premise and the efforts he has made for his debut book.
