CONFESSIONS
OF AN AUTHOR - CONTINUED
“I
AM JUST AN ORDINARY MAN” – A MOST HELPFUL CRITICAL REVIEW RECEIVED
Tonight
as I sat down to continue the last chapter of my next book, I received a
message from a close friend of mine over the years saying ‘Review posted’. Knowing
him well I knew what I could expect from him and I was not surprised when I read
the review. For the first time perhaps I received what I can term as ‘A Most
Helpful Critical Review Received’. I am reproducing the review on Amazon here –
3.0
out of 5 stars A slightly higher middle-class, 28 June 2015
This
review is from: I am just AN ORDINARY MAN (Paperback)
Disclosure : Subbu presented his autographed book
on the condition that I write a review. He is a friend since 1975. I know him
as a brilliant guy, sharp and witty. Very talented in painting, music and
writing poetry and prose. I always
thought he made a choice to be ordinary, justified it and escaped into
abstracts like philosophy. My friendship clouds my judgment of his work.
Review: Many of his generation with similar
background can relate to Subbu's narration of many events and persons in his
life. Whether they all can relate to his
philosophical rants is doubtful. I certainly cannot. I also cannot accept his justification for 'acceptance'. It is not
just Subbu but many of his peers preferred the comfort of a regular paycheck
each month rather than pursue their calling. They missed the passion, agony and ecstasy of chasing their dreams.
In a way, Subbu's book is a story of their (don't count me out) petty bourgeois
existence. The book was not an easy read for me despite or because of my great
familiarity with Subbu, his family, his bank, his career and his thoughts. I think my weariness with philosophy
might have something to do with it. I still appreciate his self-publishing the
book. It is more than just a collection of his blogs.
I
think Subbu has now found his calling. This book is, in Jawaharlal Nehru's
words, 'a soul long suppressed trying to find utterance'. I am sure Subbu will
come out with more. He has something more to say and will end up doing so. Hope
the world will discover Subbu expressing his true personality freely and
joyfully..
I
have over the last 9 months learnt a few lessons since my book was published. As
a first time author overcome by the euphoria of a dream realized and seeking
adulation and acceptance from the readers, always on the lookout for a 5 star
rated review and ending up publicizing them on the Social Media, I had perhaps
lost my integrity. I did end up sending messages to friends and others who I came
to know through the social media, to read and put up a review. Some of them did
and many of them did not. Reviews are helpful and gain visibility for the
author. A string of 5 star reviews makes you want more of them and when
something comes along below this you are left disappointed. But I have learnt
in the last few months to accept it as a necessity to keep you balanced in your
expectations. Now I welcome them for they help me reassess myself.
A
person understands and appreciates based on his own experiences and the lessons
learnt in life; the way I have written based on my own experiences and understanding
of my life. There could be parallels, there could be divergences, but that is
life. I have known my friend for as long as he has known me. I have been a
witness to his agonizing experiences and believe that life had not treated him
fairly. But he had the guts and gumption to fight back against odds and make a
success of his life. In my view he is an extraordinary man. He is as blunt as
they come and honest in what he believes. That is why it was a welcome change
to receive his review and like said before it was not a surprise.
This
is not a defense but I would like to place my comments on certain views
expressed by him in his review-
“I always thought he
made a choice to be ordinary, justified it and escaped into abstracts like
philosophy” – I never
chose to be ordinary, I consider myself ordinary and I guess one does not have
to justify being ordinary. This is left to the realm of the ‘League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen”. I did not escape into abstracts of philosophy. I do
not believe anyone does, it is just a way of looking at life depending on your
experiences.
“Many of his generation with similar
background can relate to Subbu's narration of many events and persons in his
life. Whether they all can relate to
his philosophical rants is doubtful.” May be it is true what he says, but
the next statement of relating to philosophical rants as he calls it, is judgmental.
The meaning of rants is ‘Speak or
shout at length in an angry, impassioned way’. Rants is perhaps not the
right word and I leave it at that.
“I also cannot accept his justification
for 'acceptance’. Well
I do not expect everyone to, for it may not apply to their way of life.
“They missed the passion, agony and ecstasy
of chasing their dreams. In a way,
Subbu's book is a story of their (don't count me out) petty bourgeois existence.
Well can we really know what the dreams of others are, and are we really
capable of knowing the passion, agony and ecstasy that another undergoes. The
statement ‘petty bourgeois existence’ is harsh if you consider what the
Wikipedia says – “Petite bourgeoisie (French pronunciation:), also petty
bourgeoisie (literally small bourgeoisie), is a French term (sometimes
derogatory) referring to a social class comprising semi-autonomous peasantry
and small-scale merchants whose politico-economic ideological stance is
determined by reflecting that of a haute (high) bourgeoisie, with which the
petite bourgeoisie seeks to identify itself, and whose bourgeois morality it
strives to imitate.” My only objection is why include others (including himself
may be to soften the blow).
Lastly
“I think my weariness with philosophy
might have something to do with it.”
is the truth.
This
is perhaps is the first review that has made me sit up and think and I am
thankful for that. It is in no way to refute what he has stated, for a lot of
what he has stated is true and from a person who had known me well during a
certain period of my life. We still connect in a big way.
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