ஜி. நாகராஜனின் "குறத்தி முடுக்கு"

ஜி. நாகராஜனின் "குறத்தி முடுக்கு" பாலியல் தொழிலில் ஈடுபடும் பெண்களைப் பற்றிய குறுநாவல். குறத்தி முடுக்கு எனும் கற்பனையாக உருவாக்கப்பட்ட விலைமாதர் தெருவில், விலைமாதரின் வாழ்வை உணர்வுபூர்வமாக சொல்கிறது இந்நாவல். செயற்கையாக இருட்டடிக்கப்பட்ட சாலையாக குறத்தி முடுக்கின் அறிமுகத்தில் துவங்கி, காவல் நிலையத்தில் விலைமாதர் மீது கட்டவிழ்க்கப்படும் வன்முறை வரை மிக நுட்பமான வர்ணனை இந்நாவலில் இடம்பெறுகிறது.

நாவலின் பெண் கதாப்பாத்திரங்கள் ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு பின்கதை அமைகிறது. எந்த ஒரு கதாப்பாத்திரத்தின் மீதும் தன் கருத்தை திணிக்க முற்படாமல், அவர்களின் செயல்களை மதிப்பிடாமல், அவர்களின் இயல்பையும் அனுபவங்களையும் மட்டும் பேசுகிறது இந்நாவல். இப்பெண்களின் வாழ்வில் காதலுக்கும் இடமுண்டு, வாழ்க்கை முழுவதும் உறவில்லாமல் வாடி ஒரு குழந்தைக்காக ஆசைப்படும் ஏக்கத்துக்கும் இடமுண்டு என நமக்கு அவர்களின் உலகத்தை அறிமுகம் செய்கிறார் ஜி. நாகராஜன்.

நம் சமூகத்தின் பார்வையில் பாலியல் தொழிலாளியான ஒரு பெண்ணின் மீது சுமத்தப்படும் கண்ணியமற்றவள் எனும் பிம்பம், கற்பை பெண்களுக்கு மட்டும் உரித்தாக்கும் நிர்பந்த கற்பு முறையின் விளைவே. கற்பை புனிதப்படுத்தும் சமூகத்தின் பார்வையிலிருந்து விலகி, பாலியல் தொழிலை மற்றுமொரு தொழிலாக பார்க்கும் மனநிலையை இந்நாவல் கொடுக்கும். 

Sidney Sheldon's "The Sands of Time"

Sidney Sheldon's "The Sands of Time" is an action adventure novel that revolves around four nuns who escape a military assault on a Christian convent and are forced to face the challenges of the outside world which they had once renounced. 

The four nuns Megan, Lucia, Graciela and Teresa are being chased by the military after their escape and they are forced to travel with the rebels who are branded terrorists by the Spanish government. Jaime Miro, the most wanted rebel known for his exploits to keep the military and police at bay is burdened with the responsibility of escorting the nuns to a safe place. The nuns reinvent themselves on this journey through the hills and forests with the tension of military closing in on them - a journey where they have to adapt and survive. 

Each one of the nuns have a terrible past and they cocoon themselves into the church as their last resort and escape from the harsh reality of their present lives. With that environment changed now, they fight back their inner fears and their nightmares of the past to adapt to the changed world. The backstories of the nuns are slightly disturbing which justifies their actions but at times obscene which could have been avoided with no impact to the storyline. 

The political situation in Spain where Basques were fighting against Spanish nationalists for self-governance or complete independence to preserve their identity forms the backdrop of this novel and is convincingly interwoven into the storyline. But, the lives of rebels and them giving in to personal desires and urges depicted here is questionable. The lives of nuns inside the Christian institutions and how they are asked to suppress their desires and feelings in the name of service to God depicted here is close to reality.

The novel builds up a tale of bravery, betrayal and survival in a steady pace to keep the readers engaged. There is enough drama to propel the novel to a climactic end. The closure Sidney gives to the characters stay true to the storyline and the character sketches instead of pulling off an unprecedented end just to pique the reader’s interest.

Barring the obscenity and some unnecessary romantic sequences, the novel still is a good read. 

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

“The Maidens” is another murder mystery from Alex Michaelides after “The Silent Patient” which revolves around a secret society that is based on Greek mythology. 

Mariana, a psychotherapist who had lost her husband Sebastian few years back receives a call from her niece Zoe and gets to know that Zoe’s friend has been brutally murdered. Mariana is concerned about Zoe and reaches Cambridge to be with her. 

With mysteries surrounding the murder and suspicions being raised over a professor who teaches Greek tragedy to Zoe and her classmates, Mariana decides to stay at Cambridge to uncover the truth and the identity of the killer. The killings continue and Mariana stumbles upon an evidence that connects these serial killings to Greek mythology. 

The novel starting off as a template serial killer mystery, has all potential to become an intriguing and compelling murder mystery. Does it hold on to the promising premise and builds on it? 

There are too many characters introduced just to add up to the suspense and the closure the novel provides for these characters is underwhelming in some cases. Mariana being a psychotherapist trying to play a detective is not convincing either. 

The literary references in the novel not only creates a great impact but also sticks to the storyline without deviating much. That is a big plus. The author also makes an interesting connection to his previous novel “The Silent Patient” bringing in its central characters Theo and Alicia into this universe. This is not a force-fit and blends seamlessly with the proceedings in the novel. 

With few sparks of brilliance here and there, the novel plummets down with a climax that throws us off guard in an unconvincing way.