MindBlowing !. Review on Last Burden, The - Upmanyu Chatterjee

TheLastBurden – I have yet to read a book as Marvelous ! Upamanyu Chatterjee’s second novel TheLastBurden revolves around Jamun, his thoughts and experiences .The story begins with Jamun reading Robert Payne’s biography of Mahatma Gandhi when he gets the Telegram informing him of his mother - Urmila’s “valeditarian” condition. The story comprises of the Series of events that follow as the family comes together to see her through these days. The family includes his older brother - Burfi, his foreign wife - Joyce and their sons - Doom and Pista, his father – Shyamanand and His early love Kasturi who remains a friend, occasionally a very close one indeed, but is married. The novel focuses on the family’s time together dealing with Urmila's illness, with Jamun's memories of the past, childhood and youth. The Last Burden is not however an uplifting work of fiction.

The author remains pragmatic and seldom the realism can appear brutal. The end is a beautiful twist as the author brings in his character, Agastya Sen from EnglishAugust at the most significant point of Jamun’s Life. TheLastBurden exceeds the author’s Talent portrayed in his first novel EnglishAugust.The Language and style of traveling back and forth through time is unique and indigenous. His descriptions leave the reader with more than a picturesque image of the whole story. Upamanyu Chatterjee puts together awe-inspiring sentences and descriptions throughout the novel. Even his most pretentious passages have their charms.

Of all authors one has read, Upamanyu Chatterjee leaves you such the pleasure of reading, it becomes hard to appreciate or even compare his qualification to see and transform into words the Life of a lower middle class family with such Microscopic Brilliance. A Must Read for all Book Lovers.