TALKATIVE MAN, R.K. Narayan

Good book to read

This is a story of young freelance journalist trying to establish a reputation, known as TM. This short Novel is all about the story that is being narrated by TM(young journalist) about how he came in contact with a mysterious man called Dr. Rann and his adventures and miss-adventures.The story is so beautifully told, that the reader never bother's about the real name of TM(the journalist), which RK, the author, revils as Madhu only once in the entire novel. (During conversation with Gaffur the taxi driver).All the twist and turns of classical Malgudi days are retained in this novel. Read it to enjoy how a simple story can be told so beautifully.To sum it up, this book is a light and a joyful read.Wonderfull narative by R.K,

Mr. Narayan's Talkative Man is one of the finest novels. Despite being a short book (116 pages), the details & narrative was wide enough than most 300 or 400 pages novels. Mr. Narayan is known for his simple language & this book is no exception. Some of us must have read few short stories featuring Talkative Man, but this book is a full-fledged story staring TM (as he is fondly called by people). TM in this typical Indian drama encounters a mysterious stranger & develops a strange acquaintance with him only to learn about extra ordinary past of this mystery man. Humour & wits used is just ingenious.A great read, it was.Cheers!

Absolute classic from the author

Qualitative one

Love the way of story teller. Tms' way to handle the situation n Dr. Ranns story, his nature are evergreens in this book

Great

R.K Narayan has a way with words. His phrases are characteristically Indian and any Indian in any part of the country can relate to them. It's funny, engrossing and precise !

It was not as interesting as I was expecting it to be. With all the respect to his genius, the author seems to have oversimplified the description of life in the make believe town of Malgudi to the point that it comes very close to pushing you towards boredom. But the exasperating character of Mr. Rann is well described.

ナーラーヤンの小説の題名は、ちょっとぞんざいな感じがあって小説の内容を適切に言い表していない場合が多いように思う。それが必ずしも悪いという意味ではないのだけれども、この『おしゃべり』(1986年刊)についても、主人公のジャーナリストは、皆からTM(Talkative Man)と愛称されている割には饒舌ではない。あるいは、このtalkativeとは、重大な秘密を守れない男という意味かとも考えてみたが、そのような場面は小説にはなかったと思う。インド人が、おしゃべりと呼ぶのだからどんなにすごい饒舌家かと思ったが完全に肩透かしだった。それに面白いのは、この『おしゃべり』という小説がまったく逆説的に饒舌な小説ではないとうことだ。ナーラーヤンは、当初この小説を長編小説にまとめようと考えていたらしい。題名も、『小説第14番』。それがタイプ原稿で116ページまで書き進んだところで小説の続行がつまらなくなり、最終章で『おしゃべり』の主人公は、もうこれ以上何も言うことがないのだと宣言する。中篇小説の名手ではあっても長編小説を書いてこなかったナーラーヤンは、読者が身銭をきって購買する小説には適度な長さがあるのだとかって編集者に諭された思い出にふけりながら、それについてG. グリーンに相談したことを上質のヒューモアで語っている。小説は、マルグディの駅舎の待合室に見慣れない紳士が住み着いてしまうところから始まる。紳士のラーンを追って強烈な妻がマルグディに現れる。ここまでは、ナーラーヤンの喜劇小説の典型的な形だ。しかし、ここからが僕にとっては意外な展開となる。ラーンは、ヒンドゥー社会の俗物性をつきぬけ神々の超人間的な無軌道ぶりを示し、エロスと聖性を併せ持つ存在と化すからだ。

A most endearing tale from RKN- short, funny and full of his characteristic observations. Innocent yet sly.

I only discovered R.K. Narayan last year but already he has become one of my favourite writers. Talkative Man is a very short novel, more of a novella really, set in Malgudi as are most of his books, and it is an enthralling read, charming and humorous and a little bit haphazard. Essentially it is a semi-picaresque in which the action always seems to be episodic and wide-ranging but in fact is firmly grounded in one small town in a sleepy backwater of Southern India. The 'Talkative Man' of the title is the narrator but not really the main character, though he does appear in other short stories that Narayan wrote. The next Narayan book I plan to read is his early novel The Dark Room.

Product was in mint condition and arrived on schedule. Perfect service.