Book Review - Half A Life

Rajiv Rmaratnam - LokVani: "Brevity is the soul of wit. In Naipal?s case, brevity is the soul of literary genius. In this small book, the Nobel Prize winning author says so much in so few pages. ?Half a Life? is the story of Willie ?Sommerset? Chandran and the forces that shape his life. Though the anecdotes and wisecracks of Naipal throughout this book can bring ripples of laughter to the reader?s belly, the undercurrent of this novel is of misery and quiet desperation. The tale of Willie begins in India, travels to England and then to Africa.

The first part of ?Half a Life? is a dark satire on the human condition in India, the caste system and its inherent idiosyncrasies. The central message of this book is that the whole idea of seeking an identity is utterly ridiculous. Throughout the book we see several others like Willie fighting a loosing battle to establish a sense of self. Naipal?s narrative and sense of humor make this book a marvelous literary work."