HWT Syiem reviews The House Of Blue Mangoes
DAVIDAR HAS used history and political events and the war very subtly in weaving his story. He paints a vivid picture of the society and the government of the period – the stratification due to the caste system as practiced at the time, the system of administration, and the biases of the white rulers which prevailed even in the tea gardens, and the influence all these factors have even in the social life of the tea community. He has shown great descriptive ability and weaves everything into the plot with amazing skill. What also stands out is his portrayal of the characters. There is an inner strength in all of them – even the minor ones.
The result is a very gripping narration to the very end. One does not want to put down the book as one is eager to come to the very end. Having done so, there is a certain satisfaction with the story that one finds in a tale very well told. There is no superfluity in the use of words at any stage, which is yet another credit to the writer.
A must read book for all.