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Hype Hype Hurray |
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The task of compiling lists of tens is always one that is thankless - so, when Jaalmag decided to collate an index of ten most hyped books of the Nineties, there was a minor hitch. No, it was not one about which over-hyped book to include, but which one not to exclude. The best way out was to randomise ten from hundreds. The first five enlisted below are appropriate examples of over-hyped products from people who can, needless to say, write. Only, that these books were not as great as they were needlessly projected to be. Good language, but over-hyped books. The rest are books by non-writers. Pertinent illustrations of how trash is being peddled as contemporary fiction. Bad language, bad books too. "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy The mother of all over-hyped books. She wrote well, crafted well. But the Booker Prize? Hmmmm.. Now you know what "hype" can do to you. You can become part and parcel of literary folklore. "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth Only one suitable question: why did he have to do this? A writer of his stature could well have authored the same story in less than a quarter of the 1300-1400 pages that it came to. Good paperweight value. "The Blue Bedspread" by Raj Kamal Jha Good words, uninspiring literature by a successful journalist. "The Romantics" by Pankaj Mishra Good words, uninspiring literature by a successful publisher. "Eminent Historians" by Arun Shourie Both Shourie and his obnoxiously obscurantist treatise ought to be jettisoned back to the dark ages where they both belong. There was more than just hype about this book, it was unabashed nihilist claptrap.  "Sultry Days" by Shobha DeSo, she wanted to shock the country with her heretic cheap shot about this girl falling in love with God? well, well. You will need not look up a lexicon ever again to know what the word "appalling" means. "Starry Nights" by Shobha De There she is again! But if only she could even write soft-porn properly. All said and done, you will need not look up a lexicon ever again to know what the word "nugatory" means. "Selective Memory" by Shobha De Thank goodness for that! With such momentary lapses of reason, if she churns out 500+ pages of trash… Anyway, you will need not look up a lexicon ever again to know what the word "dross" means. "Speed Post" by Shobha De Gosh, not her again! If you read Jawaharlal Nehru's letters to his daughter, then you must read this as well. By the way, you will need not look up a lexicon ever again to know what the word "puerile" means. "50 and Done" by Tara Deshpande Will someone please tell this nymphet that playing roles of bimbettes and scrawling books are not the same thing? Her tome is as crappy as the slutty role that she played in that cinematic refuse about Mumbai. RECENTLY ON JAAL: The A 2 Z Of Y2K What's Behind Bush? The Florida Ceasefire The Damn Dam Controversy A Weak-Kneed Operation Faster, Higher, Stranger You Have The Right To Be A Volunteer The ICE ICE Baby A Tale Of The Jungle King The Secret Autonomy Report Report When Batsman Became Betsman India's Human Genome Projectile Stone Age Flaws In ICE Age Laws A Dry Spell For Policy Planning Lara's Theme Dotcom Bubble Gum: Burst Or Bust Inside A VIP Cell A To Do About Dos A Dress Code For Klintonji Subir Ghosh is the Editor of NorthEast Vigil SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE:
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