Pre-Order Book – The Way Things Were (English) By Aatish Taseer (Review)

It is a catchy family saga that brings the readers into a fascinating but real world of Indian history. Aatish Taseer’s The Way Things Were begins with the terrible death of Toby, the king of famous Kalasuryaketu, cultured or Sanskritist who has never visited India for last two decades. Visiting back and forth throughout three sections especially between present Delhi and the old Delhi of 1970s, 1980s and 1990s in turn, this exclusive novel introduces readers a family held at uncertain mercy of unknown future or times.

It is a great interrogation of the complicated relationships between the present and past among people’s lives, cultures and events. The title of the book is likely to be taken from Sanskrit word called history, that’s literal translation would be the way things however were. The book has been written in prose that depicts the real picture of India in time duration of forty years. Readers, while reading the novel, won’t be able to leave it mid-way as it holds their imagination and attention.

What’s The Story?

The central idea of this exclusive novel is to introduce harsh reality of human relationships and the mysterious role of time in human existence. However, readers will get the exact story once they start going through it, but still we’ll help you understanding the overall concept of the book. For more detailed insight, have a look at below mentioned important excerpts.

When Toby, Skanda’s father dies, separated from Skanda’s own mother and from his country i.e. India he used to love, it makes the Skanda to rediscover his birthplace.  It is a kind of journey that brings him throughout the world and very deep into the saga of three main generations of his own family, whose frailties, toxic legacies and factures he has always wanted to dodge.

Both an incredible portrait of typical Indian marriage and its several aftershocks as well as a panoramic view of India in background, Aatish Taseer’s The Way Things Were is masterpiece book regarding the pressures of past upon the current moment. The main storyline is established at flashpoints of 1970s, 80s and 90s and of course of contemporary Delhi. This novel has thrilling ambition and epic reach and the possibilities to become a masterpiece or classic of present moment.

Why Should Read?

·         If you have keen interest in understanding the modern India and its past.

·         If you are willing to know about how a common family in India depends on the mercy of time.

·         If you love reading distinct novels with great insight.

·         Read it if you already love reading Aatish Taseer’s novels.

About the Author

Aatish Taseer has written several interesting books, including Stranger to History – a Son’s Journey Through Islamic Lands (published in 2009) and The Temple Goers (published in 2010), and he has also translated Saadat Hasan Khan Manto’s controversial short stories.  His novel called Temple-Goers was among the last top books at Costa First Novel Award, 2010. Aatish’ second novel called Noon was highly critically acclaimed. All of his literally works have been thoroughly translated into more than 10 languages. Aatish Taseer lives between London and Delhi.

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