weekend read

A classroom with 4 big doors, corridors on either side, large french windows opening out on either side, high wooden ceiling painted dark brown, and thatched roof above it. This is where I could spent few hours reading “Lessons in Chemistry”, a delightful book that got me off a reading slump. It is a 190 year old college in middle of the Trivandrum city, University College, that I had passed by thousands of times, but had never set foot before. It had evoked a sense of uneasiness before, due to student politics and conflicts. One would pass under a giant red star at the main gate, classroom that has a poster of Che with the words “Better to die on one’s feet, than living on one’s knees” and the flag bearing “സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം, ജനാധിപത്യം, സോഷ്യലിസം” (independence, democracy, socialism) hanging over the window. There were students in the campus over weekend too, carefree, some shooting for maybe a short film, helpful volunteers for the quiz program for chakki that we came for, earnest teachers who were trying to make sure the classroom where we would wait is swept clean. For three hours, I could read in an airy room which felt like air conditioned and got through good part of my first read this year. 

Coming to the book. It will be among the ones I would want chakki to read. To know what lies ahead for her – prejudices, stereotyping, people who would undermine her constantly, pay her less than her male peers and still retain the will to fight for what is rightfully hers. It is a story of an unwed single mother who is a brilliant chemist, asking the world to take her as she is. Story dragged in some parts, but it was one of those books that I didn’t want to end. Once I got into that world, I wanted to stay there. 

I feel along with this one, some of these books could belong to a new genre – A Man called Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, Less. People who deviate from social norms, who are alienated, but being the best version of human beings that they are, they find their tribe and succeed. I was feeling this is becoming formulaic, but even so, I am sold on this as it gets one to read.