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| The East Asian by Brinda Charry |
"The East Indian" by Brinda Charry is the author's first novel. It is fiction based on historical facts - in this case, the presence of the British East India Company in India, the headright system during the early days of colonial North America, by which any individual who paid for the transportation of other individuals (mostly indentured servants, but, also family members and friends) to the colony was awarded fifty acres of land for every "head" brought over, and the fact that, in 1635, a Virginia landowner named George Menefie had claimed a headright on someone he had listed as "Tony East Indian".
The book is narrated in first person, with Tony giving an account of his life. Tony is a young boy living in a coastal village in India, where agents of the English East India Company have set up a factory. After his mother's death, Tony is sent to England as the servant of one of the Company men. When his master dies on board, he is taken on by the ship's surgeon and he meets other East Indians who were also living and working in the docks around London. One of the highlights of his stay in London was watching a play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare, in which Oberon and Titania are fighting over her attendant, "A lovely boy, stolen from an Indian king" (I found the quote in Act II, Scene 1 if anyone is interested). Tony is much intrigued and wonders what happens to the boy.
One day, however, Tony is kidnapped and put on board a ship to sail to Virginia, where, in 1635, he is claimed as a headright. The rest of the book is the story of Tony's life in colonial Virginia, the people he met, the situations he faced, and how he dealt with them. At first, Tony, who arrived in colonial Virginia involuntarily, wishes to return home to India. Eventually, however, he comes to terms with with his circumstances and realizes that he can't ever return, that he needs to move forward and not back.
I quite enjoyed reading this book. I had not known that there had been Asian Indians living in colonial North America, but the author cites several sources documenting their presence.
In general, I read fiction for enjoyment, without any deeper analysis. But, one of the other bloggers I follow, Lady Ella, often cites quotes to ponder from the books she reads, and I like that. So, I offer one quote that struck a chord with me:
"I too had to understand that previous lives are no longer accessible. That they are, in fact, quite gone. That one can learn, must learn, to live anew."
I returned the book to the library, today, and checked out another book that I had put on hold. It's a book about Type 2 diabetes, not a novel.
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| New Library Book |
This is a book that at least two other bloggers had posted on their blogs. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes several years ago and put on medications. Over the years, I went from two fairly high dose pills a day to no medications, controlling my diabetes through diet and weight-loss (mostly due to a loss of appetite during my chemo treatments). According to my blood tests, I am controlling my diabetes well, but, I thought there would be no harm in reading about it and improving my understanding of it.
What are you reading currently?
Currently reading an Albert Campion mystery (I keep falling asleep though) I'm interested in the diabetes book. Bob is on medication for Type 2 as well. I think I really ought to improve our diet a little (a lot?)
ReplyDeleteHaven't been able to get into mystery books, myself, but, sounds like a good aid! :D I went on a fairly strict diet when I went off my medications, eliminating most starches from my diet, mostly salads or soups for lunch, chicken/fish/meat and vegetables for dinner, etc. Breakfast was the most difficult meal for me because besides scrambled eggs and omelets (and I didn't want to eat more than 2-3 eggs a week), I couldn't think of any non-starchy breakfasts! There are diabetes food pyramids available online, if you wish to check and they give serving/portion sizes, too.
DeleteI like the quote from your book The East Indian. I like your balance reading of a novel to health interest. Well done bringing your Type 2 Diabetes under management through diet.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. I tend to read more non-fiction to fiction, but, I enjoy historical fiction.
DeleteI'm currently reading 'Afloat' all about a girl who starts to live a new life on board a narrowboat and all her encounters and learning about how to manage the boat and it's small living space. It's really good. Once I've finished this I will have to start reading some of my war years Home Front and rationing books to get myself inspired for my ongoing challenge.
ReplyDeleteAlan could do with reading his book about diabetes again, at first he was really good with his management of it, now he is on two different types of medication ... and still eating wrong!!
I've followed you too. xx
Welcome to my blog, Sue. :) I'm very sorry for the delay in replying to your comment - it went into the spam folder for some unknown reason!
Delete"Afloat" sounds interesting. Living aboard a narrowboat sounds interesting, too. Not sure if I could do that, though, especially since I can't swim if anything happens and I end up in the water! :D
I, too, have become a bit lax where my diet is concerned, so a refresher course is in order. Diabetes runs in my family and I've seen what it can lead to.
I'm looking forward to reading more about your ongoing ration challenge.
That sounds like an interesting book. I will put in on my infinitely long list of books to read. I'm reading "The House in the Woods" by Ana Reyes. It's a psychological thriller that is definitely holding my attention.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting, June, and I hope you would, too. I found a book called "The House in the Pines" by Ana Reyes, with a character named Maya; is that the one you are reading?
DeleteNot related to this post at all... This morning I arrived at the gas station before anyone else. The owner (from India) rushed outside and waved his incest around the door while I filled my truck up. When I went inside to grab a drink we ended in a discussion as to why as aromas cause me to sneeze and he was concerned. He explained the custom as he lives upstairs so he never goes outside on his way to work and wanted to bless the doorway before the 1st customer arrived through it which brings his family an income. I was fascinated and wanted you to know the reason I read your blog is to learn more of your customs also. I am curious and love to learn the whys and wherefores of different cultures. Please feel free to explain more if you can. The everyday of your culture which to you is normal but is different and interesting to some of us that like to learn.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, at first I was puzzled when I read that the owner rushed outside and waved his "incest" around! I wondered what could he have waved and then, I figured you meant to say "incense"! :D Yes, we light incense at the temple and I light it at home, especially when I bless my home on the first of the month. Often, store keepers in Sri Lanka and perhaps in India, too, will pour a bucket of water in front of their store doorway, when they first open up, before the first customer arrives, to symbolically clean the doorway. If you do that here, I suppose one would be held liable should someone walking on the pavement slips and falls! :)
DeleteThank you for your comment, Lisa; I shall be mindful and post more about my customs in the future. Sometimes, I'd like to tell more, but, then, I wonder if anyone is interested and perhaps, less is more. :)
I am always interested and although I am "special" ;) I imagine there are others interested as well. Oh my that typo was unintended but good catch on understanding.
Delete:D
DeleteThat book sounds really good. I did not realize there were Asian Indians there either. I love the things I find out reading. I read some non-fiction but mostly read fiction as my 'escape'. Would you have a link to Lady Ella's blog? I might enjoy that one, too! Have a wonderful day! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI quite enjoyed the book, Diana; maybe you can find a copy through your library. I'd be happy to link Lady Ella's blog, but, it is a private blog. I will convey your message to her, however. :)
DeleteHi Diana, I'd be more than glad to add you to my reader list, if you would like! I only need a gmail address in order to do so. I have emailed Bless about it - she can be our go-between if you are willing. :o)
DeleteSaying goodbye to past chapters of life is something I find more difficult than many people, I think. Even when I was young and keen to embrace the future, I was always sad when things ended. Last day of infants' school, junior school, people moving away etc. As an adult you learn to cope much better but I never lost the desire to maintain contact with people from past chapters, and still enjoy visiting places that have been important to me. One of the things that makes me sad is losing contact with people who don't stay in touch. I know life moves on but if someone was important to me, there was a reason for that, and (for me) there is no need to lose contact just because you no longer see each other every day. I was chatting to a friend about it a few years ago and he said it took him years to realise that for some people it just isn't like that.
ReplyDeleteI read for pleasure too - my reviews are only meant to convey whether I liked something and why. My days of lit crit are long gone but I must admit that since I started book reviews on my blog I have found it very useful to come back to them sometimes. I must be getting old but I seem not to retain details as well as I used to! Thanks for this one. Will keep scanning your blog for possible titles of interest.
Yes, it can be hard to let go of the past and put it behind us, especially to accept that some people don't wish to maintain contact as time and distance separate us. I often wonder what happened to some of my friends from childhood and days at the university. I still keep in contact with one or two of them, but, it has become mostly birthday wishes and/or Christmas greetings. And that is sad, but, I guess they've moved on with their lives and not interested in sharing more frequent exchanges about their daily lives. I guess, in a way, I've replaced them with blog friends! People who read my blog knows more about my daily life than most friends and family!
DeleteI really enjoy reading your book reviews. By the way, my daughter is planning to pick up her copy of The Woman in the White Kimono, today. :) I'm looking forward to hearing her opinion of it.
Also, please see NanaDiana's comment, above. She asked if I had a link to your blog and I replied that I did, but, it was a private blog. Diana lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin where I attended university and we found out that we had known some of the same people (at different times, though), which was interesting. :)
I found an old email from my old Japanese teacher the other day, in response to one where I had thanked her for a huge kindness she had done for me some years ago. She said it was no big deal and she really appreciated that I had kept in touch with her. She has taught many foreign students over thirty+ years and has sometimes been saddened at how few bother to remain in contact once they return to their own countries. I imagine that must come to feel quite thankless/relentless over time; people passing through for a year or two, investing time and effort in them, then them vanishing, new people coming, and so on and on...
DeleteYes, I wonder what your daughter will make of the book. It is so interesting to compare different reactions.
I've emailed you about NanaDiana's comment. Please send her my email, or me hers, if she would like to be added (no pressure)! I will try to visit her blog too, later or at the weekend.
I'm sure your former Japanese teacher appreciated hearing from you. I know that my mother (who taught for 40 years) always enjoyed it when she met former students (although, sadly, no one kept in regular contact with her).
DeleteI have emailed your email address to NanaDiana. I hope she will contact you soon. :)
I like the quotation. It is so true. Places change, we change, others change. We can't go back, except to enjoy memories. But we have a responsibility to make new memories.
ReplyDeleteYes. There is a quote in Buddhism that one can never step into the same river twice. We can remember the past, but, we need to live in the present and, as you say, make new memories. :)
DeleteYour book sounds good. I did not know there were Asian Indians in colonial Virginia either. The character was kidnapped - so he was put into slavery once arriving?
ReplyDeleteI typically only read fiction. Once in a while I will read a non-fiction book if it interests me.
I just finished a book called "Little Fires Everywhere"
by Celeste Ng and it was very good.
I just got Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer at the library which seems nice and summery. Yes, I picked it up totally because of it's summery cover lol
I will probably start that today.
I love to read and always have a book going. My mother was a big reader and always took her book along wherever we went so I picked up the habit from her.
I have a vivid memory of me coming home from school as a little girl and curling up on the bed with my library book. My mother would come into my room and tell me to go out and play, that I had been in school all day. We had battles over that as I just wanted to read and she thought I needed some fresh air!
The kidnapped boy became an indentured servant, along with two other boys, both English, who made the voyage with him.
DeleteI looked up Little Fires Everywhere and it sounds quite interesting (apparently, there was a mini series based on the book, too). I hope you enjoy reading your new book, too.
Ha, ha, my mother used to scold me when I was a child because I'd forget mealtimes when I was reading! :D