All About H. Hatterr

By G.V. Desani

Book Overview

Wildly funny and wonderfully bizarre, All About H. Hatterr is one of the most perfectly eccentric and strangely absorbing works modern English has produced. H. Hatterr is the son of a European... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590172426
• ISBN13: 9781590172421
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: New York Review of Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

"Damme," this is a great read!

I've had my copy of this book in my library since the year 2000. It was given to me in India by a good friend, who told me it was amazing. He was right. I finally have gotten around to reading it after being initially put off for 9 years by its strangely eclectic language and thoroughly unconventional format. I have since learned that these are just two of this book's extraordinary strengths, as G.V. Desani demonstrates a fantastically freewheeling imagination and healthy creative disregard for traditional novelistic forms. He proceeds to structure his "chapters" like a scientific treatise. However, first he gives us a "Warning!": Dear reader, this isn't a novel, it's a "gesture," but if you can't relate to that, then call it a "novel." Then we are given a kind of preface, called "All About...", followed by ANOTHER "Warning!" and then a "Mutual Introduction." So now you know you're in for something completely different. By page 39 of my Penguin Books edition, we get to the "chapters." Each one begins with a "Digest," which is a kind of Abstract summary that gives nothing away to the reader. These Digests need to be reread after "digesting" the actual chapter. Following the Digest is the "Instruction" section, which is what we are supposed to learn. Then comes a "Presumption" as to what is assumed by the writer as he goes about relating to us the actual "Life-Encounter" of H. Hatterr, which is the heart of the chapter. H. Hatterr as a main character is a picaresque cultural mashup of western and eastern thought. He's a seeker and a cynic, a believer and an irreverent skeptic who finds more fraud and nonsense in the world than sincerity. The only sincere person is his loyal friend Banerrji, his Sancho Panza, who loves to quote little fragments from "the Bard" and other western literary icons. Adventure after wildly funny adventure only confirms Hatterr's outlook on life. Yet, genuine spiritual feelings also arise, but they usually are self-generated by Hatterr, not by the sages and gurus he encounters. The language and style of Desani have clearly influenced other writers, such as Amitav Ghosh. I noticed a similarity between this seminal work and Ghosh's wonderfully freewheeling "Sea of Poppies." The language here is rich, funny, and entertaining. I found myself completely lost in its spell. Without a doubt, I highly recommend this "novel," "gesture," or whatever you want to call it. Don't compare it to anybody or anything else. It stands up all on its own.

Unique

I typically don't review the books I have purchased but I have to say that this is one of the best books I have read in awhile.

I had to do something

I found this book so good that I decided to translate it into French, and actually did it. It was no easy deed, but so gratifying ! Now, no French house as yet has found my work worth publishing. A pity for both of us : Hatterr and myself.

10 Stars

Easily the best Indian novel written. And I think Midnight's Children is outstanding. But Hatterr is way ahead of everything else in style.

STOP!

Stop whatever you are doing, whatever you are reading and whatever you are watching and make time for this book. Once you read Hatter your literary life will be easily divided into two parts: Pre-Hatterr and Post Hatter.