Malgudi Days

Wow. Truthfully, I don't find assigned readings for English courses very interesting so I was kind of doubtful when I began to read Malgudi Days. However, Malgudi Days like the rest of the material that I have had to read in this English 123 class have proved to be entertaining. Ever since I started high school, I realized that I have started to read a lot less. I used to proudly claim that I am able to read one pretty lengthy novel in a day but now...it may take me days to finish. I'm glad that I am in an English course as it pressures me to read. Reading Malgudi Days made me forget that this was an assigned reading for an university class. It was difficult to put down. When I read the introduction to Malgudi Days I thought, "Pshhhh. It can't be as interesting as they claim; that it will be difficult to just read one or a couple short stories a day instead of in one sitting." They proved me wrong. Though I was pressed for time to finish reading this book, I didn't feel like it was a chore. I was enthralled by the first story, "An Astrologer's Day." I loved how short it was (one of the shorter short stories). Not only that, but the twist at the end which somehow felt unexpected in a short story. Characters aren't developed nor is the plot therefore the ending really left me breathless and confused to the point where I had to reread it 3 more times. I started off reading the short story with a blank mind and not high expectations and perhaps this is why the ending was such a shock to me. I thought it was strange that the astrologer could suddenly read a man's past so well but I thought that maybe some higher order in the world granted him with some power because of his desperate situation. I never would have thought it was because he was the guy that had pushed this man into a well and left him to die after stabbing him. Suddenly everything that was mentioned previously made a lot more sense and all the connections were made so obvious that I didn't realize before. I felt that Narayan was so intelligent and creative in writing this short story in such a way and grasped the attention of readers, at least me, in a way that raises my expectations and excitement to read the rest of this book.