THE NINE CHAMBERED HEART by Janice Pariat
"You though are as beautiful as light splitting through glass."
Recently I finished The Nine Chambered Heart by Janice Pariat. This was my first time reading her novel. This was a romantic genre novel. But it was truly like any other that I have read to date. The story here was typical, not just in the sense of a story, but also the difference in storytelling.
This story basically revolves around a girl, who was loved by 9 different people, including both males and females. Why I have used the plural form for males and singular for females is just because the story is depicted in that particular way. This story is set in nameless, familiar, faceless cities while moving along east to west. This is based on the perspective of how others see us only in the form of bits and pieces, and how we tend to become which we are not, yet others have pressured us to perceive.
Unlike the name of the novel. The whole of it is divided into 9 chapters. 'The Saint', 'The Butcher', 'The Caretaker', 'The Undertaker', 'The Professor', 'The Florist', 'The Crusader', 'The Lighthouse Keeper', and finally 'The Sailor'. Just going through the content the reader won’t be able to understand how the chapters are connected to their particular topics. But to understand you have to read the novel very carefully.
Here I have mentioned that it is unlike any other novel of the same genre. This is because, if you have read any other novels of this genre, then you will find that they are of the same touch that is typical love stories. Where two characters fall in love and it might have a happy ending or sad ending, or the other thing that could happen is creating a love triangle which as well might have a happy ending or sad ending. But The Nine Chambered Heart by Janice is not of that touch. All nine characters have depicted their own views of lovemaking. The stories are being told from the perspective of all those who loved her and how the relation proceeded further. But there is not even the slightest touch as to how the girl had felt.
Altogether the book was amazing. It gives a great message that one should never perceive something or follow something that is asked or told by others. One should always follow their own heart. Even though it was amazing but I felt that it is not beginner-friendly book. Even it is up to them but I won’t be recommending this to the first time readers. This is because of the way the story progresses, it won’t be very much understandable. Even though I am in books for a few years now, but still it was a bit of a hectic for me as well. And the other most important thing is that it is a big no, no for readers below 18 years of age, because of various adult contents present.
Anyways, keeping everything aside this book was really one of a piece in itself. The way Janice Pariat has described the story is really out of the box. At times the reader is surely bound to shed tears and they will be also feeling themselves connected to the novel, which is a plus in itself.
My Rating - 3.6/5.0
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This is a thorough review. Yes, the plot looks complex and I can see it is not for the masses. Well written review.
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