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Book details

1. Print length 432 pages
2. Language English
3. Publisher Harper
4. Publication date March 5, 2002
5. Dimensions 6.13 x 1.33 x 9.25 inches
6. ISBN-10 0066212545
7. ISBN-13 978-0066212548
8. See all details

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Description

Amazon.com Review

A memorable experience is in store for the reader of David Davidar''s The House of Blue Mangoes. In a similar fashion to Vikram Seth''s A Suitable Boy, Davidar''s ambitious novel set in India relates many stories in one, each ineluctably merging into the other. We are shown three generations of an old family in the oceanside village of Chevathar. The patriarch Solomon strives to maintain equilibrium as caste struggles begin to create harsh conflict in the village, while his sons endure triumph and disaster as India inaugurates its battle for independence and his grandson, who may be the last of the line, undertakes his own bid for independence. All of these characters are drawn with a mercurial vividness, and Davidar has a Tolstoyan sense of the larger canvas--his epic covers the spectrum of heroes and rogues, clans and dynasties, the ugly and the beautiful.

The narrative, alternately measured and hectic, richly weaves together assassinations and passionate affairs, exorcisms and beggars'' banquets. Davidar''s models are often stories from India''s great epics, but the fascination of the everyday is never overlooked, from making a perfect cup of tea to whipping up a flavorsome biryani. Along with the tribulations of the protagonists, we are shown the various strategies Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill used in their battles, and we see how the English memsahibs played their part in the downfall of the Raj. The mangoes of India, a key image in the novel, suggest the heady, ripe taste of this engrossing and thoroughly individual novel. --Barry Forshaw, Amazon.co.uk

Product Description

In 1899, in the south Indian village of Chevathar, renowned for its groves of a rare variety of blue mango, Solomon Dural is contemplating the imminent destruction of his world and everything he holds dear. As the thalaivar, or headman, of Chevathar, he seeks to preserve the village from both catastrophe and change, and the decisions he makes will mark his family for generations to come.

Richly emotional and abundant in historical detail, The House of Blue Mangoes is a gripping family chronicle that spans nearly a half century and three generations of the Dorai family as they search for their place in a rapidly changing society. Whether recruited into the burgeoning independence movement, apprenticed In ancient medical arts, or managing a British tea plantation, the Dorai men nevertheless Find themselves drawn back to their ancestral land by profound emotional ties that transcend even the most powerful forces of history.

Reminiscent of the fiction of R. K. Narayan and Vikram Seth, Davidar''s novel brings to life a culture under assault by modernity and offers a stark indictment of colonialism, while reflecting with great poignancy on the inexorable social transformations of the subcontinent.

From Publishers Weekly

Thoroughly engrossing in its take on the recent history of the Indian subcontinent, Davidar''s rich debut follows three generations of a wealthy, non-Brahmin Christian family as they struggle to preserve tradition and rise to the challenge of change. The Dorai family''s livelihood comes from their groves of mango trees bearing a rare variety of the succulent fruit. In 1899, patriarch Solomon Dorai, thalaivar (headman) of the village of Chevathar, in Kerala, faces a threat to his leadership when caste and tribal acrimony explode into violence. Later, one of Solomon''s sons becomes involved in the Gandhi-led struggle to gain independence from Britain. The other son grows rich on a patent medicine to lighten dark skin, and eventually revitalizes his family''s presence in Chevathar by building a mansion he calls the house of blue mangoes. Solomon''s grandchildren go through WWII and the twilight of the Raj. This could be the stuff of potboilers, but Davidar writes with an ironic, sympathetic appreciation of the religious and historical forces binding the Indian people. His understanding of the psychological limitations and moral complexities of his characters in a country ruled by occupying powers distinguishes his narrative. The characters'' lives change as the social injustice of the caste system slowly wanes, while the class distinctions between "pure" Indian and mixed-blood Anglo-Indians grow more tenacious. Although Davidar''s prose often achieves lyrical beauty, his attempt to engage the reader in such cultural embroidery as how to brew a perfect cup of tea sometimes results in slow passages and didactic asides. Yet while it lacks the visceral bite of Mistry''s A Fine Balance or Sharma''s An Obedient Father, the novel offers a sweeping and generous view of India''s fractured history. Agent, Nicole Aragi. 15-city NPR campaign; 5-city author tour. (Mar. 10) work by Vikram Seth, Arundhati Roy and Rohinton Mistry. He wrote this book to "capture... memories that I have always cherished."

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Davidar has lots of experience with booksDhe''s the publisher of Penguin IndiaDbut this is his fiction debut. And he''s coming all the way from India to promote it here. In this poignant tale, set in 1899, a southern Indian village faces certain change.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

First-time novelist Davidar, publisher of Penguin Books India, anchors his multigenerational family saga in a stand of gorgeous blue mango trees that grace the Dorai estate in a tiny village in southern India. Tamil Christians, the Dorais are fortunate to have the contemplative patriarch Solomon at the helm in 1899, a time of violent unrest. Solomon has high hopes for his good-looking and athletic son, Aaron, but the heir apparent gets drawn into a radical terrorist group, so it''s shy and studious Daniel, who makes a fortune in cosmetics, who takes his father''s place. An avid student of the history and cultures of India, Davidar tracks the fortunes of the Dorai clan over the course of five turbulent decades as the independence movement coalesces, British rule ends, and India is drawn into two world wars. A skilled and charming if conventional storyteller, Davidar works on a panoramic scale not unlike that of James Michener as he dramatizes conflicts over caste, religion, race, imperialism, and the status of women, and depicts everything from mango and tea growing to siddha medicine, riots, and weddings, in this enormously appealing and welcoming novel. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“Riveting … thrilling … exploding with brilliant, polished passages.” (Seattle Times)

“Thoroughly engrossing … Davidar’s rich debut … offers a sweeping and generous view of India’s fractured history.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Page-turning readability … manifests the graces and attractions of a lost time.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Lush, densely detailed, sweeping family saga … a tale of grand scope.” (Time)

“Lush prose … [Davidar] tells a fine, true, accurate tale with vividness and verve.” (Baltimore Sun)

“The House of Blue Mangoes is a perfect body of work, honed and polished to a high gloss” (London Times)

“The book is huge in scope but intimate in detail . . . there are some magnificent set pieces” (Daily Telegraph (London))

About the Author

David Davidar began his career in Journalism and now works In publishing. He is married and lives in New Delhli.

Features & details

Features

• David Davidar
• Family Saga
• Fantasy

Product information

Publisher	‎Harper; 1st edition (March 5, 2002)
Language	‎English
Hardcover	‎432 pages
ISBN-10	‎0066212545
ISBN-13	‎978-0066212548
Item Weight	‎1.65 pounds
Dimensions	‎6.13 x 1.33 x 9.25 inches
Best Sellers Rank	#2,449,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2,673 in Asian Myth & Legend #24,032 in Family Saga Fiction #112,310 in Literary Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews	4.2 out of 5 stars 55Reviews

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4.2 out of 54.2 out of 555 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

stackofbooks2.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Eminently missable Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2002 "The House of Blue Mangoes" has been hyped as a sensational debut by David Davidar, the CEO of Penguin Publishing in India. The book traces the lives of three generations of Dorais as they try to find their place in the world. Solomon Dorai, the patriarch of the family,... See more "The House of Blue Mangoes" has been hyped as a sensational debut by David Davidar, the CEO of Penguin Publishing in India. The book traces the lives of three generations of Dorais as they try to find their place in the world. Solomon Dorai, the patriarch of the family, must strive hard to keep his town, Chevathar, from erupting into violence as a result of caste disputes. Ultimately, Solomon falls victim to this very evil. Of Solomon�s two sons, Aaron is a hothead whose primary claim to fame is the successful clearing ( in high-jump) of a massive well in Chevathar. The other son, Daniel, is much more worldly-wise and takes care of his family after a successful stint as "vaidyan" (doctor). Daniel�s son, Kannan, chooses to move away from Chevathar and seek his fortunes in the white man�s (read occupiers, the British) tea estates. We see changes that afflict the Dorai clan -- assimilation into foreign cultures and even a "love" marriage in this generation. Finally we learn that even if your average Dorai strays far from Chevathar, he magically hears the call and always comes back "home". Yawn!
The biggest problem with Blue Mangoes is that the story is so mediocre. In a recent interview, Mr. Davidar mentioned how he wanted to write about all his childhood memories played out in South India. I wish he had stuck to that agenda and written a wonderful memoir of sorts. Instead, what he has done is tried to create a filler story around all his memories. And that is always a dangerous game to play. What�s worse, Davidar has tried to create a "saga" which means he throws everything but the kitchen sink in. You�ve got caste, caste, and more caste. You�ve got dowry, you�ve got oppressive husbands, subservient wives, man-eating tigers, the works. Davidar tries hard to create a panoramic effect but in the end, the book rambles too much. He needs a better editor. Another hindrance that many readers might find annoying is Davidar�s generous use of Tamil words with no translation or lexicon included.
The one saving grace of "House of Blue Mangoes" is that it is a masaledar, spicy read. It would make a good beach book. But I would borrow my copy from the library. Spend your money on better books. 10 people found this helpful Helpful Report Luan Gaines3.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase (3.5) House of Blues.... Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2002 I wanted this book to be as fascinating as the first hundred pages. Certainly all of the elements are present: the family patriarchy, feuding neighbors, an entrenched caste system in precarious balance. Three generations of Dorais act out this familial drama, male... See more I wanted this book to be as fascinating as the first hundred pages. Certainly all of the elements are present: the family patriarchy, feuding neighbors, an entrenched caste system in precarious balance.
Three generations of Dorais act out this familial drama, male characters predominant, from Solomon Dorai to his sons Aaron and Daniel, and Daniel''s son Kammel. In each generation, at least one son is banished to make his way among strangers. In Daniel''s case, because he could not fight to preserve the family''s honor, and was sent away with the women and children before the battle that cost the lives of many important Dorai men. Much later, Daniel returns to accept his birthright. But later, Daniel''s own son willingly leaves, unable to make peace within the family hierarchy. Yet all roads lead to the Dorai compound, where relatives live together in common purpose, keeping the land intact. In a tribute to Solomon, who first had the dream, Daniel names the enclave The House of Blue Mangoes. Years later, as David lies dying, Kamman returns to assume the role of his father''s successor, with the same purpose, the continuation of the family name and property. There is plentiful material to fuel the plot, particularly the political unrest prior to the Partition in 1947.
There is no question that the British trampled the land and the people, Her Majesty''s representatives bloated with their own importance and dreams of Empire. But Davidar''s characters are difficult to understand, seeming cutouts before the vast panoply of social change, who only parrot historical facts, often with little interest. I wanted a sense of the people themselves, their passions, dreams and fears, not an explanation like a school primer. For example, Daniel becomes a physician, trained by a charitable benefactor to help the poor and indigent; he passes the clinic on to Daniel. But Daniel makes his fortune on patent medicines and moves back to his home village to establish the family colony, never looking back. Then Kammal, Daniel''s son, works on a tea plantation after marrying an inappropriate woman chosen in a romantic stupor, she part Indian, part English. On the English run plantation, Kammal''s wife is never accepted, but he toady''s to his bosses, believing himself part of their society. In fact, he is their pawn. Kannan deals with his self-concept and particular circumstances in an almost simple-minded fashion. He has no substance, obsequious and self-effacing.
I have enjoyed many finely written Indian novels, among them The God of Small Things and A Fine Balance, and Cracking India, and love to immerse myself in this country and its history. Unfortunately, House of Blue Mangoes does not meet this standard. Davidar writes such muddled sentences as: "Michael drove very carefully, but the road was a familiar one, and there was no other vehicle about, so they made good progress." Yet the first chapter begins: "...as the lonely violence of dawn sweeps across the sky", with vivid imagery. Perhaps the story just got away from him, but in the final third of the novel the wooden dialog of the British literally put me into a stupor, bludgeoned by idiotic conversations. Because of Davidar''s descriptive and poetic abilities, I believe this author has the talent to write about what he knows so well. All the stories and history are locked within him, perhaps more approachable on a smaller scale or more intimate characterization. 22 people found this helpful Helpful Report fiberartist2.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase culturally interesting Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2010 I found this novel fairly non-compelling. It was hard to even get through the first quarter, and I was two thirds through before it became very interesting. If I wasn''t obligated to read it for my book club, I would have stopped long before I finished. I learned a little... See more I found this novel fairly non-compelling. It was hard to even get through the first quarter, and I was two thirds through before it became very interesting. If I wasn''t obligated to read it for my book club, I would have stopped long before I finished. I learned a little about Indian culture and history, but not much. There are too many other books out there to bother with this one. 2 people found this helpful Helpful Report Lorraine Williams4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Gaining insight into Indian Village Life Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2011 This book by David Davidar traces three generations of a Christian Indian family in southwest India. We are given a clear insight into the values, customs, highs and lows of life in a village in which the family head was the leader of the entire community. As such, he was... See more This book by David Davidar traces three generations of a Christian Indian family in southwest India. We are given a clear insight into the values, customs, highs and lows of life in a village in which the family head was the leader of the entire community. As such, he was constantly threatened by a non-Christian Indian community across the river from his.
We learn of the role of women over these three generations - how it changed in many instances and remainded the same in others; how the role of sons in the family could effect total change if the balance was altered; how native Indians were treated by the English raj - in this book one example is the status of the third generation son - married to an Anglo-Indian wife - who goes to a management job in an Indian tea plantation owned and run by Englishmen. Indian legend and history are both treated in this book which gives us a close look into the life of past generations of Indians as they try to forge their identity and independence. An excellent read for those who wish to "feel" what India was, and perhaps, still is. Helpful Report Jean Gibson5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase I loved the characters and the descriptive passages came alive for ... Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2014 I read this book in two days. It was fascinating and altho it is fiction it is historically accurate. I loved the characters and the descriptive passages came alive for me. Helpful Report Leslie R. C. Chill5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Five Stars Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2015 A good book Helpful Report Xavier Thelakkatt4.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2010 The House of Blue Mangoes is a beautifully narrated novel about three generations of Dorais, a wealthy Christian family in a village named Chevathar situated in the extreme south of India, on the Gulf of Mannar, within the political jurisdiction of Madras Presidency in... See more The House of Blue Mangoes is a beautifully narrated novel about three generations of Dorais, a wealthy Christian family in a village named Chevathar situated in the extreme south of India, on the Gulf of Mannar, within the political jurisdiction of Madras Presidency in British India. The events are centered on the village and the male members of this family though the action temporarily shifts to Nagercoil, Madras, and the tea plantations of Pulimedu but eventually returns to Chevathar. It is indeed a gripping story and the narrative is well polished and perfected with clarity and details.

The story is divided into three books and 106 subsections, dealing with the lives and exploits of the patriarchs of Dorai family, namely Solomon, Daniel his son and Kannan his grandson. Solomon the thalaivar (headman) of Chevathar grapples with the age-old rivalries of caste and clan in pursuit of peace and prosperity for his village. Daniel through his own ingenuity pursues a medical career and makes a name for himself along with much wealth to become the founder of the colony of Doraipuram. However, at last he dies in frustration and disappointment. Kannan, after a prolonged flirtation with the British culture and customs through managing an English tea plantation and marrying an Anglo-Indian girl, eventually returns to Chevathar disillusioned yet determined to start his life all over. Through these Davidar offers us a strong and vivid picture of the complex and sometimes conflicting nature of India''s village life in the early part of the twentieth century. All this is in the backdrop of the Indian independence movement and the two World Wars besides many caste wars, class struggles and family issues.

The style of the narrative is gripping, engaging and dense with details. It is also authentic with smells, colors and tastes coming alive, all leading to the central key image of the blue mangoes of Chevathar. At the same time the movement of the narrative can sometimes feel sluggish with compacted particulars and specifics. However, it often explodes with the brilliance of the novelist as a researcher and narrator. The House of Blue Mangoes stands out as one of the best Indian novels set in the historical background of events from 1899 to 1946. Helpful Report Robert Brooks4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Descriptions and a Captivating Family Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2010 The House of Blue Mangos is a well told story of three generations of the "Dorai" family in South India, mostly in the modern day state of Tamil Nadu, but under the British Raj, the Madras Presidency. Davidar has a strong command of the sights, sounds, tastes and even... See more The House of Blue Mangos is a well told story of three generations of the "Dorai" family in South India, mostly in the modern day state of Tamil Nadu, but under the British Raj, the Madras Presidency. Davidar has a strong command of the sights, sounds, tastes and even smells of South India, and does a fantastic job of bringing these all to life. As a non-Indian currently living in South India I found that the book provided beautiful insights into the region while telling a good story.

The story itself is good, not great. As other reviewers have noted, the first section of the book about the first generation was by far the best told portion of the story. However, unlike some other reviewers, I did enjoy reading about the second and third generation of the Dorai family as Dravidar moves from village caste violence to "International caste violence" under the guise of Nationalism and WWII.

For the most part, Dravidar does a good job of developing the characters. The only flaw is his lack of fully explaining the decisions of the third-generation, Kannan. I often felt that his decisions were predictable and cliche, and Dravidar never fully explained how all of his decisions fit within the character mold Dravidar had developed for Kannan. His supposed "stubborn Dorai character" sometimes leads him to being fiercely loyal, and at other times led him to completely give up on certain relationships, but you never understood how that stubborness fully informed that decision.

Further, Dravidar could have made the book a bit more compelling by describing more of the changes to the South India region from the 1880s to 1946 (when the novel ends). To the reader, it almost seems as all customs and traditions remained completely static in village communities, which is certainly not accurate. Some of the characters could have fit within any generation of the story, which made it sometimes hard to believe that the novel was progressing through time. If there were no mentions of nationalism or WWII, the reader might completely forget that the story encompasses nearly a century.

In the end I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it. One person found this helpful Helpful Report

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Top reviews from other countries

Mary Bessenich5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase A deeply absorbing account of Indian life spanning 3 generations. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2019 This is an epic story set in India and is very weighty in its content. It transports the reader into the very heart of Indian culture and its caste system. I absolutely loved this book as it took me on an exciting educational journey. The characters are vivid which was very...See moreThis is an epic story set in India and is very weighty in its content. It transports the reader into the very heart of Indian culture and its caste system. I absolutely loved this book as it took me on an exciting educational journey. The characters are vivid which was very refreshing especially Kannan. It''s a beautifully written book: so eloquent and polished in its prose. It has been a privilege to read it. Thank you so much David. Report HARRY ADAMS5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase This book was brilliant but I have a few unanswered questions Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2015 This book was brilliant but I have a few unanswered questions. Khannan was a perfect fit for his character as were Solomon and Aaron. Daniel senior was a lost soul from birth. It also proved that women are the cement that holds the families together Report Sue B3.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Mixed Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2016 Storyline has potential, but there was a lot of historical background which slowed it down.I like a story to move along quickly with the necessary background incorporated very precisely, so I didn''t have the necessary perseverance to keep going with this book. Report garth5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase An excellent read. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 2, 2014 I had never read any Davidar before this novel. A wonderful almost epic story that follows a family through the generations and through the Raj to post independence India. Wonderful writing. Report Shivam Jaiswal3.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Pages missing. Nice book though. Reviewed in India on June 13, 2020 The book was quite thoughtful and good. But the last 30 odd pages are missing. Report

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