A room with a view

 Let me look at the currently reading list of mine. I am trying to read one Sanskrit book. In order to write some lessons (!) in Sanskrit. I am reading a book by Neel Mukherjee The lives of Others . And I am trying to finish the book Dubliners since a very long time by listening to it. And The beekeeper of Aleppo in Kindle. 

Why? Because they are available in my favorite library. Internet. And I have sixteen hours of free time per day ;).  

I recently completed the book A room with a view a novel by E.M.Forster 1908. And it was OK. The style was perfect. The characterization was beautiful. 

But ending. No, I don't like those books which end with 'happily ever after'. Because if I know any thing after all these years, it is that happily is OK, but ever after is a myth. No couple lives happily ever after. So, spare me. 

The story revolves around a girl Lucy who goes on a tour to Florence with a chaperone - her cousin who she feels is unnecessarily over protective. 

In the hotel which was very disappointing, when their room does not have a view, an elderly gentleman Mr. Emerson  sitting in the lobby, suggests that they exchange their rooms. As he and his son have rooms with  beautiful views and they don't care for the views. 

Lucy's cousin rejects the offer as she feels it is not proper for them to accept any favors from strangers. The old man insists. 

And they reluctantly shift the room. 

The elderly gentleman is Mr. Emerson. Emersons are strange - father, son duo. Father is kind hearted, but is very unpolished in his mannerisms. The son George Emerson is similar to his father but is disinterested in everything. 

But Lucy happens meets this young man wherever she goes, in peculiar circumstances and is more than once saved by him. 

Once as she was witnessing a horrible murder taking place right next to her,  and faints, George catches hold of her and helps her.

And second time the meeting takes place, when she is in the middle of a large field filled with violet flowers. This time George kisses her. She is shocked but does not react. 

Unfortunately her cousin witness this episode and is shocked. She decides that this is horrendous and they should immediately leaves Florence for Lucy's sake. She doesn't want Lucy to be the victim of people's gossip. Hence  drags reluctant Lucy to Rome.

In the second part, we realize that life is going on smoothly with Lucy. She has all but forgotten the Emersons and the little escapade. And is about to engaged to a gentleman Cecil. A good eligible bachelor, with proper job, class and all that. But a male chauvinist nonetheless, who does not respects her family. Nor is he particularly liked by them.  But as he a good match and as Lucy believes she loves him, she has accepted his proposal and believes that she will be happy after this marriage will be good for her.

Now is the perfect time for the appearance of George Emerson into the picture. He and his father buy a house in the neighborhood and are happy to find Lucy there. George and Lucy's brother become friendly.

So, is it a typical romance, similar to the ones written by female authors. Thirty years ago, female writers in our state, were often ridiculed for the 'shallowness' of their books. Writers like Sayisute, Usha Navaratnaram wrote plenty books which were perfect for the consumption of happy teenagers. Of that time. 

I am not familiar with the our writers of today.

So, if I have to ask the author, (go back in time and ask) I would ask 'Where is the pain, the tortured soul, the eternal grief'? Because,  I know that life mainly consists of these.  There is no happily ever after in life. And if a book has it, it is unreal and false. Do you agree?