The new Kannada novel is about sex and feminism – it’s pros and cons, in various cultures, at various stages of life. Without actually describing the act, Bhyrappa tries to dissect the concept of sex and its affect on one’s life in the backdrop of the feminist feelings.
The novel starts off in a police station, with the arrest of an industrialist. A few chapters are spent on the description and background of the characters.
The novel starts off in a police station, with the arrest of an industrialist. A few chapters are spent on the description and background of the characters.
Two stories run in parallel.
The first story is of an industrialist, his dead wife, his mentally challenged daughter, his extra marital affairs, his second wife, her affairs, her feminist feelings and her son.
The second story is about a teacher in university, her feminist feelings, her affairs, her husband, her husband’s lifestyle, their separation and their daughter.
The first story is weaved with a thread called sex . The crux of the story - How a casual sex with a co-worker can turn the life on its head? And how the sex starved couple resort to other means and its effects.
The second story is weaved with a thread called feminism. Crux of this story – The efforts of a lady who wants to survive alone, breaking the net called “family”. Suspicions, legal hassles add to the additional glamour of the story.
Though the characters of the stories meet, the stories never. The work could have been split easily into 2 books.
The author brings in a small story about the western culture family setup (live-in, pre-nuptial agreements) basically to highlight the pitfalls of that culture.
The book starts off slowly and picks pace in the last 120 pages. After the boring start, many characters enter, to increase the tempo.
The legal aspects of divorce, domestic violence are the interesting portions in the book.
Known for his strong views in his earlier works, Bhyrappa tries to provide a balanced view on the women rights without taking any stance here. Reader can’t sympathize with any specific character of the book. The book is full of Bhyrappa’s trademark language and style of writing. The author seems to have been in a hurry and leaves many loose threads at the end.
The first story is weaved with a thread called sex . The crux of the story - How a casual sex with a co-worker can turn the life on its head? And how the sex starved couple resort to other means and its effects.
The second story is weaved with a thread called feminism. Crux of this story – The efforts of a lady who wants to survive alone, breaking the net called “family”. Suspicions, legal hassles add to the additional glamour of the story.
Though the characters of the stories meet, the stories never. The work could have been split easily into 2 books.
The author brings in a small story about the western culture family setup (live-in, pre-nuptial agreements) basically to highlight the pitfalls of that culture.
The book starts off slowly and picks pace in the last 120 pages. After the boring start, many characters enter, to increase the tempo.
The legal aspects of divorce, domestic violence are the interesting portions in the book.
Known for his strong views in his earlier works, Bhyrappa tries to provide a balanced view on the women rights without taking any stance here. Reader can’t sympathize with any specific character of the book. The book is full of Bhyrappa’s trademark language and style of writing. The author seems to have been in a hurry and leaves many loose threads at the end.
I do not want to become a spoiler by revealing more about the storyline in the book.
Simply putting – “Kavalu (ಕವಲು)” is not worth the hype created and not worth the name - SL Bhyrappa (ಸಂತೇಶಿವರ ಲಿಂಗಣ್ಣಯ್ಯ ಭೈರಪ್ಪ). The story line could be the material for movie - "Sex and Dhoka".
Overall a disappointing Kannada novel.
