Island of mysteries | Review of ‘The Book of Exodus’ by V.J. James, translated by Ministhy S.

Acclaimed Malayalam writer V. J. James too, like some famous authors, had a tough time finding a publisher for his brilliant debut novel Purappadinte Pustakam. Eventually, his perseverance and belief in his work paid off when, after 12 years, it saw the light of day in 1999. It was declared the best novel among 161 entries for the DC Books Award that year.

From then on, there’s been no looking back. James has authored seven novels and as many short story collections.

Interestingly, albeit belatedly, after 25 years, his debut novel has been translated into English by Ministhy S., titled The Book of Exodus.

James’s books have predominantly dealt with nature, people in the countryside and the struggles of the marginalised. Add to that folklore, myths and stories of birds, animals, rivers, seas, forests and mountains he has encountered on his travels.

Lauded as among the finest works in Malayalam literature, the novel chronicles the milieu of a small rural community living in communion with nature on an island far from Kochi in Kerala. Potta Thuruthu, the isle of reeds, is untouched by development, with life cruising along, similar to the nameless river skirting it — slowly, at times quickly, sometimes changing course and often throwing a dark surprise or two.

In the vein of Marquez

The story is told mainly through the protagonist Kunjootty, a government clerk, who is also struggling to write a book by the same name to tell the stories of the island and its people.

The non-linear narrative oscillates between the local stories — happenings on the island, the complexities of village life, the little joys, struggles and tragedies — and reality and mysterious myths, reminding one, inevitably, of some tales of Malayalam novelist O.V. Vijayan and Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Interwoven within the larger story of Potta Thuruthu are several smaller stories with a cast of many intriguing characters who enter and exit like crucial punctuation marks. “Here, anyone could get lost in a fissure of the universe, without leaving a trace of evidence. If this pattern was going to be repetitive, who would be the next one to go missing?” Deaths, disease, despair, uncertainty and calamities are par for the course in the isle.

Author V.J. James

The novel begins with Kunjootty recuperating in a shelter home, with his parents and friend Isaac keeping him company. His childhood friend and lover Susanna has gone missing and the police have launched an investigation. Her disappearance remains a mystery until the end when Kunjootty himself reveals the truth. This bizarre incident is to have a life-changing impact on him.

Kunjootty’s story resonates with the biblical Book of Exodus. While contemplating the meaning of life and struggling to cope with his existential angst, he embarks on a journey — a journey of understanding life; a journey to the land of his ancestors.

“Kunjootty felt that his ancestors and their flight of escape were stepping back into the scene. These were the times when the seeds for multiple exoduses were being sowed. His mind whispered that those would soon ripen in the forms of murderous mobs in boars, brandishing burning torches. Would that form another black chapter in the Book of Exodus?”

Retaining the essence of the original

The novel is made engaging by the many, diverse characters, each helping to advance the story and evoking varied reactions. Kunjootty’s parents, the pious Eli and the detached Zavarias; the poison healer’s son Koppan and his adulterous wife Unnicheera; the uncanny Ezuthassan who leads a solitary life; the elusive Chiriyantan David and his blue-eyed French-speaking daughter Anita; Murali, the flautist friend of Kunjootty; the three maverick nomads who dealt with monkeys and serpents; the mysterious monster Koyal Potten… And, indeed, the philosophy of existence that forms the core of the book.

A dense book, spanning 380 pages, it is not easy to keep track of the many characters and curious happenings and simultaneously immerse oneself in the rich, bucolic imagery.

Still, given the spectrum of characters and the stories within stories, the author has, with great alacrity, woven the strands seamlessly into the narrative, creating a continuum, a web of connections and relationships. In the preface, the author salutes the translator for “her untiring efforts in beautifully translating the book and carefully retaining its essence”.