The Village By The Sea Book Review

The Village By The Sea is a novel written by writer Anita Desai.

Plot

The Village by the Sea is set in a small village called Thul. Lila, the eldest child among the four siblings, is thirteen years old. Her twelve year old brother Hari is the only person with whom she can share her troubles. Their mother is ill and needs constant care and nursing. She is anaemic and is growing weaker and weaker by the day. Their father who has been out of work for months is a Drunkard, and always shouts at his family when he is drunk.

With two younger sisters to take care of as well as their mother, life for Lila and Hari is not easy at all. Their father is a good for nothing guy who idle every day and drinks toddy. There is a constant need for money as the family is almost always in debt. Hari decides that he has had just about enough and leaves for Bombay.

Lila is left alone to manage her sisters Bela and Kamal, as well as her mother, and somehow keep the family strings together. Help comes from an unexpected source, the rich De Silva's.

Meanwhile, Hari is new in the great city of Bombay, and all alone. A kind watchman at a apartment where the De Silvas live, brings him to a generous restaurant proprietor, Jagu, who takes pity on him and welcomes him to work in his restaurant, Sri Krishna Eating House. There, Hari builds a strong friendship with Mr. Panwallah, the lovable watch repairer whose shop is just beside the eatery. Through his experience with Mr. Panwallah and Jagu and the chain of events that take place in Bombay, Hari realises that he should return to his village with savings and help his family overcome their hardships.

Meanwhile, Lila, Bela and Kamal are forced to admit their sick mother in town hospital through the help of the De Silvas. Their father turns over a new leaf, and accompanies their mother throughout her treatment without drinking and without having any debts. While Hari returns, he returns as a child who is adapted to the changing environment.

Themes

The themes in 'The Village by the Sea are:

• Poverty & Wealth
• Change & Adaptation
• Urban & Rural India
• Benefactors
• Family