There are books that you read through which you’re able to uncover undertows of your own existence- this is one of them. My penchant for heart-wrenching stories emanates from a sense of my own being. All of us are inextricably linked with one another and we like things that remind us of ourselves and our lives, the sense of familiarity is comforting and what’s unknown is exciting. Looking for bits and pieces of us in things and people is inexorable, which is why we love things that are “relatable”. Cobalt Blue was one such book, it was more like an experience that brought lumps in my throat at times and I loved every bit of it.
What a heart-wrenching tale of love, or rather two distinct lovers- Tanay and Anuja who happen to be siblings and who fall in love with the same person- an anonymous tenant. It is narrated by the siblings in two parts- first Tanay and then Anuja. Cobalt Blue is a story of commonality of love, loss, and longing that is shared between Tanay and Anuja, that takes them on nothing short of a roller-coaster ride; yet they do not communicate this with each other. The book was replete with familiar surroundings and feelings for me- Pune and love found and lost. The author has beautifully brought to life two relationships together, one homosexual and the other heterosexual. Truly a masterpiece and one of the finest pieces of translated fiction I’ve ever read. I’m looking forward to reading this in Marathi, the language in which it was originally written but rest assured, Jerry Pinto has kept the translation faultless.
Following is a quote borrowed from Jerry Pinto’s Translator’s note ~
“You realize that this is how we grieve, how we remember, in the present tense and in the past, all at once, because the imagined future must now be abandoned”
Perhaps this is how stories end, quickly, and with a future suddenly left uncertain with the absence of the person you didn’t imagine you’d have to live without. At the intersection of the beautiful prose by Pinto and Kundalkar’s intentions, lies a magnum-opus of LGBT literature; not only does it touch upon a gay relationship but also a bisexual one. Also, on another note, pride month ends but pride continues.
Post Script– Wrote this review last month immediately after finishing the book, hence the pride month reference. I did not read this because I should be reading LGBT literature during Pride month by the way, LGBT literature should be consumed as naturally as any other. Consume them like you consume your greens or legumes. I’ve had a reading hangover since I’ve read Cobalt Blue, this book is intoxicating and one that I’m definitely going to re-read.
Literature, Poetry and Reading. 