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(BOOK REVIEW)THE ROOM ON THE ROOF by Ruskin Bond

By KALYA ANKEET RAO

AN ADOLESCENT NOVEL FILLED WITH NEW DISCOVERIES AND

ADVENTURES OF RUSTY AND HIS NEW FRIENDS AND A SMALL

WORLD IN THE ROOM WHICH WAS ON THE ROOF.

The ROOM ON THE ROOF is one of the greatest and well appreciated

work of RUSKIN BOND. The ROOM ON THE ROOF was his first novel

written when he was seventeen and it received many laurels. The

ROOM ON THE ROOF is an uncomplete work without VAGRANTS INTHE VALLEY. The VAGRANTS IN THE VALLEY carries on where the

room leaves off. But I found one thing unique about both the novels

that they were written from the eyes of an adolescent.

The ROOM ON THE ROOF is an excellent story narrating the

wanderings and adventures of an adolescent Rusty in search of his

identity. The dilemma faced by Rusty in the ROOM ON THE ROOF was

also faced by adolescent Ruskin bond and by every individual

adolescent. This makes the novel an excellent piece of writing.

The adolescent period in our life is full of excitement and new

discoveries and exploring. We are free from any restrictions and break

the bars of our childhood and step into a new world. It is a story of an

Anglo-Indian adolescent Rusty who lived in Dehradun and was brought

up by his uncle, Mr. Harrison in the English community. As he grew up,

he could not help his eagerness and gathered courage to step into the

new world of Indian bazaar and to his surprise, it was overwhelming.

He met with a bunch of Indian friends and enjoyed the Indian life,

festivals and the new chaat shop. Rusty never had chaat in his life, but

when he tasted it for the first time; he liked it so much that then he

was used to the chaat shop everyday. The sight of the chaat shop was

mesmerizing and a great fun to read on with humor.

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The writer had been emotional on one hand showing the brotherhood

between Rusty and Kishen and on the other hand romantic showing

the loving relationships between Rusty and Mrs. Kapoor. I think this

true love added to the admiration of the adolescent novel. But after

the accident of Meena , Rusty was all alone in this world without any

friends. When Rusty met Kishen, he insisted him to live with him. Both

started living together divorced from mankind, unknown in new world

with many complexities.

I liked the ROOM ON THE ROOF as a classical novel of adolescene. I

liked it because, it is a novel where we discover and explore with

Rusty. We could relate our lives with that of the protagonist. The

writer has been successful in depicting the Indian bazaar life. The

cover page design itself speaks of the whole story and ignite the

minds of the readers to read on

But I would like to strongly oppose the rude behavior of the uncle on

Rusty. And I also disliked the fact how Rusty behaved with his uncle

who had cared for him. I am sorry to state, but I think this act of Rusty

may motivate many adolescents towards a wrong path. I also disliked

the ending of loving and emotional relationships. I didnt like the

ending of the story. The ending being emotional was not interesting at

all.

I would like to appreciate the writer to choose the characters for his

novel from different walks of life and from different religion and sects

and idea of blending the European culture with the Indian culture. The

different characters also showcased the varied mindsets and behavior.

I think DEHRADUN is the best place for such a novel .The scenic

beauty is worthseeing and romantic as the writer has admired the

beauty of the Indian nature throughout his novel. The plot of the novel

is catchy that we cannot help ourselves reading on the story. I was

just overwhelmed to see the writing style and would wholeheartedly

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appreciate it. The dialogue makes the story alive. The piece of writing

touches our heart and we cannot take off our eyes.

THEY, WHO SLEEP LAST, WAKE FIRST. HUNGER AND PAIN

LENGTHEN THE NIGHTS AND SO THE BEGGARS AND THE DOGS ARETHE LAST TO SEE THE STARS; HUNGER AND PAIN HASTEN THE

AWAKENING AND SO THE BEGGARS AND THE DOGS ARE THE FIRST

TO SEE THE SUN.

I have read many novels but till date the ROOM ON THE ROOF is my

best novel. I would always request the prolific writer (RUSKIN BOND)

to keep writings for us so that we get motivated by his excellent piece

of writing.

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This is a contest entry.

Kalya Ankeet is a student in grade 10 of Army Public School, Bengdubi.