Sunday, February 22, 2009

The American dream


Capitol Hill is a collection of stories of Nepalis in
America - the land of dream for most of us. Rajab has, in this collection of 11 stories, portrayed the migrant Nepalis and their dreams, sufferings and musings, in the United States.

The collection gives us glimpses of the Nepalis and their life in the dream land. The educated but frustrated mass still flocks to the dream land but there is a vast gap in between life in the US and Nepalis dreams. Still Uma - a reader in the Tribhuvan University back home - continues to work as a babysitter in the US forcing a reader to think why is she compelled to do what she is doing in the US.

Similarly, the characters — Carlo Roshi aka Kashinath Joshi, Babukaji or the old grandpas — have more or less realisation of the stark reality of the American life. But back home their dreams are shattered. They have no present in Nepal and no future in the US. Unlike Nepali society, the American society is more individualistic where people do not trust people but animals.

Readers will enjoy the stories in Capitol Hill as Rajab’s characters speak like man on the street around us. His description is not lengthy and complicated. Capitol Hill is a canvas where Rajab has painted the American life in black and white.

Readers will enjoy these stories as they find themselves in the characters. In contemporary Nepali literature, Capitol Hill is one of the best short stories collections.

 

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Book: Capitol Hill

Author: Rajab

Publisher: Orchid Books

Pages: 132

Price: Rs 160

Posted by Myself at 16:59:47
Comments

3 Responses to “The American dream”

  1. You are smart,only smart person can do such a smart job.

  2. drivers says:

    You are really talented on writting article,i will come as soon as you update blog.

  3. drivers says:

    This is really a nice blog,i always come here and read the articles

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