Return Flight -Review by Jain Mundackal
Return Flight -is a collection of stories penned by Reeni Mambalam, with a foreword by Shihabudeen Poythumkadav. Return Flight has 12 stories written in the backdrop of American Malayali life. They include Ormakalude Bhoopadam, September 14, Malamukalile Mathavu, Puzha Pole, Sisiram, Innalekalude Maranam and Karutha Kuppayakkaran. Here is the review written by: Jain Mundackal
അവലോകനം നന്നായിട്ടുണ്ട്.ഒരു കഥ ഇവിടെ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് ഞങ്ങള്ക്കൊക്കെ വായിക്കുകയും എന്തെങ്കിലും ഒക്കെ പഠിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യാം ആയിരുന്നു. .
dear vidhyadharan
It is a good book, it is deep and touching
we must admire her
I finished the book the same night I got it; I really liked it and so I send it to my good friend.
Literature is still a male dominated field. We must admire and promote and support all literary contributions by females. We have come a long way; far away from primitive thoughts and society. We must regard females equal or above our manly ego. The real criteria of human society is regarded as per how much we respect females. if you have problem in accepting the real personality of a female you are not fit for the present and future society.
we have to give a lot of respect to female writers like Sheela teacher and Reeni. I have seen explicit jealousy expressed with an antagonistic attitude towards both of them and female writers in general. This must stop. Females are not sex symbols. They are our Mothers, sisters, wife and daughters. Please respect and admire them. To me my mother is my goddess. I am blessed with women like my wife and daughters – who I perceive in the image of my good goddess.
Reeni has opened several windows for men to see an realize the unselfish, ever enduring-”sarvam saha” the WOMAN. Learn, hear and realize; and change your thoughts and treat them like the way you wanted to be treated.
primitive literature thrived on explicit & erotic explanation of female body parts.They were the product of impotent males. Most men know what is under the clothes of a female. No one has to explain it in the name of Art or Literature.
Mr. Andrews – You write ” we have to give a lot of respect to female writers like Sheela teacher and Reeni. I have seen explicit jealousy expressed with an antagonistic attitude towards both of them and female writers in general. This must stop.”
Kindly give more details.
Dear joy I will enjoy to share my thoughts with you. Women in general must be treated with respect every where and any where. They are not sex idols.
The energy we waste to establish our male ego must be diverted to creative deeds.
let us start with Malayalee women. there are lot of widows and divorced women with children. help them to put those kids in schools and feed them. If one foreign Malaylee can help one family in need we can create heaven in this world.
I have been doing it for years, I feel I am the happiest man in the world. And that is heaven for me. I don’t spent money in ”palli krishi” . Help the needy and that is heaven.
please contact me -gracepub@yahoo.com
Return Flight is a very intense collection. But I dont agree to the reviewers many observations- he has tried to see the heroins in those stories as merely women as interpreted by catholic morality, as ‘…good women’ and ‘bad women’. However, I do agree that these stories do open the windows – its a two way process, the women who open the door from the dark indoors to an open world as well as facilitating the others to see the ‘real’ women – women who are independent, who has the ability to think for herself who is not afraid of seeing the world from her own view point. These women do not necessarily follow the accepted social conventions- which doesnot make her ‘bad’, it makes her ‘different’. I do hope that this collection get more and more noticed! My personal favourites are ‘outsource’ and ‘Ezhuthinte vazhikal’. Good luck and hope Reeni achieves more heights!
send me one copy aunty. iwill comment later
Good book. Excellent stories. Congratulations Reeni
I have not seen all the stories of Mrs Mambalam. She does open up the ‘interior’ world
of feminine mind, be it mother, wife, sister, daughter, colleague or friend. Take for instance , the idea of love, for women it is a an all embracing, all encompassing passion in 99 %
of cases whereas for men in their majority take love as a physical
sinequanon. This aspect of male/female libido is yet to be understood and appreciated by the Malayalee society irrespective of caste and community. Osho has
written most enlighteningly on the matter. If only we care to read. Reeni belongs to
a line illustrious women writers both in Malayalam and other languages. Kudos!
CONGRATULATIONS REENI, —- ENEEYUM NALLA NALLA PUSTHAGHANGHAL OONDAAKATTEEA !