![The Room on the Roof: An award-winning novel by Ruskin Bond, first book in the famous Rusty series, a must-read illustrated classic [Paperback] Ruskin Bond](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513D0qR94lL._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
When you read ‘The Room on the Roof’, the first book ( a novella) by Ruskin Bond, you realize Ruskin Bond is not only a writer of children fiction but he is at the same time a writer of nature, and of animals. Yes, to see him as a children fiction writer alone would be injustice to his vast oeuvre over the years. The way the monsoon comes alive, the rain breaks out, spring arrives, flowers in all its colours sets a riot of colour, the way the animals, big n small, adored and neglected, are turned into characters through the microscopic observation of Ruskin Bond, you realize that they have also got their spokesman, a warrior in shining arms in Ruskin Bond.
In his books, first glimpse we get in the Room on the Roof and then it sets into a pattern, much loved by us, nature cries, it appeals, and makes the readers to take corrective measures before it is too late, before the destruction initiated by blind race of economic development and completed by human greed, of the idyllic hills and valleys are reduced to the materialistic hill stations and tourist places dotted with the semblance of human interventions, take a pause. In this sense his writing sounds the buggle of conscience for our crazed generation. He antedates much publicised movements like chipko movement.
He invites you to see the verdant hills and valleys and greeneries in a way you have not seen so far. Such is such a magician with the words- simple, evocative, warm, soft touch, picturesque !
Writing his first book at the precocious age of 17 and wining John Llwellyn Rhys Prize in 1957 for it shows he tasted success at a very young age and thereafter it has been one of the most glorious writing career in the annals of Indian literature.
In a beautiful introduction to the seminal book, Tom Alter says that this book is about departure. When it seems all set, a new chapter starts. Nothing is permanent. The room where Rusty has lived with all memories, friends, love, Dehra the city which he loves with all tenderness of heart, all is transient and the departure is the leitmotif of the book. Theme of Adolescence underlaid by departure ! But I would like to make a note of dissent here. Departure of course it is, but not departure of Rusty’s own choice, departure thrust on him. He does not choose it on his own. He is forced to move. Devoid of love, friendships, means of living, he is left no choice but to move on. He dreads the future ahead, but he can’t look back. In this sense it is more about his dislocation, forced dislocation.
The novella celebrates friendship. The lonely, friendless and cut off from his surroundings, Anglo Indian boy Rusty makes friendships with kishan, Ranbir, Suri and Sumi. Novella is also about first love, when the first flush of adolescent desire takes him nearer to Meena. Readers can feel the heat of feelings when he finds himself alone with Mrs Kapoor on the picnic and it has its share of hilarity when Maharani, the cow is described, the bazaar and chaat, the fun and frolic with his gang of friends, some legpulling, guile of Suri and counter strategies of Rusty.
The way the first Monsoon rain has been described leaves you gasping at the literary talent of young precocious Ruskin Bond. You soak in the rain and go back to your childhood memories when rain pulled you out of your shelter and shirts. You flow with the character of Rusty. The novella semi autobiographical in tone, the account of Rusty, an anglo Indian adolescent boy, in this or that way, becomes the story of every adolescent boy or girl in the country. Every adolescent identifies himself with the character of Rusty. Rusty becomes the national adolescent boy of India. The universalism of Rusty’s character traversing beyond the race, caste, creed, religion, region gives a unique universalistic touch to the writing of Ruskin Bond.
The tenderness and all fun in the first part gives way to pain, and ruminations in the stream of consciousness mode in the second part of the novella and in the hands of Bond, Rusty takes on a character entirely different thereafter. Tender, yet mature… as if the death of Meena has forced him to grow overnight into a young man !
The description of pain and the heart wrenching bone chilling throaty cry from Rusty is a deep psychological study of human bereavement at the loss of someone one loves. The loss of first love, the loss of innocence, the loss of tenderness of heart- the novella brings out these stages of development in all poignance.
Ruskin Bond succeeds eminently in sketching a never to be forgotten character in the form of Rusty. Reading Rusty is a sort of catharsis, a sort of reliving our adolescent phase of life. He has struck a chord with his readers. And this is reason why book has become a classic, a much loved and sought after book. Generation after generation of readers keep going to this book, a sort of spiritual journey, journey of the self, bending of head before the alter of adolescence.
So read this book if you have not read it. And re read it if you have read it at some stage of life. To reconnect with the time spent. To reconnect with nature and animals around us and reconnect with humane considerations.
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Popular Highlights in this book
Rusty noticed the sounds, because he was happy, and a happy person notices things.Highlighted by 90 Kindle readers- They who sleep last, wake first. Hunger and pain lengthen the night, and so the beggars and dogs are the last to see the stars; hunger and pain hasten the awakening, and beggars and dogs are the first to see the sun.Highlighted by 63 Kindle readers
- He had seen and experienced life to the full, and life had bruised and scarred him but it had not crippled him.Highlighted by 52 Kindle readers
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Reviews with images
A heartwarming coming-of-age story
It was the first book written by great author Ruskin Bond. He was all of 17 years old himself when he wrote this incredible gem. It was inspired by his own memories.This is a very beautifully laid out coming of age story, written by a teenager. I can’t believe Ruskin Bond was only 17 YO when he wrote this. This is a story of friendship, love, unadulterated joy, sadness and life preparing some kids for the harsh realities of future life.Raw emotions are captured so eloquently that it resonates with all of us. We feel loneliness with Rusty, we share his happiness, we cry with him and we are lost with him too. All characters are well crafted and you start to love and care for them.It’s a literary gem which everyone should read. Language is easy. It’s a short read. This book is already loved by all for decades. A must recommend.
Top reviews from India
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Reviewed in India on 5 April 2023
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in India on 14 August 2023
Verified Purchase
It was the first book written by great author Ruskin Bond. He was all of 17 years old himself when he wrote this incredible gem. It was inspired by his own memories.
This is a very beautifully laid out coming of age story, written by a teenager. I can’t believe Ruskin Bond was only 17 YO when he wrote this. This is a story of friendship, love, unadulterated joy, sadness and life preparing some kids for the harsh realities of future life.
Raw emotions are captured so eloquently that it resonates with all of us. We feel loneliness with Rusty, we share his happiness, we cry with him and we are lost with him too. All characters are well crafted and you start to love and care for them.
It’s a literary gem which everyone should read. Language is easy. It’s a short read. This book is already loved by all for decades. A must recommend.
This is a very beautifully laid out coming of age story, written by a teenager. I can’t believe Ruskin Bond was only 17 YO when he wrote this. This is a story of friendship, love, unadulterated joy, sadness and life preparing some kids for the harsh realities of future life.
Raw emotions are captured so eloquently that it resonates with all of us. We feel loneliness with Rusty, we share his happiness, we cry with him and we are lost with him too. All characters are well crafted and you start to love and care for them.
It’s a literary gem which everyone should read. Language is easy. It’s a short read. This book is already loved by all for decades. A must recommend.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Tamanna Malik
Excellent story by Ruskin bond
Reviewed in Canada on 18 November 2020Verified Purchase
Les Tyler
A1 seller
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 November 2019Verified Purchase
S. Sasikumar
Ruskin's magic
Reviewed in the United States on 9 February 2014Verified Purchase
Sarah Heger
profoundly moving
Reviewed in the United States on 21 March 2022Verified Purchase
D Ramachandran
Hardback, slight damage
Reviewed in Germany on 5 December 2018Verified Purchase
