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The Rinngmaster’s Daughter - A Review

Petter is a special child. Not because he has some physical disability but, because he has got an immense gift. The gift of imagination. The gift that renders him helpless in distinguishing between 'recalled reality' and 'recalled fantasy', he engages himself in a business both profitable and perilous. He starts distributing his ideas and plots to intellectually challenged individuals who make a living out of building novels around their borrowed framework. With time both wealth and recognition comes to know of Petter. But, his is an extraordinary life. A life riddled with imperfections and anxieties. A troubled childhood combined with a deep sense of isolation makes him commitment-phobic. Though he loves, he loves with a fraction of himself always held back in reserve. Almost in anticipation of a setback.


Maria, the only woman amongst numerous flings who he comes to love truly leaves him for a life in Stockholm. She gives birth to a daughter he is never to know of. Life with its glorious uncertainties moves on for Petter and unexpectedly comes full circle in the most inopportune manner. In times
that prove to be both difficult and dangerous for his existence Petter discovers love again. But, this time in the arms of an intriguing stranger in an unknown land. A tortuous road to rediscovery and revelation shatters Petter and takes the reader along with him to his nemesis.




'The RingMaster's Daughter' is a book which narrates the life of a precocious child with such chosen simplicity that the reader is left asking for more. Jostein Gaarder, in this studied documentary of human nature draws unbiased portraits of characters victim to destiny and circumstance. Though at some places the reader is bound to feel a shade distracted by the advent of a plethora of concomitant tales yet, he is left sumptuously served at the closing paragraphs. He is sure to discover the very intent with which the digressions were designed. He is sure to close the book basking in the glory to have finally read a book which is not didactic on morality but rich in content.

A beautiful book which I am sure will find equal favor with my reader friends.



Posted in Books.



16 Responses

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  1. maidn india says

    Your review. A tantalising appetiser to whet our appetites for the feast ahead! Thanks, ZZ. Makes me wonder WHY am painfully plodding thru that 5 Point Someone. At least one overrated IITian offering !

  2. K B says

    Great feeling- reading the reviews written by you! Stop engineering studies, please take up literature!

  3. U C says

    sounds interesting……..

  4. A J says

    Please send me the money to buy this book. Now that you have recommended it, I HAVE to but it na? But one more bookeshwar home and Ma shall pound me

  5. Trishna Mumbai says

    well atleast you have made it sound luscious enough my friend…T

  6. Honey Kumar says

    hmmm..sounds interesting…hope to get a copy of it

  7. Harsha says

    Sounds interesting … feel like getting this book after reading your review, nice review :)

  8. Sandhya Suri says

    I MUST READ THIS!!!!

  9. sahil banga says

    hmmm, wil hav 2 read nw

  10. PGR NAIR says

    Imagination is more important than knowledge. No wonder Petter made an instant sale of his rare talent. Seems that the book has stories within the story. Seems to be a fascinating tale. Liked yr review……….PGR

  11. budhoose kanjoose says

    I will try to locate the book in a library. I do not buy fiction any more

  12. sunshine says

    Good review ZZ… raises interest in the book.

  13. meena sundar says

    intersting …. nice review

  14. Krishnaswamy Narasimhan says

    Nice review of a book on an interesting theme.

  15. ashminder bahal says

    Petter was a special child. In him we find our sources of both exellence and inadequacies. The continuous quest for some thing missing leads us to situations similar to his. A very beautifully written review. As always you excell in your complete understanding of the subject and its subtleties. Regards, Angad

  16. Kush A says

    Well written review like always… Next time round, just indicate in the beginning whether if you are gonna reveal the plot or not… And to what degree… That plays in the reader’’s mind and disturbs reading, better if you put that to rest in the beginning itself. Liked your expressions and the rich language…