Towers Of Silence

Desai has done it again. This time, with an ambitious work of fiction that is sweeping in scope and majestic in detail. Devoted readers of his non-fiction have already known of the author as a delightful chronicler of all things Parsee, but with Towers of Silence he ups the ante and weaves a tale fantastical, yet gripping, to elevate the mysteries of the occult in a manner never done before.Most half-curious Mumbaikars have a fair idea about Parsees and their methods of laying to rest their dear departed, but what is not so well known is the community’s fascination for the esoteric and the colossal premium they put on ritual purity and religious ceremonies. To be fair though, young men and women of the community now merely deign to tolerate these features as a vestige of a past that is fast fading out of their collective memory. To make matters grimmer, the alarming decline amongst the followers of the faith has made the overall amnesia about their ancestries even more salient.Through a tale spanning generations, continents, and (no, don’t snigger) astral realms, Towers becomes a dazzling, page-turning yarn that builds itself up to a heady climax in the tradition of the finest pulp novels while deftly playing with language, pacing, and a complex narrative structure to mark the rise of a fresh and stirring voice in literary fiction.The mission to save the towers forms the well-founded backdrop of this novel and no prizes for guessing how that ends, but at its heart this is a tender love story whose strength lies in juxtaposing the material world alongside the mystical with a dexterous amalgam of philosophy and imagery. It is to Desai’s immense credit that we discern no false notes in the narrative either as doubters or believers, despite the wholly arcane subject matter.What helps in making this a rare memorable saga is the masterful control he brings to his material; not just in the way it packs in oodles of history, culture and the more disagreeable aspects of the community’s past, but even more so in its exceptional command over obscure Zoroastrian theology that could have been laughed out comprehensively were a lesser writer to attempt half the story.In sum this is a sublime epic that ends up moving the reader profoundly, for at its core it’s as much about a universal conception of transcendental brotherhood as it is about a cloistered group of adherents for whom the discovery of the divine is just another dimension of consciousness. Here then, is a triumph of a richly textured imagination that may just about succeed in making a believer out of the most hard-nosed skeptic.

Towers of Silence by Berjis Desai is an atmospheric novel spanning 140 years of a Parsi clan as it makes its way through curses, infidel wives, black magic, sad lovers, and a fight to protect the sacrosanct. The story follows our protagonist, Burjor, who uncovers the well-kept secrets of those who happen to go around the famous towers of silence. It is a place where dead Parsis are brought and vultures feast upon them.The story unfolds from the death of Burjor's father, Rusi, and how the history of the Parsi family brings him to this point. It further oscillates between the past and present to bring forth bewildering truths about the family. What's been the reason behind what transpired today? How did the turn of seemingly incoherent events were connected? What was the underlying mystery that followed the generations? Questions open up, are answered, some linger.I have never read about the Parsi culture. So reading Towers of Silence was a wonderful experience as it attempts to cover the depth and breadth of it. The writing has been nothing short of engaging that ended up complementing the masterfully woven narrative.Desai didn't shy away from writing the truth. He didn't try to tone down the darker shades of the mystery. He let it be. On top of that, it's not just a story that unravels a family history. It's much more than that as it deftly touches upon the nuances of existence and spirituality.The characters are enlivened with all the emotions they display at different points in the plotline. There is humour, drama, magical realism and everything packaged so neatly that you get an absorbing tale in Towers of Silence.At 400 pages, it is a big book! But very interesting, informative, and entertaining. It makes you think and ponder over multiple aspects of this life.

THE TOWERS GUARD THEIR SECRETS IN SILENCEOver 140 years, a Parsi clan from the ancient town of Navsari, meanders through plagues and curses, adulterous wives of cockless husbands, limerick reciting priests and conscientious black magicians, corpses desperately awaiting vultures, scorpion bite curers and fornicating first cousins, Sufi mystics, and poignant lovers; and, of course, the crusade to save the sacrosanct Towers of Silence; a story where not even the most perceptive can tell what is magic and what is real.Towers of Silence does a great job initiating readers to the Parsi history, beliefs and customs. The stories will take you from the depths of love to the heights of drama, From dark family secrets to superstitious beliefs and black magic, from the mysteries of the past to the secrets that lie in wait.Each tale is intense and believable, each word speaks to your soul. The writing style keeps you engaged and complements the narrative very well.This book will provide you with much pleasure, will surprise you with unforeseen plot twists.

I wanted to read this type of book for a very long time so finally picked this book and guess what my time was worth every bit.From the title we might not understand the genre of the story, but by blurb you may understand what this story is about. Well, even then you can't imagine how intriguing and worth reading this story is. I appreciate the author for his extraordinary skills and and wonderful writing. The storyline is flawlessly penned in a crisp language and captivating narrative. I love how the characters are developed and how the story turns out to be.The book cover is beautiful .The cover page goes with the content of the book. The narration of the book is well jotted down. It's very layered and complex. A neatly crafted novel with intricate details which increases your curiosity with every page.I would recommend this book to all