River of smoke by Amitav Ghosh

"River of smoke" by Amitav Ghosh. This book is published by Penguin India in 2012 and has 568 pages. This is Book 2 of Ibis trilogy.

The story starts with a time leap where Deeti is an old woman and matriarch of her clan in Mauritius and her shrine. Then it goes in flashback where the Book 1 ended.

Almost all of the story takes place in China - Canton. It's the story of opium trade in China and story of Parsi merchant Behram (Barry) Modi. The life of traders in Canton is shown in detail and is interesting. Remaining part is dedicated to Paulette's search of golden Camellia through Robin, who is looking for it in Canton.

The tiff between the traders and Chinese authorities about opium trade and British intervention that eventually lead to the opium war is the real story of the book. Author has explained in detail the modus operandi of the trade in China in 1839. It was a unique system unlike any other in the world.

The British arrogance about their superiority in view of Chinese sanctions on opium trade is astonishing. British duplicity of banning opium in their own country and resisting ban in China is abhorrent. Their definition or redefinition of free trade to suit their situation is callous.

Although the politics and history of opium trade, it's ban and impact on lives is interesting, it occupies most of the book (and this book is not small). Thus the book becomes a bit monotonous.

The story is slow. Readers hope that now the story will go back to the characters of Book1, but it doesn't happen. Behram steals the show. It's a sad end to Behram's story.

Although the book is good, it's not as good as 'Sea of poppies'

Read this book, if you intend to read Book 3, otherwise give it a miss.

Sea of poppies by Amitav Ghosh

"Sea of poppies" by Amitav Ghosh. This book is published by Penguin India in 2009 and has 528 pages. This is Book 1 of Ibis trilogy.

The story is set in mid nineteenth century India under British rule. It's an elaborate plot with a number of characters ranging from a Bihari widow (Deeti), a lower cast youth (Kalua), a french lady born and brought up in India (Paulette), a Bengali Muslim youth (Jodu), an American mariner (Zachary), a bankrupt and convict Raja (Raja Neel Rattan), a gumasta who is a Krishna devotee (Nobkisin babu), an opium addict (Ah Fatt), a Rohingya mariner (Serang Ali) etc. By the stroke of fate all these characters congregate on a ship called Ibis destined for Marich (Mauritius).

What are their stories? Why are they heading for Mauritius? What's special about Ibis? What happens?

Each of the unrelated character, with diverse background, has it's own story. They all have a specific reason to board Ibis for Mauritius. Although their reasons differ, they have same goal: Mauritius. These individual stories are intricately woven together to create a mosaic of a fabric that becomes an exotic epic.

The book says that Indian economy was supported and sustained by the opium trade in those days. East India company had monopolized the opium business. Farmers were compelled to grow opium and sell it to East India Company.

Author has weaved an epic with rich description of India of old days in vivid colours. He has covered social issues, economic issues, disparity, piety, drug issues etc in this story. The story also contains love, longing, rivalry, deception etc. to add to the appeal of the story.

Author toggles between the stories continuously, thus keeping reader interested in this long book. Narration is apt. Author has given detailed description of a number of things like opium factory and its functioning, ship's functioning and slang, plight of Raja turned convict, sea sickness of first travelers etc. This attention to details is appreciable.

The book ends with a climax at high sea that will entice the readers to read Book 2.

A good book. A must read.