A Beautiful Fable, But at What Cost?

Kamalika_Reads 34

Book: The Living Mountain

Author: Amitav Ghosh

Publishers: 4th estate

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 2.5/5

How I came to know about this book:

This book was decided as the February read in the HWR Writer's Bookclub. As it was wafer-thin, I gobbled it up just at the start of February.

What the book is about :

Amitav Ghosh’s The Living Mountain is a fable that weaves a dreamlike tale of a girl living in a valley where the mountain, Mahaparbat, is revered as a living entity. The valley people hold it in the highest regard until outsiders arrive, bringing with them a different way of thinking—one that slowly alters their beliefs as well.

What I have loved about the book :

As expected from Ghosh, the language is exquisite, and his mastery of storytelling shines through. His prose is captivating, making the short fable feel rich and immersive. One takeaway for me was learning the term Anthropocene, which adds an interesting layer to the book’s environmental theme.

What I felt could have been better :

However, while beautifully written, the story itself feels highly predictable, especially for Indian readers who have grown up hearing similar folktales from their grandmothers. If not for Ghosh’s name, it could easily be mistaken for an average story told in a poetic manner.

The biggest drawback, though, is the price. At ₹399 for a 35-page A5-sized story, where illustrations take up nearly 40% of the book, it feels steeply overpriced. A fable, no matter how well-written, needs more depth or length to justify such a cost.

Why one should read or not read this book:

Overall, The Living Mountain is a well-crafted tale with a strong message, but its predictability and price point might make readers think twice before picking it up.

The book is available on Amazon: https://amzn.in/d/4fL952f

Sometimes when you pick up authors of high fame, you already have a certain bar set in your mind , that goes against the author. What are your opinions on this? Comment below.