BOOK BRIEF

Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man

U.R. Ananthamurthy
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Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979

Book Brief

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U.R. Ananthamurthy

Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979
Book Details
Pages

175

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

1940s; Karnataka, India

Publication Year

1979

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man by U.R. Ananthamurthy explores themes of tradition, morality, and conflict within a Brahmin community in India. The story unfolds when an influential person's death prompts a debate over performing the last rites, revealing deep-seated tensions and challenging rigid societal norms. The narrative engages with existential and philosophical questions through its characters.

Contemplative

Mysterious

Challenging

Melancholic

Dark

Reviews & Readership

4.1

2,404 ratings

72%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man by U.R. Ananthamurthy is celebrated for its profound exploration of religious and social traditions. The novel's rich narrative and philosophical depth are widely praised, yet some readers find its cultural context challenging to access fully. Overall, it is lauded for its critical reflection on tradition and change.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man?

Readers who enjoy complex cultural narratives and moral dilemmas, akin to those in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe or The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, would appreciate Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man by U.R. Ananthamurthy for its exploration of tradition vs. modernity in an Indian village.

4.1

2,404 ratings

72%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

175

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

1940s; Karnataka, India

Publication Year

1979

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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