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After reading Dan Simmons' 'Song of Kali,' I glanced out the window from my bed and saw that it was already light, the sunshine bursting in. I have just spent the whole hours after midnight reading. There was a sickening feeling in my soul, like I want to vomit. My head is aching somewhat from lack of sleep. I stare at the couple of empty water jugs by the wall opposite me.

This is the very first book that has made me regret reading it. But it is a good kind of regret. I would never read this book again. I can still see the putridness, the very ugly picture that Simmons painted of Calcutta. I somehow expected some of the images that would appear, but still after reading it, nothing can prepare you from the things in this book.

The book is all about atmosphere. Of a portrait of the city of Calcutta in India. Calcutta is the city of Kali, the fearsome aspect of the goddess-consort of Shiva. We are living in the age of Kali, of death and destruction, of awesome violence. This, it seemed to me, was what the author wanted to portray. For us to see how it really makes sense - all the suffering, all the destruction. Because we live in the age of Kali.

The story concerns a writer's search for an Indian poet who was said to have re-appeared after eight years of being gone - whether he died or was simply missing no one knows. We see the main character's descent into the hell-hole that is Calcutta. We see how he is sucked into circumstances totally beyond him. Of a terrible tragedy as real as the scent of decaying human flesh.

This book is not for everyone. Read if you dare.

It has been several hours now since finishing the book. I have just finished a can of latte I bought outside earlier. I went to the CAL library to clear my head and wallow in the airconditioned air, hoping to fall asleep there. Instead I searched for some science fiction stories, had one photocopied then came back to the dorm. As I am typing this, I am caught in between that feeling of wakefulness and slumber, not knowing which state I would want to be in. It is ten in the morning and the sky is getting darker, threatening rain. It is warm and humid. I can hear my neighbour on the other side of this wall playing his guitar and singing. My roommate is playing a videogame. I feel like If I fall asleep now all those images would come alive in my dreams. Must stay awake.

Mar 20, '11 10:40 PM
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