There are books that go much beyond page numbers, the latest one in my hand is one such book.
As a review writer, I had to analyze the fundamental idea of the book rather than analyzing the writing style, chapter divisions and the literary philosophy.
Gasper Crasto’s 238-page book ‘Migrate Goa’, a collection of four fictional stories is interwoven with curious incidents and familiar characters set all across the globe and much in a dreamland of a place called Goa.
It is really a book that tells stories many of us already know — ambitious dreams, infatuated love, and humdrum life. Four amazing and captivating novelettes, all written in first person, I am sure each story will take the reader into a world of wishful thinking and unimaginable reality.
There are many things one can learn from the book. The settings are there to engross the reader and some warning signs too that can help people wishing to buy a land in Goa. This is well depicted in the story ‘Plots for Sale’.
In ‘First Night’, the character’s enigma is exposed on the first night of his marriage, while each chapter of ‘Every Heart has a Story’ is a story in itself; it could be anyone’s story. The ‘title’ story gives an insight into what the impending dawn could bring to one of the most loved and visited places in India and the world over — Goa. The author depicts Goa as the most loved and visited place in India and the world over, which is a fact of course. His beautiful description of Goa in his introductory page itself should flutter every Goan heart and make them feel proud of being Goans.
Although ‘Migrate Goa’ may not bring chills known with Konkani ‘romance’ writers like Reginald Fernandes or Bonaventure D’Pietro, or international writers such as Sydney Sheldon, Fredrick Forsyth or India’s very own Chetan Bhagat, a copy of this book should be a treasure in every Goan home — simply for the intimacy that the book holds and brings towards Goa. As rightly pointed out by the writer, much literature is produced by authors from other states but little by Goans.
My advice: Read the book, get inspired, and instill the art of reading books in others; an art which is dying with the younger generation.
You can get a copy of this book on Flipkart and on Amazon.
Book Review by Agnello A. S. Fernandes