The Better Man (novel) - Revision history

JamelSkidmore: slightly corrected formatting per sources further and cleaned formatting after review

2025-10-01T14:07:43Z

slightly corrected formatting per sources further and cleaned formatting after review

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:37, 1 October 2025
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	{{Use Indian English\|date=December 2019}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=December 2019}}

	'''''The Better Man''''' is a 2000 [[novel]] by [[Anita Nair]].<ref name="author site">{{cite web\|url=http://www.anitanair.net/novels/tbm/index.htm\|title=The Better Man- A Novel by Anita Nair\|last=Nair\|first=Anita\|work=Anita Nair web site\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref> It is set in the northern part of [[Kerala]], [[India]], a region known as [[Malabar district\|Malabar]] under the [[British Raj]].		'''''The Better Man''''' is a 2000 [[novel]] by [[Anita Nair]].<ref name="author site">{{cite web\|url=http://www.anitanair.net/novels/tbm/index.htm\|title=The Better Man- A Novel by Anita Nair\|last=Nair\|first=Anita\|work=Anita Nair web site\|accessdate=6 March 2010\|archive-date=31 July 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731173330/http://www.anitanair.net/novels/tbm/index.htm\|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is set in the northern part of [[Kerala]], [[India]], a region known as [[Malabar district\|Malabar]] under the [[British Raj]].

	==Plot==		==Plot==
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	==Critical reaction==		==Critical reaction==
	Dhanyasree M, writing in ''OneIndia'', says "A tone of wistful melancholy and incidents with a touch of keenly observed comedy makes the characterization in this novel more special. Her vivid knowledge on the pulse of Kerala can be well observed in this novel. This novel is a must read for anyone who wants to know the true pulse of Indian life."<ref name="oneindia1">{{cite news\|url=http://living.oneindia.in/home-n-garden/reviews/2008/the-better-man-book-review-240408.html\|last=Dhanyasree M\|title=The Better Man: Review On Anita Nair's Novel\|date=May 2008\|work=OneIndia\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>		Dhanyasree M, writing in ''OneIndia'', says "A tone of wistful melancholy and incidents with a touch of keenly observed comedy makes the characterization in this novel more special. Her vivid knowledge on the pulse of Kerala can be well observed in this novel. This novel is a must read for anyone who wants to know the true pulse of Indian life."<ref name="oneindia1">{{cite news\|url=http://living.oneindia.in/home-n-garden/reviews/2008/the-better-man-book-review-240408.html\|last=Dhanyasree M\|title=The Better Man: Review On Anita Nair's Novel\|date=May 2008\|work=OneIndia\|accessdate=6 March 2010\|archive-date=15 January 2009\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115221552/http://living.oneindia.in/home-n-garden/reviews/2008/the-better-man-book-review-240408.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref>

	Kit Reed, writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', says "A genial, meandering tale filled with false alarms and diversions, ''The Better Man'' is slowed by loops in the story, by abandoned threads of plot. Charming as it is, the novel gathers momentum only at the end, when Bhasi and Mukundan find themselves at odds just in time for the drama of conflict and resolution."<ref name="nyt-fh">{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/00/08/13/reviews/000813.13reedlt.html\|title=Faith Healer\|last=Reed\|first=Kit\|date=13 August 2000\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref> ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' writes, "Nair's prose can tend to the purple; her strength lies in gentle, keenly observed comedy rather than tearful melodrama," and describes the work as "Overall, a warmly affecting novel whose depiction of small-town life strikes a universal chord."<ref name="Kirkus 2000">{{cite news \|title=THE BETTER MAN \|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anita-nair/the-better-man/ \|access-date=23 June 2021 \|work=[[Kirkus Reviews]] \|date=April 15, 2000}}</ref>		Kit Reed, writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', says "A genial, meandering tale filled with false alarms and diversions, ''The Better Man'' is slowed by loops in the story, by abandoned threads of plot. Charming as it is, the novel gathers momentum only at the end, when Bhasi and Mukundan find themselves at odds just in time for the drama of conflict and resolution."<ref name="nyt-fh">{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/00/08/13/reviews/000813.13reedlt.html\|title=Faith Healer\|last=Reed\|first=Kit\|date=13 August 2000\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref> ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' writes, "Nair's prose can tend to the purple; her strength lies in gentle, keenly observed comedy rather than tearful melodrama," and describes the work as "Overall, a warmly affecting novel whose depiction of small-town life strikes a universal chord."<ref name="Kirkus 2000">{{cite news \|title=THE BETTER MAN \|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anita-nair/the-better-man/ \|access-date=23 June 2021 \|work=[[Kirkus Reviews]] \|date=April 15, 2000}}</ref>
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	==External links==		==External links==
	* [http://www.anitanair.net/novels/tbm/index.htm author's page on the book]		* [http://www.anitanair.net/novels/tbm/index.htm author's page on the book] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731173330/http://www.anitanair.net/novels/tbm/index.htm \|date=31 July 2018 }}
	* [http://~~www.~~sawnet.org/books/reviews.php?The+Better+Man review]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050429033900/http://sawnet.org/books/reviews.php?The+Better+Man review]

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Man}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Man}}

UpdateBot: robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

2022-02-04T10:54:44Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 16:24, 4 February 2022
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	Kit Reed, writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', says "A genial, meandering tale filled with false alarms and diversions, ''The Better Man'' is slowed by loops in the story, by abandoned threads of plot. Charming as it is, the novel gathers momentum only at the end, when Bhasi and Mukundan find themselves at odds just in time for the drama of conflict and resolution."<ref name="nyt-fh">{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/00/08/13/reviews/000813.13reedlt.html\|title=Faith Healer\|last=Reed\|first=Kit\|date=13 August 2000\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref> ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' writes, "Nair's prose can tend to the purple; her strength lies in gentle, keenly observed comedy rather than tearful melodrama," and describes the work as "Overall, a warmly affecting novel whose depiction of small-town life strikes a universal chord."<ref name="Kirkus 2000">{{cite news \|title=THE BETTER MAN \|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anita-nair/the-better-man/ \|access-date=23 June 2021 \|work=[[Kirkus Reviews]] \|date=April 15, 2000}}</ref>		Kit Reed, writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', says "A genial, meandering tale filled with false alarms and diversions, ''The Better Man'' is slowed by loops in the story, by abandoned threads of plot. Charming as it is, the novel gathers momentum only at the end, when Bhasi and Mukundan find themselves at odds just in time for the drama of conflict and resolution."<ref name="nyt-fh">{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/00/08/13/reviews/000813.13reedlt.html\|title=Faith Healer\|last=Reed\|first=Kit\|date=13 August 2000\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref> ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' writes, "Nair's prose can tend to the purple; her strength lies in gentle, keenly observed comedy rather than tearful melodrama," and describes the work as "Overall, a warmly affecting novel whose depiction of small-town life strikes a universal chord."<ref name="Kirkus 2000">{{cite news \|title=THE BETTER MAN \|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anita-nair/the-better-man/ \|access-date=23 June 2021 \|work=[[Kirkus Reviews]] \|date=April 15, 2000}}</ref>

	The Literary Review column of ''[[The Hindu]]'' said "''The Better Man'' had all the right ingredients according to the critics. Today, with her second book ''Ladies Coupe'', one would imagine ANITA NAIR would have achieved the same results. Critics have opined otherwise..."<ref name="th-oneself">{{cite news\|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/lr/2001/12/02/stories/2001120200180300.htm\|title=Writing for oneself\|date=2 December 2001\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>		The Literary Review column of ''[[The Hindu]]'' said "''The Better Man'' had all the right ingredients according to the critics. Today, with her second book ''Ladies Coupe'', one would imagine ANITA NAIR would have achieved the same results. Critics have opined otherwise..."<ref name="th-oneself">{{cite news\|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/lr/2001/12/02/stories/2001120200180300.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021021175330/http://www.hinduonnet.com/lr/2001/12/02/stories/2001120200180300.htm\|url-status=usurped\|archive-date=21 October 2002\|title=Writing for oneself\|date=2 December 2001\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>

	Another review in ''The Hindu'' said "Anita Nair's first book, The Better Man, was a finely structured novel set in a small Kerala village. Mukundan, her hero, returns to the village, hoping to exorcise bitter memories. Anita Nair not only has a wonderful knowledge of life in the village, but shows an almost Dostoevskian feeling for the undercurrents of consciousness, as Mukundan seeks and finds redemption."<ref name="th-travellers">{{cite news\|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/06/17/stories/1317017k.htm\|title=Fellow Travellers\|date=17 June 2001\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>		Another review in ''The Hindu'' said "Anita Nair's first book, The Better Man, was a finely structured novel set in a small Kerala village. Mukundan, her hero, returns to the village, hoping to exorcise bitter memories. Anita Nair not only has a wonderful knowledge of life in the village, but shows an almost Dostoevskian feeling for the undercurrents of consciousness, as Mukundan seeks and finds redemption."<ref name="th-travellers">{{cite news\|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/06/17/stories/1317017k.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020314040458/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/06/17/stories/1317017k.htm\|url-status=usurped\|archive-date=14 March 2002\|title=Fellow Travellers\|date=17 June 2001\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>

	==Notes==		==Notes==
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Man}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Man}}
	[[Category:Arts of Kerala]]		[[Category:Arts of Kerala]]
	[[Category:2000 ~~novels]]~~		[[Category:2000 Indian novels]]
	~~[[Category:21st-century~~ Indian novels]]
	[[Category:Indian English-language novels]]		[[Category:Indian English-language novels]]

>Beccaynr: /* Critical reaction */ add Kirkus Review (moved from Anita Nair article)

2021-06-23T17:29:38Z

Critical reaction: add Kirkus Review (moved from Anita Nair article)

New page

{{italic title}}
{{Short description|Novel by Anita Nair}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}

'''''The Better Man''''' is a 2000 [[novel]] by [[Anita Nair]].<ref name="author site">{{cite web|url=http://www.anitanair.net/novels/tbm/index.htm|title=The Better Man- A Novel by Anita Nair|last=Nair|first=Anita|work=Anita Nair web site|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref> It is set in the northern part of [[Kerala]], [[India]], a region known as [[Malabar district|Malabar]] under the [[British Raj]].

==Plot==
Mukundan, retired from government service, returns to the village of Kaikurussi where he was born. He is upset, viewing his life as a failure. He meets "One-screw-loose-Bhasi", a local eccentric, a housepainter and an inventor of an odd system of alternative medicine. He helps Mukundan transform himself.<ref name="author site" />

Then Power House Ramakrishnan, a locally important man, decides to build a Community hall, and selects Bhasi's land. He threatens to destroy Bhasi's business if he refuses to sell the land. Mukundan intends to save Bhasi's land but is flattered into accepting membership on the project committee.<ref name="author site" />

Then Mukundan's father dies, and he undergoes a deeper transformation.<ref name="author site" />

==Critical reaction==
Dhanyasree M, writing in ''OneIndia'', says "A tone of wistful melancholy and incidents with a touch of keenly observed comedy makes the characterization in this novel more special. Her vivid knowledge on the pulse of Kerala can be well observed in this novel. This novel is a must read for anyone who wants to know the true pulse of Indian life."<ref name="oneindia1">{{cite news|url=http://living.oneindia.in/home-n-garden/reviews/2008/the-better-man-book-review-240408.html|last=Dhanyasree M|title=The Better Man: Review On Anita Nair's Novel|date=May 2008|work=OneIndia|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>

Kit Reed, writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', says "A genial, meandering tale filled with false alarms and diversions, ''The Better Man'' is slowed by loops in the story, by abandoned threads of plot. Charming as it is, the novel gathers momentum only at the end, when Bhasi and Mukundan find themselves at odds just in time for the drama of conflict and resolution."<ref name="nyt-fh">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/00/08/13/reviews/000813.13reedlt.html|title=Faith Healer|last=Reed|first=Kit|date=13 August 2000|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref> ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'' writes, "Nair's prose can tend to the purple; her strength lies in gentle, keenly observed comedy rather than tearful melodrama," and describes the work as "Overall, a warmly affecting novel whose depiction of small-town life strikes a universal chord."<ref name="Kirkus 2000">{{cite news |title=THE BETTER MAN |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anita-nair/the-better-man/ |access-date=23 June 2021 |work=[[Kirkus Reviews]] |date=April 15, 2000}}</ref>

The Literary Review column of ''[[The Hindu]]'' said "''The Better Man'' had all the right ingredients according to the critics. Today, with her second book ''Ladies Coupe'', one would imagine ANITA NAIR would have achieved the same results. Critics have opined otherwise..."<ref name="th-oneself">{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/lr/2001/12/02/stories/2001120200180300.htm|title=Writing for oneself|date=2 December 2001|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>

Another review in ''The Hindu'' said "Anita Nair's first book, The Better Man, was a finely structured novel set in a small Kerala village. Mukundan, her hero, returns to the village, hoping to exorcise bitter memories. Anita Nair not only has a wonderful knowledge of life in the village, but shows an almost Dostoevskian feeling for the undercurrents of consciousness, as Mukundan seeks and finds redemption."<ref name="th-travellers">{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/06/17/stories/1317017k.htm|title=Fellow Travellers|date=17 June 2001|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=6 March 2010}}</ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.anitanair.net/novels/tbm/index.htm author's page on the book]
* [http://www.sawnet.org/books/reviews.php?The+Better+Man review]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Man}}
[[Category:Arts of Kerala]]
[[Category:2000 novels]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian novels]]
[[Category:Indian English-language novels]]