Review: The Mystic Masseur

You can already see V.S. Naipaul's talent for rich characterization in his first novel, the Mystic Masseur.  Sarcastic, ironic, satirical, tragic and flippant, Naipaul weaves an interesting case for passivity through the life of Ganesh Ramsumair.  A one time teacher turned pundit then masseur then mystic then politician, Ganesh travels through occupations and different lives with a singular blend of optimism and naivete and prognostication.

There is a childlike honesty to Ganesh, a gift for perceiving truth in men but not in himself. Naipaul gives him a cast of characters that ranges from the wily to the vain to the boorish.  While Trinidad is miles away from any familiar backdrop, its characters, with their machinations and gossips and beliefs will cause a sure smile to anyone who has witnessed modern affection for trends.

Naipaul has a keen eye for nuance -- his dialogues are teeming with colloquialisms, speech inflections and innuendos, all sorts of details that reflect the depths of the human psyche.  While parts of the book may seem ponderous, the depth and richness of the players will certainly move readers to question their own choices in life.

3/5 stars