the dark mermaid

Kalawati: Kali with kala


ABHA ELI PHOBOO

Kalawati Nepali is not your average twelve-year-old girl. She is spunky, determined, and knows what she wants: to swim her way to gold medals, friendship and fame. Almost a young, dark, female Michael Phelps in the making, Amar Shrestha’s book is named after her character, “The Dark Mermaid.”

The book starts off with a bang, opening at a swimming competition in Birgunj City School Swimming Championships. Kali, as Kalawati is called for short, is set against a white, blue-eyed girl from Lincoln School. This scene works on many levels because we get to know Kali as a focused girl who loves swimming, is good at it, and likes to win. The comparison against the white girl emphasizes how dark Kali is (reemphasizing what we already know from her name, Kali means black). We are also introduced to her father, who is as much of a protagonist as Kali, and to the phrase “frothing white wake” which always triggers our anticipation for her victory as the story progresses.

Shrestha has built a plot that is inspirational, and judging by the character portrayals, language and style used, this book is aimed at teenagers and young adults. Kali’s character is charming and inspirational as she battles asthma to pursue what she likes to do best, which is swimming. She is uprooted from Birgunj and sent to Darjeeling where she must adapt, make friends, and build her determination to remain a swimming champion. One cannot help but admire her willpower when she starts reading and educating herself on how to deal with her asthma attacks, find other sportspeople who have asthmas, and practice exercises that equip her body to fight the affliction. Kali strikes a deep chord when she prays for “good health,” and unlike other girls, is not bothered about her image but more about the wellness of her being.

In terms of language, the book tends to move arrhythmically. It might have worked better for the prose if dialogues were not interspersed profusely, and to have explored potential subtextual implications that could be built into the story. The conflict that is hinted at bears fruition, such as Kali’s first asthma episode. However, such conflict situations are dealt with objectively and at a distance so the reader never really gets to fully realize the turmoil that the characters go through. Most of the story is written at a very literal level, and we are often told instead of being shown certain things, such as Kali’s trip to Darjeeling. Half the story passes away almost like a tourist guidebook for Darjeeling, and after Kali is enrolled in school, we are meticulously told the exact time of the routine she is to follow. It would have been more effective for the story if we were taken through her day, her thoughts, her impressions, and her confusion at having to adapt to a new place without family. As enticing as Kali’s character is, often her father’s thoughts and emotions overshadow things.

“The Dark Mermaid” starts off from a close third point of view of Kali’s father, Nigam Nepali. Her mother, Mina, is usually in the background. As the story progresses, the point of view becomes inconsistent and swings from Kali’s father to Kali and back. This also contributes to arrhythmic flow of language. Toward the later half of the book, we see things from Kali’s point of view, and this is a more gripping part as we finally get to learn more about her character and the kind of person she grows into. The book ends with The Dark Mermaid winning yet another competition and readying to head to another. It ends with a hook that hints that a sequel might be in the making.

We are waiting!



Published on 2009-09-25 13:57:54 in Republica The Week