The Room on the Roof

Ruskin Bond is a popular Indian author of novels and memoirs, and his Rusty series are perhaps among the most well known. I am unsure (still) if the Rusty books are written with a young adult appeal in mind particularly, or whether they are more of a nostalgia piece - which I would liken to Narayan's Malgudi novels. Turns out that Bond wrote the novel in 1956 when he was 17 years old, so that perhaps explains the simplicity and YA angle.

This is the first of the Rusty novels (novella is probably a better description for these short novels), and introduces this character in a classic coming of age story in post-colonial India. Rusty is a sixteen year old Anglo-Indian (mixed parentage), looked after (you couldn't say cared for) by his guardian Mr Harrison. Living in an ex-patriot enclave outside Dehra (Dehradun as far as I can tell) in Uttarakhand, Rusty is not permitted to visit the town, or mix with Indian people. There are no other children in the compound, only old British folk. His life is dull and lonely.

By chance he meets Somi, a Sikh boy, who befriends him briefly, and this sets in motion the encouragement Rusty needs to defy his guardian and sneak off to the bazaar to engage in life there. After a few visits and being punished for his defiance, Rusty runs away from his guardian and begins a life in the village.

Through the story we follow Rusty's progress as he finds food and shelter, but more importantly meets an array of new friends who each help him, and are helped by Rusty in different ways.

It is a charming little story, easy to read and entertaining enough, if fairly vanilla in its content. There is a tenderness and intelligence beyond the years of Rusty and perhaps the author, which can't fail to impress.

A nice introduction to Ruskin Bond, and 3.5 stars. Rounding up to 4.

This was the first of Ruskin Bond's published works and that is visible. It isn't the most gripping narrative, isn't written in the style that Bond is known for but provides colourful characters and insight into a young adolescent boy. It is a strangely enjoyable, slightly tragic coming of age tale.