Book Review: "The Room On The Roof" By Ruskin Bond

“And when he sang, his eyes wandered into the night, and he was lost to the world and Rusty; for when he sang of the stars he was of the stars, and when he sang of a river he was a river. He communicated his mood to Rusty, as he could not have done in plain language; and, when the song ended, the silence returned and all the world fell asleep.”

Book’s Name: The Room On The Roof

Author: Ruskin Bond

Language: English

Book review:

It is a story of a young boy, Rusty, who breaks the shackles of the pre-defined norms set for him by the English society living in India and shows courage and confidence to run away from his guardian’s house. He experiences domestic violence while staying in his guardian's house who beats him If he acts against his wishes. 

The story takes you on a pleasant journey of the friendship of Somi, Ranbir, Kishen and Rusty. Their friendship transgresses the boundaries of religion, caste, colour etc. Somi’s character represents an ideal friend that every person would wish to have in their life. He helps Rusty in his tough times and helps him to get a dignified job at Kapoor's house and a roof over his head. 

The story, although briefly, reflects upon the aftermath of partition in the form of the description of the past life of Somi and his family. After the partition, Somi and his family came to Dehra and because they had to leave their belongings there, they had to start a new life. 

It has a dash of romance, Rusty starts having a feeling of affection toward Mrs Kapoor, Kishen’s mother, on seeing her for the first time and Mrs Kapoor also reciprocates his feelings.  The story although a children’s book but can be read by anyone who is looking for a light-hearted story which is full of emotions. The story is a blend of love, friendship, feeling of isolation and loneliness. 

Rusty has always been surrounded by a feeling of loneliness and only after meeting Some, Kishen and Ranbir do he experiences a sense of companionship that he never had. Bazaar has a significant role in making the bond between Somi, Ranbir, Kishen and Rusty stronger. The story runs in a circle, it ends where it started, but this brings a change in him and his personality, he is no more a timid teenager but becomes a confident man. 

Since Rusty again becomes lonely when everybody leaves him so he decides to leave India. 

The story will either make the readers relive and relish their long-lost memories of their teenage years or will give a glimpse into what it means to be a teenager.

The story is also about searching for one's identity. Rusty although a son of an English man but brought up in India in English ways. He doesn’t know where he belongs. He either belongs everywhere or nowhere. This question annoys him throughout. 

The best thing about the entire story is the unbreakable bond between Somi and Rusty.

Written by: Harshita Bansa;