VJ James’ novel “The Book of Exodus” explores the life of Kunjootty, a young clerk in a government office, and his experiences on the desolate isle of Potta Thuruthu. The novel delves into Kunjootty’s history, the bloodshed, and the tough life of the people on the isle, who depend on fishing for survival. The narrative follows Kunjootty’s observations and interactions with the inhabitants of the lagoon as he writes feverishly about their stories.
The novel includes a diverse mix of characters, from Chathutty, a college dropout hiding from his family, to David Chiriyankan, who returns from France only to vanish, leaving his daughter stranded. As the story unfolds, the melancholy of the lagoon and its inhabitants mirrors the loss and grief present in the village of Anti-Clock, another work by James.
James draws inspiration from a visit to an isle near Kochi, where he attended a wedding and found the setting for his novel. He highlights the contrast between the isolated isle’s struggle for basic necessities like drinking water and the luxurious city lights of Kochi across the river. Through “The Book of Exodus,” James takes readers on a poignant journey through the complexities of life in a forgotten corner of the world, where sorrow and longing intertwine with everyday struggles.
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