Ettamathe Mothiram(Eighth Ring)- K.M Mathew (review by Rinol Job)

This is not only an autobiography of late KM Mathew,the doyen of Malayalam journalism.Its the narrative of  how journalism flourished in Kerala.It depicts a family's sufferings and how they rose from the ashes. The book is dedicated to K. M Mathew's mother, whose ornaments were made into rings and given to her nine children. Mathew, being her eighth child, got the eighth ring, which turned out to be the title of the book. The book adeptly travels down memory lane that starts from Kuppupuram in Kerala and passing through Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Madras, Delhi, London, Istanbul and Berlin. The canvas is broad, and Mathew, HE has very well narrated his life experiences with a bit of humour and with an old man's nostalgia.  The language of the book is unique and rich with colloquial nuances. Yet it flows as smoothly as a stream, over 32 chapters. A hallmark of this memoir is the trendy use of visual writing. There's a word picture on almost every page.Finally the book ends as a symphony. The conclusion begins at its own pace, reaches a crescendo and finally merges into silence as the last note in an orchestra would.The book is vivid with photos which shows his memorable living with his relatives.He was indeed a legend.The pioneer of Indian Journalism.I would recommend it all readers since its a must read for all aspiring journalist and writers.