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JOHN IRVING
| Son of the
Circus
If you read this
book expecting a continuation of Owen Meany, forget it. But if you want to
read an excellent novel that is nothing like anything else Irving has
written, pick this up with an open mind and prepare to be
delighted!
This is a wonderful novel--engrossing, well-crafted, moving,
humorous, and profound. Even after 630+ pages, I was sorry to come to the
end of the book. To this I must add: based on some other reviews I have
read, a prerequisite for reading *A Son of the Circus* evidently is
development of an attention span longer than that typical of today's
channel-surfing, sound-byte-seeking generation. The plot is Byzantine and
carefully-woven, but ultimately predictable in some ways. The story and
its ending are not particular strengths of the novel, but are mainly
vehicles for Irving's skillful neo-Dickensian depiction of contemporary
India--more specifically, some of its colorfully bizarre social settings
and the diverse personalities that animate these unusual environments. In
the end, Irving has succeeded in creating a profound, complex, poignant,
and moving portrait not only of the rich and glorious chaos that is
contemporary India, but of humanity as a
whole.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345389964/qid=1013740771/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8636610-3947956
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PANKAJ MISHRA
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Butterchicken in Ludhiana
I personally think this book is amazing. I
have travelled all over India myself and his description fits best to
every little place he talks about. Extremely humourous and very
informative. I would recommend this book to any person who wants to read
about the true taste of India, its flavour and have a great laugh. I think
Pankaj Mishra is a brilliant writer. I know I have read this book a number
of times and will surely read it over and over again.
what a book!
the tongue-in-cheek title should be reason enough to give this book a
trial. for once we have a travelogue that gives a personal twist to
back-packing in India. the insight that the author possesses leaves one
stunned and hooked. Mary Roy, mother of Arundhati Roy, makes an appearance
as well.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140250670/qid%3D1013741839/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F0%5F1/104-8636610-3947956
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SHASHI THAROOR
|
Great Indian Novel
In this award-winning, internationally acclaimed
novel, Tharoor has masterfully recast the 2,000 year-old epic, The
Mahabharata, with fictional but highly recognizable events and characters
from twentieth-century Indian politics. Chronicling the Indian struggle
for freedom and independence from Great Britain, Tharoor directs his
hilarious satire as much against Indian foibles as the bumbling of the
British rulers.
While many reviewers have commented that this book
is hard to appreciate without a firm grasp of Indian history and
mythology, I can disagree from firsthand experience. I am not Indian, and
began reading the book after having seen Gandhi (the movie). Other than
that, I knew a little bit about Indian culture and conflict with Pakistan
and China. As for mythology, I recognized the name of the Bhadhava Gita.
That's about it. Maybe I missed half of the subtlety of Tharoor, but
nonetheless I finished his book with both some knowledge and much
admiration both for the author, and for India. And to boot, this is one of
the funniest, most irreverant books I've ever read. I wish someone would
do this to for the
Bible.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1559701943/qid=1013742057/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-8636610-3947956
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ANTHONY WELLLER
|
Days and Nights on the Grand Trunk
Road
Travelling along
the GT Road is an expirience that one never forgets.The author gives an
historical perspective of the points along the GT Road. He starts out in
Calcutta, the city built by the Raj. Along the way he finds the
foundations of the Jain and Buddhist religions. Weller writes about thses
religions in an objective manner and gives a clear concise history of the
religions along with their beliefs. Between these highlights he meets
present day Indians. What he puts into words is what I thought but could
not expess myself, both humorously and insightfully. I had lived in India
for two years while serving in the Peace Corps. I felt the same
frustrations he did in communicating and dealing with the
bureaucracy.
Travelling along the GT Road is an expirience that one
never forgets.The author gives an historical perspective of the points
along the GT Road. He starts out in Calcutta, the city built by the Raj.
Along the way he finds the foundations of the Jain and Buddhist religions.
Weller writes about thses religions in an objective manner and gives a
clear concise history of the religions along with their beliefs. Between
these highlights he meets present day Indians. What he puts into words is
what I thought but could not expess myself, both humorously and
insightfully. I had lived in India for two years while serving in the
Peace Corps. I felt the same frustrations he did in communicating and
dealing with the
bureaucracy.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/156924670X/qid=1013742419/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8636610-3947956
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