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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 PANKAJ MISHRA 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 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 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 HOME NEXT saslekh@yahoo.com PREVIOUS |
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