Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes

Mar 09, 2013 Shaili rated it 3 of 5 stars

Writing a book review becomes enjoyable when reading the book has given one some pleasure and I have to say, writing this review is one of the easiest things I’ve done. Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes by Betsy Woodman is the story of Jana Laird, a woman with a mission to save Hamara Nagar, a town where she has recently moved, to a house which was a part of the heritage left to her by her grandfather. It is a place which she has fond childhood memories of.
Reading the novel is akin to watching a Bo...more Writing a book review becomes enjoyable when reading the book has given one some pleasure and I have to say, writing this review is one of the easiest things I’ve done. Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes by Betsy Woodman is the story of Jana Laird, a woman with a mission to save Hamara Nagar, a town where she has recently moved, to a house which was a part of the heritage left to her by her grandfather. It is a place which she has fond childhood memories of.
Reading the novel is akin to watching a Bollywood movie. You have a very Indian setting with a town aptly called Hamara Nagar (Our Town) and the town truly belongs to each one of us. It’s that town which you visited over the summer in your childhood and carry fond memories of. It is that town where your twelve year old self spent evenings enjoying the cool breeze, strolling around with an ice-cream in your hand. You’d say hello to every shop owner as you amble your way through the Bazaar with the ice cream dripping on to your navy blue shorts or your red frock. Feroze, the philosopher tailor, Ramachandran, the owner of the antique store, Rambir, the reporter, Bandhu, the bullying police officer, Zohra, the elegant neighbor, Mary, the caring ayah, Tilku, the cute, errand boy, Moustapha, the small town boy with big city ambitions, Sandra, the typical American girl in a boarding school- all of them come alive in the form of reminders of some distant past. These characters are charmingly eccentric, yet so real that they remind you of the same people in your life. At the same time, there are some good old emotions thrown into the story with which the characters come alive and resonate so well with the reader. And there is chaos, a typically Indian experience.

The novel tries to be a little Rushdie-sque (but, not quite) in the portrayal of an imaginary town and its people in the 1960s. However, it has a charm of its own. Jana, the fifty five year old matron is an Indian citizen but of Scottish heritage. She seems more Indian than a foreigner and more twenty five than fifty five as we come to know of her penchant for adventure and a desire to be away from the mundane. At the same time, she seems full of wisdom and knows very well how to soothe troubled spirits. Her parrot, Mr. Ganguly, is an interesting character in itself, with its extraordinary intelligence and an ability to judge correctly the intention of people it comes across. Her household and the neighborhood also consist of a mix of interesting characters.

This novel is written about a specific time in India from the standpoint of a foreigner, for whom India seems to be like this toy you can get endlessly fascinated with. However, the story is charming, funny in places and very endearing. It’s fast and does not bore you, or try to go on different platitudes. However, it subtly comments on various serious topics (especially through the mouth of Feroze, the simple, religious tailor). It resonates with you when he says, ‘Development is always somebody else’s development’ or when he writes in his notebook, ‘Life comes and hits you with first one thing. And then a second. And then yet a third. Who would voluntarily be an archery target for others?’

When I finished the novel, I thought, ‘Well, this should have been a series instead of one book’. I wasn’t surprised when I read on the back page later that it was the first book of a series on Jana Bibi. I, for one, am looking forward to reading more.

For more, visit www.booksandalotmore.com (less)

like · see review

Dec 25, 2012 VaultOfBooks rated it 4 of 5 stars

By Betsy Woodman. Grade A
“In the first of a charming series, we meet Jana Bibi, who has inherited her grandfather’s house in a quaint hill station in India.
Casting aside the conventions of her upper-crust upbringing, Janet (Jana) Laird moves with her chatty parrot, Mr.Ganguly, and her loyal housekeeper, Mary, to Hamara Nagar, a town where local merchants are philosophers, the chief of police is a bully, and a bagpipe-playing Gurkha keeps wild monkeys at bay. Settling in, Jana meets the town’s co...more By Betsy Woodman. Grade A
“In the first of a charming series, we meet Jana Bibi, who has inherited her grandfather’s house in a quaint hill station in India.
Casting aside the conventions of her upper-crust upbringing, Janet (Jana) Laird moves with her chatty parrot, Mr.Ganguly, and her loyal housekeeper, Mary, to Hamara Nagar, a town where local merchants are philosophers, the chief of police is a bully, and a bagpipe-playing Gurkha keeps wild monkeys at bay. Settling in, Jana meets the town’s colourful local characters who gather at the Why Not? Tea shop – the contemplative darzi who struggles with his business and family; a kindly shopkeeper whose shop is bursting at the seams with objects of unknown provenance’ a newspaper editor who burns the midnight oil at his printing press; a head of police who rules with an iron hand; and a young man with a golden voice, who wants to be a singer in the movies.

Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes
When word gets out that a new government dam will flood the little hill station, forcing everyone to move and start over, Jana is enlisted to save the community. Will Hamara Nagar survive? With some luck and Mr.Ganguly the fortune-telling parrot, the townspeople may have fate on their side.”
Janet Laird, also fondly called Jana Bibi, a woman of Scottish origin, has spent most part of her life in India, and associates herself with the Indian culture. After inheriting her grandfather’s house, the Jolly Grant House, in a quaint little hill station, Hamara Nagar, Uttarakhand, she refuses her son, Jack’s invitation to move back to Scotland and grow old in their ancestral castle. Along with her parrot, Mr.Ganguly, and her trustworthy housekeeper of many years, Mary, Jana Bibi moves to Hamara Nagar to start life afresh.
Settling into her new life, she encounters an eclectic mix of characters – Feroze, the head darzi, and owner of Royal Tailors; Mr. Ramachandran, the owner of Treasure Emporium; Mr. Rambir, the chief editor of the local newspaper ‘Our Town, Our Times’ ; Mr. Abinath of Abinath’s Apothecary; The Gurkha Piper, Lal Bahadur Pun; and the young Tilku, who serves as an errand boy. Oh, and the favourite ‘Why Not? Tea shop,’ which is a popular gathering joint for all.
“Walk down to Central Bazaar. We can offer you a new garment for a special occasion, a remedy for a nagging ailment, a notebook in which to record your otherwise fleeting thoughts. A snack, a treasure, a fortune told – for all their smallness, each is no less in the making of an afternoon, and an afternoon in the making of a life,” said Jana.
When news leaks out that the government is planning to build a dam in Hamara Nagar, and the residents would be forced to move and start over, Rambir and Ramachandran enlist Jana to help save their small community. To complicate matters further, an unlikable police officer by the name of Bandhu Sharma keeps showing up, forcing people to pay fines and fees. However, with the ‘Annual Futurology Convention’ coming up, they seize the opportunity and conceive a plan to make people realize what Hamara Nagar has to offer, making it too valuable to destroy, and to put the town on a map. Jana is persuaded to be a local Fortune Teller, by using tarot cards and cards with pictures of Deities, thus giving birth to the local fortune telling salon, ‘Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes.’ Helped out by her chatty parrot, the salon is an immediate hit among tourists, and the girls from the near-by boarding schools. Brimming with positivity, and just a sheer bit of luck, the townsfolk manage to save their home, Hamara Nagar, and put it on the map.
Set in 1960, a few years after independence, it has glimpses of the Hindu-Muslim differences, and in certain places highlights the after effects of this separation. It took me a while to get used to the mind-set and life-style of people living in the 1960’s, as the concepts of Aerogrammes, hand written messages, and Gramophones are a bit foreign to me.
The story is slow paced, and initially did seem a bit boring. However, after the first few chapters, it gathered and became a tremendously enjoyable read. Aside from focusing just on prevention of construction of the dam, it gives us an insight into the daily life and chores of the people of Hamara Nagar; capturing the finer nuances of the Indian household, and our culture. The characters are colourful, eccentric and quirky. The setting of the hill station has been beautifully described; making me want to visit Hamara Nagar! Really looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Originally reviewed at http://vaultofbooks.com/(less)

like · see review

Oct 05, 2012 Richard rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 3* of five

The Book Description: Meet Jana Bibi, a Scottish woman helping to save the small town in India she has grown to call home and the oddball characters she considers family.

Janet Laird's life changed the day she inherited her grandfather's house in a faraway Indian hill station. Ignoring her son's arguments to come grow old in their family castle in Scotland, she moves with her chatty parrot, Mr. Ganguly and her loyal housekeeper, Mary, to Hamara Nagar, where local merchants are...more Rating: 3* of five

The Book Description: Meet Jana Bibi, a Scottish woman helping to save the small town in India she has grown to call home and the oddball characters she considers family.

Janet Laird's life changed the day she inherited her grandfather's house in a faraway Indian hill station. Ignoring her son's arguments to come grow old in their family castle in Scotland, she moves with her chatty parrot, Mr. Ganguly and her loyal housekeeper, Mary, to Hamara Nagar, where local merchants are philosophers, the chief of police is a tyrant, and a bagpipe-playing Gurkha keeps the wild monkeys at bay. Settling in, Jana Bibi (as she comes to be known) meets her colorful local neighbors—Feroze Ali Khan of Royal Tailors, who struggles with his business and family, V.K. Ramachandran, whose Treasure Emporium is bursting at the seams with objects of unknown provenance, and Rambir, editor of the local newspaper, who burns the midnight oil at his printing press. When word gets out that the town is in danger of being drowned by a government dam, Jana is enlisted to help put it on the map. Hoping to attract tourists with promises of good things to come, she stacks her deck of cards, readies her fine-feathered assistant—and Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes is born.

My Review: It's just fine! Fine and dandy and pleasant and nice and it's got interesting features and is kind to puppies and kitties.

It's the nice guy your friends set you up with who talks about ordinary stuff in a pleasant voice and, when he moves in for a goodnight kiss, you can't think of a reason not to let it happen but when the door closes you can't remember his name. Or anything else about him...was he wearing khakis or a tux? Dunno.

Do you need that book right now? Here it is! And goodness knows most of us need that kind of book once in a while. “Farb,” a friend of mine calls them. This book is perfect farb, the pinnacle of farbosity, the paradigm by which farbaceousness is measured.

I don't remember one single thing about it, except when Janet aka Jana Bibi, married the missionary as a young woman I wanted to slap her into next week for being so stupid! And I was right.

Oh, and the description of smallpox is awful, just awful. And that, as they say, is me, what about you?(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, historical-fiction

This was a charming book with an eclectic cast of loveable characters. It reminded me of a Fannie Flagg novel, only set in a small (fictional) town in India instead of a small town in the southern United States. The people of Hamara Nagar are each quirky in their own way. They are just plain nice and want to help other residents of the town. When the town is threatened, they band together without question to help save it. There is a bad-guy and some conflict but nothing too distressing. This nov...more

like · see review

Jul 02, 2012 Ariel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: india-fiction

Thank you to Henry Holt and Company for providing me with a review copy of this novel.

Jana Laird is a woman with one foot in India and the other in Scotland. After a past marred by a smallpox epidemic which blinded her husband and killed her two young daughters, she inherits the Jolly Grant House in India from her grandfather. She decides to leave her surviving son Jack, now a grown man in Scotland and moves in to her grandfather's former residence. When she first sees the house it is a decrepit...more Thank you to Henry Holt and Company for providing me with a review copy of this novel.

Jana Laird is a woman with one foot in India and the other in Scotland. After a past marred by a smallpox epidemic which blinded her husband and killed her two young daughters, she inherits the Jolly Grant House in India from her grandfather. She decides to leave her surviving son Jack, now a grown man in Scotland and moves in to her grandfather's former residence. When she first sees the house it is a decrepit mess overrun by monkeys but a colorful cast of townspeople soon arrive to welcome her and help turn her new abode into a home.

Just when she is getting settled into her new life an unlikeable police inspector by the name of Bandhu shows up to bully everyone into pay fines and fees. To complicate matters further a plan is put into place which involves the building of a dam that will flood the town forcing everyone to move and start over. To attract tourists to the town, a plot is hatched to make Jana into a fortune teller. She begins the business of Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes, thus the title of the book. Although Jana cannot really see the future, her compassionate ways and knack of giving good advice make her very popular with the townspeople. Will the town of Hamar Nagar be save? With some luck and Mr. Ganguly the fortune telling parrot, fate may be on their side.

This book reminded me of the books from a favorite series, The No. Ladies Detective Agency. Both Mma. Ramotswe in Africa and Jana Laird in India are intelligent, matriarchal types who come from a damaged background. Both of their towns have colorful characters who look to them for support and both ladies really like to drink tea. The ladies detective agency books are a little more cohesive in plot because each one centers around one or two mysteries. There was no central mystery here but there is a problem, the dam that would flood the town. I do find Alexander McCall Smith's writing to be more compelling but since this is the first book in a planned series I enjoyed the novel enough to see where the author takes the story line next.(less)

like · see review

May 28, 2012 Susan Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved the name of this book. It just sounded fun and it was. Jana MacPherson Laird is a lady of Scottish heritage who has lived most of her life in India. Since her missionary husband's death she has supported herself in odd jobs such as playing in a band and a nanny in a palace. She inherits her grandfather's home, the Jolly Grant House in Hamara Nagar. Jana finds the house overrun with monkeys and hires an Indian bagpipe player to drive them out and sets up housekeeping. She is joined by her...more

like · see review

May 28, 2012 Jaylia3 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Janet MacPherson Laird, aka Jana Bibi, is Scottish in heritage, but she's lived in India for most of her 58 years and it's where she most likes to be, so she's very pleased when she learns she's inherited her Grandfather's Jolly Grant House estate in a small village in Uttar Pradesh. There's trouble almost immediately, of course. The house is overrun by monkeys who have despoiled everything inside and are only frightened off by the sound of bagpipes played by a friendly local Gurkha. Then, not l...more

like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Sterlingcindysu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-first-wins-reviews

It took me about 30 pages to get into the Indian (Asian) background. There is a glossary in the back to explain some terms and a foreground that describes the area in the novel back in the '60's. After awhile I stopped looking up the words and wanting to google the towns and just read the story. If you're unfamiliar with India this is still a good story that pulls a town together. I don't know if I concur that engineers are bad people or what example the townfolk did to stop the planned expansio...more

like · see review

Jan 18, 2013 Ampersand Canada's Book & Gift Agency Inc rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dot-s-reads

If you are a fan of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand or the Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society you will love Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes. It is the story of a Scottish widow who inherits a house in a hill town in India from her uncle. She is middle aged and her grown up son is living in Scotland (he can’t understand why she would want to live in India when she could live with him in Scotland) and decides to move into the inherited house. Unbeknownst to her, it is currently inhabited by agg...more

like · see review

Aug 28, 2012 Harold added it

Great summer read! The characters are lovably eccentric: Jana Bibi, the Scottish widow of an American missionary who stays on in India after her husband's death; her son who wants her to return to Scotland, Mr. Ramachandran, who owns the Treasure Emporium (a glorified knick knack shop), Feroze Khan of Royal Tailors, Mary, her housekeeper, the bagpipe playing Gurkha, who keeps the wild monkeys away, Mr. Ganguly, the chatty parrot and the bullying, extortionist police commissioner, Mr. Sharma Band...more

like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: women-s-fiction

Jana Bibi impulsively heads off to a new life in India with her parrot, Mr. Ganguly, and her housekeeper, Mary, to take up residence in an old home left her in her grandfather’s will.

Of course, as you might hope, India is a charming place, and Jana and her companions quickly make new friends in the village she now calls home.

But there are also troubles in this new home, with talk of flooding the village to make a government dam, and a tyrannical head of police who rules the village with an iron...more

like · see review

Mar 15, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: india

This is essentially what I would call a "fun" book, along the lines of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. Set in Northern India in the 50's, it follows the protagonist, nicknamed Jana Bibi, as she moves to an old house she has inherited in a small town and, through her involvement in a campaign to save the town from a govt. dam, becomes entwined in the lives of her neighbors. The book is full of the kind of lovable, slightly shallow characters that we can like without having to examine our motive...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 18, 2012 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

The hill town in India comes to life in this new author's novel, which is set around 1950. Jana Bibi is actually of Scottish descent but has lived--and chooses to live--in India because of her love for the country and its people. When Jana inherits a family home in the little town of Hamara Nagar, she quickly becomes involved in the daily activities of people, including Hindus and Muslims who live peaceably next to each other, and in the proposed dam that would inundate their town. Jana's parro...more

like · see review

Jul 12, 2012 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine

Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes is the first in a series about a Scottish lady living in India in the 1960s. Janet Laird, aka Jana Bibi, is a Scot by nationality but grew up in India and has Indian citizenship. She inherits a property from her grandfather and moves to a charming Indian village despite the protestations of her son, Jack, who lives in Scotland and wants her to move there. Jana, her housekeeper, Mary, and the parrot, Mr. Ganguly, soon discover that the town is in danger of being des...more Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes is the first in a series about a Scottish lady living in India in the 1960s. Janet Laird, aka Jana Bibi, is a Scot by nationality but grew up in India and has Indian citizenship. She inherits a property from her grandfather and moves to a charming Indian village despite the protestations of her son, Jack, who lives in Scotland and wants her to move there. Jana, her housekeeper, Mary, and the parrot, Mr. Ganguly, soon discover that the town is in danger of being destroyed in favor of a dam built by the government. Can they work together with their neighbors to put the town of Hamara Nagar on the map as a tourist destination to prevent its demise?

Betsy Woodman draws upon her unique childhood experience growing up in India for her debut novel. She has introduced the reader to an interesting cast of characters and painted the scene for future stories set in Hamara Nagar. It takes a bit for the story in Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes to really start moving and I was beginning to wonder when the fortune telling part would actually come into play. Once the characters are introduced, however, and their roles are fairly firmly established the actual plot line of the book does begin to move.

I found that Betsy Woodman's writing reminded me of Alexander McCall Smith both in the way that their stories are set in foreign lands and also the pace of their novels. Both authors include many local phrases and foreign words while including so many details about the setting and time period that you are really transported to that place. I always preferred McCall Smith's books on audio so I could hear the unfamiliar words being pronounced. I think Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes would be a fantastic audiobook as well, with the right narrator.

Overall, I found Jana Bibi and the rest of the characters to be charming. This was a nice, light summer read that was easy to pick up and put down as time allowed. I'm looking forward to more stories about these characters in Hamara Nagar and wonder what their futures hold.(less)

like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: india

I hated to see the ending of this book. Not that there was anything wrong with the ending. It did sort of finish up abruptly but I think I was just cranky 'cos I didn't want to stop reading about these lovely people. It's set in India in the 1960's. The story centers around a charming old Scottish lady and her super cool parrot, Mr. Ganguly. The other characters are delightful as well. All the major Indian religions are represented, almost as if she went down a list. It has the flavor of INdia,...more

like · see review

Jul 17, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story about middle-aged Scotswoman Janet Laird (aka "Jana Bibi") moving to Hamara Nagar, a Himalayan Hill station, to take over a house she inherited from a scandalous grandfather. Set in India in 1960, this was not an India I had read much about and I found it fascinating. Jana inherits the Jolly Grant House and decides to leave her posh music tutor post in a nawab's palace (the last child shortly to leave for boarding school in Switzerland, she knows she will soon be bore...more I really enjoyed this story about middle-aged Scotswoman Janet Laird (aka "Jana Bibi") moving to Hamara Nagar, a Himalayan Hill station, to take over a house she inherited from a scandalous grandfather. Set in India in 1960, this was not an India I had read much about and I found it fascinating. Jana inherits the Jolly Grant House and decides to leave her posh music tutor post in a nawab's palace (the last child shortly to leave for boarding school in Switzerland, she knows she will soon be bored). Widow of an American missionary with a grown son in Glasgow chiding her by post to be sensible and come home (Jack is an engineer who "goes at being Scottish with a vengeance", according to author Betsy Woodman's helpful character endnotes), Jana was born and raised in India and has always felt more at home there, even becoming an Indian citizen. Memories of her childhood visit to Jolly Grant House prompt her to take on this adventure, and I enjoyed going along for the ride.

Cold War geopolitics don't seem to play a huge role as yet, but an American character named Kenneth Stuart-Smith introduces himself to Jana as an employee of the U.S. State Department, and says during World War II he worked with an Allied Intelligence unit in her inherited home, using the tower as an observation point. Now he says he is in India to win hearts and minds, but who knows what future books will hold?

Stuart-Smith is not the only intriguing character in Hamara Nagar; Jana's entourage includes Mary Thomas, former nursemaid to Jana's children and now housekeeper, companion and ever-present source of positive encouragement and gossip, and Mr. Ganguly, Jana's very intelligent parrot and dear friend, suspected by some to be an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Her neighbors in the bazaar include Feroze Ali Khan the tailor who has a philosophical bent, a beautiful young wife and an adopted nephew who dreams of becoming a film star; Ramachandran and Rambir, high-caste Hindus and former college friends, who are now, respectively, a shopkeeper and newspaper editor. They all welcome Jana with open arms and soon draw her into their plans to halt construction of a government dam that would put the town under water. In an effort to put their remote hill station on the map, Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes, a fortune-telling salon, is born.

I wasn't enthralled at first, as the book seemed to start with a fun premise then fizzle out a bit, unsure of where to go with the story. It reminded me of Alexander McCall Smith's delightful Scotland Road series, more loosely connected character sketches, really, of humorous, quirky and charming characters that readers come to care about; same with Betsy Woodman's characters. Not a lot happens, per se, but it's all about the characters and their personalities, life stories, and interactions with each other.

This book ends with loose ends seemingly tied up, but as Woodman suggests in her endnotes, how will Moustapha do in Bombay with his film career? What kind of information is Stuart-Smith gathering in India? Have we seen the last of the scheming Mrs. Paniwalla and her plans to seize Jana's beloved Jolly Grant House for "government use"? I'll be looking for Woodman's next bright, cozy Jana Bibi novel to find out - and would recommend her to fans of McCall Smith's Scotland Road series.
(less)

like · see review

Jun 01, 2012 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-shelf

I had been eagerly anticipating my complimentary copy of Jana Bibi through Goodreads First Reads (no review was required) and practically ripped it out of the mailbox to curl up and immerse myself in it. Janet Laird is a Scotswoman who has spent most of her life in India, and is in fact, an Indian citizen by choice. She has a wonderful and adventurous nature in spite of various tragedies in her past. At the beginning of the book, she learns that she has inherited her Scots Uncle's home in Northe...more

like · see review

Jul 23, 2012 Kat Warren rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes" is an agreeable, charming read. But I was taken aback when reaching book's end to learn it is the first in a series. One book yes, but I expect all the best bits now have been used. The author is aiming, I expect, for Alexander McCall Smith's statospherically successful Precious Romatswe series but sans the mystery story. That will take some doing. In any case after the third Precious, that series got tired.

like · see review

Aug 11, 2012 Brigette Streeper rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: won-in-goodreads-sweepstakes

I won this book in a goodreads sweepstake, and I am glad I did! This was my first Indi book, and it took a little bit of time getting used to the different names. The glossary in the book was wonderful for unfamiliar words. I enjoyed learning about the culture and loved the quirky characters that were introduced. While the book was a little slow at the beginning, it quickly built pace and was a pleasure to read.

Jana Bibi discovers she has inherited an old building in a small town called Hamara...more

like · see review

Mar 27, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

After some good but heavy reads lately, this novel was so refreshing. Filled with colour, music, humour and philosophy, it reminded me a bit of Deborah Moggach's Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (which was a novel before it was a movie).

I would so love to go to Hamara Nagar, the Indian hill station and hang out with Jana Bibi, Mr Ganguly, Mary and all the locals....and maybe even get my fortune told!

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 23, 2012 Margaret Core rated it 4 of 5 stars

The author is a NH neighbor and I am so impressed at her first novel

Jana Bibi has me charmed all the way along ---

I enjoyed learning more about India during the British Empire influence and the different stages of Jana Bibi's life

Betsy added helpful intro, index and insights inthe etc. section

like · see review

Jan 06, 2013 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be "charming". I loved the characters, including the parrot and the town which took on a life of its own. The plot moved along nicely and the "threats" to peace were dealt with nicely and not overplayed.

One fun detail: the chapters have titles, but there are many subtitles that reminded me of books I read growing up. I started reading early, and transitioning to chapter books was made easier when there were titles and pictures at the start of...more

like · see review

Feb 26, 2013 Katherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I was really charmed by this novel and surprised to learn it is Woodman's first one. It brims with a love of India (where it is set) and its characters. Wonderfully funny and witty, it's a quiet sort of novel about every day life, really. India fascinates me so I may be biased but it is a very good read.

like · see review

Nov 10, 2012 Laurel Bailey rated it 5 of 5 stars

These days I like to read the occasional "gentle" book, with quirky characters, a little humor, and no sex or violence. This book is one of those. It is full of imagination and pleasant images for your mind's eye. Enjoy a touch of Indian culture, with a Scottish twist.

like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Emilade rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: quick-reads

I generally enjoyed the characters but there were times when the plot was just a little too predictable. I suppose my Post Colonial Lit Prof would have a fair deal to say about the Scottish lady saving a small Indian town, but if you can accept and enjoy then its a good book, and you should read it.

like · see review

Nov 13, 2012 Ann Warner rated it 4 of 5 stars

A delightful book with appealing characters and a nicely woven story line. I realized after I finished it that it was the first book in a series. Having enjoyed this book, I'll take a look at the next one, although I did feel this storyline was nicely tied up.

like · see review

Feb 25, 2013 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in years. Location in an exotic location, foothills of the Himalayas, main characters include a parrot, a bagpipe player, a shoeshine boy, an English lady of uncertain age with a propensity for adventure

like · see review

Sep 04, 2012 Janell rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very fun read. The characters were similar to the charming, quirky southern characters I love. But the book is set in India. I loved the interesting setting, the use of many Indian words, and the descriptions of Indian customs.

like · see review

Apr 20, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book reminded me of the gentle stories of Alexander McCall Smith. Eccentric but lovable cast of characters, crisises, but none too awful, happy ending, and a charming parrot. I'm thrilled to discover that this is a series!

like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: friendship, kindle

What a joy to read this magical, delightful, and heart-warming story of friendship set in 1960 in India. One of my absolute favourites. One book I will read again and again.

like · see review

title link	preview: Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes: A Novel
avg rating	preview: Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes: A Novel Goodreads rating: 3.83 (141 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://gr-assets.com/book/show/13166025-jana-bibi-s-excellent-fortunes?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344321143l/13166025.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://gr-assets.com/book/show/13166025-jana-bibi-s-excellent-fortunes?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes: A Novel by Betsy Woodman[/url]

Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes: A Novel

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)

Genres

Books by Betsy Woodman

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Jana Bibi's Excel...

Jana Bibi's Excellent Fortunes: A Novel

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (1)

Genres

Books by Betsy Woodman

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Jana Bibi's Excel...

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)