At the start of this book I felt like many of the other GR reviewers: that this was written by a selfish, condescending Australian woman who was explo...moreAt the start of this book I felt like many of the other GR reviewers: that this was written by a selfish, condescending Australian woman who was exploiting the shock value of what she saw. Her chief devices to create humour are exaggeration and shock value, and that is true of the whole book; but the flip side of this- as with any newcomer to a country- is the ability to see and describe things that the locals take for granted. To her credit, she didn't live the life of the expatriate and stay in her comfort zone, but explored India, travelled to religious sites as she dabbled in some of the many religions, learnt Hindi, and met and made local friends. She seemed to get more access to events and celebrities than you would expect, but perhaps the Australian Broadcasting connections helped. As the book progresses she was honest about the effects of her new husband's frequent work-related absences on their marriage, her spiritual search, and finally her love and appreciation for India, a country she describes as her second spiritual home. (less)
When you start reading this book you know you are in the hands of an author who knows what he is about. It is a product of its time, and some parts of...moreWhen you start reading this book you know you are in the hands of an author who knows what he is about. It is a product of its time, and some parts of it read as quaint now-it is interesting how language changes. When did you last call someone "a bounder" for example? Also, it is difficult now to imagine a society where a woman can cause such a fuss about being pulled by the straps of her bag, and frightened a little. In the entire incident which is the centre of the book nothing really happened at all...but that is exactly the point. A classic, of course, and how do I review a book where much greater brains have been before me? I give up about now. (less)
I picked up this book to look at it in a bookshop and a stranger standing nearby said "Buy it. You'll love it", so I did, and she was right. Have been...moreI picked up this book to look at it in a bookshop and a stranger standing nearby said "Buy it. You'll love it", so I did, and she was right. Have been recommending it to people ever since. (less)
Was "currently reading" this for a while. More difficult to read than you expect, partly because of the frequent use of Hindi words without clues as t...moreWas "currently reading" this for a while. More difficult to read than you expect, partly because of the frequent use of Hindi words without clues as to their meaning in the sentence; I think I can now swear in Hindi. Also had trouble keeping track of the characters. Probably shouldn't have tried to read this in small chunks just before falling asleep. Hey! Have just read through others' reviews and they all refer to the "glossary" which doesn't seem to be in my edition. I feel ripped off! Check the back of the book before you buy it, friends. Bollywood plot it is, and it is very long with many characters, but having finished it I am glad I persevered. (less)
Parental expectations, the experience of being an immigrant, and the defining power of one's name are the beginning premises of this book. As it devel...moreParental expectations, the experience of being an immigrant, and the defining power of one's name are the beginning premises of this book. As it develops, Gogol finds his own definitions of himself from initial rebellion to eventual acceptance. I liked the way Lahiri writes with such detail that you are right there, but then leaps a chunk of time and moves right on to something else, leaving you initially surprised, but later realising that this only adds to the book. (less)
What to say about this Man Booker prizewinner? Firstly, I don't usually like books written in letter format, but this is a series of letters without r...moreWhat to say about this Man Booker prizewinner? Firstly, I don't usually like books written in letter format, but this is a series of letters without replies and without those annoying italics that publishers usually use. Second, it is a fast and entertaining social commentary encompassing the Indian caste system, the clutches of extended family, and the co-dependency of masters and servants. Corruption is everywhere, (even the young nephew at the end is extracting his price)as the letter writer tells how he escaped the grinding poverty and hand-to-mouth existence he was born into. He starts off learning how to work the system, moves on to criminal activity, then becomes proudly entrepreneurial, although always looking over his shoulder. I found him not entirely believable, some of his actions just didn't ring true, and on further thought many of the characters were two-dimensional. Don't really know how it won the prize.(less)
I agree with Salman Rushdie: "an absorbing novel that commands, in the reader, a powerful emotional and intellectual response". The story starts with...moreI agree with Salman Rushdie: "an absorbing novel that commands, in the reader, a powerful emotional and intellectual response". The story starts with Hiroko, one of the hibakusha, who has a talent for languages, and continues to link several generations of the same families in several countries and extra-ordinary ways. (less)
A boy named Animal, orphaned and crippled by the Bhopal chemical disaster, tells his story. Reading this gives a good feel for how the lives of the pe...moreA boy named Animal, orphaned and crippled by the Bhopal chemical disaster, tells his story. Reading this gives a good feel for how the lives of the people must have been affected at the grassroots level, and their degree of frustration at the company who caused the disaster not taking any responsiblity for the ongoing effects. The sentence structure that Animal uses is at times offputting, but the book is well written and definitely worth the read. (less)
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