Yoga Hotel: Stories

by Maura Moynihan

In the 1970s, Maura Moynihan moved to New Delhi with her mother and father, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who at the time was U.S. ambassador to India. She wasfascinated by the country's ancient religions amid urban chaos, the staggering disparity between rich and poor, and Indian familial tradition and the lure of Western novelty. From three decades of deeply sympathetic observation came the inspiration for these stories, in which the characters' beliefs are challenged as they interact with those outside their culture. British and American expatriates mingle with Indian friends, colleagues, and servants, and the stories follow the change, or failure to change, that results. Hari, a young Indian servant, hopes for his amiable British boss's help in escaping a prearranged wedding. An American embassy worker named Melanie becomes disillusioned when her married lover uses her to get a visa. At a Himalayan retreat, a wealthy group gathers to seek spiritual enlightenment, but their altruism is tested when they are asked to buy dowries for a poor Indian family. Through witty dialogue and engaging scenes, Moynihan examines how both easterners and westerners struggle for dignity. Replete with humor and poignancy, Yoga Hotel is a stunning literary debut from a writer who understands the complexity and universality of human hopes, fears, and desires.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ok- seemed like every story was about an idiotic woman being an idiot

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

With all the excellent Indian and Indian-American fiction out there, this ranks rather low on the scale. The stories had an unfinished feel to them, and the several of the characters were much too flat to be realistic.

[Anna Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was in my early 20s (more than ten years ago) and still think about it. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Mary Preston · Rating 2 out of 5]

So eventhough there is alot of beauty in the short stories in here i found the end to all of them completely unsatisfying.

[Priscila Deprá · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not remember all characters names (Indian) so I got confused sometime, but it was a fun reading

[Brooke Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse into how different cultures can layer on top of each other. Some of the characters are a bit monochromatic.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up strictly because of the back cover (not pictured, but it's so colorfully Indian and I really liked it.) Moynihan's stories portray a vastly different India from the one I know, which in itself is a vastly different one than the one which exists today, since I was last there in 1994. I really liked one of the stories, moderately liked one, and merely tolerated the rest -- the writing itself was decent, but I'm not a short story fan, and as I said, I was visiting a place that was so different from what I recall that I was uncomfortable. Oh well.

[Denise Tarasuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, fascinating! Yoga Hotel promises the reader that they will not be bored!This delightful book contains stories that I shall not forget. The stories leave me with thoughts of Indian culture, mixed so deeply with the visitor that come to this diverse land searching for something, that they may indeed be true. They are to me anyway. Such a rich and totally absorbing gem all wrapped up in one book! Bravo!

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting view of middle class Indian Life (hangers-on in Paying Guest, those who seek favors & to impress in The Visa), and what American life in India looks like to the Indians who serve them (A Good Job in Delhi). Masterji painted a bit too many ugly American characters, but perhaps it's fair.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretentious and American-centric.

[Allen]

I can't say I recommend the book. To my taste, it was boring and conventional. What I liked most was the funny reviews on Goodreads!

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just wasn't my thing. Some of the short stories were nice, but overall it just wasn't my jam.