888 books
—
2,636 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Swami and Friends” as Want to Read:
Swami and Friends
by
"There are writers—Tolstoy and Henry James to name two—whom we hold in awe, writers—Turgenev and Chekhov—for whom we feel a personal affection, other writers whom we respect—Conrad for example—but who hold us at a long arm's length with their 'courtly foreign grace.' Narayan (whom I don't hesitate to name in such a context) more than any of them wakes in me a spring of gra
...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 190 pages
Published
October 1st 1994
by University Of Chicago Press
(first published 1935)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Swami and Friends

The book's core theme is childhood. The author has done an excellent job of highlighting how children are influenced by their environment and community. Readers enjoy the amusing approach to human nature's dual character.
Swami's relationships with his parents, teachers, friends, and grandma are depicted in a charming manner by the author. The seamless portrayal of a variety of emotions such as innocence, love, hurry, naughtiness, envy, and optimism is also adorable.
This is one of those "chil ...more
Swami's relationships with his parents, teachers, friends, and grandma are depicted in a charming manner by the author. The seamless portrayal of a variety of emotions such as innocence, love, hurry, naughtiness, envy, and optimism is also adorable.
This is one of those "chil ...more

4.25 ⭐
Absolutely loved it!!!!
GENRE - FICTION - KIDS CLASSIC, COMEDY.
This book reminded me of my School days and all the monkey tricks I would do with my friends. Long before when there was a time when there would be no mobile phones and computers around we would rely on friends and family to pass our time and connect, I wish those time come back and there be no Smartphones and computers.
This book is about a boy named Swaminathan (Swami) who belongs to a fictional town of Malgudi in India and his ...more
Absolutely loved it!!!!
GENRE - FICTION - KIDS CLASSIC, COMEDY.
This book reminded me of my School days and all the monkey tricks I would do with my friends. Long before when there was a time when there would be no mobile phones and computers around we would rely on friends and family to pass our time and connect, I wish those time come back and there be no Smartphones and computers.
This book is about a boy named Swaminathan (Swami) who belongs to a fictional town of Malgudi in India and his ...more

I would never have known about Narayan had not the parent of a child with whom I worked introduced me with a Christmas present of the Everyman's Library Edition of the four 'Malgugi' novels. Another lucky reward of my job. The first of these novels, 'Swami' is the story of a ten-year-old boy in a small town in southern India, just as Gandhi's independence movement is gaining traction.
Narayan's effortless prose is deceptively free of judgment, even style--a clean and spare narration that looks w ...more
Narayan's effortless prose is deceptively free of judgment, even style--a clean and spare narration that looks w ...more

Swami and friends has got such an innocence that they will make you smile, remind you of the 'big problems' you had to face when you were a child and all those ridiculous things you did.
For example, I used to write letters exactly like this one
"I am studying here because my father came here. My mother is also
here. All of us are here. And we will be only here. I am doing well. I hope
you are doing well. It is very hot here. I had fever for three days and drank
medicine. I hope I will read well and ...more
For example, I used to write letters exactly like this one
"I am studying here because my father came here. My mother is also
here. All of us are here. And we will be only here. I am doing well. I hope
you are doing well. It is very hot here. I had fever for three days and drank
medicine. I hope I will read well and ...more

This is Narayan's first book, and therefore the first of his famous Malgudi books.
It is a clever book, in its own way - mainly because it gets into the head of a ten year-old boy, living in a small Indian village. Narayan has really nailed this - the things that are important to a ten year-old, the confusion of a ten year-old, the innocent, lack of understanding that a ten year-old has in the ways of the adult world. It also picks up on the simplicity of relationships - the transition of childho ...more
It is a clever book, in its own way - mainly because it gets into the head of a ten year-old boy, living in a small Indian village. Narayan has really nailed this - the things that are important to a ten year-old, the confusion of a ten year-old, the innocent, lack of understanding that a ten year-old has in the ways of the adult world. It also picks up on the simplicity of relationships - the transition of childho ...more

*top 10 disappointing reads of 2019*
So glad I am finally done with this beloved children's classic!
I loved the writing style. But somehow I couldn't enjoy this read as much as I had anticipated.
Without a doubt, the author did show his best trying to represent the characters that's relevant to those times. This book was first published in 1935. I appreciate the heavy influence in the writing of all the things that were relevant then. The political upheaval and the unrest; the struggle of the com ...more
So glad I am finally done with this beloved children's classic!
I loved the writing style. But somehow I couldn't enjoy this read as much as I had anticipated.
Without a doubt, the author did show his best trying to represent the characters that's relevant to those times. This book was first published in 1935. I appreciate the heavy influence in the writing of all the things that were relevant then. The political upheaval and the unrest; the struggle of the com ...more

I first read Swami and Friends in 2005, and have re-read it to kick off a little review project
Narayan Project - No. 1 of 26*
This is a beautiful book about childhood, specifically boyhood, told by a master story teller about to begin his long and fruitful creative life.
Famously, Swami and Friends is the work which got RK Narayan his start, when a friend in London showed the manuscript to Graham Greene, leading to its publication, after the friend ignored RKN’s instruction to throw the work into ...more
Narayan Project - No. 1 of 26*
This is a beautiful book about childhood, specifically boyhood, told by a master story teller about to begin his long and fruitful creative life.
Famously, Swami and Friends is the work which got RK Narayan his start, when a friend in London showed the manuscript to Graham Greene, leading to its publication, after the friend ignored RKN’s instruction to throw the work into ...more

I have heard many things about R.K Narayan . I am ashamed to say that I have not read a single book of his till now, him being such a renowned writer not to mention the fact that he was an Indian. I saw his books at a book fair recently.At first , I was hesitant to buy his books ,but then my dad compelled me ,So I ended up buying two of his books .
Better late than never.
The story is about Swami,Mani and Rajam who were foes at first but then went on to become great friends .What I like most in th ...more
Better late than never.
The story is about Swami,Mani and Rajam who were foes at first but then went on to become great friends .What I like most in th ...more

:-) Simple and sweet. Much enjoyed reading this very classic book that became the popular Malgudi Days on TV.
RK Narayan picks up the tone of Swami and his friends so well. What I found really funny was how all the boys (Swami, Mani and Rajam)take themselves so seriously, when they haven't a clue about most things.
One of the funniest incidents was when the boys decide to form a local cricket club and wonder if the government would charge them a tax for forming the club, as the government seemed ...more
RK Narayan picks up the tone of Swami and his friends so well. What I found really funny was how all the boys (Swami, Mani and Rajam)take themselves so seriously, when they haven't a clue about most things.
One of the funniest incidents was when the boys decide to form a local cricket club and wonder if the government would charge them a tax for forming the club, as the government seemed ...more

In fact, I enjoyed reading all of the 19 Chapters in the first Narayan novel since I'd never read him before. It's one of the novels published in the Everyman's Library series and I couldn't help admiring him as well as his writing style, narrative and sense of humour to the extent that I could visualize how the rural Indians lived in the remote country nearly similar to my rural Thailand some 55 years ago.
I'm sorry I don't have the Everyman's Library hardcover nearby, therefore, I can't write m ...more
I'm sorry I don't have the Everyman's Library hardcover nearby, therefore, I can't write m ...more

Finished it last night in a single sitting as I wasn't able to sleep 😅 reading this reminded me of my childhood and my heart craved for the innocence of those times. I absolutely love Swami's character since childhood.
...more

It's always a delight to visit the fictional town of India, Malgudi. R.K. Narayan has created such an amazing world and I can never get enough of it. Swami and Friends is based in pre-partition India when it was still under the British Raaj.
This talks about all the issues surrounding those times and some issues are still present in present day India. Issues such as political unrest, importance of education and respecting different religions. This book is about Swami, Mani and Rajam and how they ...more
This talks about all the issues surrounding those times and some issues are still present in present day India. Issues such as political unrest, importance of education and respecting different religions. This book is about Swami, Mani and Rajam and how they ...more

3.5/5
For some time, there's been a niggling in the back of my mind that every so often jabs me with the realization that I've been rather complacent with my replenishment of Indian literature in my personal collection. A brief overview shows a compendium of writings by Indian women, a couple of postcolonial feminist nonfiction treatises, some biographies, scattered single or double works by a handful of authors, and a work so diasporic in nature that I'm not sure whether it bears mentioning, wit ...more
For some time, there's been a niggling in the back of my mind that every so often jabs me with the realization that I've been rather complacent with my replenishment of Indian literature in my personal collection. A brief overview shows a compendium of writings by Indian women, a couple of postcolonial feminist nonfiction treatises, some biographies, scattered single or double works by a handful of authors, and a work so diasporic in nature that I'm not sure whether it bears mentioning, wit ...more

Without a doubt, R K Narayan is one of the most famous Indian writers and a great story teller. His stories are gently humorous. Swami and Friends is one of his first published novels based on R. K. Narayan’s experiences as a village school teacher. There is absolutely nothing boring about this novel and is one of my favourite stories about children.
Swami/Swaminathan is a ten-year-old boy in a small town in southern India called ‘Malgudi’ (The fictitious southern Indian town which is the settin ...more
Swami/Swaminathan is a ten-year-old boy in a small town in southern India called ‘Malgudi’ (The fictitious southern Indian town which is the settin ...more

This is the first book by R.K. Narayan. Graham Greene who helped getting it published called it "A book in ten thousand". Narayan introduces the quaint little town of Malgudi. He beautifully captures the trails and tribulations of a young child and his small dreams and joys. We get to see a very authoritarian society out to stiff out children's natural learning and growing up process. A great read and a great insight into Indian way of life in small town back in 30's.
...more

I needed something ‘light’, and unlike my friend who picks up gory murders as light reading, I turned to the much-loved world of one of India’s most beloved novelists, RK Narayan.
These whimsical tales of a lost childhood were just what I needed. Swami’s capers made me smile and chuckle and forget the world around me a little bit.
A classic children’s treasure.
These whimsical tales of a lost childhood were just what I needed. Swami’s capers made me smile and chuckle and forget the world around me a little bit.
A classic children’s treasure.

It was a delight to meet you again, Swami. I can only say this, we'll meet again soon,my friend. Loved the book. Highly recommended.
...more

I was quite close to swami's age when malgudi days aired on TV. The faces on the show were familiar and the stories had a comforting feel to them. Where I am from, swami is a school staple. We see life in a small town where there is a strong British presence in schools and in government offices . Narayan writes about life in such small town where people have now lived for years in a system that looks complacent but the omnipresent head of foreign rule is ever present. Amidst all this we see swam
...more

There's magic in this story. Not the bombastic, whoa-inducing kind of magic; rather the quiet kind of magic that one finds in food made by a mother's hand, or in the music of monsoon rain. I don't know whether this is well-written or not, but I suppose that I barely noticed the writing at all is a mark of fine craft.
...more

R.K. Narayan rather strikes me as the Ruskin Bond of the south. The incredible homely quality of both the authors' writings makes for very comforting books!
Really enjoyed this glimpse into the small town life in Malgudi (although I do prefer Malgudi Adventures to any other book of Narayan's).
The M.C.C. and its portrayal of children in colonial India in the 1930s was super funny!
Side note- Very amusing to see that fathers teaching their kids mathematics is the same now as was then! Also I wish ...more
Really enjoyed this glimpse into the small town life in Malgudi (although I do prefer Malgudi Adventures to any other book of Narayan's).
The M.C.C. and its portrayal of children in colonial India in the 1930s was super funny!
Side note- Very amusing to see that fathers teaching their kids mathematics is the same now as was then! Also I wish ...more

Swami and Friends is the first of a trilogy of novels written by RK Narayan, a celebrated English novelist from India. The novel, which is also Narayan's first, is set in pre-independence days in India, in a fictional town - Malgudi, which has almost become a real place in India today, due to the wide recognition and popularity of Narayan's many novels. His novels are known for their 'deftly etched characters, his uniquely stylized language and his wry sense of humor'.
Swami and Friends is the st ...more
Swami and Friends is the st ...more

Legend has it that 'Swami And Friends' was one of the four books of R.K Narayan that Graham Greene had a lion's share in publishing to the Western world. Had it not been for Greene, we, as a collective human race, would have been deprived of the extraordinary beauty of simplicity and sincerity in prose and literature.
One of the things that makes these wonderful Swami tales stand so tall above their peers of adventures of other intrepid boy heroes is its winsome believability, the sheer serenity ...more
One of the things that makes these wonderful Swami tales stand so tall above their peers of adventures of other intrepid boy heroes is its winsome believability, the sheer serenity ...more

This book is about Swaminathan and his friends adventure story of 3 main characters Swami, Mani and Rajam and there are stories that revolve around them, they had there fair share of fun ,they stand by each other, they did certain things that friendship stand for , they have fair share of tantrum before becoming friends, They have innocence in them , that are got manipulated , have typically Indian parents who want to control life of children and interfere in there affairs, Stories of they got t
...more

This book had been in my to-read list for a long, long time and finally, after many years, I got the opportunity to read it and without doubt, it has lived up to its potential! There can never be a book like this one, with simplicity and nostalgia wrapped in every sentence and every incident relating to the innermost core of the heart.
But just reading this book is not sufficient. The television series is a perfect companion after reading R.K Narayan’s books and deserves an award of its own!
But just reading this book is not sufficient. The television series is a perfect companion after reading R.K Narayan’s books and deserves an award of its own!

"Ye Daulat Bhii Le Lo, Ye Shoharat Bhii Le Lo, Bhale Chhiin Lo Mujhase Merii Javaanii, Magar Mujhako Lautaa Do Bachpann Kaa Saavan, Vo Kaagaz Kii Kashtii, Vo Baarish Kaa Paanii..." these magical lines by Sudarshan Faakir beautifully sums up the importance of childhood memories in our lives.
'Swami and Friends' brings out that 'bachpann' in you which is silently hidden in some corner of your heart. There is something especial about this book that separates it from all other creative masterpiece. T ...more
'Swami and Friends' brings out that 'bachpann' in you which is silently hidden in some corner of your heart. There is something especial about this book that separates it from all other creative masterpiece. T ...more

I forgot I read this book when I was like 13-14. I will go cry now in *nostalgia*
Please excuse me.
P.s if you didn't like it, it's because you didn't read it when you should have. You were late. Sucks for you. This book is perfect. I will sell your soul to the Devil if you say otherwise you piece of shit. Okay bye. Have a nice day.
:) ...more
Please excuse me.
P.s if you didn't like it, it's because you didn't read it when you should have. You were late. Sucks for you. This book is perfect. I will sell your soul to the Devil if you say otherwise you piece of shit. Okay bye. Have a nice day.
:) ...more

I did come back to Malgudi Like I had said after reading "Bachelor of Arts"! And in 1 simple line I am thrilled to be at Malgudi even though it took me so many years! R.K.Narayan is just a genius without any doubt. His writing skills are exemplary; simple yet so effective.
Swami must be one of his best characters for sure which I can convincingly say after reading this book. He is just someone who will never ever leave you once you get to know him. He is sweet, very funny, unpredictable and defi ...more
Swami must be one of his best characters for sure which I can convincingly say after reading this book. He is just someone who will never ever leave you once you get to know him. He is sweet, very funny, unpredictable and defi ...more

R.K. Narayan's writing is so beautifully simple that you just cannot help but appreciate it. Reading this book was like reading about a place that I have never visited (indeed I have never visited South India), but a place that feels like home. When you read something like this, you realize that when you're an Indian, every place in India, no matter if it is in the South or the North - with all its diversity, it is home.
...more

This book took me back to childhood, full of innocence and exaggerated drama. Swami's imagination, his inability to do Math, his hatred for school and his loyalty to his friends are some examples of relatable nostalgia. I also have a soft corner for the novel's characters and it's setting. The book reminds me of simpler times and even simpler people, an era that's missing and grossly required in today's world.
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
About RK Narayan | 2 | 5 | Jun 06, 2020 06:53AM | |
Indian Readers: Swami & Friends (RKN): Rebecca, Sharadha, and Arpit | 41 | 211 | Apr 22, 2018 08:30PM | |
Indian Readers: Swami and Friends (April'12 Group Read) | 39 | 56 | May 03, 2012 05:21AM |
R. K. Narayan is among the best known and most widely read Indian novelists who wrote in English.
R.K. Narayan was born in Madras, South India, in 1906, and educated there and at Maharaja's College in Mysore. His first novel, Swami and Friends and its successor, The Bachelor of Arts, are both set in the enchanting fictional territory of Malgudi and are only two out of the twelve novels he based the ...more
R.K. Narayan was born in Madras, South India, in 1906, and educated there and at Maharaja's College in Mysore. His first novel, Swami and Friends and its successor, The Bachelor of Arts, are both set in the enchanting fictional territory of Malgudi and are only two out of the twelve novels he based the ...more
News & Interviews
Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day.
To create our...
14 likes · 4 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Swaminathan had never thought that this story contained a moral. But now he felt that it must have one since the question paper mentioned it.”
—
1 likes
More quotes…