Booker Hit List - Girish and Vimal (feat Syl and Srividya) Showing 901-950 of 1,017

[Girish, The Good cop]

100 pages into Exit West and loving it so far. The terror seems real enough. Though the concept of teleporting doors seems something out of sci-fi movies - with the backdrop you would believe it for fact..

Aside, I somehow pictured Monsters Inc cartoon movie talking about these doors..

[Vimal]

At about 80 pages.. Yes, the doors blend with the story well.. But I might get a tad irked if some of the clues he drops towards the 'hows' of the door lead to nowhere, which most probably would be the case..

The guy doesn't drop any clue as to the country in turmoil, playing it safe.. Had 2 in mind, but the Tamil family that ends up in Dubai spoiled it :P

[Girish, The Good cop]

Vimal wrote: "At about 80 pages.. Yes, the doors blend with the story well.. But I might get a tad irked if some of the clues he drops towards the 'hows' of the door lead to nowhere, which most probably would be..."

Lol.. In his defense he does say doors are appearing all across the world. So Tamil family in Dubai might be coincidental.
In his earlier books he directly talks of Karachi, Lahore etc. Wonder why he had to fictionalize in this book..

[Vimal]

Girish wrote: "Vimal wrote: "At about 80 pages.. Yes, the doors blend with the story well.. But I might get a tad irked if some of the clues he drops towards the 'hows' of the door lead to nowhere, which most pro..."

Ya, smells of an Eastern apocalypse or something. The country in turmoil, India, Philippines.. All exiting west.. Many colors and hues but mostly falling within a range of brown

[Girish, The Good cop]

At 170 pages. How he has developed this semi-fantasy into a mirror of today's world is very clever! 4-5 stars so far.

btw, there were some brilliant lines in between. one that stuck was how pseudonames and online avatars were her burkhas on social network which is apt. I realised I know very few friends of mine, especially women, who use their real name on social media.. And these are self imposed just like Nadia..

[Girish, The Good cop]

Finished it today in coffee breaks and extended lunch session. 5 stars from me. Loved it!

[Girish, The Good cop]

Finished it today in coffee breaks and extended lunch session. 5 stars from me. Loved it!

[Vimal]

Done with it, and loved it! After Leo and Raesa, Saeed and Nadia were a big hit with me - so it's 2 in 2 with the bookers this year for me so far in that front :)

[Ahtims]

Even I am reminded of Leo and Raeesa though the stories are not similar. At 15%. Loving the narration by author. He has a powerful voice.

[Jaya]

Oh you guys are already done? Am yet to begin😫

[Girish, The Good cop]

Vimal wrote: "Done with it, and loved it! After Leo and Raesa, Saeed and Nadia were a big hit with me - so it's 2 in 2 with the bookers this year for me so far in that front :)"

Great that you loved it too! I did not relate it to Leo, but now I can see the connection :)

[Girish, The Good cop]

Jaya wrote: "Oh you guys are already done? Am yet to begin😫"

Very short read J. You can easily catch up with Syl..

[Ahtims]

Yes... easily.. since I am listening to it only during walking and chores.

[Vimal]

Jaya wrote: "Oh you guys are already done? Am yet to begin😫"

The audio was absorbing J. If you start it, it would just be a matter of time.

[Vimal]

Syl wrote: "Even I am reminded of Leo and Raeesa though the stories are not similar. At 15%. Loving the narration by author. He has a powerful voice."

Yes, deep and apt to the subject matter. Didn't know Penguin records audios offshore as well. Recorded in Lahore.

[Jaya]

Ohh great! will try to include it amidst the rest of chaos then...

[Ahtims]

Exit West at 55%.
They have just about managed to come out of the door.
I didn't really understand the concept of doors. is it akin to visa obtained via falae means by agents ?
otherwise it reads somewhat like Alice in wonderland. You go out of a door and enter a totally different home or public place.
Which is the original country?
And which exactly is the island between two countries where they are in limbo for sometime?

[Girish, The Good cop]

I think the doors are not as important. They just signify that people will find their way out/in no matter what the Government or natives do. I think later in the book the author says as much.
as for as native country - take your pick :)

[Ahtims]

At 90% - it seems like a bit of magical realism... with doors, the Greek island, a dark Britain, drones and robots in the sky...
nevertheless enjoying it.
Most probably will finish tomorrow.

[Vimal]

Yes, could be taken as false visa or n number of other counterfeit ways. Or legit magic :P.. or (view spoiler)[hallucination due to mushrooms (hide spoiler)] Island is a Greek tourist one, Mykonos. A real one.

[Vimal]

Syl wrote: "At 90% - it seems like a bit of magical realism... with doors, the Greek island, a dark Britain, drones and robots in the sky...
nevertheless enjoying it.
Most probably will finish tomorrow."

Sooper!

[Girish, The Good cop]

Vimal wrote: "Yes, could be taken as false visa or n number of other counterfeit ways. Or legit magic :P.. or [spoilers removed] Island is a Greek tourist one, Mykonos. A real one."

Not subscribing to the spoiler theory. The giggle and laughter are more obvious indicators (not talking from experience) than imagining mothers bombed away and ennui..

[Vimal]

Girish wrote: "Vimal wrote: "Yes, could be taken as false visa or n number of other counterfeit ways. Or legit magic :P.. or [spoilers removed] Island is a Greek tourist one, Mykonos. A real one."

Not subscribin..."

Yes should be a stretch, the whatever is imprinted is exemplified n all, but don't think any of this might have even been in the author's mind since the technicalities weren't his focal point.

[Vimal]

Sri, J, how are you finding it?

[Vimal]

Girish, Aka and I have started with The Sisters Brothers. I Started it last weekend and it has been absorbing and fun so far. Just past the half way stage. It's a pacy read, even pacier than Child 44. Simple prose lit with the mildest kind of humour.

[Girish, The Good cop]

just crossed 25%.. Eli - almost feels like a hippie cowboy - sentimental, loving et all :)
so far liking the simple narrative..

[Vimal]

The book was incredibly pacy, got done with it in a rush. But after the midpoint, it got completely predictable, so going with 4 *

[Girish, The Good cop]

Crossed the 50% stage. So far - nothing too complicated except for the chapter called intermission. What was all that about? :O

[Vimal]

Girish wrote: "Crossed the 50% stage. So far - nothing too complicated except for the chapter called intermission. What was all that about? :O"

Lol, I was about to ask you the same question when you were done. There is also another intermission towards the end where the same girl appears. Didn't know what to make of it, nor why he got reminded of the witch when he sees her.

[Girish, The Good cop]

Ah.. then ok. if it didn't impact your rating, it can't be that important :D

[Vimal]

Girish wrote: "Ah.. then ok. if it didn't impact your rating, it can't be that important :D"

Now that I think of it I see some vague connection. See after you're done with the book(view spoiler)[The dog has a severed limb, so does Charlie finally. The witch and the girl are portrayed to be clairvoyant or the like-so when the girl says I saw a protected man, does that mean Eli was protected from the tragedies that befell everyone that went for the gold because of the charm in the witches' door which only he touched (hide spoiler)]

[Jaya]

Vimal wrote: "Sri, J, how are you finding it?"

yet to start 🙊
doesn't look like anytime soon, in fact

[Girish, The Good cop]

Completed Sisters Brothers. 3 stars. The deadpan narrative though humorous initially did not suit the transformation in the brothers I felt.

I read your explanation and it made a lot of sense. In the second intermission he asks 'Am i still protected?' or something of that sort,

Is there a significance of the weeping man? He recurs multiple time as if by magic.

[Girish, The Good cop]

@Aka Finished with the Sisters Brothers?

Rarely do we have a list of next reads on this thread, but we sure seem to have picked one this time.
1. True History of the Kelly Gang - Manju's Reco
2. A Little Life - aka's almost persistent reco
3. The Fishermen - Vimal's last reco

and hopefully one of the below after that
a) The Bone People b) Restoration c) Oscar and Lucinda d) The Lives of Others

[Ahtims]

A nice collection to look forward to :)

[Vimal]

Girish wrote: "Completed Sisters Brothers. 3 stars. The deadpan narrative though humorous initially did not suit the transformation in the brothers I felt.

I read your explanation and it made a lot of sense. In..."

Weeping man just a presage I think.. But ya don't know why he appeared as many times as he did.

[Girish, The Good cop]

One last Booker this year? How about as planned true history of Kelly gang?

[Vimal]

Girish wrote: "One last Booker this year? How about as planned true history of Kelly gang?"

I'll join in, but will be very, very slow.. Just got back to Hot milk and Disgrace

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

Girish wrote: "One last Booker this year? How about as planned true history of Kelly gang?"

please read it. I want it for my challenge.

[Ahtims]

M will join in my lieu 😁
Am not reading much these days

[Girish, The Good cop]

Cool.. so Vimal, Manju and me.. Let's start from this Saturday

@Vimal: Same here.. Will read slow only.. no rush..
nice - Disgrace was this year's first read and Hot Milk last year's last. :D

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

@Girish: your favorite Booker this year and all time favorite? *curious*

[Girish, The Good cop]

@Manju If you mean by that bookers read this year - I think I loved Exit West the most.

All time have a couple of favorites - Bring Up the Bodies and The Sense of an Ending
Thats because i have possibly read very few bookers :)

Love to hear your and other's pick!

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

I haven't read any booker. this will be my first. though i read couple of Pulitzers this year and will be reading more of them next year too. So far my favorite award winner is American Pastoral.

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

Girish wrote: "@Manju If you mean by that bookers read this year - I think I loved Exit West the most.

All time have a couple of favorites - Bring Up the Bodies and [book:The Sens..."

i was expecting cloud atlas, persuasion...

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

just noticed this guy is a double booker winner for Oscar and Lucinda and True History of the Kelly Gang.

[Girish, The Good cop]

Cloud Atlas was good but more a showmanship than a glorious one.. Possession was close as was God of Small Things

[Girish, The Good cop]

ya Peter Carey is a regular on Booker longlist and shortlist.. Also read somewhere his prose is more old school character building..

[Ahtims]

I don't have a favourite among these... all are equally 4 stars

[Vimal]

Didn't make myself spoiled for choice this year, Exit West is my favorite as well.. Cloud Atlas, Sense of an Ending, Notes on a scandal, Never let me go definitely high on all-time list. Hope to read more of the bookers next year.. This year non-fic took complete hold of me, and I didn't want to resist it since it has never before taken the precedence that it did this year