Indian Readers discussion
LIFE TIME BUDDY READS
>
Booker Hit List - Girish and Vimal (feat Syl and Srividya)
Mod
I have read lots about Christie disappearance and the famous men involved in searching her. I faintly remember Doyle being poked fun at, for seeking help of a medium or something.
I don't know much about Oscar Wilde , and didn't much understand his referral in the book.
I liked the book too, but iT won't enter my best liked list.
various parts were of varying degrees of interest to me. Loved best the part spent by George in prison. It was soothing, but I am unable to explain why. !
Mod
Mod
Mod
Girish is the mastermind behind the thread.
Mod
You have any super awesome award winning book you want to read here, let us know! We can do a BR if we have enough co-readers :)
Ok Vimal?
Mod
Mod
Which book did you have in mind?
Mod
1. Possession - A.S.Byatt
2. Secret Scriptures - Sebastin Barry
3. Never Let me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
Others:
4. Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdie
5. Lives of Others - Neil Mukherjee
(oddly enough, just realized the titles could seem connected.. no?)
Manju wrote: "In this thread or a new thread? I have a Pulilzer winner on my tbr so thought of reading it with you people. :)"Will definitely join in if I'm able to get my hands on that pulitzer one. Better throw in 3-4 into the mix, the chances of acquiring rises that way :)
Girish wrote: "Vimal - Thanks to your list went on an online shopping spree and got awesome bargain on these books. Would receive them by the end of the week. Choose from the list. 1. Possession - A.S.Byatt
2. ..."
Yay, Great news Girish! So we are all set to revive this.Shall we start with Never let me go? Have been wanting to read that author for sometime now.
@Syl, Manju, joining for that?
Mod
the books that I have in mind are:
The Killer Angels
East of Eden
Matterhorn
Exodus
Manju wrote: "am in for never let me go, but only if it is read next My bad, searched all my sources but couldn't find any of those 4. Exodus and EOE are in my tbr too.But I found only 2 other Steinbeck books - Travels with Charley: In Search of America
and The Pearl, both of which are quite small so wouldn't make a good BR I guess, especially with your tome-rider form :)
ok, so we'll push Never Let me Go to the back then.@Girish, shall we start with Secret Scripture this weekend?
@Syl, Manju, SV, joining for that? Saw some really good stuff written about this book.
Mod
Manju wrote: "@Vimal: Never Let Me Go, you're reading next month?"Yes, so that you can join in for that. Secret scripture should take a week to complete I guess.
Am game for Secret Scripture. :)Also have the books that Manu has suggested, except The Killer Angels. Have already read Exodus. However, having read two Steinbecks, I would love to read EOE. And Matterhorn sounds really interesting. :)
Vimal - Get a Kindle, if you don't have one. These books are available for a steal on the Kindle, except for Exodus, of course. :)
Srividya wrote: "Am game for Secret Scripture. :)Also have the books that Manu has suggested, except The Killer Angels. Have already read Exodus. However, having read two Steinbecks, I would love to read EOE. And..."
Awesome! If Girish is ok, we'll start scripture this weekend and go on to win the Scripture knowledge price like Bertie :D
Yep, have been having a kindle for 5 years, but my current work schedule leaves time only for audios. Guess it'll be a while before I get back to reading in my kindle again.
Mod
And next month we will keep Never Let me Go for Manju to join in.
Mod
I am in for East of Eden whenever you people decide to read it. I am in fact looking forward to that read. So whenever you decide, count me in. Can't wait to start Secret Scriptures, especially now that I have read the blurb. On a completely different note, I feel like shortening this book's name to SS but it wouldn't be apt, right? Lol!
Mod
Mod
Mod
Reader is set around that time :)
Mod
Dumb me, I bought the Kindle version of Secret Scripture when we decided to read it, only to find out today that I already had the paperback with me!!! Talk about being stupid! This always happens to me. :(Will start it later today as I need to finish another book. :)
Mod
@feeling-holier-than-thou
Started an hour ago, and Roseanne's narrative has done me in big time, what with her Dad admiration and engaging anecdotes. Thoroughly absorbing thus far!
Srividya wrote: "Dumb me, I bought the Kindle version of Secret Scripture when we decided to read it, only to find out today that I already had the paperback with me!!! Talk about being stupid! This always happens ..."Ah, bad. Luckily hasn't happened to me yet. But I feel the same way about books that I bought and didn't like that much, and then see the same ones in the library now in tons.
Mod
Half way through. The pace is very slow, but the book does have some telling prose.
Not sure if it's because I've been reading a lot of lighter reads of late, but the prose seems too good. It's greatly bolstering a normal story. At 70 %.
@Sv, Guess its time to start. You would still overtake us :)
Sorry folks! Was planning to start it yesterday but spent the entire day in the passport office renewing my daughter's passport. Even with the faster processing, it still took us the better part of the day and we were tired by the time we reached home! :( Anyway, will start it today for sure! :D
Hahaha Vimal! With you at 70%, am sure it will be a repeat of Cloud Atlas, with you two finishing first and me lagging behind as usual! :P
Mod
@SV, I really wish they make Passport validity as 20 years like before. Its still a hazzle despite the improvements. And kids passports are the best - 5 years validity.@Girish, Thats true, Dr. Grene gets absolutely riotous in the second half :) Without him, the book might've been quite dry and dull.
Done with it :) The ending was a bit cinematic and predictable, but overall it was a very good read. Guess the ending is what caused it to not give a tough fight to 'The White Tiger'.
Mod
Dr.Greane and Roseanne have very similar voice in the writings but the prose was beautiful. Decent read!
Mod
I didn't like either of them in this book and so I very much doubt, i would read it.. But in case you are interested :)
I really seem to be making this a habit - I mean lagging behind dangerously! :( :( Really sorry people! Will finish it by tomorrow. Tomorrow morning is another passport hassle for me. This time I am getting my address changed on my passport! Wish such things could be done more easily but no....I have to go through the entire process as if I am making a new one or renewing it. My appointment is at 2:15 in the afternoon! *sighs* Anyway, will read tonight and then tomorrow night and hopefully get it done. Having been through Shrija's experience, I know that it is almost impossible to read when you are waiting to get those stupid checks done at the passport office! :(
@Girish, Vaipae illa! I'm not even going to think about reading another one of his books in the near future. There is only so much of good prose that I have the capacity to take in per year :D This book was a good read but a taxing one too, due to the extreme slow pace, Irish slang etc.
@SV, Good luck with the hassle. Actually the preparation for such things is more taxing than the visit itself :)But we guess you'll complete the book tomorrow despite all the hassles. If there is anyone who can read such a slow book within 2 days its you :D
I have heard that the other books aren't as good as this one. So not sure if I will be reading those as I am yet to finish this one.I don't get the slow pace issue though. I mean it is not a fast paced thriller or anything but it isn't slow. I agree I am only 100 pages in but I am fascinated with the prose and the incidents that are taking place or have taken place in the lives of the main character. Also the insight into religious Ireland is again fascinating if a little horrifying. Although, I shouldn't be horrified as similar things have happened and still are happening here as well.
For instance, Roseanne's father's job being taken away because of his so-called sympathies with the rebel group, which when taken in the light of him not being a Catholic deems to be a wrong choice with no hearing or any such thing. We have seen so many instances of Muslims not being given homes on rent and such stuff merely because of their practising a different religion. Well, times may be different and reasons might differ but the bottom line is if you don't belong to the majority, you will be singled out, irrespective of whether you are in the wrong or not. Also, it is often done with great subtlety that it often goes unnoticed. Hmm... Of course, as I said earlier, I haven't read the whole thing, so my thoughts might change but the fact remains that I still find it fascinating.
And Vimal - Hahaha! I will try to finish this book soon because I have already delayed it a lot! However, I love your confidence in me. It definitely motivates me to not let you down! :P
Srividya wrote: "I have heard that the other books aren't as good as this one. So not sure if I will be reading those as I am yet to finish this one.I don't get the slow pace issue though. I mean it is not a fast..."
sounds quite interesting Sri.. which book are you reading? *being too lazy to read the conversation before*
Srividya wrote: "Indrani - We are reading The Secret Scripture"Looked it up now. Sounds very interesting. I will read it too sometime.
Am about half way through the book and I agree the prose is tragic and beautiful. Poignant would be the word I would use to describe it as it takes you back the memory lanes of both Roseanne and Dr. Grene. The parts where Dr. Grene describes life, death and memories, when he remembers his marriage and his first time here at Roscommon is really beautiful. (view spoiler)
Indian Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Bone People (other topics)Restoration (other topics)
The Sea (other topics)
How to be Both (other topics)
The Lives of Others (other topics)
More...
I was having a laugh imagining how Barnes so authoritatively imagines and retells the intricate details of the lives without for a second letting on that he is taking a guess with a creative licence.
Smitha - notice those snippets that are carelessly strewn around like Oscar Wilde's trial, Agatha Christie's disappearance and Houndini's illusionist acts!