Ibis Trilogy - Arvind, Syl, Jaya, et al.

[Ahtims]

me too... what about starting Flood of fire after a week's respite? :-P
Haha too hasn't read,so far.,

[Ahtims]

Haha =Jaya. :-P

[Jaya]

Am game in fact my smallish brain is retaining these details, will definitely lose them by next month... ;)

[Jaya]

I like haha, in lieu of Jaya ;P

[Ahtims]

Another peabrain here _/\_

[E.T.]

Something was nagging me and now recall it.
A read a fat 700 page book on British Empire written recently. Unfortunately, it was by a British historian who kept extolling virtues of "Free Trade" and "Democracy" but failed to mention opium. The White man has a huge burden on his conscience !

[Jaya]

We were taught about the concept of historians bias. So basically no particular account can give you a straight explanation, the writer's own background would always come to play. A solution to that would be to read multiple perspectives. Which no sane person would like to do for the sake of reading for pleasure :P

If you have read Dalrymple, you might notice despite of writing good things about India, his imperialistic school of thought gets reflected somewhere or the other

(and you all can ask me to shut up, I wont take offense :P)

[E.T.]

I have done this a lot in fact - Reading 4-5 books in parallel on a particular subject that I m obsesssed wigh to get POVs. Love it :)

[Jaya]

Wow wow thats super!

[E.T.]

The bias can be in d opinion and interpretation. Opium trade is a fact. Whether it was free trade is an opinion. I didnt like d author not discussing it. I guess I should shut up :P

[Jaya]

No no, do tell more, what book was it? Who is the author?

[Ahtims]

Please carry on. I may not read. But I relish these synopses and thoughts.

And while reading the paragraph about the practical Chinese trying to alienate foreigners, I wished Indians too had greater unity and adopted the same attitude.

[E.T.]

Lawrence James - Rise and Fall of British Empire
I liked his 'Raj - A history of British India' - It is a pukka colonial history of British India. Very biased. Liked it bcoz it gave me the view from d other end of the telescope.

[Jaya]

Ohh ok ok

[Jaya]

There is a BBC series by Michael Wood: Story of India. Good to watch. You might be able to locate it on youtube, if interested...

[E.T.]

It was indeed well made and Wood's love for India was seen. 8 episodes i think. Read his book too :)
I was obsessed with reading on India for a year or so in 2013 with political climate of India heating up.

[Jaya]

Syl. A.k.a Topo di biblioteca wrote: "Please carry on. I may not read. But I relish these synopses and thoughts.

And while reading the paragraph about the practical Chinese trying to alienate foreigners, I wished Indians too had great..."

@ syl: chinese were the biggest xenophobics in the history of any region. Infact they would look down upon them as opposed to in India, where they acted all superior

[Jaya]

Arvind wrote: "It was indeed well made and Wood's love for India was seen. 8 episodes i think. Read his book too :)
I was obsessed with reading on India for a year or so in 2013 with political climate of India he..."

:) great! I just have the series watch it on and off...
Havnt read the book

[E.T.]

U should take a look at Abraham Eraly too. A 6-book set of Indian history upto 1757 (Plassey). Have read 4 and great writing style. Largely unbiased too.

[Jaya]

Thanks, will do :)

[Jaya]

Wow! Those books have the prettiest covers!

[E.T.]

Oh yes :)) The publishing was as attractive !

[Ahtims]

Just finished the part where Jardine's send off party is described. Feel like a change of book, hence stopping here for tonight, despite my earlier boast of finishing this off tonight. Perhaps my mind was addled with opium fumes. :-P

[E.T.]

"Then the British created new laws which made it much more expensive to use India-built ships in the overseas trade. My father-in-law was among the first to understand what was happening. He knew that under these conditions the Bombay ship-building trade would not survive for long. He used to say to me in those days: Bahram, you see what is happening to our shipyards? The same thing will happen also to all our other trades and crafts."
'Free Trade'

[Ahtims]

LOL, Arvind. I really thought Your F-I-L... then read further.. I was so confused first. :P

[Ahtims]

Am at 434. Planning to finish off today. Things are heading up to somewhere. If I stop in between I may go around like a zombie thinking what is going to happen next.

This is not relevant to main story.
But somehow I feel Robin is a closet homosexual... and he speaks in double meaning when he described his painting the picture of Adelie with his friend.

[E.T.]

:)) Yes, Ghosh has been naughty in describing Robin painting with Jacqua.

[E.T.]

470. Those Chamber meetings r getting repetitive. This book could have been edited a little better. Hard to rate it 5.

[Ahtims]

Arvind wrote: "470. Those Chamber meetings r getting repetitive. This book could have been edited a little better. Hard to rate it 5."
But I dont mind those. I think I am in the rare frame of mind when I enjoy even the driest of details. Nowadays am rating many "boring by others standard' books highly. :)

Arvind wrote: ":)) Yes, Ghosh has been naughty in describing Robin painting with Jacqua."

Ah, thank god. I was wondering whether I am over interpreting :P

[Jaya]

I think there were some hints before as well in robin's initial letters to paulette, as why he settled in canton...
About his sexuality ie

[Jaya]

I am going to pace myself for this book, will streach it till tuesday or thereabouts. Otherwise will forget everything.

[Ahtims]

Yes, I thought so. Then I thought that I am just assuming going by the trend of belief that most artistically inclined males may be homosexual.

[Ahtims]

Jaya wrote: "I am going to pace myself for this book, will streach it till tuesday or thereabouts. Otherwise will forget everything."

All the best :)
I am expecting my book by Flipkart only on 16th. So shall we tentatively fix the date for the 3rd book as 16th May? Or any other dates you both prefer?

[Jaya]

Any date is good for me. I am available whenever...

[E.T.]

16th is fine. Will read a thriller for a break.

[Ahtims]

Okay, done then. _/\_

[Ahtims]

Finished it was a pleasure reading this one.
A few doubts. SHall wait till you both finish as the doubts relate to the end of the book.

[Jaya]

all this politics over opium is going over my head. Or perhaps i am not really paying attention. can either of you plzzzzz tell me what is happening? who is this Elliot? An another agent from the chinese mandate, who is higher than governor or something. I am totally fed mixed up!

[Ahtims]

Elliot is the British commander of the queen. He is actually not in favor of opium sale. But British east India company feels that he should be on their side, as they are yearning huge revenue for the govt.

[Jaya]

ah ok. so what is the final stand?

[Ahtims]

Read on. I think final stand would be clear only in book 3. China obviously lost in the opium wars.

[Jaya]

ok ok * I must have patience* ;)

so of all the characters, did you have any favourites? or least favourite?

*is miss ah-fat*

[E.T.]

Favourite - Zachary. And loved his interactions with Serang Ali.

[Jaya]

and in this one?

I liked Zachary too!

[Ahtims]

1st book - Zachary
this one - Neel

[E.T.]

This one - Mind blank. Maybe Robin or Barry.

[Jaya]

I liked Behram and neel! Neel appears to have evolved as a person...

[Ahtims]

I too thought so. Neel has become more cultured and open hearted than he was a king.
Behram has his faults.

[Jaya]

Yes and thats wht made him so real, behram i mean...

[E.T.]

@Syl So, have u got Floods of fire ?