Anyone read these books?

mangofanatic · Oct 27th, 2005, 04:57

(1) Notes on Love in a Tamil Family by Margaret Trawick
(2) The Camphor Flame by C. J. Fuller

Let me know if they are worth reading. The descriptions sound interesting on amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/069...EVE&v=gla nce

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052...QI1&v=gla nce

Aussie 5 · Oct 27th, 2005, 05:28

Nope mangofanatic. But I've just finished 'Holy Cow - An Indian Adventure' by Sarah Macdonald. A very entertaining and enlightening read. Sarah visited India in the 80s and was not impressed. She vowed never to return. But after her boyfriend (Jonathan Harley) was posted to Delhi as the Australian Broadcasting Corporations India correspondent she decided to join him. So after 11 years since her last visit she re-explores India, it's beliefs and takes stock of herself..... Great stuff! She tells things warts and all, and has greatly increased my interest in India. I'll start my own first journey to India in 2 weeks time - so I'll soon find out for myself!

mangofanatic · Oct 27th, 2005, 05:55

Thanks, Aussie---I'll check it out. Have a good trip!

Can anyone recommend a good, short history of India?

I found this one:
A Traveller's History of India (2nd ed) by Sinharaja Tammita-Delgoda
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156...N0R&v=glan ce

Have any of you read this one?

I have been reading Nehru's "Glimpses of World History", a series of letters he wrote to Indira while in jail. It's fascinating, and I recommend it, but it is hefty (upwards of a thousand pages) and written mostly from memory.

I just want something I can read in the next month or so for a good, quick overview of cultural and political history.

Callous · Oct 27th, 2005, 09:00

I really enjoyed reading Freedom at Midnight whilst we were lying on a Shakara in Dal Lake Srinigar.We had previously visited Gandhi's memorial and museum in Delhi,certainly worth a visit.Holy Cow is an even better read following your trip.I had read it before our trip and I have just finished it again.It is so apt,makes the memories come flooding back.

Aussie 5 · Oct 27th, 2005, 09:52

Just picked up Jonathan Harley's 'Lost in Transmission' from the library for my next read on India. Looking forward to reading from the country from a man's perspective.... could be very interesting...

MissTee · Oct 27th, 2005, 14:57

Hi guys...
a good book to read if you liked holy cow is call "yoga school drop out" by Lucy edge. Its very good and also the book has a web site...http://www.yogaschooldropout.com/
and also a good list of Yoga places in the back.
Another book that I picked up when I was in India is " are u experienced" by william sutcliffe.
http://www.topwritecorner.com/reviews/review17.htm
again another good read...
enjoy

MissTee · Oct 27th, 2005, 14:59

Just another quick one ... found this list for you .. hope it helps
http://www.indiastar.com/
that site has a big list of book ...
enjoy

indianSummer · Oct 27th, 2005, 15:16

Just finished reading "India Unbound" by Gurcharan Das. Makes interesting reading. Not a travelogue though!

I need to pick up Holy Cow...

holdtight · Jan 20th, 2006, 01:14

"The Girl" by Sonia Faleiro is well worth reading. Lovely book set in Goa, really shows a different side of the place. One can imagine what it would be like actually being Goan, growing up in one of those lovely old Portuguese homes, going to one of those lovely churches...

check out www.soniafaleiro.com for a sample.

Lakshmi Bhabi · Jan 20th, 2006, 06:50

I like Holy Cow, too. I read it while in India my first time - it was a great companion and funny to read about someone having similar frustrations and joys as I was going through...

Mango, I don't have a short history, (I bought "India, a History" by John Keay...a bit heavy) but if you find a well-written, more concise history I'd love to hear about it. Thanks

Indiadancer · Jan 20th, 2006, 08:34

I am reading "The Rice Mother" by Rani Manicka. Excellent time pass read...

wonderwomanusa · Jan 20th, 2006, 13:06

Although there was less about India than I expected, Vikram Seth's newest book, TWO LIVES, was excellent.

iwanttogoback · Jan 20th, 2006, 22:16

Quote:

Although there was less about India than I expected, Vikram Seth's newest book, TWO LIVES, was excellent

from (an obviously badly written) review i read, i didn't realise that there was anything about india in this book!
'an unequal music', which i think he wrote after 'a suitable boy' has absolutely nothing about india, i don't even think that any of the characters are indian. but it is an exquisitely written book and an absolute pleasure to read. if you haven't read it, but love seth's writing i thoroughly recommend it.

bijapuri · Jan 20th, 2006, 22:21

just finished 2- one night in the call center, and Brick Lane. Both enjoyable. However, I think my pick of 2005 is Shalimar the Clown. Absolutely stunning in so many ways. . . . .

mantaray · Jan 20th, 2006, 23:47

Just finished ´SHANTARAM´by Gregory Roberts. Fantastic! Based on a true story of an Australian who escaped from prison and ends up in the Bombay underworld. 935 pages and very enjoyable. Perfect for those long train journeys..

Oct 27th, 2005, 04:57	#1
mangofanatic Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 34	Anyone read these books? (1) Notes on Love in a Tamil Family by Margaret Trawick (2) The Camphor Flame by C. J. Fuller Let me know if they are worth reading. The descriptions sound interesting on amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/069...EVE&v=gla nce http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/052...QI1&v=gla nce

Oct 27th, 2005, 05:55	#3
mangofanatic Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 34	Short history of India? Thanks, Aussie---I'll check it out. Have a good trip! Can anyone recommend a good, short history of India? I found this one: A Traveller's History of India (2nd ed) by Sinharaja Tammita-Delgoda http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156...N0R&v=glan ce Have any of you read this one? I have been reading Nehru's "Glimpses of World History", a series of letters he wrote to Indira while in jail. It's fascinating, and I recommend it, but it is hefty (upwards of a thousand pages) and written mostly from memory. I just want something I can read in the next month or so for a good, quick overview of cultural and political history.

Oct 27th, 2005, 09:00	#4
Callous Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 113	Freedom At Midnight I really enjoyed reading Freedom at Midnight whilst we were lying on a Shakara in Dal Lake Srinigar.We had previously visited Gandhi's memorial and museum in Delhi,certainly worth a visit.Holy Cow is an even better read following your trip.I had read it before our trip and I have just finished it again.It is so apt,makes the memories come flooding back.

Oct 27th, 2005, 09:52	#5
Aussie 5 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 278	Just picked up Jonathan Harley's 'Lost in Transmission' from the library for my next read on India. Looking forward to reading from the country from a man's perspective.... could be very interesting... Last edited by Aussie 5 : Oct 28th, 2005 at 07:36.

Oct 27th, 2005, 15:16	#8
indianSummer Summer days are here... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 24	India Unbound Just finished reading "India Unbound" by Gurcharan Das. Makes interesting reading. Not a travelogue though! I need to pick up Holy Cow...

Oct 27th, 2005, 05:28	#2
Aussie 5 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 278	Nope mangofanatic. But I've just finished 'Holy Cow - An Indian Adventure' by Sarah Macdonald. A very entertaining and enlightening read. Sarah visited India in the 80s and was not impressed. She vowed never to return. But after her boyfriend (Jonathan Harley) was posted to Delhi as the Australian Broadcasting Corporations India correspondent she decided to join him. So after 11 years since her last visit she re-explores India, it's beliefs and takes stock of herself..... Great stuff! She tells things warts and all, and has greatly increased my interest in India. I'll start my own first journey to India in 2 weeks time - so I'll soon find out for myself!

Oct 27th, 2005, 14:57	#6
MissTee Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Townsville Australia Posts: 40	Hi guys... a good book to read if you liked holy cow is call "yoga school drop out" by Lucy edge. Its very good and also the book has a web site...http://www.yogaschooldropout.com/ and also a good list of Yoga places in the back. Another book that I picked up when I was in India is " are u experienced" by william sutcliffe. http://www.topwritecorner.com/reviews/review17.htm again another good read... enjoy

Oct 27th, 2005, 14:59	#7
MissTee Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Townsville Australia Posts: 40	Just another quick one ... found this list for you .. hope it helps http://www.indiastar.com/ that site has a big list of book ... enjoy

Jan 20th, 2006, 01:14	#9
holdtight Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6	"The Girl" by Sonia Faleiro is well worth reading. Lovely book set in Goa, really shows a different side of the place. One can imagine what it would be like actually being Goan, growing up in one of those lovely old Portuguese homes, going to one of those lovely churches... check out www.soniafaleiro.com for a sample.

Jan 20th, 2006, 06:50	#10
Lakshmi Bhabi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 199	I like Holy Cow, too. I read it while in India my first time - it was a great companion and funny to read about someone having similar frustrations and joys as I was going through... Mango, I don't have a short history, (I bought "India, a History" by John Keay...a bit heavy) but if you find a well-written, more concise history I'd love to hear about it. Thanks

Jan 20th, 2006, 08:34	#11
Indiadancer Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 76	I am reading "The Rice Mother" by Rani Manicka. Excellent time pass read...

Jan 20th, 2006, 13:06	#12
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,567	Although there was less about India than I expected, Vikram Seth's newest book, TWO LIVES, was excellent.

Jan 20th, 2006, 22:21	#14
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	just finished 2- one night in the call center, and Brick Lane. Both enjoyable. However, I think my pick of 2005 is Shalimar the Clown. Absolutely stunning in so many ways. . . . . __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Jan 20th, 2006, 23:47	#15
mantaray Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: switzerland Posts: 14	Just finished ´SHANTARAM´by Gregory Roberts. Fantastic! Based on a true story of an Australian who escaped from prison and ends up in the Bombay underworld. 935 pages and very enjoyable. Perfect for those long train journeys..

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