Are You Experienced?

Newmark · May 6th, 2005, 00:27

Anyone read William Sutcliffe's "Are You Experienced?"

Superb satire on backpacker culture set in India.

randomviolins · May 6th, 2005, 00:28

"backpacker culture" -- isn't that an oxymoron?

Newmark · May 6th, 2005, 00:41

Well, even the Nazis had a culture.

Whenever I'm in a backpacker ghetto I make a point of finding the crustiest, most dreadlocked, brightest tie-dyed wearing hippies, sitting down next to them and asking them how long they've been on holiday. Then just lay back and watch them bristle...

Ikuru · May 6th, 2005, 00:41

Yes Ive read it and I tried reccomending it on this site, but I dont think anyone got it... Its a Great And mostly funny book about backpacking culture in India Damn it! GO READ IT ALLREADY You wont regret it!!!

But its nothing deep so dont expect more than way fun and easy going.

And if you like it he does have a short novel story in another book called Fortune hotel that has weird and som funny stories from all over the world in it....

Rob_The_Pom · May 6th, 2005, 00:47

I think it's a cracking read. Truly hilarious!

Newmark · May 6th, 2005, 00:49

I first read it when I was nineteen, and got to admit some of my laughs were a little nervous. It cut a bit close then! I think it should be made a compulsary reader for any teenager going backpacking for the first time.

04274108 · May 6th, 2005, 01:09

I'd rather LISTEN to Are You Experienced? by Hendrix!

Vasko · May 6th, 2005, 01:44

I thought it was alright up until about halfway through, then it turned into boring drivel that led nowhere. But the author must have done some traveling himself, that's for sure...

And it poses the very real (and personal) question: What do backpackers do all day?

Shiva · May 6th, 2005, 02:49

I love this book. I've read it at least 5 times and will read it again and again (it only takes one to two evenings). Recommended it also to a couple of friends and most of the people found it really funny.

Hmmm...I think the time has come now to read it a sixt time ;-) (wandering to the book shelf and pick it)

ColinT · May 6th, 2005, 03:00

I agree with Vasko. It lost its way half way through and became a bit juvenile, probably because the main character was only 19 (or the author ran out of steam). It was definitely laugh out loud funny for the first 80 pages. I guess most foreigners who have travelled around India could easily identify with a lot of what is in it.

Dr Funkenstein · May 6th, 2005, 03:09

Very, very funny book.

Picks it's targets perfectly and doesn't hold back on ripping the piss.

I've read it a few times, too. The 'leper-washing in Udaipur' bit still gets a laugh out of me even now

RedSwordfish · May 6th, 2005, 03:18

The best part are the shits...

vistet · May 6th, 2005, 05:08

I´ve never laughed more during a (second hand) shag...

steven_ber · May 6th, 2005, 14:19

I also agree with Vasko, though the first half was hilarious, the rest was a bit boring.

Trying to remember the book....there was a problem with a mosquito net in a Delhi hotel room,

that had me laughing out loud on a packed tube train.

May 6th, 2005, 00:27	#1
Newmark Ben Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 35	Are You Experienced? Anyone read William Sutcliffe's "Are You Experienced?" Superb satire on backpacker culture set in India.

May 6th, 2005, 00:41	#4
Ikuru the only "end" is "you" Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: infront of the screen Posts: 1,913	Yes Ive read it and I tried reccomending it on this site, but I dont think anyone got it... Its a Great And mostly funny book about backpacking culture in India Damn it! GO READ IT ALLREADY You wont regret it!!! But its nothing deep so dont expect more than way fun and easy going. And if you like it he does have a short novel story in another book called Fortune hotel that has weird and som funny stories from all over the world in it.... Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.ikuru.se My art.

May 6th, 2005, 00:47	#5
Rob_The_Pom offcourse essentric Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 1,299	I think it's a cracking read. Truly hilarious! __________________ There is no God but Dawkins and Hitchens is his prophet.

May 6th, 2005, 03:09	#11
Dr Funkenstein Joolay !!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Manali, Himachal Pradesh Posts: 854	Very, very funny book. Picks it's targets perfectly and doesn't hold back on ripping the piss. I've read it a few times, too. The 'leper-washing in Udaipur' bit still gets a laugh out of me even now __________________ Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

May 6th, 2005, 14:19	#14
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,571	I also agree with Vasko, though the first half was hilarious, the rest was a bit boring. Trying to remember the book....there was a problem with a mosquito net in a Delhi hotel room, that had me laughing out loud on a packed tube train. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

May 6th, 2005, 00:28	#2
randomviolins Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 109	"backpacker culture" -- isn't that an oxymoron?

May 6th, 2005, 00:49	#6
Newmark Ben Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 35	I first read it when I was nineteen, and got to admit some of my laughs were a little nervous. It cut a bit close then! I think it should be made a compulsary reader for any teenager going backpacking for the first time.

May 6th, 2005, 01:09	#7
04274108 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 293	I'd rather LISTEN to Are You Experienced? by Hendrix!

May 6th, 2005, 01:44	#8
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 493	I thought it was alright up until about halfway through, then it turned into boring drivel that led nowhere. But the author must have done some traveling himself, that's for sure... And it poses the very real (and personal) question: What do backpackers do all day?

May 6th, 2005, 02:49	#9
Shiva Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 26	I love this book. I've read it at least 5 times and will read it again and again (it only takes one to two evenings). Recommended it also to a couple of friends and most of the people found it really funny. Hmmm...I think the time has come now to read it a sixt time ;-) (wandering to the book shelf and pick it)

May 6th, 2005, 03:00	#10
ColinT Future Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK Posts: 335	I agree with Vasko. It lost its way half way through and became a bit juvenile, probably because the main character was only 19 (or the author ran out of steam). It was definitely laugh out loud funny for the first 80 pages. I guess most foreigners who have travelled around India could easily identify with a lot of what is in it.

May 6th, 2005, 03:18	#12
RedSwordfish Mango-Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 94	The best part are the shits...

May 6th, 2005, 05:08	#13
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	I´ve never laughed more during a (second hand) shag...

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