Book Recommendations :)

phantom

Since I couldnt find any thread where people can recommend books to others, So I am starting this one. Please post the name of the book, the author and your rating/reviews in any particular order

Ok, I just finished two books in a row and found both of them quite good, so i recommend both of them here.
The first is "Maximum city" by Suketu Mehta. We have quite a few threads dedicated to this book already, and "Merchant" is an avid promoter of this book, so I wont say much. Except that this book turned to be whatever people praised and much more. Dont miss it. Its Mumbai turned inside out

Second book is "Five Point Someone" by Chetan Bhagat
This is about the life and times of 3 mediocre IIT students and how they managed to went through the premier institute of India. A lot has been said and told about IITs all over the world. But this is the first book that gives you a sneak preview on what you can expect, once you get in. The book is quite funny and dark, in fact its the first time after "Catch 22" that I laughed so much while reading a novel.
Anybody who has spent their college days in a Dorm, after passing through some competitive exam, will identify with it, at some point or the other. A nice read. As a debut novel of the author (whose second novel "One night in call centre" is making waves these days), I think that he had done a pretty good job. Hopefully he will keep on delivering

Paagla Dashu

Phantom,

It's a great book. I don't think its about 3 "mediocre" IIT students though - its about 3 intelligent creative minds with mediocre grades - there is a big difference between being mediocre and getting mediocre grades in exams.

Some other good books of the moment are:

Shantaram

Namesake

Eldaras

check the following threads:
* Who's reading what,when & the experience
* Recommended Reading
* India Reading

phantom

Who's the author of NameSake and whats it about ??
I have heard about Shantaram and its the next on my list
And yeah, you are correct, "5 point someone" is about 3 students with mediocre grades ..

Paagla Dashu

Namesake is written by Jhumpa lLahiri - who wrote "Interpreter of Maladies"

India Edge

Currently re-reading Rohinton Mistry's "Swimming Lessons & Other Stories from Firozsha Baag". Short stories centering on a Parsi community in Bombay. Each of Mistry's short stories leave me with the feeling of having read a novel - an amazing writer...

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BlueRose

Hello~ The namesake is a very good book. You ask what is it about? It is the story of a family immigrating from Calcutta to America and all that this entails. The clash of cultures and what it means to be from another place. How families or rather this family struggles to remain respectful of old ways in a new world. I started this book while I was in Calcutta and finished it when I got home to America. Couldnt have been more appripo...A memorable book.

Oh, and another one I reccomend highly is "The Tortilla Curtain".. this is a focus on the Mexican/ Central American immigration to America, this time to Southern Cal. The author is :T. Coraghessan Boyle. What a book that is, the images stay with one for years after (at least that is my experience and I dont have the best memory)
I have another on hold at the library it is called "Enriques Journey" this tracks the dangerous and miserable journey that many make by "the death train" from Central America and the Chiapas region to come to America. Many die or lose limbs in the process. I am really looking forward to this book as I have a keen interest in what is now happening around the whole new "immigration" issues set forth by the current non Prez.

BaHaMo

Boyle is a writer who has written a few great books (East is East, Water Music, Tortilla Curtain) and some real clunkers.

I've mentioned Q&A by Vikas Swarup on another thread but I will mention it again because it is fabulous and a must read for anyone remotely interested in India, or anyone else.

kayozz

Shantaram.... 10./10

bharatindia

Not necessarily some "new" stuff, since I am keen on the "real stuff", no matter how old or new it might be..
One of my favourites from all times it is a novel, entitled "Maitreyi", by Mircea Eliade (Romanian novelist, philosopher etc, later professor at Chicago University). I will reveal something about the idea of the books, just to make you interested in it... First of all, it is based on Eliade's real life story (who later became a well-known historian of religions and philosopher). He came to Calcutta in the 30s for his doctoral studies on Indian civilization and he lived in Dasgupta's house (a great Indian thinker) where he fell in love with his daughter, Maitreyi... Then it is all about this experience and the cultural differences, but it is also an interesting review on Indian customs and culture. I would also recommend "India", by the same author; this one is his journal about the Indian experience. Maybe I would recommend this last one even more thoroughly

Ananda Coomaraswamy - "Hinduism and Buddhism", a great scolastic comparison between the two religions or way of lives...

Ramana Maharishi - "The wiseman from Arunachal" (I am not particularly sure about the accurate title of this one, but it is a very profound and deep book which gathers the essential ideas of Maharishi).

I hope you can find them...

sam371

Hello IMers,

I have looked on amazon and can't seem to find "One night at a call center" by Chetan Bhagat. Can anyone post a link of where I can purchase this book online?

Thanks.

phantom

You can find it here

capt_mahajan

10/10 recommendations


catcher in the rye j.d. salinger
one flew over the cuckoos nest ken kesey

shahronakm

"Who will Cry when you die"
by Robin Sharma - The Author of The Monk Whjo sold his ferrari.

SHIMLA

"Re-run at Rialto" by the actor Tom Alter. An interesting story set in Mussoorie, with a wonderful twist towards the end !

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