HELP! What books to take on my trip?

Wanderratte · Dec 2nd, 2004, 16:15

I really like reading books that take place in the country that I'm visiting. My trip to India is coming up fast and I still haven't really made up my mind.

I found this wonderful link to a list of books on India in this forum, but the list is just too comprehensive and the trip is coming up fast. Can't research all the books mentioned there to see if I'd like them. So I'm all ears for suggestions.

So far the only book I'm taking is Life of Pi.

I've read and liked:
The death of vishnu
The god of small things
The glass palace
A fine balance (depressing though,

)

Just to give you an idea.

So what I'm looking for are books that you don't want to put down, where you don't have to think too hard and preferable not too depressing either.

Help please!

Wanderratte

Avnish · Dec 2nd, 2004, 17:17

Hi,

I found a list on another site. The few recommended ones were

'Are you experienced'
'A Suitable Boy'
'Midnight's Children'
'A Fine Balance' - which you have read

For more info have a look at:
http://travelindependent.info/asia.htm#Indiaf

Hope this helps.

tukat · Dec 7th, 2004, 03:48

I loved "Life of Pi" & The death of vishnu &
The god of small things. Haven't read the others you mentioned

Just a few others that I loved that should be enjoyable:

"Brick Lane" by Monica Ali (I couldn't put it down!)

"The Vine of Desire" "Sister of My Heart " "The Mistress of Spices" all by Chitra
Banerjee Divakaruni (India & North America)

"Interpreter of Maladies" "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri (India & USA)

need any more like this? I have a couple of india related novel reading lists cut & pasted from Amazon

SydneyKate · Dec 7th, 2004, 04:05

Some time ago I read "Slowly Down the Ganges" by Eric Newby. It was a wonderful read. Here's a quick summary from the Barnes & Noble site:
On his forty-fourth birthday Eric Newby, a self-confessed river lover, sets out on a 1200-mile journey down the Ganges River from Hardwar to the Bay of Bengal, accompanied by his wife Wanda. Things do not start smoothly as they run aground 63 times in the first six days, but gradually India's holiest river, The Pure, The Eternal, The Creator of Happiness, lives up to its many names and captures them in its spell.

Traveling in a variety of boats, most of them unsuitable, as well as by bus and bullock cart, the Newbys become intimately acquainted with the river's shifting moods and colorful history. Slowly Down the Ganges brims over with engaging characters and entertaining anecdotes, recounted in Newby's inimitable style. Best of all, he brilliantly captures the sights and sounds, the frustrations and rewards, the sheer enchantment of travel in India.

Monkey and Weasel · Dec 7th, 2004, 04:10

'Are You Experience' is a class read - though it can be read in one sitting and is probably worth reading before you go !

Baldy · Dec 7th, 2004, 04:58

diferent tangent - Indians in London - The Buddha of Surburbia by Hanif Kureishi

crvlvr · Dec 7th, 2004, 05:21

Shantaram. With almost a 1,000 pages to read, it will keep you busy for a while..

Wanderratte · Dec 7th, 2004, 15:07

Great suggestions. Thanks!

I've done my trip to the book shop yesterday and picked up Are You Experienced? (very much looking forward to that read. Looks funny.) and A Suitable Boy. Although I'm not sure I'll take that second one along. It's HEAVY. I think I might read it when I get back. So I picked up a third that was recommended to me by the staff: Ladies Coupe by Anita Nair. We'll see.

They didn't carry Brick Lane and Midnight Children only at a ridiculous price. So my plan is to pick up some more books when in Chennai if I run out. Does anyone know a good bookshop there?

Wanderratte · Dec 7th, 2004, 16:14

Just found the following in an earlier thread:

Higginbothams near LIC junction at Mount Road is the best bookshop in Chennai. You can walk around and pick. I think they close at 7.30 or so in the evening.

nomadelmundo · Dec 7th, 2004, 20:31

snow crash
dune series
angels & demons

Karma Queen · Dec 7th, 2004, 21:28

i really didn't like are you experienced?. the guy spends the entire time bitter and angry and not really enjoying india!
paul theroux's great railway bazaar is a good read. he travels overland to and around india. some rather amusing anecdotes in there

Dino · Dec 9th, 2004, 14:33

Try 'Karma Cola' for a very funny read (though be warned the humour is based on cynicism) by author Gita Mehta.I couldn't stop myself laughing out loud during the train journey I read it on.It is subtitled 'marketing the mystical east' for a clue on the subject matter.

I've just finished Shoba Narayan's fine first book called 'Monsoon Diary'.I'll quote from the back to give you an idea of what it's about.

"Shoba Narayan's sumptious,mouth-watering memoir of growing up in a large,devoted Indian family confirms a central truth:life is lived in the kitchen."

"Narayan seamlessly interweaves stories of her life with the memorable meals that have punctuated it."

" A homage to Indian culture,country and cuisine"

And at the end of each chapter you get a great South Indian recipe.

Dec 2nd, 2004, 16:15	#1
Wanderratte Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Posts: 46	HELP! What books to take on my trip? I really like reading books that take place in the country that I'm visiting. My trip to India is coming up fast and I still haven't really made up my mind. I found this wonderful link to a list of books on India in this forum, but the list is just too comprehensive and the trip is coming up fast. Can't research all the books mentioned there to see if I'd like them. So I'm all ears for suggestions. So far the only book I'm taking is Life of Pi. I've read and liked: The death of vishnu The god of small things The glass palace A fine balance (depressing though, ) Just to give you an idea. So what I'm looking for are books that you don't want to put down, where you don't have to think too hard and preferable not too depressing either. Help please! Wanderratte

Dec 2nd, 2004, 17:17	#2
Avnish Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Africa Posts: 35	Hi, I found a list on another site. The few recommended ones were 'Are you experienced' 'A Suitable Boy' 'Midnight's Children' 'A Fine Balance' - which you have read For more info have a look at: http://travelindependent.info/asia.htm#Indiaf Hope this helps. __________________ "Disce quasi semper victurus; vive quasi cras moriturus" [Learn as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.]

Dec 7th, 2004, 20:31	#10
nomadelmundo a.k.a Sanyasin - the Wandering Aesthetic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 149	snow crash dune series angels & demons __________________ Visit my forum for backpackers, trekkers & hikers where you can share stories, discuss trails, and upload unlimited amount of travel photos for FREE... @ PlanetNomads.com

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Dec 7th, 2004, 03:48	#3
tukat American Born Caucasian Desi Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New England Posts: 91	I loved "Life of Pi" & The death of vishnu & The god of small things. Haven't read the others you mentioned Just a few others that I loved that should be enjoyable: "Brick Lane" by Monica Ali (I couldn't put it down!) "The Vine of Desire" "Sister of My Heart " "The Mistress of Spices" all by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (India & North America) "Interpreter of Maladies" "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri (India & USA) need any more like this? I have a couple of india related novel reading lists cut & pasted from Amazon

Dec 7th, 2004, 04:05	#4
SydneyKate Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 77	Some time ago I read "Slowly Down the Ganges" by Eric Newby. It was a wonderful read. Here's a quick summary from the Barnes & Noble site: On his forty-fourth birthday Eric Newby, a self-confessed river lover, sets out on a 1200-mile journey down the Ganges River from Hardwar to the Bay of Bengal, accompanied by his wife Wanda. Things do not start smoothly as they run aground 63 times in the first six days, but gradually India's holiest river, The Pure, The Eternal, The Creator of Happiness, lives up to its many names and captures them in its spell. Traveling in a variety of boats, most of them unsuitable, as well as by bus and bullock cart, the Newbys become intimately acquainted with the river's shifting moods and colorful history. Slowly Down the Ganges brims over with engaging characters and entertaining anecdotes, recounted in Newby's inimitable style. Best of all, he brilliantly captures the sights and sounds, the frustrations and rewards, the sheer enchantment of travel in India.

Dec 7th, 2004, 04:10	#5
Monkey and Weasel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 1	'Are You Experience' is a class read - though it can be read in one sitting and is probably worth reading before you go !

Dec 7th, 2004, 04:58	#6
Baldy gotta pee ... Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Brisbane Posts: 187	diferent tangent - Indians in London - The Buddha of Surburbia by Hanif Kureishi

Dec 7th, 2004, 05:21	#7
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: On the move in India.. Posts: 4,535	Shantaram. With almost a 1,000 pages to read, it will keep you busy for a while..

Dec 7th, 2004, 15:07	#8
Wanderratte Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Posts: 46	Great suggestions. Thanks! I've done my trip to the book shop yesterday and picked up Are You Experienced? (very much looking forward to that read. Looks funny.) and A Suitable Boy. Although I'm not sure I'll take that second one along. It's HEAVY. I think I might read it when I get back. So I picked up a third that was recommended to me by the staff: Ladies Coupe by Anita Nair. We'll see. They didn't carry Brick Lane and Midnight Children only at a ridiculous price. So my plan is to pick up some more books when in Chennai if I run out. Does anyone know a good bookshop there?

Dec 7th, 2004, 16:14	#9
Wanderratte Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Posts: 46	Just found the following in an earlier thread: Higginbothams near LIC junction at Mount Road is the best bookshop in Chennai. You can walk around and pick. I think they close at 7.30 or so in the evening.

Dec 7th, 2004, 21:28	#11
Karma Queen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: England Posts: 365	i really didn't like are you experienced?. the guy spends the entire time bitter and angry and not really enjoying india! paul theroux's great railway bazaar is a good read. he travels overland to and around india. some rather amusing anecdotes in there

Dec 9th, 2004, 14:33	#12
Dino Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Murphy's Creek (Oz) Posts: 246	Try 'Karma Cola' for a very funny read (though be warned the humour is based on cynicism) by author Gita Mehta.I couldn't stop myself laughing out loud during the train journey I read it on.It is subtitled 'marketing the mystical east' for a clue on the subject matter. I've just finished Shoba Narayan's fine first book called 'Monsoon Diary'.I'll quote from the back to give you an idea of what it's about. "Shoba Narayan's sumptious,mouth-watering memoir of growing up in a large,devoted Indian family confirms a central truth:life is lived in the kitchen." "Narayan seamlessly interweaves stories of her life with the memorable meals that have punctuated it." " A homage to Indian culture,country and cuisine" And at the end of each chapter you get a great South Indian recipe.

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