Maximum City

BhuttaJi · May 6th, 2005, 23:02

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone has had a look at the new book about Mumbai/Bombay by Suketa Mehta. I have heard a few goo things and wondered what IMer's think.

Merchant · May 6th, 2005, 23:20

I've been touting that book here in IM for a while. Everyone here should read it--one of the all time best books about India.

I met Suketu a few weeks ago. He's a gentle, unassuming soul.

BhuttaJi · May 6th, 2005, 23:29

Hi Merchant,

Thank's for that. I noticed it the other day whilst browsing. I tried to get it through my local library but they have resisted; something to do with end of year finance!

I that case I'll buy it. Thanks for that. Met the guy too very cool when I'm done you can pass on my thoughts

Cheers Bhuttaji/ Scott
Off topic
Ohh by the way Merchant. I was in New York in Nov '98 and met a apiring brit artist. I was wondering what happened to her? Louisa Greenstock she was working in the Bar @ the Gershwin then. Hope she made it.

Merchant · May 6th, 2005, 23:42

Let's hope Miss Greenstock went the way of most female aspiring artists in New York--and married an investment banker!

BhuttaJi · May 6th, 2005, 23:55

haha

Yeah let's hope so. Cheers

Merchant · May 7th, 2005, 00:09

Back to topic . . .

To see what a phenom Suketu and his book have become, check his site:

http://www.suketumehta.com/

He was the first South Asian to be a finalist for the Pultizer Prize in non-fiction (he lost, alas, to a book about the CIA's operations in Afghanistan pre 9/11).

He's also become the go-to guy in the media for thoughtful, considered commentary on all things Indian. On the site, there's a link to his National Geographic article on Bollywood (he also co-wrote the script to "Mission Kashmir").

BhuttaJi · May 7th, 2005, 00:13

Just had a quick look. Thank's Merchant. Going to kicked out of the library soon so will catch up with you later. Thank's again for the link. Cheers Bhuttaji/ Scott

iyou · May 7th, 2005, 02:23

I read the book a few months back, and found it to be a real page turner, at least until he got to the middle section where he spent what in my opinion was far too much time on the dance bar/hit man/police man subject. It picked up again towards the end, and finished nicely, but man, the middle part was slooooow. Still, it's a highly recommended book, and one I expect to read again some day.

Auntyji · May 7th, 2005, 04:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merchant

He's also become the go-to guy in the media for thoughtful, considered commentary on all things Indian.

About time someone else took over from Fareed Zakaria/Shashi Tharoor. Though the idea of anyone being a one-stop source for all things Indian is a little unreal.

Merchant · May 7th, 2005, 04:22

Quote:

About time someone else took over from Fareed Zakaria/Shashi Tharoor

An excellent point. I see Fareed has now branched out with a TV show, which is pretty sleepy.

Both those guys are from families of considerable privilege in India. Suketu immigrated with his family to the US from Mumbai and grew up in Queens.

Auntyji · May 7th, 2005, 04:29

Yeah, Fareed is a Cathedral student (my husband went there too which is how I know, but um, he has more modest ambitions) and I feel FZ's looking at a career in politics in the future. What TV show is this? Had no clue about any of these South Asian things, as usual. Just have to wait until I graduate!

Maz 1979 · May 7th, 2005, 04:32

I am reading this at the moment and i think it's fantastic.

DoDi · May 7th, 2005, 04:55

Thanks Bhuttaji... just what I was looking for. It will be the next book I read.

Merchant · May 7th, 2005, 05:31

Fareed's new show--

http://www.foreignexchange.tv/

It sounds like a good idea, until you watch the clip. It's not very snappy.

DoDi · May 7th, 2005, 06:32

I went and read some reader reviews on amazon... it sounds like a fascinating book.

As a newbie I am unfamiliar with some of the objections being made by some amazon readers about the book and I'm wondering if anyone here could explain what a Maharashtrian is, what's a ghati, what is 'Dheela', what's Shiv Sena, and what's a 'typical South Bombay snob'?

This book sure caused Maximum heat for some readers!

May 6th, 2005, 23:02	#1
BhuttaJi Buttaji Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newcastle Uk and Around Posts: 100	Maximum City Hello all, I was wondering if anyone has had a look at the new book about Mumbai/Bombay by Suketa Mehta. I have heard a few goo things and wondered what IMer's think.

May 7th, 2005, 02:23	#8
iyou Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 502	I read the book a few months back, and found it to be a real page turner, at least until he got to the middle section where he spent what in my opinion was far too much time on the dance bar/hit man/police man subject. It picked up again towards the end, and finished nicely, but man, the middle part was slooooow. Still, it's a highly recommended book, and one I expect to read again some day. __________________ . . . --May a moody baby doom a yam.

May 7th, 2005, 04:32	#12
Maz 1979 Monkey Bait Join Date: May 2004 Location: London Posts: 151	I am reading this at the moment and i think it's fantastic. __________________ India

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May 6th, 2005, 23:20	#2
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,071	I've been touting that book here in IM for a while. Everyone here should read it--one of the all time best books about India. I met Suketu a few weeks ago. He's a gentle, unassuming soul.

May 6th, 2005, 23:29	#3
BhuttaJi Buttaji Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newcastle Uk and Around Posts: 100	Hi Merchant, Thank's for that. I noticed it the other day whilst browsing. I tried to get it through my local library but they have resisted; something to do with end of year finance! I that case I'll buy it. Thanks for that. Met the guy too very cool when I'm done you can pass on my thoughts Cheers Bhuttaji/ Scott Off topic Ohh by the way Merchant. I was in New York in Nov '98 and met a apiring brit artist. I was wondering what happened to her? Louisa Greenstock she was working in the Bar @ the Gershwin then. Hope she made it.

May 6th, 2005, 23:42	#4
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,071	Let's hope Miss Greenstock went the way of most female aspiring artists in New York--and married an investment banker!

May 6th, 2005, 23:55	#5
BhuttaJi Buttaji Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newcastle Uk and Around Posts: 100	haha Yeah let's hope so. Cheers

May 7th, 2005, 00:09	#6
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,071	Back to topic . . . To see what a phenom Suketu and his book have become, check his site: http://www.suketumehta.com/ He was the first South Asian to be a finalist for the Pultizer Prize in non-fiction (he lost, alas, to a book about the CIA's operations in Afghanistan pre 9/11). He's also become the go-to guy in the media for thoughtful, considered commentary on all things Indian. On the site, there's a link to his National Geographic article on Bollywood (he also co-wrote the script to "Mission Kashmir").

May 7th, 2005, 00:13	#7
BhuttaJi Buttaji Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newcastle Uk and Around Posts: 100	Just had a quick look. Thank's Merchant. Going to kicked out of the library soon so will catch up with you later. Thank's again for the link. Cheers Bhuttaji/ Scott

May 7th, 2005, 04:29	#11
Auntyji One tight slap! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 323	Yeah, Fareed is a Cathedral student (my husband went there too which is how I know, but um, he has more modest ambitions) and I feel FZ's looking at a career in politics in the future. What TV show is this? Had no clue about any of these South Asian things, as usual. Just have to wait until I graduate!

May 7th, 2005, 04:55	#13
DoDi Nodal Agent Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: I live in my cube. Posts: 215	Thanks Bhuttaji... just what I was looking for. It will be the next book I read.

May 7th, 2005, 05:31	#14
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,071	Fareed's new show-- http://www.foreignexchange.tv/ It sounds like a good idea, until you watch the clip. It's not very snappy.

May 7th, 2005, 06:32	#15
DoDi Nodal Agent Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: I live in my cube. Posts: 215	I went and read some reader reviews on amazon... it sounds like a fascinating book. As a newbie I am unfamiliar with some of the objections being made by some amazon readers about the book and I'm wondering if anyone here could explain what a Maharashtrian is, what's a ghati, what is 'Dheela', what's Shiv Sena, and what's a 'typical South Bombay snob'? This book sure caused Maximum heat for some readers!

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