New Indian books

Alan D

Trying desperately to get things going on this board as there seems to be very little traffic. This ones for you Archits. Any new Indian books you can reccommend (fiction or non-fiction) that you think would be available in the UK? As you may have noticed I have plenty of free time.
Good travelling (if you do, that is)

shanshas

Although not new, some of my longtime favourites are

No Full Stops In India by Mark Tully

May You Be The Mother Of A Hundred Sons by Elisabeth Bumiller

A History Of India ( Vol - 1) by Romila Thapar

A History Of India (Vol - 2) by Percival Spear

English August by Upamanyu Chatterjee

Mammaries Of The Indian State by Upamanyu Chatterjee

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor

The Inscrutable Americans by Anurag Mathur (though not on India per se, I loved this book - it was genuinely funny)

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Interpreter Of maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Guide by R. K. Narayan

Malgudi Days by R. K. Narayan

Stories From Premchand by Munshi Premchand (very old book but a true classic)

India : AMillion Mutinies Now by V. S. Naipaul


Maybe these might be of use

indiamike

I am actually reading an older book from back in the 50's by Joseph Campbell (the power of myth) called Baksheesh and Brahman. I am about halfway through it and am amazed how things change and still remain the same.
Reading through his book he experiences the same things that today's traveler experiences. Beggars, pick pockets, and the hand out for Baksheesh at every temple.

I think my favorite line so far in the book is "The eyes sees a river of mud an the inner eye sees a river of grace".

It is a slow read but at the same time it's a good read, since you can experience India in the 50's.

Mike

Rianne

Not new, but one of my favorites is A fine balance by Rohinton Mistry. And do you know Desert Places by Robyn Davidson?

Rianne

Alan D

Thanks for your suggestions folks. I have read most of these already but I spotted a couple on Shanshas list that i will try to find here. If not I will try to buy them in India when I come back in January. I've also made a note of the one you mentioned IndiaMike, sounds interesting. Any more suggestions? Archits where are you?
Good travelling

Rianne

For more suggestions take a look on the Armchair Travel section on my homepage. I bought most of the books in India, but a lot of them are penguin pockets and should be available in the UK. I can always give you ISBN numbers.

Rianne

SallieC

The publishers of "Footprint India" (which I've been using to prep for a trip to Mumbai-Agra-Jaipur-Udaipur-Ahmedabad) have a new book going to print on September 9: "Footprint Rajasthan". I'm eagerly awaiting, since I leave the USA on Setemeber 27!

Krd

Some favorites -


Khushwant Singh: Train to Pakistan : set in the time of partition, it's the finest book i've read

Gita mehta : Karma Cola : set in the late sixties, the clash between east & west

John Irving : a son of the circus

indiamike

This one is for Alan and anyone else into anything really obscure. I consider this to be an important work and have been trying to get another copy of it for a long time.

Years ago I came across a Audio book entitled "A Musical Journey Through India" by Professor Nazir Jairazbhoy. Basically it is a three cassette archive of music from India. Professor Jaizarbhoy went there in 1963 I believe in a VW Micro-bus and traveled across India into little villages and tribes recording traditional village songs.
Not only are the songs interesting but he also narrates the cassette detailing the whole trip. Personally I consider it a time capsule of that period in time and a recording of traditional songs that may never be sung again.

If you ever come across this, grab it with both hands.

UCLA in California prints it, but despite my attempts I could never get a copy. I have also posted on rare book forums with the hopes of finding it, but no luck so far.

The UCLA website talks about it here
jairazbhoy
and here
cassette
Though they list it for sale, I personally have tried and have never been able to get a copy.

If anyone sees this cassette please let me know, it would end a five year search for it.

Mike

Christy

I enjoyed The City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre...insightful look at life on the streets of Calcutta.

KathSF

Christy -

Don't know if you're aware of it, but a movie version of City of Joy came out in around 1993. Haven't read the book (which I'm sure is wonderful), but they did a lousy job on the movie. Even ruined one of my all-time-favorite actors (Art Malik) for me. Still, you might want to watch, just to see your book "played out."

__________________
Happy trails!

Christy

Yes I saw the movie and didn't even recognize the the book in the movie... pretty bad. cg

Gerlinde

Indian politicians are all different...but you MUST read "The making of Laloo Yadav - the unmaking of Bihar" from Sankarshan Thakur. Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers India, 150 Rs.
Gerlinde

Alan D

Ok Gerlinde, it's on my book list for buying in Delhi when I arrive. Is it safe to be seen with this book in Bihar?

Mike, I will look out for the cassette you mentioned.

also some recommendations here for books on India of the early 60's (history now, of course)

Ved Mehta Walking the Indian Streets
Faber & Faber 1961

Dom Moraes Gone Away- An Indian Journal
Heinemann 1960

Allen Ginsberg Indian Journeys 1962-63
City Lights Books SF 1970

Best wishes and good reading

shanshas

A few other books which I thought might be interesting

Snakes and Ladders by Gita Mehta - her finest work yet - a view on contemporary India, beautifully expressed through a collection of short tales.

Sister India by Peggy Pane - a new book, first published in 2001 It is very different from most other books on India and I cant say I liked it very much (too melancholy for my taste), though I couldent let go once I started. The book is quite interesting in its approach and style and is very well written.

Escape From Kathmandu by Kim Stanley Robinson - as the name suggests this is set in Nepal. However, it should appeal to quite a few people who like some humor in their reading. A truly delightful read - highly recommended

City of Djinns by William Darlymple - how did I miss this one in my earlier list one of my favourites, and a must read in my humble opinion for all travellers flying in to Delhi