Who's reading what,when & the experience

aramis · Nov 1st, 2006, 10:02

half way through Maximum City by Suketu Mehta.....his observations are very perceptive and he minces no words when he describes what Mumbai has come to be since he left it last....strongly recommend it to all those who've moved in to Mumbai recently...there's a lot of snippets in this book you can relate to....

Shiver me Timbers · Nov 1st, 2006, 18:39

reading 'Middle East - 2000 years of history' by bernard lewis, a fairly comprehensive study of the region, and like most of his books, very readable.

martintheveg · Nov 1st, 2006, 19:14

Arafat, the biography.
by Tony Walker & Andrew Gowers.

shilpaks · Nov 3rd, 2006, 12:10

im reading "the twentieth wife" by indu sunderasan(am going thro a "i will read indian authors only for a while" phase)
the style is simple, but the story seems like some bollywood love story set in the mughal time, beautiful heroine, handsome hero and all the romantic stuff in between. it a fast read is all i can say abt it.

picked up black friday(the book based on the mumbai blasts, the movie based on the book has a song by indian ocean which is awesome), cant wait to start this book

Mother Ganga · Nov 18th, 2006, 17:21

I am currently re-reading 'Caste as woman', by Vrinda Nabar, an essay of Indian woman today with the argument that gender in many ways is the equaliser to Indian women even though the conventional caste-estructure continues to dominate indian society.

Introducing chapter 3 is this:
Viewpoint
(A modern indian ballad)
Bring out the silver and polish the brass
brush off the cobwebs and clean all the glass
unlock the pantry, lay out the food
keep away grandma, her manners are crude

We' ve got a daughter we are willing to sell
his is the bargain, the profit as well:
he' s coming to see for himself, so he said,
how she and our money would look in his bed.

Our daughter is a graduate, he is no cause to moan,
she is a well brought up girl with no mind of her own,
she speaks English well, has a fair pretty face,
and is five foot inches by Lord Bhagwan' s grace.

Of course she' ll be happy, I'll tell you that flat:
She' ll have her own home, produce brat after brat,
Forget all her youth as she spins out her life
in waddling behind him, a good Indian wife.

And she' ll long to have sons: the are booms from above
Take it from me that they' re proof of God' s love
And when all her daughters are suitably grown,
She' ll marry them off as we' ve done our own.

Vrinda Nabar.

robotvoice · Nov 19th, 2006, 03:45

i am writing a book this month, as part of national novel writing month.
www.nanowrimo.org
it's a story about a guy who is transformed into a cat.

Nick-H · Nov 23rd, 2006, 11:57

I've left Henry James behind and have jumped from the 19th Century back to the 21st with A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian by Marina Lewycka. This book caught my eye in london back in the spring --- and it has just turned up here.

You can ignore the 'Extremely Funny', The Times on the front cover: but then I have long since learnt that literary critics have some kind of sense of humour that is utterly unlike mine! But it is a good story of a marriage-of-convenience (for the bride, at least) of a Ukranian 35-year old to an Octagenerian widow, also Ukranian by birth but British for decades, and the subsequent disasters and family ruptions that follow.

Funny how quickly one gets through light, modern writing compared to much more heavy-weight 19th-C stuff!

kidsan · Nov 23rd, 2006, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I've left Henry James behind and have jumped from the 19th Century back to the 21st with A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian by Marina Lewycka. This book caught my eye in london back in the spring --- and it has just turned up here.

You can ignore the 'Extremely Funny', The Times on the front cover: but then I have long since learnt that literary critics have some kind of sense of humour that is utterly unlike mine!

oh, but it is very funny nick! and also very moving. In all, a rather wonderful book

Nick-H · Nov 23rd, 2006, 14:40

I'm up to page 183. No laughs yet.

You wouldn't be a critic would you?

travelswithmyghds · Nov 23rd, 2006, 14:57

I'm currently reading the Kiran Dessai book, 'The Inheritance of Loss'. Can't say as I particularly agree with all the hype about it being biased, but I can see where the critics are coming from. Does anyone agree?

Shiver me Timbers · Nov 23rd, 2006, 19:22

Ok, started 'Heart of Darkness' in the last few days, still waiting to find out what all the fuss is about......

Casey · Nov 24th, 2006, 07:17

[quote=travelswithmyghds]I'm currently reading the Kiran Dessai book, 'The Inheritance of Loss'. Can't say as I particularly agree with all the hype about it being biased, but I can see where the critics are coming from. Does anyone agree?[quote]

I agree. I certainly didn't find it to be a great book. I find she tries to tell a sweeping story without enough character development. It was a good effort, and opposite to what I often think, (where was the editor to chop out all the excess) I believe she could have added more to illustrate the character's motivations a bit more. Why did the grandfather treat people so badly, why did the boy she fell in love with behave the way he did. The book has the characters behave in ways that some explanation would be nice. I generally don't like being spoonfed what to think, but in this case a bit more would have added to the impact. A good effort, but not worth the hype. I did hear her being interviewed, and she herself is very humble about her work, and I will keep an eye out for anything else she may put out. As a writer, I think she has it in her to produce something really great. This just wasn't it.

amyl · Nov 24th, 2006, 08:23

came across this lady while surfing.....Peace Pilgrim.

Quote:

From 1953 to 1981 a silver haired woman calling herself only "Peace Pilgrim" walked more than 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace. She vowed to "remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food."

Alas! her life long walking when she spent her entire youth for something that just does not seem to be present where it's required.. Peace. I won't say her attempt to spread the msg of peace was futile as she has and still do touch many lives thru her speeches. But when news from Iraq comes we become cynical about such attempts

.

Anyway.... so about reading.....glad to find her book in a pdf version here. gonna take prints of it today. Tho not a literature work am sure it will give a good insight in her quest and her life in general.

on another note.... if anyone interested in Bapuji aka Mahatma Gandhi aka Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi aka Gandhiji aka The Father of Nation ... here is a PDF version of his autobiography.

Peace!

Lou Wilson · Nov 26th, 2006, 18:56

If you liked Shantaram there is a book which I read in 1970 while in India. It is nonfiction and a real thrill to read. It may be hard to get now. It is called
"Portrait Of Bombay's Underworld" by Balakrishna
Published: India, Manaktalas, 1966
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Softback
168 pages in card covers. In 13 chapters: The Lawless City; Dadas - the Secret Criminals; the Bootleggers; the Dope Pedlar; the Slave Trader; the Gamester; the Beggar; the House-breaker; the Thief; the Smuggler; the Racketeer; Avisit to Hell; & What the Figures Do Not Reveal, the author, a Staff Reporter of the 'Free Press Journal (Bombay, investigates & reveals the sordid truth about the seething world of crime & criminals lurking just beneath the surface of one of India's great cities.

SANJAY_DEL · Nov 26th, 2006, 19:01

If you are in Delhi, seeking some rare books...
If you want books that are no longer in the stores..
Visit Daryaganj at Delhi Gate on a Sunday mornings.
The pavements are well stocked with well worn titles in paperback, hardbound, coffee table, collector's editions, magazines, college textbooks, university treatises... everything is on offer at bargain prices.
Beats Ibay any day.

Nov 23rd, 2006, 11:57	#247
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,765	I've left Henry James behind and have jumped from the 19th Century back to the 21st with A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian by Marina Lewycka. This book caught my eye in london back in the spring --- and it has just turned up here. You can ignore the 'Extremely Funny', The Times on the front cover: but then I have long since learnt that literary critics have some kind of sense of humour that is utterly unlike mine! But it is a good story of a marriage-of-convenience (for the bride, at least) of a Ukranian 35-year old to an Octagenerian widow, also Ukranian by birth but British for decades, and the subsequent disasters and family ruptions that follow. Funny how quickly one gets through light, modern writing compared to much more heavy-weight 19th-C stuff! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Nov 26th, 2006, 18:56	#254
Lou Wilson Untitled Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Philadelphia. PA USA Posts: 116	Portrait Of Bombay's Underworld - a new old book If you liked Shantaram there is a book which I read in 1970 while in India. It is nonfiction and a real thrill to read. It may be hard to get now. It is called "Portrait Of Bombay's Underworld" by Balakrishna Published: India, Manaktalas, 1966 Edition: First Edition Binding: Softback 168 pages in card covers. In 13 chapters: The Lawless City; Dadas - the Secret Criminals; the Bootleggers; the Dope Pedlar; the Slave Trader; the Gamester; the Beggar; the House-breaker; the Thief; the Smuggler; the Racketeer; Avisit to Hell; & What the Figures Do Not Reveal, the author, a Staff Reporter of the 'Free Press Journal (Bombay, investigates & reveals the sordid truth about the seething world of crime & criminals lurking just beneath the surface of one of India's great cities.

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Nov 1st, 2006, 10:02	#241
aramis Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6	half way through Maximum City by Suketu Mehta.....his observations are very perceptive and he minces no words when he describes what Mumbai has come to be since he left it last....strongly recommend it to all those who've moved in to Mumbai recently...there's a lot of snippets in this book you can relate to....

Nov 1st, 2006, 18:39	#242
Shiver me Timbers Dreaming of Palm Trees Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dublin Posts: 1,386	reading 'Middle East - 2000 years of history' by bernard lewis, a fairly comprehensive study of the region, and like most of his books, very readable.

Nov 1st, 2006, 19:14	#243
martintheveg Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bromley, Kent , U.K. Posts: 93	Arafat, the biography. by Tony Walker & Andrew Gowers.

Nov 3rd, 2006, 12:10	#244
shilpaks Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Basically from blore,now in Delhi Posts: 262	im reading "the twentieth wife" by indu sunderasan(am going thro a "i will read indian authors only for a while" phase) the style is simple, but the story seems like some bollywood love story set in the mughal time, beautiful heroine, handsome hero and all the romantic stuff in between. it a fast read is all i can say abt it. picked up black friday(the book based on the mumbai blasts, the movie based on the book has a song by indian ocean which is awesome), cant wait to start this book

Nov 18th, 2006, 17:21	#245
Mother Ganga Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 32	I am currently re-reading 'Caste as woman', by Vrinda Nabar, an essay of Indian woman today with the argument that gender in many ways is the equaliser to Indian women even though the conventional caste-estructure continues to dominate indian society. Introducing chapter 3 is this: Viewpoint (A modern indian ballad) Bring out the silver and polish the brass brush off the cobwebs and clean all the glass unlock the pantry, lay out the food keep away grandma, her manners are crude We' ve got a daughter we are willing to sell his is the bargain, the profit as well: he' s coming to see for himself, so he said, how she and our money would look in his bed. Our daughter is a graduate, he is no cause to moan, she is a well brought up girl with no mind of her own, she speaks English well, has a fair pretty face, and is five foot inches by Lord Bhagwan' s grace. Of course she' ll be happy, I'll tell you that flat: She' ll have her own home, produce brat after brat, Forget all her youth as she spins out her life in waddling behind him, a good Indian wife. And she' ll long to have sons: the are booms from above Take it from me that they' re proof of God' s love And when all her daughters are suitably grown, She' ll marry them off as we' ve done our own. Vrinda Nabar.

Nov 19th, 2006, 03:45	#246
robotvoice mikeaholic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: california Posts: 1,159	i am writing a book this month, as part of national novel writing month. www.nanowrimo.org it's a story about a guy who is transformed into a cat.

Nov 23rd, 2006, 14:40	#249
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,765	I'm up to page 183. No laughs yet. You wouldn't be a critic would you?

Nov 23rd, 2006, 14:57	#250
travelswithmyghds Take me home, country roads... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 13	I'm currently reading the Kiran Dessai book, 'The Inheritance of Loss'. Can't say as I particularly agree with all the hype about it being biased, but I can see where the critics are coming from. Does anyone agree?

Nov 23rd, 2006, 19:22	#251
Shiver me Timbers Dreaming of Palm Trees Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dublin Posts: 1,386	Ok, started 'Heart of Darkness' in the last few days, still waiting to find out what all the fuss is about......

Nov 24th, 2006, 07:17	#252
Casey Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 625	[quote=travelswithmyghds]I'm currently reading the Kiran Dessai book, 'The Inheritance of Loss'. Can't say as I particularly agree with all the hype about it being biased, but I can see where the critics are coming from. Does anyone agree?[quote] I agree. I certainly didn't find it to be a great book. I find she tries to tell a sweeping story without enough character development. It was a good effort, and opposite to what I often think, (where was the editor to chop out all the excess) I believe she could have added more to illustrate the character's motivations a bit more. Why did the grandfather treat people so badly, why did the boy she fell in love with behave the way he did. The book has the characters behave in ways that some explanation would be nice. I generally don't like being spoonfed what to think, but in this case a bit more would have added to the impact. A good effort, but not worth the hype. I did hear her being interviewed, and she herself is very humble about her work, and I will keep an eye out for anything else she may put out. As a writer, I think she has it in her to produce something really great. This just wasn't it.

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Nov 26th, 2006, 19:01	#255
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	If you are in Delhi, seeking some rare books... If you want books that are no longer in the stores.. Visit Daryaganj at Delhi Gate on a Sunday mornings. The pavements are well stocked with well worn titles in paperback, hardbound, coffee table, collector's editions, magazines, college textbooks, university treatises... everything is on offer at bargain prices. Beats Ibay any day.