Who's reading what,when & the experience

Dilliwala · Dec 12th, 2007, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

And both are collectively called Mon Amis.

Oh very good!

capt_mahajan · Dec 12th, 2007, 19:50

thanks, Nick and dilliwala

Back to books:

Kunzru's The Impressionist was a big disappointment, abandoned.

Now started something which reads better, Mukul Kesavan's 'Looking Through Glass".. an interestingly written book (so far) about a guy who finds himself back in 1942.

Nick-H · Dec 12th, 2007, 20:59

Bellow's More Die of Heartbreak continues to be slow and heavy going. It's interesting, yes, and thought-provoking on the psychology of sexual relationships.

The next thing I take off the shelf, though, is going to be light, light, light!

Casey · Dec 14th, 2007, 03:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwanttogoback

did you enjoy 'the remains of the day?' i think i cried at all that repressed love, and the lost opportunities.

I finished The Remains of the Day at work and was amazed. I found it to be one of the best books I have read in a long time. Finally, a Booker prize winner that I have enjoyed. I have read others and have been somewhat underwhelmed, but this one was fantastic. I want to read the rest of his work. I really like Never Let Me Go but I think I enjoyed this one more.

The only problem is what to read next? I have a huge to read shelf but when I finish a good one it's hard to shift my mind into something else. This is where short stories come in handy.

the opoponax · Dec 14th, 2007, 04:08

Just found Autobiography of a Blue Eyed Devil, by Inga Muscio, which I've been looking for for the last couple years. It's basically essays/memoir/musings about growing up white in racist America. Incredibly fun book to read in the visa line, though they were showing Kuch Kuch Hota Hai on the big widescreen TV so it was hard to concentrate on political stuff, no matter how postmodern and gussied up it is.

Aishah · Dec 14th, 2007, 09:28

I'm debating giving up on 'The Inheritance of Loss'. Usual story with me - I start off thinking this is wonderful writing, use of metaphor, similes etc. Then by the time more than halfway into the book it all palls. The writing is so dense, overloaded with detail to make it laborious reading, characters tend to be stereotyped. Because I have been so busy it has been the book for bedtime reading and believe me it does the trick - I am asleep before the end of the 2nd page! So not rivetting stuff.
I was going to pursue to end but don't think I will bother.
More keen to start, Susan Kurosawa's Coronation Talkies.
Pleased you enjoyed 'The Remains of the Day' Casey - as mentioned before I just loved it! And like you, a good short story often fits the bill before the next longer read.

Brisso · Dec 14th, 2007, 10:42

I'm reading the label on the toilet roll wrapper ... could be here a while ... luckily the keyboard reaches ...

Casey · Dec 15th, 2007, 04:25

I think I have stated before that I didn't get all the fuss about Inheritance of Loss. I have decided on an easy read for now: A Terry Pratchett for it's humour.

Aishah · Dec 15th, 2007, 09:31

Yes, a few others also posted they got bored with it. Now I can see why! Coronation Talkies is proving to be much more interesting. By Susan Kurosawa, and written (lucky woman) in the Imperial Hotel and up in Simla. Set in a fictional hill station in the Western Ghats.

whatiyam · Dec 15th, 2007, 10:42

i can see most of you are not shopping in indian bookstores, at least those not located in major cities. the shops i have been to have very limited selection. there a books of collections of, for example, 3 hardy novels together, or all of shakespears plays, for Rs190. i bought the hardy book, i read him many years ago. this time i find that i don't like the plots so much, you know from the beginning that these are going to have tragic endings, but his writing is really well crafted. no i am back to old reliable sherlock holmes. i first read it while on down time proofreading at a law firm. it was a refreshing change to read such direct writing, no passive voice here. i know the stories but still is entertaining read.

Nick-H · Dec 15th, 2007, 13:06

Can't face Hardy: too depressing to even think about, let alone read!

Chennai has a number of half-decent (I stress the half!) bookshops, but not with the variety of literature one would see in London. I do miss that sometimes.

Aishah · Dec 15th, 2007, 16:48

Delhi has some excellent bookstores too with latest titles e.g. Oxford Bookstore,in Statesman Building,CP and Full Circle, Khan Market. My local book exchange often picks up gems left by travellers..other than that I rely on friends to bring or post.

robotvoice · Dec 15th, 2007, 18:41

right now i am reading ashenden by w. sommerset maugham. it's a funny and somewhat light read, very entertaining. i just discovered this author and i must say he is very enjoyable to read.

Casey · Dec 15th, 2007, 20:27

I too am a fan of Maugham. I started with Of Human Bondage and then moved on to some of his others. In fact, I read The Razors Edge on my first trip to India, having found it in a bookstore in Panjim. He portrayed people, with all their foibles, without judging or moralizing. In fact, I think I am going to go find The Painted Veil and read that next. Thanks for the inspiration robotvoice!

capt_mahajan · Dec 15th, 2007, 20:36

Maugham's short stories are good, too.

Slightly repetitive sometimes, specially his 'keen sense of the ridiculous', IIRC.

Dec 12th, 2007, 20:59	#933
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,701	Bellow's More Die of Heartbreak continues to be slow and heavy going. It's interesting, yes, and thought-provoking on the psychology of sexual relationships. The next thing I take off the shelf, though, is going to be light, light, light! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 14th, 2007, 09:28	#936
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,470	I'm debating giving up on 'The Inheritance of Loss'. Usual story with me - I start off thinking this is wonderful writing, use of metaphor, similes etc. Then by the time more than halfway into the book it all palls. The writing is so dense, overloaded with detail to make it laborious reading, characters tend to be stereotyped. Because I have been so busy it has been the book for bedtime reading and believe me it does the trick - I am asleep before the end of the 2nd page! So not rivetting stuff. I was going to pursue to end but don't think I will bother. More keen to start, Susan Kurosawa's Coronation Talkies. Pleased you enjoyed 'The Remains of the Day' Casey - as mentioned before I just loved it! And like you, a good short story often fits the bill before the next longer read. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

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Dec 12th, 2007, 19:50	#932
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,530	thanks, Nick and dilliwala Back to books: Kunzru's The Impressionist was a big disappointment, abandoned. Now started something which reads better, Mukul Kesavan's 'Looking Through Glass".. an interestingly written book (so far) about a guy who finds himself back in 1942.

Dec 14th, 2007, 04:08	#935
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	Just found Autobiography of a Blue Eyed Devil, by Inga Muscio, which I've been looking for for the last couple years. It's basically essays/memoir/musings about growing up white in racist America. Incredibly fun book to read in the visa line, though they were showing Kuch Kuch Hota Hai on the big widescreen TV so it was hard to concentrate on political stuff, no matter how postmodern and gussied up it is.

Dec 14th, 2007, 10:42	#937
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 601	I'm reading the label on the toilet roll wrapper ... could be here a while ... luckily the keyboard reaches ...

Dec 15th, 2007, 04:25	#938
Casey Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 637	I think I have stated before that I didn't get all the fuss about Inheritance of Loss. I have decided on an easy read for now: A Terry Pratchett for it's humour.

Dec 15th, 2007, 09:31	#939
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,470	Yes, a few others also posted they got bored with it. Now I can see why! Coronation Talkies is proving to be much more interesting. By Susan Kurosawa, and written (lucky woman) in the Imperial Hotel and up in Simla. Set in a fictional hill station in the Western Ghats.

Dec 15th, 2007, 10:42	#940
whatiyam Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: new york city Posts: 61	i can see most of you are not shopping in indian bookstores, at least those not located in major cities. the shops i have been to have very limited selection. there a books of collections of, for example, 3 hardy novels together, or all of shakespears plays, for Rs190. i bought the hardy book, i read him many years ago. this time i find that i don't like the plots so much, you know from the beginning that these are going to have tragic endings, but his writing is really well crafted. no i am back to old reliable sherlock holmes. i first read it while on down time proofreading at a law firm. it was a refreshing change to read such direct writing, no passive voice here. i know the stories but still is entertaining read.

Dec 15th, 2007, 13:06	#941
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,701	Can't face Hardy: too depressing to even think about, let alone read! Chennai has a number of half-decent (I stress the half!) bookshops, but not with the variety of literature one would see in London. I do miss that sometimes.

Dec 15th, 2007, 16:48	#942
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,470	Delhi has some excellent bookstores too with latest titles e.g. Oxford Bookstore,in Statesman Building,CP and Full Circle, Khan Market. My local book exchange often picks up gems left by travellers..other than that I rely on friends to bring or post.

Dec 15th, 2007, 18:41	#943
robotvoice mikeaholic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: california Posts: 1,171	right now i am reading ashenden by w. sommerset maugham. it's a funny and somewhat light read, very entertaining. i just discovered this author and i must say he is very enjoyable to read.

Dec 15th, 2007, 20:27	#944
Casey Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 637	I too am a fan of Maugham. I started with Of Human Bondage and then moved on to some of his others. In fact, I read The Razors Edge on my first trip to India, having found it in a bookstore in Panjim. He portrayed people, with all their foibles, without judging or moralizing. In fact, I think I am going to go find The Painted Veil and read that next. Thanks for the inspiration robotvoice!

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Dec 15th, 2007, 20:36	#945
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,530	Maugham's short stories are good, too. Slightly repetitive sometimes, specially his 'keen sense of the ridiculous', IIRC.