Who's reading what,when & the experience

iwanttogoback

scando

sounds like you're borrowing my books!

i thought both hosseini novels were outstanding, even in their horror. i have to admit there are a few pages in 'a thousand splendid suns' i didn't read, and probably won't. if you have got to the scene in ghasi stadium you will know what i mean.

mistry's 'a family matter' i found extremely charming and heartwarming, and far less depressing than 'a fine balance.'

machadinha

Checking up on Mistry, I'm surprised to find he apparently has just four novels out, the last dating from 2002. Anyone know what's the story there? Does he still write at all, short stories, journalism perhaps? Interestingly, in that same year he is said to have broken off an American book promotion tour because of his constant harassment by airport security personnel as a suspected you-know-what. One wonders if there's a relationship there.

Aishah, Ekalavya is a character from the Mahabharata. The movie (I haven't seen it) appears to be a loose modernization of his story.

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JuliaF

Rohinton Mistry's Family Matters was great, I really enjoyed it. Also 'Such a Long Journey' though I couldn't get into A Fine Balance.
Haven't heard of anything he's done since Family Matters.

A piece of trivia - He is a nephew of Mr Nowrojee who has/had that wonderful old-fashioned general store in McLeodGanj.

Aishah

Thanks for elucidation re Ekalavya, Mach - Mahabaratha is something I am totally ignorant about. A long time back another family member in Oz had about 20 videos portraying all the stories, in a large box, but I just couldn't watch them.
Rohinton Mistry - seems to be a mystery after 2002, as you say. Maybe some Canadian members can throw some light?

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"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

vistet

In the 90´s I had a TV , and we would sit down together for Peter Brook´s interpretation of the Mahabharata on the tube, in four instalments. Magical. This was the condensed TV version , 318 minutes , I believe the theatrical version around eleven hours..

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high road to ..

Barkha

M done wid Shantaram few days back but it seems tht he's still at the back of my mind..I found it amazing..the guy jus went wid the flow..took life as it came and all for love..love for a fatherly figure,love for a guide, and love for a gal who wasnt in love wid him (in true sense)...and above all love for the city Mumbai,,which somehow I cud never bring myself to love..This was my third book based on Mumbai including Suketu Mehta's ...loved all of them ..

Now-a-days m reading a book gifted by a colleague on valentine day..Flames on the hill by ....(eekkksss forgot the author)..its set in the 19th - 20th Century in Ireland and till now its ok kind..

One good thing happened yesterday. I came across a nice cozy library abt 15 mins frm my place and they have most of my fav authors (Amitav ghosh, Khushwant singh, Shobha De, Mistry, Segal) and I was so surprised coz they have books which even magrudy's dont. Without wasting anytime I have become a member.

PeakXV

Mistry is probably working on another book and hoping that kook Germaine Greer will absolutely trash it again - so it is sure to become a top seller. <He lives in Brampton, Ontario and has a day job - C.A. I believe.>

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We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Scandojazzbuff

Mistry's books are usually quite long. It probably takes him some years to write one! I think he is one of the best.

Yes, I remember something about the Eklavya story being originally taken from one of the classics. But, the movie is thoroughly modern and very well done. It is Shakespearean in feeling and story. The Big B is at his best here. No phony English speaking role like Black and the one shot in NY with King Khan. He is really a haunting believable figure in this one. Highly recommended.

Aishah

Vistet -I think it was English sub-titling on these Videos (would be about 15 yrs back now so memory is vague) - also may have included the Ramayana. There were certainly a lot of them!
Good to have a library, Barkha! Wish ours was better...And Peak, interesting post.

batistuta

Blind willow, sleeping woman. Haruki Murakami. This book is a collection of short-stories from the Japanese author. As I am used to reading short-stories with some semblance of an ending ( Or Moral?), this collection, initially, took a bit of getting used to. Criminal Monkeys, Ice men and Kangaroos all share the spot-light here. Murakami is a gifted storyteller.

Next, Everyman by Philip Roth

pquekel

Reading Zusak, The Book Thief now, The indian Clerk and Animal's People are waiting, probably till my next trip to India, love to read books "on site" .

batistuta

Pquekel, The book thief is a great book. Easily, the best book that I read last year. Do post your review of that book on this thread.

Btw, that is a nice avatar.

pquekel

Half way The Book Thief I think it is a fine novel too. Thanks Batistuta for your comments. Perhaps you have something to say on the other titles I mentioned as well? And if by any chance you can recommend me some more novels that are situated in the South of India (meaning Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, a bit of Kerala too maybe), that would be great. In Bangalore I bought my Dalrymples on India, love them too.

Passion fruit

Scando,

Yes, "A Thousand Splendid suns" is next on line for me as well! The Kite Runner was really something - especially the first chapters were soooo incredibly loving and cruel at the same time.

I intend to go see the movie "The Kite Runner" this weekend. I wonder how the film version will be, but what I've read and heard sounds pretty good so far.

Next on line is "Shantaram" which considering the length and my slow reading style, i will be postponing to.....hopefully not indefinitely.

Aishah

pquekel - for South India, one of my favourite authors is R.K. Narayan. Look out for Malgudi Days, and various other titles set around a fictional village Malgudi, supposedly near Mysore - wonderful writing with a great sense of humour.