Chester the Superior Dog goes to India: The Book

ColinT

Chester the Superior Dog goes to India began life as a journal here on IM over a year ago. Aaspirations Publishing Inc in Toronto thought it was a good enough concept to publish as a book. And so in December the book will be in print and available directly from the publisher. In Feb it is intended to be available in shops in India and finally in the UK and US from about March.

aaspirationspublishing.com

You can order a copy now from: aaspirations@gmail.com

Part of the profits from every book sold by Aaspirations (not just my book) goes to the charity Cherish India - see their site (much of which is under construction but is gradually coming to life bit by bit.

Here is one of the book's first reviews from the Chennai-based poet, author and playwright, Shree Kumar Varma -

"Here it is, the new-age Calvin & Hobbes. This time it's Colin & Chester. Travel-writer Colin Todhunter takes his travellogue several steps further along with his canine companion, transfering his observations, wonder, amusement and angst to the befuddled intellectualism of Chester, a stuffed dog, who is a Britisher of Chinese origin. Everything--- from the long flight in to the typically suicidal streets of Delhi, the murderous mosquitoes and the haunting cry of "Chai!" on railway platforms, and yes, the autorickshaws--- strikes a chord. It is a fun way to travel, and Colin uses his "talking" dog as an alter-ego, sounding board and scapegoat as he reacts to the colourful, exasperating sights he is inundated with. The book unfolds in short crisp chapters, chunks of experience that never fail to animate the stuffed dog, very much like a puppet reacting from the lap of an innocent-looking pupeteer. Colin Todhunter has mastered the art of combining the sublime and the ridiculous. (For instance, Chester abandons "the idea of finding his inner-dog after a bout of dysentery".) There is nothing that he leaves untouched. A rollicking adventure in an interesting land, amusingly wrapped up in fantasy."

There are about 16 really great sketches by the US illustrator Rachel Mindrup that depicts Chester in various situations. Here he is in Chapter One (he spends a lot of time preening himself - totally self absorbed).

http://profile.ak.facebook.com/profi...11073_7204.jpg

http://bp3.blogger.com/_vnDMB4IaMAw/...320/4Cover.jpg

(Not actual cover design)

Publisher's link: http://aaspirationspublishing.com/ch...ndia-p-42.html

New-South-Welshman

Wow! This is from your posts right from a year back? That's great. Will have to snap a copy up for myself when it comes out.

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dhans

Hi Colin,

Congratulations. I almost ordered "The dog who came from India", but I'll wait for your book.

hans

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Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids
Stories about our travels in India: Journal

kristinm

Wow - that's fantastic - well done! Are you releasing it in Aus? Or can we order a copy to be sent here?

ColinT

Not sure about Oz at this stage. Eventually I guess. But you can get it from the publisher (better price) and eventually on Amazon (more expensive).

Prashant.M

Always enjoyed reading your articles in the papers Colin. Looking forward to your book.

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Britishraj

I'm definitely going to lookout for the book.

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Elvis Has Left The Building

ColinT

Prashant, good to know that someone actually reads and even likes the articles. I hardly ever get any feedback on them given that I am not usually in the localities where the newspaper is circulated.

Chester the Dog... more soon.

dhans

Dear IM-ers,

Allthough I ordered and paid for the book on dec 16, 2007, I'm swtill waiting for the book to arrive. I'm pretty sure ColinT is legit, I'm not so sure about AAspirations.

I'll update this thread once I receive the book or a refund.

Hans

ColinT

Dhans... I didn't realise that you had paid for it! I thought you'd only orderecd it. Well, that's quite a different matter.

I'm beginning to have doubts myself! I've not heard from Aaspirations for a month. And the book was originally intended to be printed by late Dec and in the shops in India by now. To my knowledge, they are still not in print. The word "Fiasco" comes to mind.

I'm going to get on to them about this, seeing that money has changed hands!

ColinT

Unfortunately, the publisher tells me it has been experiencing all kinds of problems but the book is still very much on track to be released. Just that it's taking longer than was expected.