Indian Readers discussion

I gave Room 5 stars coz am an emotional star donor and all my stars were for Jack and ma. :-P

My book "from where i see" {goodread link- From Where I See} has been shortlisted for drunken druid award.
Thanks to readers for their support

The 2015 DD Shortlist 2/10 'From Where I see' by Ajay Yadav @fromwhereisee #TheDrunkenDruid http://www.drunkendruidawards.com/

Ya, I usually cringe before starting anything booker coz I know it'd be exacting in some way.But this book seemed to evade several criteria that I assume goes into the B list.But I found the book engaging.

Also its good that it wasn't bookery. Now we can start the next one sooner :)

Ahtims wrote: "I gave Room 5 stars coz am an emotional star donor and all my stars were for Jack and ma. :-P"

I gave it a 5, coz the narration was skillful. I didn't enjoy To Kill a Mockingbird when I read it due to the dreary narration, and that book made me resolve that I wouldn't read anything pre-teen for quite sometime. But this book surprised me and it joins my other favourites like Swami and Friends, Tom Sawyer and Curious incident.

Ajay, we have strong ani spam policy, do read group rules please.
You can promote your books only in Promotions thread.

Vimal, those books you mentioned are my favorites too. _/\_

_/\_

Vimal wrote: "Ahtims wrote: "I gave Room 5 stars coz am an emotional star donor and all my stars were for Jack and ma. :-P"

I gave it a 5, coz the narration was skillful. I didn't enjoy To Kill a Mockingbird wh..."

Sort of surprised by your 5 star. Thought you might have settled for 4 ..

I loved curious incident for the intellectual content slipped in. And Atticus Finch through the eyes of a 7 year old. The first part was good but the second part was sort of meh.

Hope is a beautiful thing. And so I gave the benefit of doubt to the book.

Vimal wrote: "Also its good that it wasn't bookery. Now we can start the next one sooner :)"

Which one can we start? I still have hardcopies of
1. Life of Others
2. Arthur and George
3. Midnight's Children

Can get the following in a week from the library
1. The Children's Book
2. Lowland

Should we risk Midnight's Children?

I am better than all of you - I gave it a 5 because I vaguely remember liking it but don't remember what the whole fuss was about! :P :P

Arthur & George - In case I have a vote here! :P

have read 1A, 2B, given up on 3

Yay! I am in..

So we are reading 2?
Ghajar Ghojar -henceforth GG
Arthur and George - henceforth AG
Am in for both.

GG will be the short term (next 2 days)..
We will read AG post that!

Vimal, hope you break your resolve of no books and soak in the world of Julian Barnes's rapier wit and wry humour. This has been in my to red list for long time now!

I didn't even know I had a vote! :P :P

Okay for GG - I shall not be able to read immediately, so you two carry on. I can only start on Monday by when you would have finished it...so no point.

AG - If Vimal agrees, tell me when, so that I can join...

Once again, hubby's back, so I will not be as active as I was.. will come and check again later or maybe tomorrow! :P

Okay, GG it is. Am sure to finish by tomorrow night, provided I start tonight.

@Girish, you guys carry on with AG.Even if I buy it, I don't think I'd be able to create time for a physical book atleast in the next 3-4 months. I'll join in for lowland n children's book whenever you get to those. Midnight's children, I've done a pick up n drop almost 4-5 times now :) The prose somehow makes me go impatient.

Finished GG today morning.. liked it! remembered our class XI prose book called web of life.. plus it seemed such an easy peek into any family (including your own)

Started it yesterday night. Should finish by today. Am loving it. I am in my element reading simple, yet exquisite stories like this.
is it a translation, or written in English first time round?

It is a translation, Syl.

thanks :-)

Finished GG and a 5 Star one for me! Loved it :)

Finished GG! Loved it too! 5 stars! :D

Sri, you chupi Rustomi :P
I was dangling at 92 % for the past 5 hours as I went for a walk and later had to go for an unavoidable function. Reached home by 10 pm and immediately sat down to complete it.
The end was a bit abrupt.
I was expecting the ending to be handed down on a platter
(view spoiler)[
I am worried about Anita. I feel Uncle and Malathy have sent gundas after her and offed her as she had started questioning their way of life. (hide spoiler)]
I would dearly love to know the following things
-were the son and Anita newly wed. He never mentions how much time has passed since their wedding
-why did the Uncle not entertain the poor lady who made masoor dal curry for him. After all, he was unmarried. Or perhaps he had many such women on the side.
- why is our narrator averse to work. He says whatever he plans doesnt come to pass. But atleast he can keep trying. Or is the uncle deliberately keeping him in the dark assuming that he will not be upto dirty business politics?
- I found the mother and daughter formidable. ALmost like negative characters.

I could relate most to Anita. She seemed an ordinary person with good morals and a strong backbone.

Yay!! Comprehensive victory for buddy reads as an activity - all gave 5 stars!

Would let you know my thoughts when i next login at a saner time :)

Hahahaha Syl! It was such a short read, I just couldn't help it! :P :P

I will come and lay down my thoughts once I have had my morning chai! ;)

Started with Arthur and George.. Loving Barnes writing :)
Unfortunately, in the middle of pretty busy phase at work.

How is it going Smitha?

Am at 11% - just restarted Acer finishing Amoral Ghost.
It is good - though I am always confusing between Arthur and George as the chapters are short and alternating.

*after finishing Amitav Ghosh

I didn;t know this about Arthur and George O:

An utter astonishment that captures an era through one life celebrated internationally - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; and another entirely forgotten - George Edalji.
In the vast expanse of late-Victorian Britain, two boys come to life: George, the son of a Midlands vicar, and Arthur, in shabby genteel Edinburgh, both of them feeling at once near to and impossibly distant from the beating heart of Empire. One falls prey to a series of pranks en route to a legal vocation, while the other studies medicine before discovering a different calling entirely, and it is years before their destinies are entwined in a mesmerizing alliance. We follow each through outrageous accusation and unrivaled success, through faith and perseverance and dogged self-recrimination, whether in the dock awaiting complete disgrace or at the height of fame while desperately in love with a woman not his wife, and gradually realize that George is half-Indian and that Arthur becomes the creator of the world's most famous detective. Ranging from London clubs to teeming prisons, from a lost century to the modern age, this novel is a panoramic revelation of things we thought we knew or else had no clue of, as well as a gripping exploration of what goals drive us toward whatever lies in wait–an experience resounding with issues, no less relevant today, of crime and spirituality; of identity and nationality; of what we think, what we believe and what we can prove.

I sort of knew who this book was about.. But didn't read your last comment fully since I don't want to encounter any spoilers :)

Ah... didn't think in that aspect. Shall hide it.

Lol.. no worries.. Barnes can make you read the story of the crow and the fox with much amusement.. One of my favourite authors!

At 26%, and an interesting juncture. Feeling anxious about the unfolding events.

At 35%, Arthur & George is at an interesting turn of events. But I find that I can't concentrate on this one for a long time. Hence reading at least 5% a day. And if I go by the minimum rates, I will take 15 days to finish. But I have a hunch that after a few more pages I will start speeding up, which usually happens with me with most books.

Where are you at, Girish?

I have reached till the investigation by Mr.Campbell. I agree this cannot be consumed in one go. My progress is slow more because of hectic work schedule. But enjoying the casual way in which a lot of information is shared - such as the railway laws, seances and the history of holmes :)

Arthur and George have met (*finally* one might be tempted to say). The writing is almost as if Barnes wants to pickle the reader with the lives of Arthur and George. Love the British writing, though could have wished it was a faster read. Real life - patience is everything I suppose.

Smitha, where are you?

Am at the point where Arthur is entangled with Jean. it was so unexpected and slightly yucky that I have left them at it. Will resume, now that you've overtaken me :-)

Lol..ya that was unexpected :D Next 30 pages or so is high on drama..

Reading :-)

A white flower once a year for Jean, and white lies all the year round for his wife.

this statement made me think of the whole conundrum of marriage, vows and love - from a purely intellectual point. Putting emotions aside, whether it is possible for 2 people to keep on loving at the same intensity for a life time.
Don't people evolve , and their interests and liking change?
A very scary contemplation indeed.

i loved that line as well!

on the philosophy where has it ever been stated love is exclusive? love is a sort of attraction and fondness for a person. For a marriage, it is more than that -affection, companion ship, a sense of duty, gratitude, warmth and a sense of irrevocable acceptance despite the multitude of emotions..

borrowing lightly - the attraction of the flower causes pollination and leads to a plant whose strength is the not so attractive but critical root. such is love before and after marriage courtesy: Alaipayuthe :p

Oh, an apt simile :-)

Zugzwang - I pity Arthur, though I don't like him much. Touie is really resilient.

Reached part 3. Awaiting the meeting between Arthur and George.

Restarted the unconventional investigation.

Nice to see a cool discussion of Barnes's words. Have Pulse and Nothing to be frightened of in my list for this year. To start either, am waiting for a time when I can be sure I have the time and mindbent to elapse into a contemplative mood every now and then while reading, because it invariably happens with Barnes.

Hope you will find some reading time soon, Vimal.

I have just stopped in the midst of a prolonged chat between A and G as to how to proceed with the investigation.