Indian Readers discussion

@neena:is that so?..i read few pages of a book by Jodi Picoult on onread..liked the writing style..why was it depressing?i was thinking of reading a book by Picoult.

Srishti wrote: "@neena:is that so?..i read few pages of a book by Jodi Picoult on onread..liked the writing style..why was it depressing?i was thinking of reading a book by Picoult."

Shrishti I've read only three books by her....she's good at writing stuff but it's like she overdoes all the emotional stuff....it feels like 'forced' to me you know, to touch the weak nerves of readers in a way...

And then being a mom of young kids(too needy because they are still too young) it's like I can't read about the sufferings and pain of childern....You might like her though....if you want to read go for my sister;s keeper first.....

And better try Sue Miller.....critics often compare Picoult with Miller but later is much much much better than her.....

To srishti and rosun:

Well his columns in TOI, regarding socio-economic issues ain't at all that bad. And I would like to correct you, that given his educational background and experience in investment banking, he is well qualified to have a perspective about such things. Economics becomes an integral when you are into finance or management.

And the point of detailed analysis, the fact is most of us wouldn't be able to crunch it. Plus common man looks forward to something that is simpler to understand. I think that's that's whole point of CB writing. (to derive the hard data to sense).

Those of us (including me at times) would read Economic Times or such dailies if are need in depth information which is much surface level in a regular newspaper.

I think CB is doing a good work on TOI(thou I hardly read him), as the target readers are someone else. For starters in politics, socio-economics it ain't that bad to read his columns. After all, not everyone would have heard of George Soros!

@neena:jeez!i can't take family drama if thats the case..though i'll give My sister's keeper a try :)

@umang:exactly my point,he writes for the masses.so there's nothing wrong with that.

Neena wrote: "Hate is bit strong word but there are few aurthors whom I don't like...Jodi Picoult is one of them......she is one of the bestsellers, her books are made into movies....she knows how to write but h..."

but I did love House Rules and Nineteen minutes. These were awesome, though 19 min made me cry. I couldnot forget the characters of both books for quite sometime - it was as if they were residing in my head.

Smitha wrote: "Neena wrote: "Hate is bit strong word but there are few aurthors whom I don't like...Jodi Picoult is one of them......she is one of the bestsellers, her books are made into movies....she knows how ..."

I've not read Nineteen Minutes Samitha...but I struggled a lot with House Rules....actually after reading it I vowed never to read Picoult again....the one thing I hate about her books is that one sibling is unbelievably, ridiculously ignored by the mother.....in my Sister's Keeper younger sister kept acting as donor for her sick older sister but when mother insisted on donating younger one's kideny to older who might or might not survive, It was utterly ridicolous.......as a mother myself I just hated the mother really.......then in House Rules the way jason is ignored I found it totally stupid.....and the way jason's Asperger is highlight of the book it seemed like high emotional drama to me....

To write about tragedies an author does not need to go to that extreme in my opinion..I would mention 'Say You Are One of Them' by Uwen Akpan which is full of tragedy, ll make you cry and possiblly make you realise how lucky you are yourself to be well fed and this alive...In my opinion that's the way tragedy is written......

have not read that yet. Will try to catch hold of a copy.

Thomas Hardy is somebody I cannot relate to!! Find his work to hard to get past!

Far from the madding crowd is better than the rest, though

Srishti wrote: "@rosun:before you start thinking i'm a CB fan,lemme tell you i'm just voicing my opinion.one night @ call centre was a painful read.I needn't say more.

However,coming to columns,well poverty and R..."

Very true! TOI is a tabloid, not a newspaper in the strict sense. I am not a CB fan. His books are not to my liking, especially the masala and bollywoody contents PLUS the English he uses is really... sub-standard! I give CB one credit- young readers are taken into reading now, thanks to him. That's it!
Yes, everyone has a right to voice his opinion. I am just worried that people shouldn't be taken away by his "wisdom and knowledge". Of course no one decides anything based on an editorial but yes it does help shape popular opinion. Given that many people follow him, especially the young readers, his opinions might mean a little more to them.

Umang wrote: "To srishti and rosun:

Well his columns in TOI, regarding socio-economic issues ain't at all that bad. And I would like to correct you, that given his educational background and experience "
Hi Umang, that was the whole point! He is well qualified to give better "opinions" but what he does is beat around the bush. While Aiyer gives you facts and figures and then his analysis CB will sort of present his emotionally charged (again the slang is FILMY) ideas which are too good to be true. I feel so, many of the readers do too. Believe me. Anyways, TOI can't be taken seriously. They should give each of their pages as 3.

@smitha: far from the madding crowd may be better than the rest yes but still painful read!

Aishu wrote: "Thomas Hardy is somebody I cannot relate to!! Find his work to hard to get past!"

i loved....the return of the native!

Rosun wrote: "Umang wrote: "To srishti and rosun:

Well his columns in TOI, regarding socio-economic issues ain't at all that bad. And I would like to correct you, that given his educational background and expe..."

I agree to the CB part. But Swaminomics is most of the time show off. There is another guy some Jug something. What a waste of paper space he is!

Saikat wrote: "Can't agree more...these two..five point,2 states(definitely not the others).. these were not literary milestones..casual reads.but I just sooo want his critics to name an international book,in th..."

Why look around? In the commercial fiction sphere, Anurag Mathur's 'The Inscrutable Americans' is a wittier and equally accessible read, but with more soul.

"If one wants to read indian fiction,he/she should start with genuine writers.Although i'm not very 'well read',i have had the chance to read works of Jhumpa Lahiri,Arundhati Roy,Amitav Ghosh,Kiran Desai,Aravind Adiga to name a few."

Shriya, if by that one is addressing the readers of commercial fiction, then that is a dangerous suggestion that I do not endorse or advocate. Each writer and reader have their niches and cross-overs (literary fiction writers trying to reach out to the popular-fiction readers and/or vice-versa, and readers used to devouring comm-fiction hopping to lit-fic) normally would bring disastrous consequences.

Only a certain percentage (a small percentage) of us like reading a wide variety of genres. Yes, tastes can change with some particular reading pattern, but most readers have pre-defined preferences (for many reasons) and it is better to stick with what one likes to read and write and run with it, unless a person is a paid reviewer or commissioned ghost-writer. There are many writers and many readers.

Aravind wrote: "Rosun wrote: "Umang wrote: "To srishti and rosun:

Well his columns in TOI, regarding socio-economic issues ain't at all that bad. And I would like to correct you, that given his educational backg..."

Jug tends to dwell more on the controversies which isn't the best.

Kunal wrote: "Saikat wrote: "Can't agree more...these two..five point,2 states(definitely not the others).. these were not literary milestones..casual reads.but I just sooo want his critics to name an internati..."

Yes have read Anurag;s Inscrutable AMerican... what a delight.. You should try Karan Bajaj as well. really good. - keep off the grass and Johnny gone down!

Inscrutable Americans was quite funny too.

I'm not a hater, but I make a face if I have to pick up Dan Brown.. Recently I have added Ashok Banker to this league as well.

One Author I love but have read only a single book is Salman Rushdie. His books kind of make me feel quite dumb and hence I never read the books I have of his on my bookshelf!

Surely two states and five point someone are better than the inscrutable americans, no?

The author I hate? The police office who wrote me a speeding ticket the other day... the BASTARD!!! (joking....).

I wouldn't say I hate him, but sci. fi. writer Neil Gaiman. His books (at least, the two that I read) are those kind of works in which pieces of it are better than the whole, as the saying goes. Many people rave about him but his stories never seem to go anywhere.

Lee Child. His action scenes and suspense is well-developed, but his gory scenes are too gory for my taste.

About Indian authors, not all are bad - I liked Arundhati Roy and even Amish Tripathi, the author of 'The Immortals of Meluha', which was a good read. I'm currently reading 'Zero Dial-The dangerous world of Informers' written by J. Dey. That's an excellent book! I agree that the English isn't very good in case of Indian authors, but what these writers have written, I can very well relate to it. I see such people (like the characters) around me everyday. J Dey book that I'm reading currently, needs special mention because the author has spent a good more than 10 years in the field researching. He was MURDERED for his knowledge about these things! His books tell us about the gangsters, the terrorists, the code and sign languages they use, their tactics, and the police work that usually happens in our country. Most of us have read a lot of American procedural novels, but they all tell about a country we dont live in, and which doesnt affect us. But Zero Dial tells us about the threats we face everyday, and the way police in India tackle the cases. Which cases they let go, which are important, etc. So, irrespective of the literary value, I'd prefer Indian authors any time.

We also shouldnt forget that English isnt the first language in India, and Hinglish is what most of us speak in our daily lives. So, what's wrong about reading something in 'our' language?

Craig wrote: "The author I hate? The police office who wrote me a speeding ticket the other day... the BASTARD!!! (joking....).

I wouldn't say I hate him, but sci. fi. writer Neil Gaiman. His books (at least, ..."

I'm a Neil Gaiman fan. I haven't read all of his works but you can see his genius when you read the graphic novel "Sandman", or two of his fantasy novels- American Gods and Neverwhere. I have read some of his short stories and they didn't do much for me, but usually I find his ideas truly original and he captures your attention the whole time. The concept of the Endless in Sandman- how awesome was that? :)

RV wrote: "Christopher Paolini's fourth book of the Inheritance Cycle was perhaps the worst book I have read for a long time. His first book of the series was brilliant, and I had to finish the series.

I don..."


Agreed. Paolini's books are very underwhelming. Also, his story is quite cliched so I never really got invested in it.

Chetan Bhagat!!!! Bhaago!!!!

Ravinder Singh! i cant believe i read his book 'I too had a love story'!!!

I absolutely cannot stand Shobha De....her articles and books are to put it politely naive and come from a very ignorant perspective....but tats just my opinion!!