 Book Recommendations! |
The India Tree - The All India Travel Forum > General Board Discussions > LITERARY, FINE ARTS, MOVIES & MUSIC > Books  |
 May 19 2006, 12:26 PM
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#21
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Traveller  Group: Member Posts: 80 Joined: 12-May 06 From: Chennai/Bangalore Member No.: 292  |
Some of my favourite books...
1. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger 2. To kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 3. The World according to Garp - John Irving 4. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert E Heinlein 5. Cannery Row - Steinbeck 6. The Great Gatsby - Scott Fitzgerald 7. Slaughter House Five - Kurt Vonnegut 8. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie 9. Papillon - Henri Charriere 10, but certainly not the least, The Little Prince - [how do you spell it now?] |
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May 19 2006, 12:39 PM
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#22
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 Senior Member Group: Blogger Posts: 522 Joined: 3-May 06 From: Southeastern USA Member No.: 11 |
"To the Elephant Graveyard" by Tarquin Hall. Very good account by British journalist of a hunt for a rogue elephant in Assam. The book gave me a much better appreciation of both elephants and Assam.
-------------------- "The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore." Ferdinand Magellan
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Jun 1 2006, 11:56 AM
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#23
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Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 18-May 06 From: Germany Member No.: 344 |
This one made me gasp and chuckle:
Sorcerer's Apprentice by Tahir Shah India at her best and most terrible... and all you ever wanted to know about those scamsters and tricksters, conjurers and holy men. |
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Jun 1 2006, 12:14 PM
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#24
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 Frequent Flyer Group: Blogger Posts: 364 Joined: 4-May 06 From: Hyderabad, India Member No.: 99 |
- gulag archipelago and one day in the life of ivan denisovitch ...solzenhitsyn
-catcher in the rye , salinger -animal farm and 1984.. orwell -one flew over the cuckoo's nest...ken kesey -catch 22.. heller -waiting for godot.. beckett -------------------- he who has destroyed craving overcomes all sorrow.
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Jun 1 2006, 12:24 PM
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#25
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 Senior Guru Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3,034 Joined: 4-May 06 From: perth, oz Member No.: 55 |
just got 'shalimar the clown' from the library - haven't enjoyed a rushdie book since 'midnight's children' (which I loved), but I have read great things about it here and on im.
just finished patricia cornwell's most recent kay scarpetta novel - 'the blowfly.' I have enjoyed every one of these that I have read, love a good slasher now and then, but this is awful. the story is far fetched even for cornwell and it appears that she is writing in a new style which she does badly. avoid. -------------------- just is.
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Jun 1 2006, 02:01 PM
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#26
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 Senior Guru Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2,574 Joined: 3-May 06 From: The Netherlands Member No.: 5 |
Here's a few of my favourites
1. Confessions of a Thug : Philip Meadows Taylor 2. The Snow Leopard : Peter Matthiessen 3. The Drifters : James A. Michener 4. Texas : James A. Michener 5. Third Class ticket : Heather Wood 6. The Deceivers " John Masters 7. Five Past Midnight in Bhopal : Dominique Lapierre, Javier Moro 8. Shantaram : Gregory David Roberts 9. A Million Little Pieces : James Frey 10. The Age of Kali : William Dalrymple 11. No full Stops In India : Mark Tully 12. Chasing the Monsoon : Alexander Frater 13. Complicity : Iain Banks 14. The Wallace : Nigel Tranter 15. Macbeth : Nigel Tranter 16. Travels on My Elephant : Mark Shand 17. Seven Year in Tibet : Heinrich Harrer 18. One Man's Mountains: Essays and Verses : Tom Patey 19. Billy : Pamela Stephenson 20 Trainspotting : Irvine Welsh 21. Five Hundred Mile Walkies : Mark Wallington 22. Bitter Flow The Policeman's Tears : Philip K Dick 23. The Grapes Of Wrath : John Steinbeck 24. Huckleberry Finn : Mark Twain 25. The Greatest : Muhammad Ali : Walter Dean Myers -------------------- |
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Jun 2 2006, 11:33 AM
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#27
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 Traveller Group: Member Posts: 80 Joined: 3-May 06 From: Ottawa Ontario Member No.: 19 |
QUOTE just got 'shalimar the clown' from the library - haven't enjoyed a rushdie book since 'midnight's children' (which I loved), but I have read great things about it here and on im. I have been disappointed in a few of Rushdie's most recent books (The Ground Beneath Her Feet and Fury). I find that when he writes of contemporary times it doesn't work so well, and the fauning over the beautiful woman in Fury was a bit over the top. I think that I may try again with Shalimar The Clown because I loved Midnight's Children and The Moor's Last Sigh. |
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Jun 2 2006, 12:08 PM
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#28
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 Senior Member Group: Blogger Posts: 686 Joined: 4-May 06 From: Germany Member No.: 70 |
QUOTE (Casey @ Jun 2 2006, 01:33 PM)  I have been disappointed in a few of Rushdie's most recent books (The Ground Beneath Her Feet and Fury). I find that when he writes of contemporary times it doesn't work so well, and the fauning over the beautiful woman in Fury was a bit over the top. I think that I may try again with Shalimar The Clown because I loved Midnight's Children and The Moor's Last Sigh. Casey, I agree about The Ground Beneath Her Feet and Fury, they were hardly Rushdie's best. As you say you loved Midnight's Children and The Moor's Last Sigh, please read Shalimar The Clown, in terms of storytelling it is comparable. You are probably right about Rushdie's deficient writing of contemporary times, although I had never seen it like this before. Rushdie's writing seems to feed on memories more than anything else it seems. These memories may be blurred, idealized or even completely made up, but they always work in a longing kind of way. From my own experience I can say that the one in exile probably has the deepest and sweetest memories of them all, and that is because he/she needs it most in order to feel cultural identity. The view on things tends to be selective and highly unjust, but in the end it's all about love. Sermon ended, thank you. 
-------------------- A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
(S. R.) |
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Jun 3 2006, 01:27 AM
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#29
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Traveller Group: Member Posts: 80 Joined: 3-May 06 From: Ottawa Ontario Member No.: 19 |
I will definately read Shalimar. I find that Rushdie's work is often autobiographical and you are probably right with regard to the memory portion of it. His gushing about his beautiful love in Fury obviously mirrored his circumstances and it was quite over the top. I also enjoyed his short stories East and West, and again preferred the ones that took place in the East. Again, working from memories rather than the present. Great theory!
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Jun 5 2006, 05:23 AM
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#30
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Senior Member Group: Blogger Posts: 517 Joined: 24-May 06 From: Bangalore Member No.: 363 |
My list of favourite fiction novels as well as non fiction
1)angels and demons -Dan brown 2)The count of monte cristo-alexander dumas 3)adventures of huckleberry finn-Mark Twain 4)Rule of four-Ian caldwell 5)Treasure Island-Robert louis stevenson. 6)The day of the jackal 7)Bourne identity and Bourne supremacy-Robert Ludlum Non-fiction 1)Freedom from the known-j.Krishnamurthi 2)Power of now-Eckhart tolle 3)I am that-Sri Nisargadatta maharaj 4)The prophet-Khalil gibran 5)Krishnamurthi's journal-J krishnamurthi -------------------- Discover all that you are not -- body, feelings thoughts, time, space, this or that -- nothing, concrete or abstract, which you perceive can be you. The very act of perceiving shows that you are not what you perceive." -Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
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Jun 5 2006, 09:59 AM
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#31
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 Frequent Flyer Group: Blogger Posts: 110 Joined: 8-May 06 From: India Member No.: 231 |
It's so hard to pick one's favourite books!
 Mine (currently): Yugaant - Iravati Karve Platform Souls: The Train Spotter as Twentieth-century Hero - Nicholas Whittaker 1000 Miles Up The Nile - Amelia Edwards Divining The Deccan - Bill Aitken The Glory Of My Father/The Chateau Of My Mother - Marcel Pagnol Aahe Manohar Tari - Sunita Deshpande (Marathi) Anything by Qurratulain Haider (Hindi/Urdu) Anything by Ismat Chughtai (Hindi/Urdu) Midnight's Children - Rushdie White Mughals - Wm. Dalrymple Anything by Ruskin Bond Saare Sukhan Hamare - Faiz Ahmed Faiz (Urdu/poetry) Bonjour Tristesse - Francoise Sagan A Walk Along the Tracks - Hunter Davies Parallel Lines: Or, Journeys on the Railway of Dreams - Ian Marchant Branchline To Eternity - Bill Aitken Every single book by Dorothy L. Sayers All stories of Ngaio Marsh Judge Dee stories The Sun In The Morning, Golden Afternoon, Enchanted Evening - M. M. Kaye All writings of Pu. La. Deshpande All writings of M. N. Srinivas. Almost all writings of Max Weber. The Female Eunuch - Germaine Greer Tamas - Bhisham Sahni Manto Ke Afsane, Baghair unwan ke, Sarak ke kinare, Parde ke Pichhe - Saadat Hasan Manto -------------------- Pleased by life's gauds, pained by its pinpricks and stings,
Swayed by ignoble hopes, ignoble fears; Threading life's tangled maze without life's clue, Busy with means, yet heedless of their ends..... |
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Jun 15 2006, 04:30 AM
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#32
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 Senior Member Group: Blogger Posts: 539 Joined: 4-May 06 From: Northern California Member No.: 31 |
QUOTE (jyotirmoy @ May 6 2006, 08:42 PM) Yes the Hungry tide is a great read. Have you read The Shadow Lines? You will find the Kolkata I write about there... those days & those times.... & ofcourse those people.... I thought I had a copy of The Shadow Lines but can't locate it. Time to clean out the bookcase, I fear! -------------------- "Strange travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God." -- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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Jun 15 2006, 05:08 AM
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#33
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Senior Guru Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3,034 Joined: 4-May 06 From: perth, oz Member No.: 55 |
I am about two thirds of the way through 'shalimar the clown' and loving it. after a twenty year break from salman because I didn't like the two or three books after 'midnight's children' it is good to report that this is a wonderfully written book with a compelling story.
thanks to all who recommended it. -------------------- just is.
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Jun 15 2006, 08:25 AM
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#34
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Senior Member Group: Blogger Posts: 686 Joined: 4-May 06 From: Germany Member No.: 70 |
QUOTE (iwanttogoback @ Jun 15 2006, 07:08 AM) I am about two thirds of the way through 'shalimar the clown' and loving it. after a twenty year break from salman because I didn't like the two or three books after 'midnight's children' it is good to report that this is a wonderfully written book with a compelling story. I am happy you like this book, iwanttogoback! How are you going to put Kashmir into your itinerary now? Yes, Rushdie did it again...
-------------------- A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
(S. R.) |
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Jun 20 2006, 03:36 PM
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#35
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Group: Member Posts: 15 Joined: 20-June 06 Member No.: 455 |
Yep, May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons is surely a great book, a well researched project and should be read by everyone.
Also, Shashi Tharoor's book "India - From Midnight to the Millenium" is the most amazing non-fiction book I have ever come across about India's recent socio-political history. He works for the UN these days and is truly an intelligent human being. Tried and failed though, to read some of his fiction. Midnight's Children, Rushdie - most incredible feat of storytelling I have ever come across. Wow. If only I had known more about India's political history when I first read it. But, even though I didn't understand it all at the time, it was still a mind-blowing read. The God of Small Things is a beautiful, sad and tragic inter-caste love story. Everything Rohinton Mistry has had published is brilliant! Family Matters, A Fine Balance, Such a Long Journey... A Fine Balance is absolutely devastating. I would love some Bombayaites to tell me what they think of this book because I felt as if I had learned so much about the workings of the minutiae of the life of these unfortunate characters in this city but I have never been sure if it were totally extreme or if it were not untypical for such events to befall people in their situation. Thoughts anyone?? |
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Jun 20 2006, 10:28 PM
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#36
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 Group: Members Posts: 32 Joined: 6-May 06 From: Swansea UK Member No.: 200 |
QUOTE (Yashodhara @ May 4 2006, 10:03 AM) 1) My alltime favorite: Salman Rushdie's MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN Question: I read somewhere that this book was banned in India, is this still the case? Will it get confiscated by customs if I try to take it into the country? |
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Jun 21 2006, 10:45 AM
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#37
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Senior Member Group: Blogger Posts: 686 Joined: 4-May 06 From: Germany Member No.: 70 |
QUOTE (StellaP @ Jun 21 2006, 12:28 AM) Question: I read somewhere that this book was banned in India, is this still the case? Will it get confiscated by customs if I try to take it into the country? I found the book on http://www.firstandsecond.com/store/books/...tSearch=3856830 So I don't think it is banned nor will it get confiscated when you bring it. Anyone who has different information on this? -------------------- A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
(S. R.) |
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Jun 21 2006, 09:40 PM
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#38
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Traveller Group: Member Posts: 80 Joined: 3-May 06 From: Ottawa Ontario Member No.: 19 |
I purchased the book while in India and copies are everywhere.
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Jun 22 2006, 07:24 AM
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#39
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Senior Guru Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3,034 Joined: 4-May 06 From: perth, oz Member No.: 55 |
QUOTE How are you going to put Kashmir into your itinerary now? yes, that is probably a good question. although I think that there should always be ideas for next time, and the time after that, and the time after that... 
-------------------- just is.
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Jun 22 2006, 02:41 PM
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#40
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Group: Members Posts: 32 Joined: 6-May 06 From: Swansea UK Member No.: 200 |
QUOTE (Yashodhara @ Jun 21 2006, 11:45 AM) I found the book on http://www.firstandsecond.com/store/books/...tSearch=3856830 So I don't think it is banned nor will it get confiscated when you bring it. Anyone who has different information on this? Thanks for this, and also thanks to Casey - I won't have to feel so furtive in customs now!! |
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