Really interesting stuff, pitty I can`t remember the name just now, I`ll get back soon with the name
Books on India- recommendations
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Aggghhhhh there is a great book about the search for where th Kho-i-noor diamond came from. Starting in Madras this fella visits old diamond merchants looking for clues to the diamonds origin which is believed to be from the legendary/mythical Goalkondar(sp) diamond mines, his search takes in who originally owned the diamond and who it was passed onto before the British ended up with it which is now sat in the Tower of London.
Really interesting stuff, pitty I can`t remember the name just now, I`ll get back soon with the name
Really interesting stuff, pitty I can`t remember the name just now, I`ll get back soon with the name
I've read Indian Summer - an easy read and enjoyable if it's the one I'm thinking of (in the book he puts on a show in the slums with the slum kids)??
Also read a nice book about a bombay street girl called Jyothi who is adopted by a western couple and goes on to become a world famous violinist......can't for the life of me remember the book title though??
Darshan at Tara travel on the Baga Road has a great selection of books, he can order them in for you too. Also seen Shantaram being sold by the book sellers on the beaches here.
Any one else got further recs would be good....I like this thread!!
GFF xx
Also read a nice book about a bombay street girl called Jyothi who is adopted by a western couple and goes on to become a world famous violinist......can't for the life of me remember the book title though??
Darshan at Tara travel on the Baga Road has a great selection of books, he can order them in for you too. Also seen Shantaram being sold by the book sellers on the beaches here.
Any one else got further recs would be good....I like this thread!!
GFF xx
goldenflipflop!
I think its one of the books already mentioned by Sharon Maas
and in India Summer he does put on a show with the street kids
feelthevibe!
Sounds good we are waitng for the title?
You all must remember the much hyped ITV drama Losing Gemma?
which was such a let down. Am I the only one who read the book by Katy Gardner?
I recommend you read it to see how losely the ITV adaption was based on it!
I think its one of the books already mentioned by Sharon Maas
and in India Summer he does put on a show with the street kids
feelthevibe!
Sounds good we are waitng for the title?
You all must remember the much hyped ITV drama Losing Gemma?
which was such a let down. Am I the only one who read the book by Katy Gardner?
I recommend you read it to see how losely the ITV adaption was based on it!
Hi GFF, the book you are thinking of is The Speech of Angels by Sharon Maas, definately a good read.
Lassi Girl, I have also read Losing Gemma and the book is definately better than the programme was.
MDH
Lassi Girl, I have also read Losing Gemma and the book is definately better than the programme was.
MDH
Feel the vibe, the book you are thinking of, about the diamonds, is the one I mentioned earlier in te post , "Chasing the Mountain of Light" by Kevin Rushby Alan
Sounds about right, thanks Gramps 
MDH / Lassigirl, thanks for the memory jog it was the book by Sharon Maas that I was thinking of - nice book!!
Also I've read the God of Small things as mentioned above, again a lovely book.
.........gosh what intellectuals we have on HT, keep the recs coming!!
GFF xx
Also I've read the God of Small things as mentioned above, again a lovely book.
.........gosh what intellectuals we have on HT, keep the recs coming!!
GFF xx
Losing Gemma was a great read shame about the TV. Have ordered Shantaram from play.com £6.99 and free postage 
GFF Thanks for the compliment , Intellectuals indeed 
Heres another of my favorites
The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri
Vishnu the odd job man in a bombay apartment block lies dying on the staircase landing. In his fevered state he looks back on his love affair with the seductive Padmini, while all around him is played out the drama of the apartment-bock dwellers. The novel blends Hindu Mythology with acute social detail.
Not as heavy as it sounds and one of my personal favorites.
Must mention Brick lane by Monica Ali even though its set in London , and about an arranged marriage which is a fav subject of mine.
Hope im not getting boring but i love talking books
Heres another of my favorites
The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri
Vishnu the odd job man in a bombay apartment block lies dying on the staircase landing. In his fevered state he looks back on his love affair with the seductive Padmini, while all around him is played out the drama of the apartment-bock dwellers. The novel blends Hindu Mythology with acute social detail.
Not as heavy as it sounds and one of my personal favorites.
Must mention Brick lane by Monica Ali even though its set in London , and about an arranged marriage which is a fav subject of mine.
Hope im not getting boring but i love talking books
Some advice for anyone thinking of buying books from the beach traders, examine them carefully, they are usually badly bound and printed copies of the origional. If you still want to buy make sure you pay very little. I was conned once 
and now stick to the book shops
and now stick to the book shops
Shantaram has just arrived in the post I have read the first 2 pages and have stopped as I know if I read anymore I will have finished it well before arriving in Goa Three weeks to go 
I have read the first 2 pages and have stopped as I know if I read anymore I will have finished it well before arriving in Goa Three weeks to go
Only three weeks for me as well 
Then I will be on the beach reading Raj by Gita Mehta which Ive had for ages but not found time to read, and The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar which I found in Waterstones last week.
Then I will be on the beach reading Raj by Gita Mehta which Ive had for ages but not found time to read, and The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar which I found in Waterstones last week.
Yes ive noticed the books they sell on the beach (blatant copies) are of an odd quality, I even noticed a spelling mistake on the front cover 
Just read a few chapters of Holy Cow on the above recommendations...
loved the paragraph about the lorry not havin a "jesus saves" or "baby on board" sticker but "horn please" in white swirly paint...TOO TRUE EH
Just read a few chapters of Holy Cow on the above recommendations...
loved the paragraph about the lorry not havin a "jesus saves" or "baby on board" sticker but "horn please" in white swirly paint...TOO TRUE EH
Yes, Thanks for the comp GFF and you are definately not boring Lassigirl, I also love talking books and it's thanks to you I read Losing Gemma.
I took the list of books to the library and the librarian nearly had a fit, got most of them on reserve. I did find one book called A New World by Amit Chaudhuri which I have started but am finding it difficult to get into, has anyone else read it or anything by him? What did you make of it?
MDH
I took the list of books to the library and the librarian nearly had a fit, got most of them on reserve. I did find one book called A New World by Amit Chaudhuri which I have started but am finding it difficult to get into, has anyone else read it or anything by him? What did you make of it?
MDH
ahh yes there are so many on here already that i wholly agree with, Shantaram being one of them i bought it over and read it over a year ago and then suddenly notice dthe whole of Goa was reading it, amazing book, ............. I can't comment on what the following book is like as havent read it !! but found out yesterday that my friend from UK (who is here on hol at the moment) tells me she has published her own story ........... 'An Indian in my bed' (!!!) I have just ordered it, its her story of how at 60 odd she met and married a very young Indian boy, not an uncommon happening here in Goa!!!, hers was Kerala!! of course i watched that story unfold as it happened some years ago, so shall be interested to read her perspective!! i thought the title rather ... blunt but humourous... knowing the lady!!
chilly
of course i watched that story unfold as it happened some years ago, so shall be interested to read her perspective!! i thought the title rather ... blunt but humourous... knowing the lady!!chilly
MDH!
Now we are talking Intellectual with Amit Chaudhuris works, I also read Freedom Song. They dont make easy reading (IMO) So it was a good idea to use the Library for a copy rather than buying
This is what Salman Rushdie says about the Author
"Amit Chaudhuris languorous ellipic, beautiful prose is impressively impossible to place in any category at all !
ps-- Im sure you wont find any of the other Titles listed as hard going .Glad to hear that you are enjoying The Book Club .
Now we are talking Intellectual with Amit Chaudhuris works, I also read Freedom Song. They dont make easy reading (IMO) So it was a good idea to use the Library for a copy rather than buying
This is what Salman Rushdie says about the Author
"Amit Chaudhuris languorous ellipic, beautiful prose is impressively impossible to place in any category at all !
ps-- Im sure you wont find any of the other Titles listed as hard going .Glad to hear that you are enjoying The Book Club .
Chilly
Your friends book sounds like it will be fun to read
Is it only available in the UK or will I be able to find it in Goa
ps just read the Amazon review and it sounds like there is a lot more to it than just fun ,looking forward to reading it.
Also on the the theme of a middle aged English woman falling in love with India and an Indian man is Jill Lowe's Yadav finding the heart of India, I found it very moving highly recommended has anyone else read it?
Your friends book sounds like it will be fun to read
Is it only available in the UK or will I be able to find it in Goa
ps just read the Amazon review and it sounds like there is a lot more to it than just fun ,looking forward to reading it.
Also on the the theme of a middle aged English woman falling in love with India and an Indian man is Jill Lowe's Yadav finding the heart of India, I found it very moving highly recommended has anyone else read it?
has anyone read the book titled Dead Lucky - which is actually about Lord Lucan and the theory that he ended his days in Goa living as a hard drinking hippy - sounds a good read even though I don't believe it, have just ordered copy on ebay.
Lord Lucan at the infamous Bob's Inn ( between Calangute and Candolim for those who don't know it)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/09/nlucan09.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/09/nlucan09.xml
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