The Pleasure Seekers - Tishani Doshi

The Pleasure Seekers is another book that was long listed for the 2011 Orange Prize but did not make it to the short list. Unlike with Whatever You Love I would have liked to have seen this book make the short list - I'm not sure if I really have any idea about the criteria judges use to take a book to the next level (surely it must be subjective to some degree??) but I felt this was a beautiful story told brilliantly.

The story starts in India in 1968 when Babo Patel, the eldest son of Prem Kumar Patel and his wife Trishala, is about to set out for London to continue his studies, make a success of himself in business and return to India to marry a nice Indian girl of the Jain faith. This plan is all set to succeed until Babo meets and falls in love with Welsh girl, Sian.

On many levels this is an ordinary story about an ordinary family going about the ordinary tasks and events of daily life - love, study, employment, death, trauma, conflict, happiness. What makes this book special is the way in which the story is told. These ordinary events which could be told in a fleeting, superficial way become rich stories of character - you feel in some ways as though you are a member of the Patel family too, living the story along with them. This is true skill in a writer for me - I could have read about this family for another 500 pages easily and not become disinterested.

A beautiful story with memorable characters (the character of Babo's daughter Bean would have to be one of the richest, most fully developed characters I have read in a long time - loved her!) - one to savour and read again.

A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

A reading goal I have had for a few years now has finally been accomplished. This afternoon I finished A Suitable Boy after 3 months of (not constant) reading.

The question I am now left with is - was it worth it?

The short answer to that question would have to be "yes" but I think this book is so huge - in both length and depth that I feel my reading has not done it justice in so many ways. By this afternoon I just wanted to get the book read - I am looking forward to giving the space in my head over to some other reading now!

So many people rave about this book - and it is an incredible piece of writing - but as a novel for pleasure and entertainment it certainly wasn't perfect for me. I was in love with the beginning and end sections (although I have to say I didn't "like" the ending I could appreciate it - if that makes sense?!) but the overly large middle section did drag for me. The book is incredibly detailed (as you can imagine) and I certainly feel more informed about Indian politics and social history of this time period but I just wanted to engage further with the characters and although a certain amount of contextual information is required in order for this to happen I could have survived quite happily with a lot less!

An amazing piece of literature and I think when I have had some time to get some distance from it I will look back and be glad that I have read it.

Progress

I have finally taken the plunge into A Suitable Boy - a book I have had on my shelf and my TBR list for the longest time. I think the size of the book has made me procrastinate in regards to starting it - my reading tastes tend to swerve and change according to my moods and what is going on in my life at the time so I have been hesitant to commit myself to such a long read (1474 pages!!) as I have wondered if I have the stamina to stay married to only one book for an extended period of time. But, so far, so good! I have found myself totally immersed in the story and the characters and I have not wanted to stray away - as yet!

The book is set in post colonial India and begins with the marriage of Pran and Savita. The author introduces us to the other main characters in the story through a review of the wedding guests and family members. The genograms at the start of the novel show the details of the four main families that the book will follow, the Mehra's, Kapoor's, Khan's and the Chatterji's.

I am realising as I read on that my knowledge of Indian politics and history is lacking - but my reading doesn't seem to be affected too much by that so far. I feel there has been just enough explanation and back story given to allow an ignorant reader such as myself to have enough knowledge to follow along.

I am finding the story to be totally engrossing - like a vivid soap opera with all the dramatics, sorrow and playfulness that go along with that genre. I am already discovering favourite characters (Lata, Savita's younger sister and the girl needing "a suitable boy" according to her mother, is already a firm favourite for her fiestiness).

I'm 345 pages in and enjoying the ride!

A Good Story

Coming to the end of another weekend and it has been a good one apart from the head cold that seems to be developing rather than disappearing.

I caught up with one of my close friends on Saturday morning for coffee (or chai tea as it turned out) and among other things we of course discussed books. My friend said she was going looking for her next book that afternoon and she was on the hunt for a "good story" and it clicked with me that that was exactly what I was wanting in my reading at the moment. A good story filled with characters that entertained and informed, a variety of settings and locations, drama and passion but most of all - a book that takes me on an adventure.

So, I went out looking for that "good story" too. I ended up coming home with The Peacock Throne by Sujit Saraf - I had never heard of the book or the author before but I was intrigued by the description of the book and by this review.

I am about 50 pages in so far and I think I have found the "good story" I was seeking...

Has anyone else got any recommendations for books they would describe as a good, or even great, story?

The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (the winner of the 2008 Man Booker Prize) was my second last book for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge which ends on the 20th December.

I was so glad after finishing this book that I decided to read it as my India selection for the challenge - a great book!

The White Tiger tells the story of Indian man, Balram Halwai - well, it is actually Balram who is the narrator of his own story - a conversational technique that makes the book so engaging. Balram becomes known as The White Tiger when, as a school boy, his village school is visited by a local school inspector. The inspector is poorly disappointed in the majority of the students at the school but Balram impresses and the inspector tells him he is like a white tiger - rare and special. Balram takes this message to heart and in an extremely difficult and hostile environment he moves from village resident to driver for a wealthy business man in Delhi.

This book engages the reader in Balram's story and his life - I was acutely aware at times that we were clearly being presented with only one side of the story but I think as opposed to taking away from the story this style only made it stronger.

The White Tiger is a brilliantly narrated and engaging story - looking forward to more from this author.