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Sultry Days
On a sultry, rainy Bombay day Nisha, an impressionable teenager, meets God in the college canteen and falls in love with his ragged, bearded looks and crude, streetwise manners. God patronizingly accepts her into his "group" and it is in this way that their long and passionate romance begins. God's driving ambition leads him into the unreal world of pseudo poetry, art for hire and compromised journalism while Nisha lands a job in advertising. Sycophants, court jesters, whores, dirty old men, fixers, pretty boys and party girls drift in and out of their lives (and interrupt their romance!) as their careers take off with dizzying speed. And then, abruptly and harrowingly, everything about their lives goes wrong...
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
10 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Shobhaa Dé
61 books153 followersShobha Rajadhyaksha known as Shobhaa Dé is an Indian columnist and novelist. She graduated from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai with a degree in psychology. After making her name as a model, she began a career in journalism in 1970, during the course of which she founded and edited three magazines – Stardust, Society, and Celebrity.
In the 1980s, she contributed to the Sunday magazine section of the Times of India. In her columns, she used to explore the socialite life in Bombay lifestyles of the celebrities. At present, she is a freelance writer and columnist for several newspapers and magazines.
De is married to Dilip De, her second husband and they have six children from their first marriages. She lives in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.
In the 1980s, she contributed to the Sunday magazine section of the Times of India. In her columns, she used to explore the socialite life in Bombay lifestyles of the celebrities. At present, she is a freelance writer and columnist for several newspapers and magazines.
De is married to Dilip De, her second husband and they have six children from their first marriages. She lives in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 19, 2021
Idk why I wasted my time on this book, it was distasteful, aggravating, and a foolhardy read. The main character, Nisha, was so dumb that she let herself be used mentally, emotionally, physically and financially. Deb kept on talking about how sexy other girls were, how he was bedding other girls while he was proposing to marry Nisha. I was literally so angry at her for tolerating such bullshit of a person who constantly insulted her and her family, who never was grateful or helped her. When he became successful, he discarded off Nisha like trash and she still kept on clinging on to him.
And all this when she was not even in love with him, she cared about him, yes, was fascinated by him, yes, but didn't truly love him. Her feelings felt as shallow as teenage boys proposing to girls to get a pat on their backs from his peers. Except in her case, even her friends abandoned her because of how foolish she was.
In short, I hated this book from the bottom of my heart, if you want to criticize journalism and entertainment industry, go for this book, otherwise don't waste your time on it cuz even the ending is frustrating.
And all this when she was not even in love with him, she cared about him, yes, was fascinated by him, yes, but didn't truly love him. Her feelings felt as shallow as teenage boys proposing to girls to get a pat on their backs from his peers. Except in her case, even her friends abandoned her because of how foolish she was.
In short, I hated this book from the bottom of my heart, if you want to criticize journalism and entertainment industry, go for this book, otherwise don't waste your time on it cuz even the ending is frustrating.
October 30, 2019
Total rubbish!
September 13, 2017
Horrifying misadventure.
October 6, 2010
I fell in love from the very first page. Maybe I'm biased in my opinion due to my unwavering love for Indian authors, but this book had me laughing out loud and growing more and more fascinated with the character of Deb or, as he likes to be called, "God".
He is utterly revolting, unemotional, rude, uncouth, sarcastic, disgusting, ugly, despicable, a complete ruffian and yet, strangely, irresistible. The narrator (his girlfriend Nisha with whom he shares an on-and-off relationship and leeches of money at every turn while insulting her family- referring to her father as a "tight-ass multinational" and her mother as a woman who was sorely in need of a good "screw")is the complete opposite of Deb in both character and mannerisms, and yet she manages to keep up with his antics and forgive him his crudities. I suppose she realised he was as cynical as he was due to his upbringing, growing up in an impoverished household with a father who spent most of his waking moments fighting for the rights of labourers and whom he'd (affectionately, I believe) referred to as "that union-wallah" and a quiet, patient and long-suffering mother who he referred to as "that old hag". I found his character refreshing in its bluntness and was sad to see the change that came about once he'd secured a top-notch job for himself, effectively turning into a capitalist slave and representing everything he'd once detested.
The end of this novel took me by surprise and saddened me, but the quirky and eccentric cast of characters who wove their way in and out of Nisha's and God's lives and who, I believe, rather accurately represented figures commonly found in Mumbai social circles were intriguing and engaging to the point that I found myself not wanting to put the book down to so much as answer the phone, or even eat, until I'd finished a chapter.
This book was a light and engaging read, however, I found that there wasn't sufficient explanation of common Hindi terms and that someone who wasn't familiar with the language would typically find themselves hopelessly grappling with these terms.
He is utterly revolting, unemotional, rude, uncouth, sarcastic, disgusting, ugly, despicable, a complete ruffian and yet, strangely, irresistible. The narrator (his girlfriend Nisha with whom he shares an on-and-off relationship and leeches of money at every turn while insulting her family- referring to her father as a "tight-ass multinational" and her mother as a woman who was sorely in need of a good "screw")is the complete opposite of Deb in both character and mannerisms, and yet she manages to keep up with his antics and forgive him his crudities. I suppose she realised he was as cynical as he was due to his upbringing, growing up in an impoverished household with a father who spent most of his waking moments fighting for the rights of labourers and whom he'd (affectionately, I believe) referred to as "that union-wallah" and a quiet, patient and long-suffering mother who he referred to as "that old hag". I found his character refreshing in its bluntness and was sad to see the change that came about once he'd secured a top-notch job for himself, effectively turning into a capitalist slave and representing everything he'd once detested.
The end of this novel took me by surprise and saddened me, but the quirky and eccentric cast of characters who wove their way in and out of Nisha's and God's lives and who, I believe, rather accurately represented figures commonly found in Mumbai social circles were intriguing and engaging to the point that I found myself not wanting to put the book down to so much as answer the phone, or even eat, until I'd finished a chapter.
This book was a light and engaging read, however, I found that there wasn't sufficient explanation of common Hindi terms and that someone who wasn't familiar with the language would typically find themselves hopelessly grappling with these terms.
April 4, 2013
I wanted to read an Indian author, so I took my chances and picked up Shobha De. The book started so terribly, with the worst English I have read (besides in newspapers), I could not go beyond 20 pages. I dropped it the same day I started it; I just didn't have the heart to pick it up the next day. Bad English. I give it one star because I cannot rate it any lesser.
October 11, 2011
This is what happens when you pick up a book, because you have heard the name of the writer. It is a disgrace in the name of "Indian Fiction"
January 26, 2012
i'd give it 2.5/5 stars.
it seemed quite an interesting read in the starting. God (which was a nickname for Deb) was a character that amazed me and gripped me in the start, but as the story progresses this character gets lost somewhere in less interesting and more repulsing characters and eventually becomes one of them.
it goes splendidly till the first four chapters but after that i just dragged myself in hope to experience that 'thing' which had gripped me in the starting. i was disappointed.
it seemed quite an interesting read in the starting. God (which was a nickname for Deb) was a character that amazed me and gripped me in the start, but as the story progresses this character gets lost somewhere in less interesting and more repulsing characters and eventually becomes one of them.
it goes splendidly till the first four chapters but after that i just dragged myself in hope to experience that 'thing' which had gripped me in the starting. i was disappointed.
October 14, 2017
well I adore Shobhaa Dé . But this book ? Sure It was interesting in the beginning. but ONLY in the beginning. millions of characters emerge from nowhere and the story progresses nowhere. two stars it managed to get only cuz Shobhaa Dé wrote it.
June 17, 2016
And........ I don't like Shobha Dé again...!!!
A lot of unused characters just to fill pages, who don't even own any importance. Very receding story line. If atheists were to believe in God, they might end up loving God; reading this. And yes, love isn't that blind.
A lot of unused characters just to fill pages, who don't even own any importance. Very receding story line. If atheists were to believe in God, they might end up loving God; reading this. And yes, love isn't that blind.
December 24, 2013
Confusing storyline and too many characters..I put down the book after a 100 or so pages to save my own time. Was expecting a lot better from an Indian author like Ms. De
February 13, 2018
There are books which you simply cannot put down until you reach the last page. And then there are books where you are repeatedly counting the number of pages left, sighing each time you realise you still have way too many pages left. Shobhaa De's 'Sulty Days' falls in the latter category.
The story begins on an interesting note living up to the book's title. Nisha, the good and proper girl meets Deb or God as he likes to call himself and is both repulsed by his filth and for some unfathomable reason also drawn to him. Her friends quickly pull away from her, her parents have a fit. But as expected it only draws her more towards him. God bad mouths his parents and hers too, looks down on people who work and lives off the salary she later begins to earn in an ad company. But the guy has a knack for the arts especially writing and poetry and suddenly finds himself part of a literary magazine and gradually begins to rise in ranks and prestige. Meanwhile the author introduces a multitude of characters who are somehow connected to Deb and his Nasha and before long the reader begins to lose track of who is who and why they deserve not just a mention but their whole life story described. Mid way the reader learns that God and Nisha have cooled it and are now just good buddies and the 'sultry days' title pretty much loses its significance.
Also, what is with the stereotyping of all Christian and Goan girls as easy?
The story begins on an interesting note living up to the book's title. Nisha, the good and proper girl meets Deb or God as he likes to call himself and is both repulsed by his filth and for some unfathomable reason also drawn to him. Her friends quickly pull away from her, her parents have a fit. But as expected it only draws her more towards him. God bad mouths his parents and hers too, looks down on people who work and lives off the salary she later begins to earn in an ad company. But the guy has a knack for the arts especially writing and poetry and suddenly finds himself part of a literary magazine and gradually begins to rise in ranks and prestige. Meanwhile the author introduces a multitude of characters who are somehow connected to Deb and his Nasha and before long the reader begins to lose track of who is who and why they deserve not just a mention but their whole life story described. Mid way the reader learns that God and Nisha have cooled it and are now just good buddies and the 'sultry days' title pretty much loses its significance.
Also, what is with the stereotyping of all Christian and Goan girls as easy?
July 5, 2019
പുസ്തകം: ഉഷ്ണദിനങ്ങൾ
രചന: ശോഭാ ഡേ
വിവർത്തനം: വി. വി. വേണുഗോപാൽ
പ്രസാധനം: ഡിസി ബുക്ക്സ്
പേജ്:318,വില :295
ശോഭാ ഡേ 1994ൽ രചിച്ച നോവലാണ് Sultry Days.2017ൽ ഈ നോവൽ ഉഷ്ണദിനങ്ങൾ എന്ന പേരിൽ ഡിസി ബുക്സ് വിവർത്തനം ചെയ്തു പുറത്തിറക്കി.
ശോഭ ഡേ-യുടെ നോവലുകൾ എല്ലാം തന്നെ നഗരജീവിതത്തെ കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളതാണ്. ഒരു സൊസൈറ്റി വുമൺ കാഴ്ചപ്പാടിലാണ് നോവലുകൾ രചിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.
മുംബൈ നഗരത്തിന്റെ കഥയാണ് ഈ നോവൽ പറയുന്നത്. നിഷ കോളേജ് കാന്റീൻ വെച്ചാണ് ദൈവത്തെ(ദേവ് ) ആദ്യമായി കാണുന്നത്. ദൈവത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഉണ്ടാകുന്നത് അപരിഷ്കൃതവും പരുക്കനുമായ പെരുമാറ്റങ്ങളും ആണെങ്കിലും നിഷ അയാളിൽ ആകൃഷ്ടയാകുന്നു. അവരുടേത് ഒരു ഓപ്പൺ റിലേഷൻഷിപ്പ് ആയിരുന്നു. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ യാഥാർത്ഥ്യങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നും വിട്ടകന്നു നിൽക്കുന്ന ദൈവം പത്ര പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളിൽ എത്തിച്ചേരുന്നു. നിഷ ഒരു പരസ്യ കമ്പനിയിൽ ജോലി നേടുന്നു. മുംബൈ നഗരത്തിന്റെ പുറംപൂച്ചകളിൽ മയങ്ങി ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഇവർക്കിടയിലേക്ക് സ്തുതിപാഠകരും, വേശ്യകളും പിമ്പുകളും പാർട്ടി ഗേൾസ്കളും ഒക്കെ കടന്നുവരുന്നു. നേട്ടങ്ങൾക്കു പിന്നാലെയുള്ള പരക്കം പാച്ചിലിൽ അവരുടെ ജീവിതം ദുരന്തം ആയി മാറിയത് വളരെ പെട്ടെന്നായിരുന്നു.
ശോഭാ ഡേ പറയുന്നത് നാഗരിക ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ കഥയാണ്. നഗരത്തിന്റെ ആർഭാടവും, പൊങ്ങച്ചവും, അഴിമതിയും, വ്യഭിചാരവും എല്ലാം ഈ നോവലിൽ ഇടകലരുന്നു.
രചന: ശോഭാ ഡേ
വിവർത്തനം: വി. വി. വേണുഗോപാൽ
പ്രസാധനം: ഡിസി ബുക്ക്സ്
പേജ്:318,വില :295
ശോഭാ ഡേ 1994ൽ രചിച്ച നോവലാണ് Sultry Days.2017ൽ ഈ നോവൽ ഉഷ്ണദിനങ്ങൾ എന്ന പേരിൽ ഡിസി ബുക്സ് വിവർത്തനം ചെയ്തു പുറത്തിറക്കി.
ശോഭ ഡേ-യുടെ നോവലുകൾ എല്ലാം തന്നെ നഗരജീവിതത്തെ കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളതാണ്. ഒരു സൊസൈറ്റി വുമൺ കാഴ്ചപ്പാടിലാണ് നോവലുകൾ രചിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.
മുംബൈ നഗരത്തിന്റെ കഥയാണ് ഈ നോവൽ പറയുന്നത്. നിഷ കോളേജ് കാന്റീൻ വെച്ചാണ് ദൈവത്തെ(ദേവ് ) ആദ്യമായി കാണുന്നത്. ദൈവത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഉണ്ടാകുന്നത് അപരിഷ്കൃതവും പരുക്കനുമായ പെരുമാറ്റങ്ങളും ആണെങ്കിലും നിഷ അയാളിൽ ആകൃഷ്ടയാകുന്നു. അവരുടേത് ഒരു ഓപ്പൺ റിലേഷൻഷിപ്പ് ആയിരുന്നു. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ യാഥാർത്ഥ്യങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നും വിട്ടകന്നു നിൽക്കുന്ന ദൈവം പത്ര പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളിൽ എത്തിച്ചേരുന്നു. നിഷ ഒരു പരസ്യ കമ്പനിയിൽ ജോലി നേടുന്നു. മുംബൈ നഗരത്തിന്റെ പുറംപൂച്ചകളിൽ മയങ്ങി ജീവിക്കുന്ന ഇവർക്കിടയിലേക്ക് സ്തുതിപാഠകരും, വേശ്യകളും പിമ്പുകളും പാർട്ടി ഗേൾസ്കളും ഒക്കെ കടന്നുവരുന്നു. നേട്ടങ്ങൾക്കു പിന്നാലെയുള്ള പരക്കം പാച്ചിലിൽ അവരുടെ ജീവിതം ദുരന്തം ആയി മാറിയത് വളരെ പെട്ടെന്നായിരുന്നു.
ശോഭാ ഡേ പറയുന്നത് നാഗരിക ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ കഥയാണ്. നഗരത്തിന്റെ ആർഭാടവും, പൊങ്ങച്ചവും, അഴിമതിയും, വ്യഭിചാരവും എല്ലാം ഈ നോവലിൽ ഇടകലരുന്നു.
July 20, 2017
Totally avoidable. I read the first fifty pages with great difficulty in anticipation that the story may turn interesting but had to ditch it. The book is lying on my shelf like an unclaimed concubine in Shoba De's language. The biggest joke is that De dedicates this book to her children & remarks "finally , a book by me that they can read". But this is the biggest (s)crap that an indian author has ever produced. A confusing jargon of plot with too many unnecessary characters with a virtually non-existent plot which leads you nowhere. If you are a book-lover only solace that you get by reading the book is that you yourself can write a better book. This book proves that anybody can be a writer- a better one at that. A total waste of time in this time starved world .....
October 23, 2018
Hopeless book with so many characters that you stop losing track of them. The characters come and go in every 5 pages with no connectiom between them . To name a few Deb, Nisha, Ray, Lucio, Lady M , Comrade Sahab and his wife, Nisha's Parents, America returned bjsunessman, London born Model, Politician, Prostitute, Iqbal( artist), Rich Parsi woman, Vimla and Sujata, President of the Poets association , Famous Heroine, The singer who marries her secretory, The two homos ( who own the art gallery).....( the list is endless). Out of frustration stoped reading midway.never read such a hopeless story ever before .Strogly dont recommend this book.
May 3, 2021
Was a drama about a young girl and her boyfriend's life while in college. And the days, months and years after she passes out of college and joins for a job.
Was kindof okay. Felt like a filmi kind of book. Sort of like Jackie Collins book of india. Was attracted to this author Shobha De on a film review in the newspaper. So, when I saw this author's book at the bookstore bought it just to know the kind of writing the author does.
Could say the book was kind of okay. But after 40-60 pages I was kind of seriously bored and read through the remaining of the book just because I started the book and wanted to complete it.
Overall its just an Okay book.
Was kindof okay. Felt like a filmi kind of book. Sort of like Jackie Collins book of india. Was attracted to this author Shobha De on a film review in the newspaper. So, when I saw this author's book at the bookstore bought it just to know the kind of writing the author does.
Could say the book was kind of okay. But after 40-60 pages I was kind of seriously bored and read through the remaining of the book just because I started the book and wanted to complete it.
Overall its just an Okay book.
May 14, 2020
its my first book from Shobhaa De and totally impressed !!
April 2, 2020
Well what did I expect either this book was bad or I am not built to read chick-lit, well something or the other but I simply didn't like it. Nothing much happens in the book and then lo and behold someone dies and we move ahead.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
Read
September 18, 2012A good read is all I can say. The author does't want to preach anything and the pace of the book moves on gradually. The routine life of the protagonist and the people around her is described through her, who seems to be gratified by the way her life moves on! But life brings her to some crossroads where she doesn't know what to do? Harrowingly her life goes upside down!
October 13, 2012
My eye-opener to the scandal, dirt and sex in socialite India. A glimpse into the debauchery and scandal in the lives of upper-class in Bombay's elite. loved the honesty and vulgarity of this book, it was to say the least...enlightening...for my 15 year old self. Fully intend to read it again soon.
July 27, 2013
It's not a kind of book that I'd recommend to anyone. My reason for liking it was that I found some of the characters and generally, life in Bombay interesting. Shobha De's novels always give you a glimpse into scandalous lives of the upper class people. This novel too has its share of such stories.
October 20, 2010
its an amazing book... the character of "GOD" is really interesting... he blatantly says watever he feels like and doesn't care... he has his opinion and sticks to it...hes quiet the kinda guys that this world lack.....
Read
June 23, 2014Its such a book.. That when at the last page one of the protagonist dies... U feel relieved and happy that finally the terrible character and the book ENDED!! M glad I managed to survive through...!
April 2, 2011
I've read it. That's all I'm going to say. Can't say I'll ever read it again.
June 11, 2011
Typical Shoba de book with all entertainment factors.
July 22, 2011
very nice
October 5, 2012
The book looses grip many times between the chapters. It has too many characters which has no relation to each other and the relationship of protagonist to god is strange.
May 11, 2015
I seldom call books total crap, this is one of them. utterly uninspired and disappointing coming from an enigmatic columnist
October 14, 2015
Complete waste of time; I don't consider any book waste of money ;). Too many characters, confused plot and abrupt end.
October 15, 2012
don't tried to read it guys and girls....Its too boring...
July 6, 2013
didn like the writing much...
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