scoop-wallah

by Justine Hardy

Used book in good condition, due to its age it could contain normal signs of use

Genres: Nonfiction, India, Memoir, Travel

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Justine Hardy is a British journalist, author, and conflict trauma therapist specializing in South Asia, and the Kashmir region in particular. She is the author of six books, ranging from journeys through Tibet, Hindi film, her time working on an Indian newspaper, the realities of orthodox Islam, and war.

Hardy has contributed to the BBC, the Financial Times, The Times, Traveler, and Vanity Fair. Her journalism extends from travel in Europe, India, the United States, and the Caribbean, to book reviews and social affairs reporting. Among other topics, she has written articles on the search for peace and the mental health crisis in Kashmir, and on female activists within Islam.

In addition to her writing, Hardy is involved in several aid projects.

Reviews

[Rs · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not easy for me to read. A very annoying account of Justine Hardy’s time as a journalist in India , residing with erstwhile royalty, chauffeured around in her personal auto rickshaw, travelling to Assam, listening to the Dalai Lama, peeking into the development sector etc etc . Most characters in the book seem like caricatures and the constant reference to Kiplings' journey is again……annoying. Of course , Justine finds it hard to be happy anywhere, she doesn’t get to report on any real issues, her boss at the paper wants yoga columns from her ......... so on and so forth. The book is stained with some terrible photographs , unpredictably cropping up. But thankfully not too many of those.
We were terribly put off by the style of writing and my irritation probably has reached to a point where I can’t seem to find the correct pitch to critique it.
…..I just barely managed to finish it and that's rare cause i seem to have some kind of self destructive commitment to books – I try to finish the ones I start (yes even those terrible terrible translations of renowned vernacular authors….I endure them to the end). This commitment has been the toughest to keep. Hmm….maybe I’m cured of the disease.


http://roshnisubhash.wordpress.com/20...

[bhargavi · Rating 1 out of 5]

a load of BS from an english journalist who is so far up on her high horse that she genuinely seems to believe indian journalists only want to write features about bollywood gossip and that she was the only serious journalist galloping about… you really must be joking

edit: the more you read, the more insulting it gets actually. somehow the only characters with dimension are all foreigners, and all the indians are one-note stereotypes, more outlines than people. so insulting it’s hilarious. how is this book still in circulation?

[Kerry Bonham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant read, good to dip in and out of rather than read in one go.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

India has always fascinated me, so I approached this book with great anticipation. The author, with her contacts, had the entrée into mainly the upper-classes of Indian society, but made a point of mixing with a range of social groups in order to provide a balanced view. I enjoyed reading about the fascinating characters she met, the places she went to and the overwhelming variety of the country as a whole.
Unfortunately, I found the writing style didn’t do justice to the content. There could have been so much excitement in the uniqueness of the people, the differences in community groups; there could have been more depth in the descriptions of the squalor and the overcrowding. The writing was tedious and didn’t show much variety throughout the book, which meant that the descriptions lacked life and meaning. Hardy’s insistence on dragging Rudyard Kipling in at every opportunity soon started to grate!
All in all, although I enjoyed this book, I would have enjoyed it far more if the author had used a more lively style of writing.

[Varsha · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book put me off reading for nearly a month. I was confused about it and in the end even infuriated with it! It started off with great promise- a young British journalist, who in her words loves India, takes off for New Delhi to write for a prominent Indian daily. Throughout the book, she often quotes, compares and is inspired by another British journalist in India- Rudyard Kipling, reminding me of 'Julie & Julia'!

I thought this book was on the right track. But as I read through it, I was very disappointed- not with the matter but with the manner of writing. It came across to me that the author was in love with the 'idea' of India and not with the reality of India. She seemed to fall back on a lot of Indian stereotypes yet professed incredulity when faced with common stereotypes that the Indians held about Britain. The worst part was how I felt she derided and often mocked her very hosts who made this Indian adventure for her possible.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There seems to be no end to the delightful memoirs of India by those, both Indian and non-Indian, who have lived there. This volume is the story of British journalist Justine Hardy's year spent living in Delhi, working as ad hoc reporter for the daily Indian Express. Hardy's language is elegant, precise, and has a rich, dry humor to it. Her characterizations are delicious. I loved the dispossessed, now landlord, prince, Yashwant; Sourish the editor, who doesn't want news, only feature stories with nice pictures; and many others who leap off the page, they are so full of vibrancy. This is a book by someone who loves India, in spite of its many warts. A pleasure to read.

[Jenn Webley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to see another viewpoint on India. As a self confessed Indiaphile I am always keen to get my hands on something to read on Indiaps truly amazing characters, sights etc.

This book was full of great promise and opportunity. Elements of the content took me straight back to India, I was back and could picture, smell and understand what was being described but I found it difficult to really warm too. I enjoyed the characters, and a lot of the content but I generally felt the book was difficult to read. This was a disappointing read. A real shame.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think I fully appreciated this book. The story-telling was very dry; I couldn't keep the characters straight. I didn't really follow it. In the end, I still didn't understand why the author felt so enamored of India. Perhaps the inclusion of the stories she wrote for the paper would have helped.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an alright read. Not riveting, but okay. It is interesting that Hardy seems to love India but struggles relating to most Indians. All of the personalities she names in the book she either mocks or ridicules, with varying degrees of affection. It seems people she really liked are shawody 'friends' that don't make it into the book. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

[Ketan Shah]

An interesting account of what makes the news in India.Similar in some ways to Holy Cow:An Indian Adventure,by Sarah MacDonald

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not extremely well written (according to my standards) but interesting to hear another person's experiences in India. Some parts I could laught at knowing exactly what was happening.

[Tia Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Funny, but meh.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great descriptions of Delhi life.