South Asian Literature discussion

I'm reading Miss Timmins' School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy.

I am reading Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens and Journey To The Center of the Earth by Jules Verne.

I thought we should mention only the writing by South Asian writers... I'm reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I also have The Slaveby Isaac Bashevis Singer and the Sinhala translation of "Fragments: Memories of a Wartime Childhood" by Binjamin Wilkomirski in my currently-reading shelf. At the same time I'm finishing Dead Soulswith my group.

Amalie wrote: "I thought we should mention only the writing by South Asian writers... I'm reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I also have The Slaveby [author:Isaac Bashevis..."

Wow, you're reading a lot. Ideally, we'll focus on South Asian literature here but people are welcome to mention other books too.

I'm currently reading Bones of the Master: a Journey to Secret Mongolia by George Crane

I first read this nonfiction book in my university course: Asian Spiritual Disciplines. It's such an inspiring account I just had to read it again!

I'm also reading Bikram Yoga: The Guru Behind Hot Yoga Shows the Way to Radiant Health and Personal Fulfillment by Bikram Choudhury -- I love this type of yoga and I'm attempting to master it! :)

I'm currently reading Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje. Hilarious! (Ok, may be not hilarious, but funny :)

I am currently reading Animal's People: A Novel. My first South Asian subject by a S.A. author since I joined this group. :D

Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra.

I am reading now Sea of Poppies by Amitav Gosh and The Translator by Leila Aboulela. The second one is egiption writer. She is a winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing. The Translator also was shortlisted to many prizes, but my opinion is that the book is rather not good. Poppies is much better, but somebody told me that it is the first part of longer saga which wasn't published yet.

Sharan wrote: "I am currently reading Animal's People: A Novel. My first South Asian subject by a S.A. author since I joined this group. :D"

It's perfect. Maybe not at the beginning, but it is developing in really thrilling and sometimes schocking way. Good choice

Thanks Katarzyna. I found the book really interesting. Especially the few rants Animal has on social norms in 'backwards' India (like on stool studies >:D). I was shocked that his 'lund' becomes a minor character, but hey, I guess that's what makes him just like all the other kids.

Sharan wrote: "I am currently reading Animal's People: A Novel. My first South Asian subject by a S.A. author since I joined this group. :D"

I loved Animal's People. I was only sad it was so short! :)

I'm currently reading One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. I'm loving it at the moment!

I just found out I'll be getting a review copy of Arundhati Roy's new book Walking With The Comrades this week. I can't wait to start it. Any other A. Roy fans out there?

I'm currently reading Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in the Happiest Kingdom on Earth by Lisa Napoli.

I really enjoyed Radio Shangri-La. What do you think of it so far, Tara?

Hi Amina. I am about halfway through the book and I am really enjoying it! Makes me want to go to Bhutan! :)

I just started "Tell it to the Trees" By Anita Rau Badami. I've read her other books and highly recommend them. Can't wait to sink my teeth into this one.

Amina wrote: "I'm reading Miss Timmins' School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy."

Do you like it? I couldn't get through it. i was really looking forward to it.

Mary wrote: "Amina wrote: "I'm reading Miss Timmins' School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy."

Do you like it? I couldn't get through it. i was really looking forward to it."

I read it last summer and actually liked it. It did get a bit tedious toward the end of the middle, but I liked how it turned out as a whole.

Just finished White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. It has a raw and biting tone. I'm about to start What the Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin.

Finished "Tell it to the Trees". Should have been good but wasn't. Bummer.

Just finished Serious Men by Joseph Manu. Very satirical, funny

also just finished The Sweetness of Tears. Enjoyable but predictable at times.

has anyone read the English translation of seven 6's are 43 by Kiran Nagarkar?

I am trying to read Cloud Atlas, but am distracted by writing/launching my own books. However, I really loved The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, so I have high hopes of this next Mitchell novel. I have just found a ton of good desi lit on these threads, so I have a good stock of books to turn to next!

I am currently reading the World we Found by T Umrigar.

I just finished The Cosmic Clues by Manjiri Prabhu, a very light mystery set in Pune and featuring Sonia Samarth. It's really a series of short stories connected by Sonia, an investigator who uses astrology, and her group of friends and contacts. Light reading to balance the craziness of the season.

Just finished Life of Pi, beautifully written..am wondering if the movie has lived up to it..looking forward to watching it though I am never able to compare a book to a movie; forgive the cliche, but its like apples and oranges. I just want the movie makers to do justice to the writer's imagination.

Currently reading India : A History by John Keay and The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie.

Would love some suggestions as in what to read next.

I'm in the middle of Katherine Boo's Behind the Beautiful Forevers. Wow. I'm hooked. Anyone else read/reading it?

This book is awesome! one of my favorite books ever!!! it is golden!

I am reading Humsafar's translation, it is the one written by Hameeda Hussain Raipuri....so far, I am mesmerized by it's beauty

I am starting City of Devi by Manil Suri. I've been waiting for this for so long. Nice to sink my teeth into it. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

I'm reading Video: Stories by Meena Nair. They're excellent; I think this is her first book.

You people are too smart for me. I'm reading The Bro Code.

I'm reading The Magic of Saida! It's slow, but still really good... kinda par for the course with Vassanji.

Just picked up broken verses by kamila shamsie from the library..

currently I'm reading, India: A Sacred Geoggraphy, by Diana L. Eck. Amazing book. I'm also rereading Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy, my favorite novel of all time, in preparation for Seth's new novel, due out this year, A Suitable Girl. Can't wait!

Amina, I too recently read Behind The Beautiful Forevers. It was the first book in some time, despite being beautifully written, that took me several weeks to finish. The pain and hopelessness of the children was palpable. I found myself having to walk away from it a few days at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. A profound, powerful, and necessary book.

Elisa, I second you on Behind the Beautiful Forevers. It is a beautifully written book but is extremely difficult to read.

I just read Jamil Ahmad's The Wandering Falcon. Although written in the 1970s by a retired Pakistani government servant, TWF is a refreshing read. I have the Beautiful and the Damned on my reading list.

I read Behind the Beautiful Forevers recently on my Nook. I popped the extra dollar for the video clips and I am so glad. Gave faces to these unforgetable characters.

Just bought The Thing About Thugs, by Tabish Khair. Don't quite know what to expect, but was intrigued by a mini-review in the New Yorker.

@ Shaheen: I'm going to check that one out, thanks!

Susie, I too read, Behind The Beautiful Forevers, on my nook and added the video clips. The open, honest faces of the children, who share the same hopes and dreams of children the world over are truly unforgettable.

Just finished cutting for stone. Many of you have probably read it already, but if you haven't, you must. It's become one of my favorites among contemporary lit fiction, and it has a beautiful southasian/Ethiopian/Indian flavor.

Lara, I read Cutting For Stone last year and loved it. You might also enjoy My Own Country, and The Tennis Partner, books also written by Verghese. They too are excellent reads, and autobiographical in nature as they focus on two different periods in his life.

Elisa thanks for the recs..will definitely add these 2 to my list. How does he find the time to write, I wonder.

I am reading Partitions by Amit Majmudar. This is his debut novel after having released two books of poetry. His talent as a poet translates beautifully in a novel form as he conveys a well-balanced perspective of the suffering and horrors. His new book, Abundance, just came out. I will be reading that one soon.