Reading List

As I was writing an email to my parents and in-laws who are preparing for their upcoming journey to India, it occurred to me that other might enjoy knowing what books we have read that have broadened, deepened, and contextualized our experiences here in India.

Happy reading!

I made links to their amazon sites for further publisher info and reader reviews.

"In Spite of the Gods" Edward Luce This is a summary of the political history that took India from a 3rd world colonial subjugate to it's dominating economic position of today. Most importantly, Luce (of the Economist) explains how this happened and why it happened here. Super well written.

"Breathless in Bombay" Murzban F. Shroff Fictional short stories based on the author's experience wandering the neighborhoods. They are quick reads, insightful into everyday life, and tell the story of the city from a unique perspective. One story is about the dhobi wallahs (washermen) and how they have to defend their water rights. Another is about the internal politics inside a suburban apartment building. Yet another delves into the lives of the victoria-wallahs (fancy horse drawn carriage drivers).

"Midnight's Children" Salmon Rushdie Booker prize winning story about the partition between India and Pakistan told from the perspective of the first child born after midnight the night India became a free nation. Rushdie is an amazingly visceral writer. Highly recommended!

"Holy Cow" Sarah Macdonald Super fun Aussie journalist moves to Delhi with her partner. She has lots of travel stories and eventually goes on a spiritual journey through India with each chapter describing her experience with a different spiritual/cultural group. Great sense of humor and playfullness.

"The Ramayana" R. K. Narayan The fundamental book of the Hindu faith condensed into short-story format. This epic poem is the Diwali story, describing the battle between good and evil. Since Hinduism doesn't have one defining spiritual text (like the Torah, Koran or Bible), it relies on epic poems to teach morality, sprituality, duty, honor, etc.

"A Fine Balance" Rohinton Mistry Fictional story about several separate stories in Mumbai that eventually start to intersect in a way that could only happen here where the various economic classes intermingle so freely. The backdrop of the story is the political time period when Indira Gandhi (no relation to THAT guy, instead Nehru's daughter) imposed Emergency Rule to squelch rising inflation and political dissension.

These are just a few of the ones that we've read that would give you a great background of knowledge before you set off on your own unique Indian adventure. Cheers!