Journal Entry 1 by boreal from Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Monday, January 05, 2004

From the Rotary booksale in Alexandra.

A collection of short stories which tell the lives of Indians in exile, of people navigating between strict traditions they have inhertited and the baffling new world they must encounter every day.
Winner of the Pulitzer prize 2000.

 

Journal Entry 2 by boreal from Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Friday, January 23, 2004

I can see why this book has won so many prizes. These are some of the best written short stories I have ever read.
They deal with everyday people of Indian descent and their relationships within families and with the people they meet. The author has a great eye for detail.
I think my favourite story was the first in the book -"A Temporary Matter" which tells the story of the effect a daily power cut has on an Indian couple who have recently had a stillborn child.
I have decided to turn this into a bookray as its a book worth sharing. 

Journal Entry 3 by boreal from Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Friday, January 23, 2004

I am starting a bookray with this book -NZ and Australia only to start with to keep postage costs down. If you want to join send me a PM and you will be added to the end.
Here are the participants.


Libragirl -Christchurch, NZ
Futurecat -Christchurch, NZ
Scism -Adelaide, Australia
EDDI -Melbourne, Australia
Hawkette -Melbourne, Australia
Readinator -Footscray, Victoria
wombles -Caboolture, Queensland
newk -Adelaide, Australia
lmn60-Victoria, Australia
mysh -Dunedin, NZ
rarsberry -Dunedin, NZ
bishop75 -Hastings, NZ <-----book is here
Blackkeybash -Brisbane, Aust (has asked to be skipped as now has own copy)
Carlynlee -Aust





1. When you have finished reading the book send a PM to the next on the list asking for their address. If you are too busy to read the book in the next few weeks, let me know and I will move you down the list.

2. Make a journal entry when you receive the book to let us know you got it.

3. When you finish the book, make another journal entry telling us what you thought.

4.Enjoy!!

 

Journal Entry 4 by boreal at on Thursday, January 29, 2004

Released on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at BOOKRAY in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Posted to Libragirlin Christchurch on Jan 30th.
Enjoy.. 

Journal Entry 5 by libragirl from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Sunday, February 01, 2004

This book received from Boreal today - looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 6 by libragirl from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Saturday, February 14, 2004

I loved these short stories, I also enjoyed "A Temporary Matter", my heart went out to Boori Ma in "A Real Durwan" and Bibi Halder in "A Treatment of Bibi Haldar". I also enjoyed the clash of culture in "This Blessed House".

This book now off to FutureCat 

Journal Entry 7 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Sunday, February 15, 2004

Discovered lurking in my letterbox this afternoon :-)

I'm about half-way through reading Janet Frame's autobiography at the moment for my own bookring, but as soon as I finish that book, I'll get on to this one.

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Journal Entry 8 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Fabulous book, great stories, really enjoyed it. I'm not sure which my favourite story was - I think possibly "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine", just because of its lovely blend of gentle good humour and serious issues.

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Journal Entry 9 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Friday, February 27, 2004

Posting off to Scism today.

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Journal Entry 10 by Scism from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Friday, March 12, 2004

I received this in the mail today from FutureCat. I'm really looking forward to reading it. Since it's a collection of short stories, rather than a novel, I anticipate being able to read it concurrently with other bookring books (which works well since I have quite a number with me at present!)

Since I keep to a maximum of a one-month turn around for bookrings, I will make sure I have this one sent on it's way again by April 11. But I wouldn't be surprised it I devour it over the next week or so! 

Journal Entry 11 by Scism from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Thursday, March 25, 2004

I've just finished reading this delightful book. It was such a pleasure to read! The stories were so diverse, yet I loved the common theme of people with links to India. Another common theme seemed to be the complexity of human relationships. I can't really choose my favourite of the stories, because I liked them all so much, and each for different reasons. Jhumpa Lahiri's writing was fluid, flawless and versatile - I would love to read more of her work. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to look for a copy for my own private collection. It seems like a book that would stand up well to rereading.

I will post this off on the next leg of its journey as soon as I hear back from the next person on the bookring list. 

Journal Entry 12 by Scism from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, March 29, 2004

Mailed to EDDI today, on the next leg of its journey. 

Journal Entry 13 by EDDI from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Received today from scism. Thanks. Hope to start it in a couple of days. 

Journal Entry 14 by EDDI from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Thursday, April 08, 2004

I enjoyed reading these beautifully written stories, although most of them were really sad... My favourites were "This Blessed House" and "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar". Thanks boreal! On its way to Hawkette next. 

Journal Entry 15 by Hawkette from Ballarat, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, April 27, 2004

I have just today returned from 5 weeks of travel, and was very excited to find this in my pile of mail. I have really being looking forward to this one. 

Journal Entry 16 by Hawkette from Ballarat, Victoria Australia on Thursday, June 24, 2004

Loved this collection of short stories. The depth and breadth of these characters, with just enough background to really get a feel for them. I am almost disappointed that they were all short, and not made into complete novels.

Really enjoyed learning a little more about Indian culture, and customs. The more I read, the more admiration I have for it's people - and the more I want to go visit.

Many had the theme of young Indian people trying to adjust to live in America, which is probably something that I rarely think about (cos when I think of adapting overseas, I am obviously from the developed way of live, and most countries are now adapting to our way of life, not the other way around - shame.)

Was totally wrapped up in The Treatment Of Bibi Haldar, The Third And Final Continent, and LOVED Sexy!!

Will send off on the weekend... 

Journal Entry 17 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Received from Hawkette - thanks! I've been looking forward to this one. Will journal when I've read it. 

Journal Entry 18 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, July 06, 2004

I have finished the book. I really enjoyed it, and it was a very easy and quick read.

The author has a fairly plain and unadorned writing style (completely different to, say, Chitra Divakaruni), but the charm and emotional world of the characters shine through nonetheless.

I really felt for the characters in A Temporary Matter. That would have been my favourite I would say; a story of a steady erosion of a relationship is so universal. I also enjoyed "Mrs Sen's" - a melancholy story of a woman far from her family and loved ones, and far from a culture that while restrictive, provides comforting boundaries and certainty.

Thanks, boreal for making this available! 

Journal Entry 19 by Readinator from Woodend, Victoria Australia on Friday, July 16, 2004

Released via ParcelPOST Satchel to wombles with a little something extra. Sorry to hang onto the book for nearly a full month - it was bookring or box-city at my place this month! 

Journal Entry 20 by wombles from Caboolture, Queensland Australia on Monday, July 26, 2004

Interesting read, I haven't quite finished it yet but will send it along asap! 

Journal Entry 21 by wombles from Caboolture, Queensland Australia on Monday, August 23, 2004

Passed on to Newk! Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 22 by wombles from Caboolture, Queensland Australia on Monday, August 23, 2004

Passed on to Newk! Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 23 by wombles from Caboolture, Queensland Australia on Monday, August 23, 2004

Passed on to Newk! Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 24 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, August 23, 2004

I got three copies of this book today.. Sorry wombles. The reviews are very favourable so I look forward to it.
To borrow from readinator above "the house is book ring city". So I may be a while but will stick to one month limit.
Thanks boreal and all those in between.
Thanks to wombles who included a little surprise. 

Journal Entry 25 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Sunday, August 29, 2004

This is an extraordinary book. The writing is sublime, yet so simple. Beautiful insightful descriptions of the human condition. It is indeed easy to see why this won the Pulitzer Prize.
My favourite is the last story The Third and Final Continent. And part of the last paragraph I shall reproduce here "I know that my achievement is quite ordinary. I am not the only man to seek his fortune far from home, and certainly I am not the first. Still there are times when I am bewildered by each mile I have traveled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination."

Who can not say a lot of that about their own life?
Like others in this ring I shall get my own copy of this book and will be seeking other books by the author.
I have the address of the next reader and will make a journal entry to confirm departure.

And Boreal, what a find in a Rotary book sale. Thanks for sharing and guiding the book around.

Oh yeah, Sexy was extremely clever and well written too. 

Journal Entry 26 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Sunday, August 29, 2004

posted in red box outside Balfours ten minutes ago. Travel well 

Journal Entry 27 by lmn60 from Spotswood, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, September 01, 2004

Waiting for me when I got home from work... what a lovely treat. And, Newk, WHAT is that other book?????? 

Journal Entry 28 by lmn60 from Spotswood, Victoria Australia on Monday, September 13, 2004

As newk said - these stories are indeed sublime. Lahiri has written a collection of compassionate, insightful character studies that are notable both for their (apparent) simplicity and their insights into human nature. Not much 'happens' in these stories, yet we gain a much deeper understanding of the lives of 'ordinary people' through reflecting on the lessons that Lahiri teaches us so implicitly.

I can't really select a favourite story as I felt all of them sparkled like small jewels in the wider context of Indian and Western culture. I found myself reflecting on the characters for several days after finishing each story - surely the mark of an outstanding writer.

Thank you so much for starting this ring, boreal. I will forward the stories to mysh this week. 

Journal Entry 29 by mysh from Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Saturday, November 20, 2004

Sorry for stalling the bookray - this book sat for some time before I had a chance to read it. I've now spent the last few days dipping into the stories - I like the way they contrast life in India with that of the expat Indian, mostly in the USA. I think my favourite moment was in the first story, A Temporary Matter. Shoba asks Shukumar why, on their first date, he had forgotten to tip the waiter. His answer: "By the end of the meal I had a funny feeling that I might marry you... It must have distracted me." 

Journal Entry 30 by rarsberry from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Tuesday, March 08, 2005

After many months of waiting for this book it magically found me last night.
I recieved it from mysh last night at our meetup.
Took it home with me and started reading the first short story.
More to come when I have read more. :o) 

Journal Entry 31 by rarsberry at Postal release in Dunedin, Otago New Zealand on Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (4/12/2005 UTC) at Postal release in Dunedin, Otago New Zealand

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Posted this yesetrday to Bishop75 

Journal Entry 32 by bishop75 on Monday, April 18, 2005

A book of short stories about Indian immigrants to the United States balancing a traditional Indian lifestyle with that of one in the United States.
Arrived by post from rarsbery in Dunedin on the weekend, once I've read it I'll send it on its merry way to elsewhere.