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Heat and Dust
by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala | Literature & Fiction
Registered by Oldbroad of Grapeview, Washington USA on Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Average 8 star rating by BookCrossing Members 

status (set by da-wildchildz): to be read


6 journalers for this copy...

Journal Entry 1 by Oldbroad from Grapeview, Washington USA on Wednesday, March 17, 2004

8 out of 10

Story of a cross-cultural romance set in 1920's India. Well written, winner of the Booker prize. 

Journal Entry 2 by Oldbroad from Grapeview, Washington USA on Monday, April 05, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Postal release to goatgrrl in British Columbia. 

Journal Entry 3 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, April 13, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Thanks very much, Oldbroad! Our books made really good time getting across the border in both directions -- very encouraging. This is a beautiful copy of this book -- I'm really looking forward to reading it, and will treat it well and release it promptly. Thanks again, and very best wishes to you. 

Journal Entry 4 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Monday, April 19, 2004

10 out of 10

What a great book. Heat and Dust tells the story of Olivia Rivers, the bored wife of an English civil servant living in India in the 1920s. The story unfolds in alternating chapters, moving from a third person narrative describing events in Olivia's life in 1923 to first-person story-telling by Olivia's step-granddaughter (the granddaughter of Olivia's husband, Douglas, who remarries later in life). Since the step-granddaughter travels to India herself in the 1970s (where she works on reconstructing -- and retracing -- Olivia's story using a series of letters written by Olivia to her sister), the reader is invited to contrast life in India in the 1920s with conditions in the post-Independence India of the 1970s. A remarkable read -- truly a book I couldn't put down.

Reading this book introduced me to author and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (left), a member of the Merchant Ivory film team. A brief biography and description of Prawer Jhabvala's work (and many awards) can be found here. 

Journal Entry 5 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, June 02, 2004

This book has not been rated.

I'll be mailing this book (along with Monica Ali's Brick Lane) to crazy-book-lady in Toronto, Ontario on June 2, 2004. Best wishes from New Westminster, British Columbia! (At left: the Fraser River, as seen from the top of my street.) 

Journal Entry 6 by crazy-book-lady from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Monday, June 07, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Received in the mail today, along with Brick Lane and two beautiful bookmarks. Thanks goatgrrl! 

Journal Entry 7 by crazy-book-lady from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Saturday, September 25, 2004

8 out of 10

I really enjoyed this book. Most of the books that I have read about India have been stories about the Indian people, until now I hadn't read much involving the English experience. I liked the structure of the book, moving back and forth between Olivia's experiences in the 1920s and her granddaughter's travels in the 1970s.

Thanks for sharing this one with me goatgrrl! 

Journal Entry 8 by crazy-book-lady from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, October 19, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Traveling to Kernow8 in the UK. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 9 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, November 04, 2004

This book has not been rated.

Generously sent to me as a RABCK as I had it on my wishlist with Cliff1976. Arrived in England today - thank you so much, crazy-book-lady. I'll send it on its journey again when I've read it. 

Journal Entry 10 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Monday, January 04, 2010

8 out of 10

Thanks for sending this to me. I read it a few months ago, and enjoyed it a lot, particularly the dual perspective. I've offered it as a RABCK so the book will be travelling on again soon. 

Journal Entry 11 by ruzena from Vantaa, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, January 11, 2010

This book has not been rated.


The book arrived today.
Thank you very much for sharing, Kernow8 and others! 

Journal Entry 12 by ruzena at Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme Finland on Tuesday, November 02, 2010

9 out of 10

A novel about India, again different from the other ones I have read, and a love story that I could tolerate. :D In fact, the love story is not the most essential line. The novel also tells about the manifold net of cultural and religious and ideological differences between Indian and British, or Western, people, were it in the early 1900’s or fifty years later. I loved the smart and calm writing style and the numerous different persons that were skilfully characterized but still remained mysteriously full of contradiction. The writer interestingly intertwines the stories about the two young British women facing the country different from their own, and relationships that they did or perhaps did not search for.

Thanks to you all for sharing this book. I wish that the next reader enjoys it as well :)

- ruzena 

Journal Entry 13 by ruzena at a RABCK, to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, November 02, 2010

This book has not been rated.

Released 1 yr ago (11/2/2010 UTC) at a RABCK, to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent by mail. 

Journal Entry 14 by da-wildchildz at Thurmaston, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 06, 2010

This book has not been rated.

This surprise wishlist book arrived in the post today, and on a good day too, as it's New Years Day (for Hindus.) Many thanks ruzena for the rabck! 



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