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Journal Entry 1 by caldron from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, August 03, 2005
 Review from Publishers Weekly:
Australian radio correspondent Macdonald's rollicking memoir recounts the two years she spent in India when her boyfriend, Jonathan, a TV news correspondent, was assigned to New Delhi. Leaving behind her own budding career, she spends her sabbatical traveling around the country, sampling India's "spiritual smorgasbord": attending a silent retreat for Vipassana meditation, seeking out a Sikh Ayurvedic "miracle healer," bathing in the Ganges with Hindus, studying Buddhism in Dharamsala, dabbling in Judaism with Israeli tourists, dipping into Parsi practices in Mumbai, visiting an ashram in Kerala, attending a Christian festival in Velangani and singing with Sufis. Paralleling Macdonald's spiritual journey is her evolution as a writer; she trades her sometimes glib remarks ("I've always thought it hilarious that Indian people chose the most boring, domesticated, compliant and stupidest animal on earth to adore") and 1980s song title references (e.g., "Karma Chameleon") for a more sensitive tone and a sober understanding that neither mocks nor romanticizes Indian culture and the Western visitors who embrace it. The book ends on a serious note, when September 11 shakes Macdonald's faith and Jonathan, now her husband, is sent to cover the war in Afghanistan. Macdonald is less compelling when writing about herself, her career and her relationship than when she is describing spiritual centers, New Delhi nightclubs and Bollywood cinema. Still, she brings a reporter's curiosity, interviewing skills and eye for detail to everything she encounters, and winningly captures "[t]he drama, the dharma, the innocent exuberance of the festivals, the intensity of the living, the piety in playfulness and the embrace of living day by day..--he drama, the dharma, the innocent exuberance of the festivals, the intensity of the living, the piety in playfulness and the embrace of living day by day."
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Journal Entry 4 by Neesy from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Thursday, January 18, 2007
I loved this book. It was a great read during my uni holidays.
Sarah's writing style is very easy to read and as per caldron's entry, I loved her sense of humour - I laughed aloud at certain points.
Her exploration of religion was very interesting - I certain learnt a lot without receiving a lecture.
Thank you again for this lovely birthday present caldron!
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Journal Entry 6 by michyj from Perth, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, December 04, 2007
I started reading this book and for some odd reason couldn't get in to it. This type of book is normally right up my alley, so I was bummed I gave up so soon. I'll hold on to this book until I know what to do with it.
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Journal Entry 7 by michyj at Oz VBB in Australia Post, Virtual Bookbox OZ -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Released 4 yrs ago (12/12/2007 UTC) at Oz VBB in Australia Post, Virtual Bookbox OZ -- Controlled Releases WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sending off to KLL who chose it from the OZ VBB.
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Journal Entry 9 by Christa-BC at Perth, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, August 29, 2010
If you have ever wanted to go to India and have not made it (like me) this is the book for you. Easy to read, entertaining and informative. You meet a lot of Indians, visit different parts of India, big cities and countryside and learn all about the different religions, that make it such a fascinating place. After reading this book I decided, yes I still want to visit this place in real life.
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Holy Cow! : An Indian Adventure
