Journal Entry 1 by DrCris from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Monday, September 24, 2007

Short-listed for 2007 Booker prize, and purchased for Fleebo's Booker Shortlist Challenge.

Blurb:
Ever since he can remember, Animal has gone on all fours, the catastrophic result of what happened on That Night when, thanks to an American chemical company, the Apocalypse visited his slum. Now not quite twenty, he leads a hand-to-mouth existence with his dog Jara and a crazy old nun called Ma Franci, and spends his nights fantasizing about Nisha, the daughter of a local musician, and wondering what it must be like to get laid.

When a young American doctor, Eli Barber, comes to town to open a free clinic for the still suffering townsfolk - only to find herself struggling to convince them that she isn't there to do the dirty work of the "Kampani" - Animal plunges into a web of intrigues, scams and plots with the unabashed aim of turning events to his own advantage.

Bookring (starting once I have read it):
1. livrecache
2. star-light
3. goodthinkingmax
4. tqd
5. frangipani08
6. FreePages
7. jubby
8. Fleebo
9. dolphin-au
10. jeniwren

*** Ring is completed!
And back to me (DrCris)
 

Journal Entry 2 by DrCris from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Sunday, October 14, 2007

I finished this book last night and I am trying to figure out what I thought about it. It had some fantastic features and when I started reading it, I thought it would be a 10. But it started to drag halfway through and I lost interest. I even started reading another book in the middle, although that was really about being stuck in another room and not being able to reach this one. However, it improved toward the end and I started to enjoy it again.

I really liked Animal. He was a great character. The story was told in his words, and I thought the author came up with a really convincing voice. The story was impressive, and Animal's emotional struggles were interesting. I enjoyed the book, but I think it was a tad too long.

I am sending this one on to livrecache today. 

Journal Entry 3 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Received safely today, thanks DrCris. The titles of the Challenge hadn't registered with me and until I read your entry I was quite puzzled what this was! Doh! I look forward to reading it -- I'm just finishing off my last book from last year's Booker Shortlist Challenge. 

Journal Entry 4 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Monday, November 05, 2007

I found this book to be a very vivid evocation of the repercussions of the 1984 disaster at Bophal, set in the imaginary town of Kaufpu . It should have been a harrowing read, and to a large extent I found it to be so, knowing it to be based on fact. I really felt for Animal. His voice was strong and uncontrived. I did struggle with reading the book, although I recognise that it was cleverly done. Like DrCris, I faltered towards the middle. I'll enclose part of a review I read after I'd completed the book -- I should probably have read the book's background first, so that its context was immediately clear.

Idra Sinha has performed a virtual miracle with Animal's People. He has written a story about the survivors of a Bhopal-type incident without once making them out to be victims. In fact, as Animal articulates to the new doctor, what he really hates is when foreign journalists or do-gooders come around and look at him with the kind of face they'd normally reserve for a stray cat.

Of course that is what it makes the book all the more powerful – for all their differences in culture and status from most of those who will be reading the book, the characters are easy to identify with and very real. From the frustrations of the doctor as to why people won't come to her clinic, and her growing realization of how foreign doesn't just apply to nationality, but life experience as well, to the brutal self-assessments of Animal when he examines his own motivations, they all have traits we can recognise or feelings we can associate with.

Animal's People is about people who are forced to live in brutal circumstances yet never surrender to them, and continue to rise above them on a daily basis in the slim hope that some day will bring improvement. Sinha manages to incorporate enough moments of beauty into their world to offer a small measure of justification for their hope. A small measure may not seem like much, but to a parched soul, it is a bounty.

Animal's People is a wonderful book about a horrible set of circumstances that might just change the way you look at the faces staring back at you in the newspaper from photos of a disaster on the other side of the world. Aid agencies are too quick to turn people into victims and doing them a disservice. Indra Sinha takes steps to reverse that process and turn them back into human beings.

I'll check with whether star-light is going to the next meet up: otherwise, I'll post it to her. 

Journal Entry 5 by livrecache at By post in Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, November 10, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (11/10/2007 UTC) at By post in Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

One of the 2007 Booker reading challenge books off to its next reader . . . 

Journal Entry 6 by star-light from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Caught. Thanks livrecache - receiving a parcel of books always makes my day!

I will start this one soon. 

Journal Entry 7 by star-light from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Thursday, December 06, 2007

I work in the hydrocarbons industry and disasters such as Piper Alpha, Flixborough and Longford are brought up regularly to remind us of the need to be vigilant on safety matters at all times. So I am amazed that I had never heard of the Union Carbide Bhopal disaster until this book was shortlisted for the Man Booker and written about in the papers.

I struggled through the first two-thirds of this book and would have given up if not for the Booker challenge. I didn't settle into the writing style and couldn't sense the structure and direction of the book. What annoyed me most was the voices in Animal's head (especially the parts with Kha-in-the-Jar). Then the plot started to move faster in the last third and I enjoyed the book more. There were some really great characters and moments of humour that I really liked.

Just need to confirm goodthinkingmax is still at the same address, then I'll send this book out. 

Journal Entry 8 by star-light from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, December 12, 2007

On its way to goodthinkingmax... 

Journal Entry 9 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, December 13, 2007

Received today. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 10 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, January 17, 2008

Picked up over a delicious lunch today with Jubby, kirst040, and goodthinkingmax (of course!). I've managed to knock off my teetering pile of bookrings over summer, so only have a few reading commitments before starting this one. I hope to get to it soon! 

Journal Entry 11 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, March 03, 2008

I found much of this book a struggle, because of the Yoda-like language. "Really upset he must be, who almost never swears." It just never was less than jarring every time I came across it, and I came across it a lot. I stuck it out though, because Animal was such a brilliant character, cheeky, clever, rude, and full of life and love, even if he was in denial about being human. And somewhere along the way, the language calmed down, and the plot heated up.

I did realise somewhere towards the end that we know roughly what's going to happen, because Animal is narrating it. But you don't know how its going to get there. And most of the ending took me by surprise (I think Indra Sinha pretty much equals Peter Jackson in not killing off characters, to quite an unbelievable extent, really).

The good stuff was the fabulous characters and their rich relationships. Plus the whole Bhopal-like tragedy: Bhopal was one of the first times I sat up as a young teenager and paid attention to the news, so it's always sent a shiver down my spine. I agree with livrecache's quoted review above that none of the characters were victims, and that also gives the story its power. They are all humans, even (especially) Animal.

Thanks for the chance to read this one, DrCris! I've got frangipani08's address already, so shall pop this in the post tomorrow.

Oh, and don't forget to visit http://www.khaufpur.com/!

UPDATE 5 March 2008: Popped in the post to frangipani08 today. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 12 by frangipani08 from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Friday, March 07, 2008

Now I have 3 books that need to go to freepages next! I thought the parcel would go by Monday - now it will have to wait a little longer!! Thanks DrCris and tqd. 

Journal Entry 13 by frangipani08 from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Sunday, March 16, 2008

I gave up on this book and would have given up sooner if it wasn't for the Booker! I had to make myself come back to it and even read another book in the middle. I have too many books waiting to persevere with this one. I see others have said it picked up but it wasn't happening soon enough. I have two other books for Freepages so I will send them all on their way together. 

Journal Entry 14 by frangipani08 from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, March 18, 2008

On the way to freepages with two other books. Thanks DrCris and tqd! 

Journal Entry 15 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Animals people is now in Canberra along with 2 others for the 2007 Booker Challenge.
I might read this first, both the others are off to the same bookcrosser after Ive read them, so I'll get to this one first.
:-) 

Journal Entry 16 by jubby from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, March 31, 2008

Thank you very much Freepages and DrCris - this arrived in the post today.

Will try to get to this one shortly. 

Journal Entry 17 by jubby at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (5/7/2008 UTC) at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Ah! Rushing, but I posted this book off to Fleebo yesterday.

Will return and journal later.

Thank you. 

Journal Entry 18 by Fleebo from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, May 13, 2008

A surprise in my mailbox! I wasn't expecting this one. That makes a total of three of the Booker bookrings that I'm holding up now...
Thanks very much for sending it along. 

Journal Entry 19 by Fleebo from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Sorry I have had this book for so long... I have been struggling with other bookrings. When I finally got around to this book, I read it in just two days.
I am surprised at all the somewhat negative reviews here. I loved this book. I have found so many stories set in India, or about Indians, to be tedious (yes, I'm looking at you, "Gifted" and "Inheritance of Loss") but this was delightful. It was powerful and unique and funny, and the characters are all in-your-face (not just Animal), instead of being aloofly foreign. I loved the odd phrasing and strange words, especially "jamisponding", which is a brilliant invention. (Its meaning may not be immediately obvious, but you'll get the joke when you read the book.)
The glossary at the back of the book is massive, but I didn't find it until I had finished. I really hadn't felt like I was missing anything while reading the book despite all the Hindu and French phrases. The context usually made the meaning clear, or clear enough.
This is one which I will be recommending to some select friends. Thanks!
PM'd dolphin-au for an address.
 

Journal Entry 20 by dolphin-au from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Friday, July 25, 2008

Received safely yesterday. This looks like an interesting read. Thanks for letting me join this bookring even though I wasn't part of the Booker challenge. Will try to read soon, but I do have a few assignments to get out of the door, so it might be a couple of weeks. 

Journal Entry 21 by dolphin-au from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, August 21, 2008

I quite enjoyed this book. I can still remember the impact the Bhopal accident made in the 80's, but the continuing tragedy for the survivors doesn't reach front pages very often. This book gives a human face to the survivors, which is its greatest credit I think.
I loved most of the characters. I didn't mind the language, foreign sentence structures transposed to English are acceptable in this case I think, although I don't know enough about Hindi to recognise it, but Animal definitely uses French sentence structures frequently.
I did enjoy the Khaufpur website (thanks tqd!) and also recommend the site www.thetruthaboutdow.org.

I'll contact jeniwren and will try to get the book out asap. Thanks DrCris for letting me join this ring! 

Journal Entry 22 by jeniwren from Greigs Flat, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, August 28, 2008

Book has arrived this morning with the post from dolphin-au. Thanks to DrCris for the opportunity to participate in this bookring. I do have a few titles I need to read before this one but will get reading soon and return asap. I do enjoy the Booker List and early next week the 2008 Shortlist will be announced. 

Journal Entry 23 by jeniwren from Greigs Flat, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, September 13, 2008

Sadly this book has been a struggle and at 100 + pages I am still not enjoying it so I have given up. From reading several reviews this is possibly one of those books you either love or hate. I particularly didnt like the foul mouthed voice of 'animal' and there are just too many other books waiting on my tbr =))
Thanks to DrCris for making this available and I will post early next week.
 

Journal Entry 24 by jeniwren at Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Saturday, September 13, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (9/16/2008 UTC) at Templestowe, Victoria Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Returning to DrCris via Australia Post early next week.
Thanks again. 

Journal Entry 25 by DrCris from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sorry for the late update, but I received this book last week. I immediately passed it on to my Mum, who would like to read it, so it is travelling again. I am glad everyone enjoyed this book. And I am impressed at what good nick it is in after its travels. 

Journal Entry 26 by DrCris from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, December 02, 2008

My Mum liked this book. She had a bit of an issue with the language, and she thought Animal was a bit strange. I *think* she liked it, but it is hard to be sure. I am offering this book for the Oz VBB. 

Journal Entry 27 by DrCris from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, December 17, 2008

This book has been selected by catsalive from the OzVBB 

Journal Entry 28 by crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Another pick of mine from the OZ VBB that luckily landed into my PO Box today rather than catsalive's. :D Thanks DrCris, I love a well travelled book.

Note to self: livrecache would like another look at it after I've read it.