Picked this up while I was on holiday in India.

From the back:

"Momentous things happen elsewhere, in the big cities of Nehru's India. In dull and dusty Pipalnagar, each day is like another, and 'there is not exactly despair, but resignation'. Even the dreams here are small: if he ever makes it to Delhi, Deep Chand, the barber, will open a more up-to-date salon where he might, perhaps, give the Prime Minister a haircut; Pitamber will trade his cycle-rickshaw for the less demanding scooter-rickshaw; Aziz will be happy with a junk-shop in Chandni Chowk. None, of course, will make that journey to Delhi.

Adrift among them, the narrator, Arun, a struggling writer of detective novels in Urdu, waits for inspiration to write a blockbuster. One day he will pack his meagre belongings and take the express train out of Pipalnagar. Meanwhile, he seeks reassurance in love, and finds it in unusual places: with the young prostitute Kamla, wise beyond her years; and the orphan Suraj, homeless and an epileptic, yet surprisingly optimistic about the future.

Few authors write with greater sensitivity and skill about little India than Ruskin Bond. Delhi Is Not Far is a memorable story about small lives, with all the hallmarks of classic Ruskin Bond prose: nostalgia, charm, underplayed humour and quiet wisdom."

This is a delicately written, beautiful story that really evokes "little India". As the blurb on the cover says, "a small gem of a book". I'm almost sorry to let the book go :)

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book's now off to Dancesports in Tasmania who chose it from the South Asian VBB. Happy reading!

Thank you Annimanni, the book has arrived in Australia and it looks like I'll be able to read it quite quickly - so I am thrilled.

A quick and delightful read which I enjoyed this week whilst on a weeks holidays (a week in the school holidays). It has rained the whole week, which means I have had plenty of time for reading.

congratulations on your smile a day win. I hope you like this little one, I did.

Arrived today thank you .

Its good to read books like this from time to time. Gives you a new view of what life is like in another country through the eyes of someone who lives there. I enjoyed it.
will be sending this one off as a RABCK prize shortly.

Sending to Releanna. Enjoy.

thank you so much for this book!
and for the beautiful penguin bookmark and the card of the Sunshine Coast :)

reserved for a VBB

this book is now going to Oliviapoolside

I recognize this 1st sentence :) as one of the books that had been available for Kalman's BD VBB. Thank you, I will read it and use it as one of the seed books for next year's box.

Finally read this short and languid book. It is a book of love for India, friends and life. Charming, bittersweet and lovely.

I am putting this into the 'D' bookring package.

Released as a 'D' book in the letter D book ring.

Selected from the D bookring.

I really wish I would have started this book when I had the time to read this little gem in one sitting. This novella gives us insight into the life of little India. This story follows Arun, a struggling writer, with dreams of making it to Delhi. He finds friendship in love in the places he least expects it as he reaches for his dreams.

sending to dabercro

Arrived in the mail. Thanks Aberpeter!