What does somebody with a wealth of common sense do if retirement palls? Why, open a marriage bureau, of course. And soon Mr Ali, from beautiful Vizag in South India, sees his new business flourish as the indomitable Mrs Ali and able assistant Aruna look on with careful eyes. But although many clients go away happy, problems lurk behind the scenes as Aruna nurses a heart-rending secret; while Mr Ali cannot see that he rarely follows the sage advice he so freely dishes out to others. And when love comes calling for Aruna, an impossible dilemma looms... A colourful coastal town and contemporary marriage bureau prove a perfect backdrop for a splendid array of characters making sense of all sorts of pride and prejudice - and the ways in which true love won't quite let go - in this witty and big-hearted debut novel.


Thought this and it's sequal looked lovely and perfect for a bookray/spiral


okyrhoe - Greece (anywhere)
FrancesinSA - South Africa (anywhere)
Penelopewanders - switzerland - (Eur)
Nakipa - Portugal (anywhere)
rodespringbal - Belgium - Eur

This is the first book of a book spiral, the books should travel to each person in the correct order. Please when you are ready to post the second book on, check that the person after you has received and read the first book, if they haven't hang on to the book for a little while before posting.

Off to the first person on the list - enjoy!

Arrived in Athens!

Thanks Heaven-Ali for including me in the ring, & for posting the book to me :-)

This was a fairly quick and easy read.
Under normal circumstances I would say there's something lacking in the novel; the plot is somewhat simple (yet not simplistic, for there are several social issues pertinent to present-day India woven into the storyline). My main criticism is that the book is apparently lacking a central theme or crisis to be resolved. Also, the "Wikipedia moments" where certain customs or cultural facts are explained in detail distract from the storytelling.
However, I've been so caught up in a family issue these past six months I actually found that reading this book calmed and relaxed me. The writing flowed easily and I let myself go with it.

The story continues with The Many Conditions of Love and The Wedding Wallah

On its way by post to FrancesinSA. Enjoy!

Recieved book today. Thanks for this bookray and thank you okyrhoe for posting it to me and for the postcard of Monemvasia.

I enjoyed this book about arranged marriages in contemporary India where love marriages are frowned at. I like Aruna and hope to read more about her in the next book. I have been to a Hindu wedding ceremony and recognised the rituals mentioned in the book.

Picture is of the author, Farahad Zama.

Posting today to penelopewanders.

YAY!!!! This finally got here... seems to have taken the scenic route, while the next in the series was on the fast train and has been here for a little while already. Now this one will get in line behind the rings already here. I think I'll read both and send them together, if that's ok???

A bit of an adventure with this book - I signed up a spiral of sorts and they arrived from South Africa in the wrong order, having taken (presumably) the slow boat getting here. So I was keen to begin this, enjoying anything related to India and that part of the world. I was a wee bit disappointed, however, as I felt this was unpleasantly similar to The Ladies Number One Detective Agency, simply set on a different continent, with (mainly) a male hero. (Although one could plead that Mrs Ali and Aruna are just as important to the story). I really liked The Ladies Number One... so that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this one, but I felt the tone of the story telling and the attention to quirky and quaint details was less original than when first encountered. (The heroine in the other series is more - heroic- too, I think).
At multiple moments in the book there was a painstaking recounting of events - the literary equivalent of scary music and close-ups, in my opinion - leading me to expect some sudden twist in the plot or a bad guy to jump out from behind a tree or something. Each time it was just what it appeared to be - a painstaking blow by blow description of a moment, with no particular surprise - what Okyrhoe refers to as wikipedia moments in her review (good call).
At times I found these tedious, but it was nonetheless a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday, and I enjoyed the sudden bursts of genius on the parts of the three main characters. (Also, being a sucker for romance, I was pleased when the obvious did indeed transpire).
I'll read the next and send them on together.

I am mortified at how long these books spent in my house - apologies all round! I did have trouble getting the next address, and then had a ten day break - fortunately when I returned I spotted these on my "ring and ray" pile and realized they were still here, so I was able to get the address of the following person (having tried unsucessfully with the next in line) - and now they're finally on their way!
Thank you for making this series available - I'm looking forward to the next!

got it in the mail this morning

This book is ready to go home. A lovely book, will start the next one in a couple of days.
Sometimes a little culture shock but he, always ready to learn new things.

Gaat naar Dutch-book op de Castricum-meeting :)

Thanks again. Already found the next reader, but first need to read it myself.

I enjoyed it. It was a quiet book, a little more action would have been nice. Reserved for the next one.

You've been tagged. I hope you'll enjoy!

Thank you very much for this wishlist book!:)

I really enjoyed this book! The story was interesting, witty and kept me entertained:) I was just wondering about the working hours and holidays, can you really come late to work and take a holiday just like that...? Perhaps I started wondering it only because I'm currently on summer holidays, applied for several months beforehand...

You wished for this book in a sweepstake I held a long while ago... I hope you still want to read it!:)

Thank you :)