Butter Chicken in Ludhiana: Travels in Small Town India
12 journalers for this copy...
An unusual travel book about small towns in India...
This copy has been published in India.
This copy has been published in India.
Reserved for bookcrosser LyzeeBee from Birmingham, UK
Journal Entry 3 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, October 3, 2005
Received in the post from lotusflower77 today as part of our big book swap.
Thank you so much for such a good selection and the extras you sent too!
Thank you so much for such a good selection and the extras you sent too!
Journal Entry 4 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, January 7, 2006
Very interesting book about travelling around India, by an Indian writer. The tone was often reminiscent of books I've read about Britain by British writers - the despair and affection of an actual countryman. I can only remember reading one similar book about Asia, by V.S. Naipaul, and he was not a native of the country. Amusing (his travelling persona reminded me a little of Paul Theroux - a bit grumpy!) interesting, and informative.
Thanks again for a good choice! I'm going to offer this up on a Ring when the current crop of Rings and Rays have been sent on their way.
Thanks again for a good choice! I'm going to offer this up on a Ring when the current crop of Rings and Rays have been sent on their way.
Journal Entry 5 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, January 30, 2006
BOOKRING!
Usual rules apply...
Make a journal entry when you receive the book
Contact the next reader for their address when you are almost done
Post a review when you've read the book - please try to send it on within a month of receipt if you can
Make a journal entry or controlled release notes when you send the book on
PARTICIPANTS
Sobergirl Finland (anywhere - surface)
Sirah Finland (anywhere)
Potat1556 Switzerland (Europe)
Butterfly-noir Portugal (Europe)
Xanthe-pup Wales (anywhere)
Hollydolly Canada (N America)
GateGypsy Canada (anywhere)
Brookeworm Canada (anywhere)
morsecode New York, US (N America)
Lpree Nebraska, US (anywhere) <--- it's here [Email 04/12/08 to advise sent 16/07/08 - PM'd buffra]
Buffra West Virginia US (anywhere) [has not received]
totoroandmei Japan (Asia/Pacific preferred) (OK to send surface mail to...)
AnglersRest UK (UK)
Merimag UK (UK)
YowlYY UK (UK)
Heaven-Ali UK (UK) (last person)
Back to me!
Usual rules apply...
Make a journal entry when you receive the book
Contact the next reader for their address when you are almost done
Post a review when you've read the book - please try to send it on within a month of receipt if you can
Make a journal entry or controlled release notes when you send the book on
PARTICIPANTS
Sobergirl Finland (anywhere - surface)
Sirah Finland (anywhere)
Potat1556 Switzerland (Europe)
Butterfly-noir Portugal (Europe)
Xanthe-pup Wales (anywhere)
Hollydolly Canada (N America)
GateGypsy Canada (anywhere)
Brookeworm Canada (anywhere)
morsecode New York, US (N America)
Lpree Nebraska, US (anywhere) <--- it's here [Email 04/12/08 to advise sent 16/07/08 - PM'd buffra]
Buffra West Virginia US (anywhere) [has not received]
totoroandmei Japan (Asia/Pacific preferred) (OK to send surface mail to...)
AnglersRest UK (UK)
Merimag UK (UK)
YowlYY UK (UK)
Heaven-Ali UK (UK) (last person)
Back to me!
Journal Entry 6 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, February 3, 2006
This is ready to start off - PM'd sobergirl for address
Released 18 yrs ago (2/4/2006 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Posting to Sobergirl on Saturday
Posting to Sobergirl on Saturday
Journal Entry 8 by Sobergirl from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Monday, February 20, 2006
Butter Chicken is now in Finland!
Thanks LyzzyBee for arranging the bookring!
Thanks LyzzyBee for arranging the bookring!
Journal Entry 9 by Sobergirl from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, March 1, 2006
This book was a bit too Indian for me.
I had a hard time concentrating on teh Indian names of people, places and things.
India is a fascinating country and I wish to visit it some day.
The book ist travelling to sirah
I had a hard time concentrating on teh Indian names of people, places and things.
India is a fascinating country and I wish to visit it some day.
The book ist travelling to sirah
Received the book today. Thank´s a lot, LyzzyBee and Sobergirl!
I made it! I mean, beginning of the book was pretty uneasy to follow because of the "millions" of Indian names, places, events I was not familiar with. When I finally got into it, read quite fluently.
I´ve contacted Potat1556 for the address and mailed the book yesterday to Switzerland.
Thank you, LyzzyBee, for arranging the ring!
I´ve contacted Potat1556 for the address and mailed the book yesterday to Switzerland.
Thank you, LyzzyBee, for arranging the ring!
Finally got it today. Just before I leave for my trip back home to India, as well. Going to start reading tonight and then pass on.
Sorry for delay in getting back to this book but I was sick while in India and didnt get a chance to get to it. Just got back last week and am right now half through the book so should be able to send it off next week. Cheers and sorry again
Finally finished reading the book last night, am at work right now, so will update my entry when I get home. Am paging Butterfly-Noir for address and will send it on its way tomorrow for sure.
I apologise for stalling the ring for so long.
Thanks for letting me a part of this ring.
I apologise for stalling the ring for so long.
Thanks for letting me a part of this ring.
Finally finished reading the book last night, am at work right now, so will update my entry when I get home. Am paging Butterfly-Noir for address and will send it on its way tomorrow for sure.
I apologise for stalling the ring for so long.
Thanks for letting me a part of this ring.
I apologise for stalling the ring for so long.
Thanks for letting me a part of this ring.
I just realised that even though I have sent the book to Butterlfy_noir some time back, I didnt really make a journal entry stating my opinion of the book.
the book is well written, but being an Indian, it did annoy me at times the gruesome and filthy manner in which all the ciities have been described by the author. For exapmple, I grew up in Simla with many of my family still living there, the Simla he describes is not of the 80s or 90s, but of a long time ago. I mean, most villages in India have electricity and computers now, for God's sake. I give allowance to the fact that he has written this book sometime ago, but still that was the time we were going to College in Delhi and it was not as ugly as he makes it sound.
That is the one thing I hate about some authors and film-makers alike, they portray the really rural sense of our country and leave out what is nice. There is no description about the lovely landscapes or warmth of the people...but all complaints, complaints and more criticism.
I did not enjoy the book much...cause the view of the author is very unbalanced.
Thanks for lettign me take part in the ray though.
the book is well written, but being an Indian, it did annoy me at times the gruesome and filthy manner in which all the ciities have been described by the author. For exapmple, I grew up in Simla with many of my family still living there, the Simla he describes is not of the 80s or 90s, but of a long time ago. I mean, most villages in India have electricity and computers now, for God's sake. I give allowance to the fact that he has written this book sometime ago, but still that was the time we were going to College in Delhi and it was not as ugly as he makes it sound.
That is the one thing I hate about some authors and film-makers alike, they portray the really rural sense of our country and leave out what is nice. There is no description about the lovely landscapes or warmth of the people...but all complaints, complaints and more criticism.
I did not enjoy the book much...cause the view of the author is very unbalanced.
Thanks for lettign me take part in the ray though.
Journal Entry 17 by butterfly-noir from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, August 29, 2006
arrived last week.. I was away on hollidays and it was expecting me back home :)
I wont be able to start it very soon, I have a couple of rings on hands and a very due relays. but I'll try not to take more than a month.
thank you potat for the postcards and the bookmark and especially the indian one, it will look great on a frame
I wont be able to start it very soon, I have a couple of rings on hands and a very due relays. but I'll try not to take more than a month.
thank you potat for the postcards and the bookmark and especially the indian one, it will look great on a frame
Journal Entry 18 by butterfly-noir from Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Monday, October 23, 2006
I picked this book 2 times to star reading it...but it just doesnt catch me...I hate when that happens :(
I'll pass it along to the next reader...being still full of rings..I dont want to stop this one
pming the next bc
I'll pass it along to the next reader...being still full of rings..I dont want to stop this one
pming the next bc
Journal Entry 19 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Calling Butterfly-noir - I PMd you about this book on 19 November but either you did not receive the message, or I did not receive your reply! Please let me know if you have sent on the book, if you are having trouble contacting the next reader etc etc, so we can get it travelling onwards again.
Please contact me at lbroomfield @ ftml . net (removing the spaces to make it a valid email address) or post a Journal Entry on here.
It's of course OK if you are having problems; I just need to know, for the sake of the other readers on the list.
Many thanks
Liz
Update 30/12/06 - Butterfly-noir confirms that she posted the book on to Xanthe-pup this week
Please contact me at lbroomfield @ ftml . net (removing the spaces to make it a valid email address) or post a Journal Entry on here.
It's of course OK if you are having problems; I just need to know, for the sake of the other readers on the list.
Many thanks
Liz
Update 30/12/06 - Butterfly-noir confirms that she posted the book on to Xanthe-pup this week
Received this morning. I have two other rings before it, but should get to it by the end of the week.
I quite enjoyed the descriptions in this book, and the country is so alien to anything I have ever known (my mum is from India, but her memories are nothing like this book, either). It is interesting, but not captivating. It also appears that hethe author travelled just so he could write a book about it - which in itself does not necessarily make the book worth the writing.
Overall, not a bad read. Have PM'd Hollydolly for an address.
Overall, not a bad read. Have PM'd Hollydolly for an address.
FAO Xanthe-pup - you advised this was going to be sent near the end of April; as it hasn't arrived yet, could you please confirm if it was sent surface mail (in which case we don't need to worry) or air mail (in which case please confirm sending date).
I have tried to PM you but they can't be working properly at the moment. Please reply to the email address on my profile. If there is a problem, of course it's OK, but I need to know if I need to source a new copy for the next reader(s)
Thank you!
Liz
I have tried to PM you but they can't be working properly at the moment. Please reply to the email address on my profile. If there is a problem, of course it's OK, but I need to know if I need to source a new copy for the next reader(s)
Thank you!
Liz
Sorry, sorry, sorry. Life has been very much in the way over the last few months, and I apologise to everyone I have held up, and especially to lizzybee. This book was posted this morning by air mail, so shoud be with hollydolly soon.
Book finally arrived today. I have two others ahead, but I will get to it as soon as I can.
Sylvia.
Sylvia.
I have mailed GateGypsy for her address. I should be finished the book by the end of the week. Will journal then.
Well, I managed to finish this book this morning, here are my thoughts......
This book is a series of short articles about his travels in small town India. He starts his journey from Shimla, which according to him is a small town. He writes the common clichés we so often find written about India i.e. poverty, squalor and filth. His descriptions of the buses he travels on leave a feeling sadness.
He really excels in his description of the people he meets and manages to bring them to life in a vivid manner. He writes quite a bit about sex. His account of the forms of harassment that foreign woman tourists face in India is very well written.
As a book of travel, for me it unfortunately has not managed to bring out the feel of the place, as good writers are able to do. Somehow the book gives an impression of being a collection of articles which are disjointed, he frequently mentions that he used to make notes when he spoke with people in trains and buses and it appears his scribbling has been reproduced without any editing.
However, I did enjoy this book, but I have to say it would not be one that I would read again.
This book is a series of short articles about his travels in small town India. He starts his journey from Shimla, which according to him is a small town. He writes the common clichés we so often find written about India i.e. poverty, squalor and filth. His descriptions of the buses he travels on leave a feeling sadness.
He really excels in his description of the people he meets and manages to bring them to life in a vivid manner. He writes quite a bit about sex. His account of the forms of harassment that foreign woman tourists face in India is very well written.
As a book of travel, for me it unfortunately has not managed to bring out the feel of the place, as good writers are able to do. Somehow the book gives an impression of being a collection of articles which are disjointed, he frequently mentions that he used to make notes when he spoke with people in trains and buses and it appears his scribbling has been reproduced without any editing.
However, I did enjoy this book, but I have to say it would not be one that I would read again.
Book is on it's way to GateGypsy.Mailed it this morning.
Just arrived in the post. Will get to this in it's time -- there are several bookrings ahead of it. May take me closer to 6-8 weeks to pass this on. Thanks for sharing!
I guess I have to say that my favourite thing about this book was that, when I opened it, it smelled of sandalwood (who do I have to thank for that? Thank you! Sandalwood is my favourite!) Other than that, though, I just couldn't get into it. I had hoped, I guess, that it would be a little more overtly amusing and less... I don't know... sad. Oh well. I'm grateful for the chance at it, and the exceptional amount of time y'all waited for me to get to it. Thank you. I have PMed Brookeworm, and intend to have this in the mail to her before the end of the week.
In the mail (luckily small enough to be sent as an oversized letter and therefore is airmail) to Brookeworm officially as of today at 1:30pm, so I hope it gets there soon!
Arrived in the mail. This is a short one so I should have it off to the next in line soon.
I tried to read this. I really did. But I just couldn't get interested. I could see that the author was trying for a kind of Bill Bryson depricating humour, but he overshot the mark by a lot and landed smack in the middle of condesending. He seems to have contempt for everyone and everything he comes across. I'm moving this on.
Journal Entry 33 by Brookeworm at Bookring in By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Friday, December 21, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (12/21/2007 UTC) at Bookring in By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
This book arrived safe and sound in Buffalo, NY today and I have to say that I'd forgotten all about this book ring.
I'm really interested in reading this book... though having been to Ludhiana I don't really think it qualifies as a small town.
I'll PM the next in line and try not to keep it too long.
I'm really interested in reading this book... though having been to Ludhiana I don't really think it qualifies as a small town.
I'll PM the next in line and try not to keep it too long.
I mailed this book off to LPree today.
Ok, I have to admit that I didn't read it completely. Like some of the other readers, I found Mishra to be condescending and after a while I just didn't feel like "listening" to him anymore.
Despite the fact that I've only traveled limitedly in India (mostly in Punjab, but also to Delhi and Agra), I feel like I have a better sense of the country (from my travels and the recollections of my Indian friends) than I could have gained by reading this book.
Ok, I have to admit that I didn't read it completely. Like some of the other readers, I found Mishra to be condescending and after a while I just didn't feel like "listening" to him anymore.
Despite the fact that I've only traveled limitedly in India (mostly in Punjab, but also to Delhi and Agra), I feel like I have a better sense of the country (from my travels and the recollections of my Indian friends) than I could have gained by reading this book.
Oops sorry, I thought I had at least registered this one as received. But no, I grabbed and read it and completely forgot. Sorry!
anyway, I did receive it and have already finished it. Like others, I thought it was fascinating to read but I do wish he had been a bit more positive in his descriptions of the villages. This book does make me want to go out and try to find current pictures of these villages for comparison.
Anyway, I'll get this mailed back out as soon as I obtain an address.
Thanks very much for sharing it!
anyway, I did receive it and have already finished it. Like others, I thought it was fascinating to read but I do wish he had been a bit more positive in his descriptions of the villages. This book does make me want to go out and try to find current pictures of these villages for comparison.
Anyway, I'll get this mailed back out as soon as I obtain an address.
Thanks very much for sharing it!
