Imaginary Men
4 journalers for this copy...
From the Publisher
Anjali Banerjee was born in Kolkata, India, and grew up in Canada and California. her short fiction has appeared in literary journals and she has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. A graduate of the University of California at Berkely, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Visit her website.
From The Critics
Publishers Weekly
A desperate lie leads to true love in Banerjee's predictable but fun debut. At the Kolkata, India, wedding of her younger sister, Indian-American matchmaker Lina, who lives in San Francisco, gets so fed up with her great-aunt's talk of arranged marriages that she tells everyone she's already engaged. Too bad Lina isn't even dating anyone, much less the rich, cosmopolitan fellow named Raja she claims as her fiance (she invents him, based on the real Raja Presad, a prince she met at her sister's wedding). In what becomes a Bridget Jones's Diary meets Monsoon Wedding-style escapade, Lina must find the Mr. Right she's supposed to already have. Enter a series of humorously awful first-and-last dates. When the real Prince Raja drops by, seeking a match for his brother, Lina's day job takes a turn for the personal. Is it possible that Raja could actually be the One? Could Lina's California lifestyle ever meld with that of a wealthy Indian prince? Besides, with his home in India and antiquated views on women, Raja is hardly interested in Lina as his real-life betrothed or is he? Of course he is! Banerjee's prose is workmanlike, but at least her narrator isn't afflicted with the logorrhea so many other chick-lit heroines suffer from, which makes this a quick, enjoyable read. Agent, Winifred Golden. (Oct.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Professional matchmaker Lina's loving Bengali family wants to see her married off-and soon. The problem is, she hasn't yet gotten over her boyfriend's tragic death two years earlier. Unwittingly, she gets herself into trouble at her sister's wedding in India, where she blurts out that she is already engaged to a mystery man in order to deflect her aunt's badgering. When she returns home to San Francisco, she gets into the matchmaking business for herself, but never sees the "shimmering thread" of romance she is famous for recognizing in other meant-to-be couples. Instead, she fantasizes about Raja, a prince she met at the wedding, but fears he may be looking for a more traditional Indian wife. When the family comes together for her father's birthday and everyone wants to meet her imaginary fiance, Lina must finally get a grip on reality. This contemporary romance by Banerjee (Maya Running) is a light, romantic tale with an authentic ethnic twist. Purchase for libraries with a strong Indian population or where romance is popular.-Rebecca Vnuk, River Forest P.L., IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Lina Ray's future takes an unexpected turn when she applies her matchmaking talents to her own love life. Debut novelist Banerjee begins by sweeping the reader off to an exotic wedding in Kolkata, India, which also happens to be her birthplace. Lina, a Bengali-American professional matchmaker, was responsible for introducing the happy couple, her younger sister and the "Indian Johnny Depp." Instead of celebrating the union, concerned relatives commit themselves to finding a groom for Lina (at 29, Lina is something of a spinster in India). Lina's parents immigrated to America in search of opportunity, but the family still clings to the tradition of arranged marriage. Feeling pressured, Lina tells an enormous lie-she's already engaged to the perfect man. It's a fun plot twist, but the author spends too little time developing the characters before introducing it. While her family celebrates the "engagement" and begins to plan the wedding, Lina scrambles to undo her deception by finding a fiance. As Lina scans client files for potential husbands, a handsome complication walks into her life. Raja, a member of India's royalty, needs Lina to find a suitable match for his brother. While Raja and Lina team up to arrange this union, unexpected sparks fly. The trouble is Raja is spoken for back in India. Does love stand a chance? Banerjee takes us back to India where Lina and Raja must decide between pleasing their families and finding individual happiness. The insights into Bengali culture are interesting, but the writing lacks nuance and the action proceeds at an uneven pace.
I really liked that fact this the protagonist in the story was Indian. It was a nice change of pace, especially since I enjoy learning about other cultures. It was a quick easy read, fun, and fluffy. The only thing that could have made it better in my eyes would be sex scenes, they were non-existant in this book. I am planning on bringing this with me to Charleston, South Carolina to release at the 2007 Bookcrossing Convention!!
Anjali Banerjee was born in Kolkata, India, and grew up in Canada and California. her short fiction has appeared in literary journals and she has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. A graduate of the University of California at Berkely, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Visit her website.
From The Critics
Publishers Weekly
A desperate lie leads to true love in Banerjee's predictable but fun debut. At the Kolkata, India, wedding of her younger sister, Indian-American matchmaker Lina, who lives in San Francisco, gets so fed up with her great-aunt's talk of arranged marriages that she tells everyone she's already engaged. Too bad Lina isn't even dating anyone, much less the rich, cosmopolitan fellow named Raja she claims as her fiance (she invents him, based on the real Raja Presad, a prince she met at her sister's wedding). In what becomes a Bridget Jones's Diary meets Monsoon Wedding-style escapade, Lina must find the Mr. Right she's supposed to already have. Enter a series of humorously awful first-and-last dates. When the real Prince Raja drops by, seeking a match for his brother, Lina's day job takes a turn for the personal. Is it possible that Raja could actually be the One? Could Lina's California lifestyle ever meld with that of a wealthy Indian prince? Besides, with his home in India and antiquated views on women, Raja is hardly interested in Lina as his real-life betrothed or is he? Of course he is! Banerjee's prose is workmanlike, but at least her narrator isn't afflicted with the logorrhea so many other chick-lit heroines suffer from, which makes this a quick, enjoyable read. Agent, Winifred Golden. (Oct.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Professional matchmaker Lina's loving Bengali family wants to see her married off-and soon. The problem is, she hasn't yet gotten over her boyfriend's tragic death two years earlier. Unwittingly, she gets herself into trouble at her sister's wedding in India, where she blurts out that she is already engaged to a mystery man in order to deflect her aunt's badgering. When she returns home to San Francisco, she gets into the matchmaking business for herself, but never sees the "shimmering thread" of romance she is famous for recognizing in other meant-to-be couples. Instead, she fantasizes about Raja, a prince she met at the wedding, but fears he may be looking for a more traditional Indian wife. When the family comes together for her father's birthday and everyone wants to meet her imaginary fiance, Lina must finally get a grip on reality. This contemporary romance by Banerjee (Maya Running) is a light, romantic tale with an authentic ethnic twist. Purchase for libraries with a strong Indian population or where romance is popular.-Rebecca Vnuk, River Forest P.L., IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Lina Ray's future takes an unexpected turn when she applies her matchmaking talents to her own love life. Debut novelist Banerjee begins by sweeping the reader off to an exotic wedding in Kolkata, India, which also happens to be her birthplace. Lina, a Bengali-American professional matchmaker, was responsible for introducing the happy couple, her younger sister and the "Indian Johnny Depp." Instead of celebrating the union, concerned relatives commit themselves to finding a groom for Lina (at 29, Lina is something of a spinster in India). Lina's parents immigrated to America in search of opportunity, but the family still clings to the tradition of arranged marriage. Feeling pressured, Lina tells an enormous lie-she's already engaged to the perfect man. It's a fun plot twist, but the author spends too little time developing the characters before introducing it. While her family celebrates the "engagement" and begins to plan the wedding, Lina scrambles to undo her deception by finding a fiance. As Lina scans client files for potential husbands, a handsome complication walks into her life. Raja, a member of India's royalty, needs Lina to find a suitable match for his brother. While Raja and Lina team up to arrange this union, unexpected sparks fly. The trouble is Raja is spoken for back in India. Does love stand a chance? Banerjee takes us back to India where Lina and Raja must decide between pleasing their families and finding individual happiness. The insights into Bengali culture are interesting, but the writing lacks nuance and the action proceeds at an uneven pace.
I really liked that fact this the protagonist in the story was Indian. It was a nice change of pace, especially since I enjoy learning about other cultures. It was a quick easy read, fun, and fluffy. The only thing that could have made it better in my eyes would be sex scenes, they were non-existant in this book. I am planning on bringing this with me to Charleston, South Carolina to release at the 2007 Bookcrossing Convention!!
Another book I got from Apolonia at the live swap at the Charleston Bookcrossing Convention with my new strategy of taking your book so you can't steal from me!!
Thanks so much and it was great seeing you again!! :)
Thanks so much and it was great seeing you again!! :)
Lina is feeling the pressure to get married when she returns to India for her younger sister's wedding. All of her relatives are asking her if she has found a man, and the pressure gets to be so great that Lina lies and says that she is engaged to a mystery man from America. When the family wants to meet this man, Lina of course knows she needs to find a man and quick! Yet she only need look in her own backyard to find her true love!
This book was cute and it was interesting to get the view of an Indian-American as the main character. Although I'm sure the pressure for marriage in India can become quite great, I also know that ingrain on their children to respect elders, so would this situation even ever occur in India? Nevertheless, what ensues is a fun look at an Indian dating in America. This was a quick read and it wasn't disappointing.
This book was cute and it was interesting to get the view of an Indian-American as the main character. Although I'm sure the pressure for marriage in India can become quite great, I also know that ingrain on their children to respect elders, so would this situation even ever occur in India? Nevertheless, what ensues is a fun look at an Indian dating in America. This was a quick read and it wasn't disappointing.
This is with me now :)
This book was a fun read. Lies have a habit of growing and growing and becoming a burden. This is what happens to Lina when she invents a fiancee. There are some times when Lina must become quite inventive in her lies. Lina really does try to find herself a fiancee by her own job in a matchmaking company. Throughout the book there are wonderful insights into the Indian-American culture. Some of the descriptions of people searching out others are quite funny. Of course in true romance book style there is a prince to sweep her off her feet.
Sent off today to daughterofcokie as part of the virtual bookbox! Enjoy!!
looks awesome! thanks!
