Non-fiction
Verdict: Mixed Bag
I expected something different from this book. Honestly, that's my fault for having expectations. It has a good cover, and I was expecting some stories, or fiction or something rather than journalism, which is what I got. It was good journalism on an interesting subject, but a bit dry for my tastes.
India has a long and illustrious history of people who operate outside of the law (Thugees, which is where the English term "thug" came from). The book goes into some of the history and badlands of India, with the author going for first-hand encounters and conversations with a dying type of outlaw. As with many bad guys, legends often outstrip reality, and those who lived through those times have a more vibrant memory of them than can be conveyed accurately.
I found the nostalgia weird. I would have understood if the author came from one such family, but hunting down grandpas to reminisce just seemed like an odd choice to me. The author made a point to bring up being a woman in a man's world and the dangers of her travel. While this is a completely valid point, it loses a bit of oomph when the author chose to travel places where she was warned not to. This isn't a woman centered thing - if the locals tell you not to go somewhere for pete's sake, there's a reason. You may, as the author did, find perfectly charming helpful people. You also may find yourself in trouble that you can't get out of with no help in sight. May the odds be ever in your favor.
I'm stuck between supporting the recording of actual historical experiences with the writing in this book I guess. It took me quite a while to get through and while there was a plot, there was also a lot of meandering and pondering that took place too.
I guess if you're looking for a less sensationalized coverage of thug culture in India, you could do worse than Zaidi's book, but don't expect any wild twists and turns.
~Becky~
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