The Elsewhereians - Jeet Thayil

Auto Biographical

Verdict: Read it

I had previously explored a book of poetry from Jeet Thayil that I found extremely hard to connect to. This was an excellent autobiographical story, so I'm glad I stuck with him. 

This book goes through the consequences of a father's (implied) affair and the author's journey mid way though life to find the person that impacted the father so much. It's painful to read in spots, even though the author glosses over most of the emotional fallout that such a decision must have had on his wife and the family.

The story itself is interesting as the author enjoys his adventure. He extends a lot of grace to his family during a very difficult time. There are a lot of weird details that make their way in (lots about tunnels in Vietnam, ghosts). It's not a strictly chronological story, and it jumps here and there in a vaguely forward manner. 

I'm not doing it much justice because it's a convoluted book. Even with that, it's charming, and you want the writer to resolve whatever it is inside him that made him take that trip. 

Read it. Not all families are the same, but family systems often have themes everyone can relate to. It will touch you when you don't expect it.

~Becky~

Butter Chicken in Ludhiana Travels in Small town India - Pankaj Mishra

Non-Fiction

Read it

I haven't read anything previously by Pankaj Mishra - though he's quite the known and celebrated author. The title caught my eye - as did the stereotyped pictures of India on the cover - because I have an obsession with Punjab lately. 

Mishra's book walks the reader through some of his travels in India - mostly the northern half. The author's biting wit and commentary were quite amusing. India is, at the best of times, chock full of situations that are nothing more or less than ludicrous. Anyone who has spent anytime at all in India realizes this. I especially enjoyed that Mishra's destinations weren't big places. The heart of India isn't in it's big cities and tourist destinations. His skewering of small dirty hotels was especially entertaining. He also touches on some of the backward and bigoted thinking that persists to date in the minds of people who either have not been taught to think bigger and better or simply don't want to. These conversations when overheard can be quite shocking if you are not expecting them. 

It's a bit of a paradox when people travel here. You can't see the real India without moving off the beaten path, but its a hard situation to put yourself in. Anyone coming to India would be too overwhelmed (even the beaten path has been known to overcome the heartiest people) and anyone in India is too busy actually living their life and having a job to wander around in small dusty, backward places. But this is how travelers find themselves and learn about the wider condition. Trains in particular - Sleeper class if you are the sturdiest of the sturdy - are one of the best places I've ever found to observe humanity and exactly who Indians are. 

Mishra's humor moves the reader through mundane and often ridiculous scenarios. It also poses a challenge to readers like me to search out (more than I already have!) places and situations that stretch me and help me further understand the country I choose to live in. 

Read it.

~Becky~