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Original poster

Novels set in Indian subcontinent?

35 replies

HolidaysQueen · 05/12/2008 09:44

I'm looking for a Christmas present for DH. We've travelled a lot in India, Sri Lanka, and studied the Indian subcontinent in our degrees, so DH has always loved reading novels set in those countries. I'd like to get him one or two novels for Christmas, especially as they'll also be a good read for me later

His favourite novel ever is A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry and I know he's also read and enjoyed Midnight's Children, The Glass Palace (can't think of the others of the top of my head).

Any suggestions of authors or specific novels?

Thanks

OP posts:
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MrsMuddle · 18/12/2008 23:13

Can I recommend The Gift Of Rain. It's set in Malaysia during WWII and it's a great book.

cheapskatemum · 18/12/2008 22:41

The Night Runners of Bengal - fascinating. I have never managed to get into " A Fine Balance" and I've tried 3 times.

MuchLessTiredNow · 12/12/2008 16:57

I really loved 'A history of insects' - think it's by Yvonne Roberts. Beautiful.

Simplysally · 12/12/2008 16:55

Can't post now but have some Indian-set books at home - will post titles later. They might be a bit 'girly' though.

Have you tried looking on Amazon for ideas under genre?

FiveGoMadInDorset · 12/12/2008 16:43

Raj Quartet is lovely

Also thinking on a different tangent any of the Flashman books set in India.

EmmalinaC · 07/12/2008 18:50

In order of preference:

The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy

Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts

The Inheritance of Loss - Kiran Desai

changer22 · 07/12/2008 18:38

My favourite novel ever is A fine Balance too! I've never been able to get on with Midnight's Children though.

I loved A Suitable Boy too even though it went on for months...

Bluestocking · 06/12/2008 22:40

R K Narayan - try "A Malgudi Omnibus" - charming stories written from the mid-1930s onwards, set in the imaginary South Indian town of Malgudi.

saadia · 06/12/2008 22:29

I liked The End of Innocence by Moni Mohsen and Home, by Manju Kapoor, both family sagas. The Weary Generations, by Abdullah Hussein is highly acclaimed but I didn't really enjoy it

Nighbynight · 06/12/2008 22:24

One night in the Call Centre

cant remember the author but its really authentic

FlossieT · 06/12/2008 22:03

HQ, I emailed you another idea but I used the wrong email... have just resent!!

tearinghairout · 06/12/2008 21:34

One of my favourite authors is R K Narayan. Try 'A Tiger for Malgudi', or really any of his novels and short stories.

His books are a breeze to read, and an absolute joy. You really get a feel for the place.

MadamDeathstarOverBethlehem · 06/12/2008 21:31

I read 'A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush' and 'Slowly Down the Ganges' by Eric Newby. They are not novels but are hysterically funny.

LadyG · 06/12/2008 21:29

If you like Dalrymple then there is a lovely book called 'An Indian Summer ' by James Cameron travel writing/memoir i think out of print sadly. Red Earth and Pouring Rain is fab and I loved Sacred Games (Vikram Chandra)

Original poster
HolidaysQueen · 06/12/2008 09:53

morning!
so i've added white tiger (i know and trust flossie's literary judgment!) and the siege of krishnapur to my amazon order for now, but all of the others are either going on my christmas list or on the long list for later (i've got this thread on my watch list so i don't forget them!)
thank you all

OP posts:
eandz · 06/12/2008 02:52

i'm currently reading

The White Tiger by Adiga. It won some award or something. it's pretty recent and not too bad. (so far)

FlossieT · 06/12/2008 02:00

HQ - I just answered your post without realising it was you. Only as I hit 'submit' did I make the connection with Rohinton Mistry.

I have lots more recommendations if you want 'em.... but I may not clog up this thread with them!!

FlossieT · 06/12/2008 01:58

This year's Booker winner - The White Tiger. Not a comfortable read but an interesting one.

Seconded recommendation for Paul Scott - the whole of the Jewel in the Crown series, but Staying On is good too (also a Booker winner, I think).

QuintessentialShadow · 05/12/2008 12:09

I second the suggestion of "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" by Kiran Desai, it is very funny.

Try also "Feasting, Fasting" by Anita Desai. I have read many of her books, but this is the best, in my opinioin.

Lilymaid · 05/12/2008 12:01

Historical British Raj stuff:
Paul Scott The Jewel in the Crown and the other three books in the Raj Quartet as well as
Staying On
EM Forster: A Passage to India
But the best of all is (as previously suggested) JG Farrell's The Siege of Krishnapur.

LaDiDaDi · 05/12/2008 11:54

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

bran · 05/12/2008 11:52

I enjoyed A Son of the Circus by John Irving

Original poster
HolidaysQueen · 05/12/2008 11:49

these are great suggestions, thank you!
we've both read all of william dalrymple's books - they are great.

OP posts:
TheShipsCat · 05/12/2008 10:38

The death of Mr Love - Indra Sinha (might be too girly)

and I second anything by William Dalrymple, esp City of Djinns

infin · 05/12/2008 10:28

The Hungry Tide and Sea of Poppies (Amitav Ghosh) The latter was on the Booker prize shortlist. I found it quite heavy going but loved the Hungry Tide (set in Sunderbans, est Bengal).
Shantaram ...all 933 pages of it....pacy and gripping but sometimes prose leaves a bit to be desired.
All of William Dalrymple's book are great. Non fiction but entertaining and very well-written. (City of Djinns is my favourite)
Vikram Chandra..Red Earth and Pouring Rain and Sacred Games.
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai.
A Fine Balance is my favourite book too!!