Good books to read on the beach...
 

Hi folks

Many of us who spend time in Goa like to read a good book or two whilst we're there. I didn't want to dilute Bipat's thread on Indian Culture, so I thought I would start a thread where we can all recommend any good books we have read, so for starters :

I have just read "In the Land of Invisible Women by Qanta A Ahmed.
This is a true story written by a British Muslim woman doctor who goes to work in a Saudi Arabian hospital, and describes what it is like living there as a woman. The book also describes how despite being a Muslim she finds herself an outcast within her own faith.
An interesting read but not too heavy for reading on the beach whilst chilling out.

Another excellent book I read is "Ain't Got Nothing Coming" by Jimmy Lerner. This is the story of a man who gets wrongly convicted and spends a number of years in a US prison, and writes about his observations and experiences in having to adapt to life inside. Not only does the book deal with some sensitive and horrifying aspects, but parts of it will have you laughing out loud wherever you are. I think this book would be enjoyed by both men and women.

Dread - x

Re: Good books to read on the beach...
 

Another good read is Chrissy Rock's autobiography. It is both moving and funny. She is the commedien from, amongst other things, Benidorm. How she has managed to come through all the things she has had to and still have such a sence of humour, is amazing.

Re: Good books to read on the beach...
 

I can recommend " Marching Powder " about a guy who got banged up in Bolivia for smuggling cocaine. It's not your average banged up abroad book and it describes an amazing prison in more ways than one. I would also recommend " Letters From Thailand " which is probably the best novel I have come across set in Thailand. It describes a Chinese immigrant's experiences on arrival and assimilation into Thai culture . Taking place over 30 odd years it's a great story. As someone who has spent a third of my life in Thailand it struck me how little anything has change since the book was writen ( 1960s) . It was very controversial when it came out for the criticisms it made of both the Thais and Chinese but then later it went on to win a SEA prize for literature and subsequently became a compulsory high school text. A great read!

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Any book by Dervla Murphy. A travel writer who writes in order to get money to travel, rather than travels to get money from writing.
Her first book Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a bicycle.

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I also prefer read some excellent stuff by Dervla Murphy.

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Any particular titles to suggest ?

Dread - x

Re: Good books to read on the beach...
 

Of recent titles: Through the Embers of Chaos (The Balkans)
Visiting Rwanda
Silverland (Siberia)

2 unusual: Tales From Two Cities (about immigrants in
Bradford and Birmingham)
A Place Apart (about the troubles in N. Ireland, in
the view of a non-religious cyclist from South)

2 early titles Full Tilt (as above, and quite autobiographical)
On a Shoestring to Coorg (I seem to remember she
goes through Goa, 1970s)

and many others. I found her last book about Cuba a little boring.

Re: Good books to read on the beach...
 

Thanks Bt.

You may have found the book boring - but Cuba the country is stunning - the beaches are some of the best I have ever seen - they are so white you can walk on the sand in the middle of a hot day and your feet stay cool.

Dread - x

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Bored to bits with "Marigold Hotel" by Deborah Moggach.
Going to read Fifty Shades of Grey, to see what all the fuss is about. :ohmy: :o

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Just finished reading, " Charlatan."By Pope Brock. Its about quackery in the USA in the 20s & 30s. Mostly its about a bogus doctor Dr.J.R. Brinkley and his rejuvenation therapy involving Goats Gonads.Its hilarious in parts and horrendous in others and its all true and not a load of b****xs !An amazing character though he introduced country music and Blues via his Mexico radio station to late night USA.But its an insight into the culture that allowed these bogus doctors to flourish and the key ingredient was sex.......!

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Is the book you have actually called "Marigold Hotel"?
The original title on which they based the film was called "These Follish Things"
Personally I found the film pretty naff as it lost the real characters of those in the proper book - tamed them all down especially the 'dirty old man' character.

Dread - x

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Have just watched the film as in flight entertainment from a long haul India 2month VISA EXILE annoyed me from the start, and throughout, have not read the book upon which based.

The fundamental premise that Brits can retire in India is FALSE and the cliche ridden observations of life in India are irritating and infuriating. The sereotypical presenation thet all obsatcles are ultimately comedic did not ring true.

This film presents a huge LIE and the sickly sentimentality of the screenplay and cinematography will only dupe another wave of newbie expats expecting some kind of nirvana by attempting to live against all institutional and cultural odds in what is a xenophobic and class ridden society where foreigners are only welcome to the point at which they have no money left to appropriate by deception, theft or murder is not revealed.

This obnoxious exercise in feel good for the aged against a photoshop like version of post colonial India collapses at every juncture.

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:goodpost:


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The Kashmir Shawl--by Rosie Thomas

A good light read (probably for women)

(Helped get me through days of enforced inactivity.)

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50 Shades of Grey :rofl::rofl: