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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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:

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I thought that was a paint colour chart?


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Did you see the film based on the Marigold Hotel book? I loved it.

Oh and how did you get on with the fifty shades of grey book? ;) :D

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I was not impressed by the film either.
50 Shades of Grey is still on the bookshelf - will let you know when I have read it. For some reason have not been interested in reading lately.

Have also bought the Kasmiri Shaw!

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The Book 'These Funny Things' was brilliant - the film Marigold Hotel did not do the book justice.............in fact I fell asleep half way through the film !!!!

Dread - x

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I think that's the problem, once you've read the book any film based on it just isn't the same.

You can't beat a good book :)

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Love a good book.

Anyone know iof there is any truth in the book Shantaram being made into a film? (don;t know how true it is but someone told me today that Johnny Depp is going to be in it) - if true I hope they don;t cxck it up

Dread

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shantaram_%28novel%29

see "film adaptation" it is accurate, a great shame.


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Reading it you'd think it had been organised by GoI not a film studio!

AndyD 8-)₹

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Thanks Bipat, have thoroughly enjoyed this book, might be "fluffy" but this is all I can cope with at the moment.
:thumbsup:

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"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." Great book and perfect for the beech. I loved it so much I bought it for two of my friends.

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There's a very nice book titled "Goa" by Mr Romesh Bhandari, former Foreign Secretary Govt of India. It gives a complete history of Goa down to the present times. Very nice book.

Cheers

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Pleased that you enjoyed it Noni, I am now reading The Thread --Victoria Hislop. Also "fluffy" but also so much recent history of Greece and how they suffered in the last war, worth reading for that.

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Thank you so much for suggesting this book. The Bhandari community, as also our own community, were persecuted in Goa and many now live in North Kanara region and Karwar as well as Mumbai etc.
Author has had an amazing life also. I will certainly read his book.
Just looked, it is available on Amazon.

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I just read "Ozzie" - autobiography of Ozzy Osbourne............................

...................and it made me laugh and laugh and laugh

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Dread - x

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" Small Island " . Great book about Jamaicans in the British Army in WW2 and subsequent immigration of those Jamaicans to the UK and the racism they suffered . Really enjoyed it .

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At last received a copy of this book, in spite of Royal Mail, first order from Amazon by RM didn't arrive, got a refund.
Next order from ABE books, sent by RM correctly addressed in 'large' envelope took 14 days!!!

It seems to be an excellent book on quick skim through, and well researched (72 items in the bibliography).
Not really a light read for the beach though.
Chapter 8 about Goan Hindus very interesting and nice description of Hindu philosophy in general, explaining how the misconception came about that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion.