Ten Little Indians
Or ten Indian books, that is, with a nod to Agatha Christie for the post title.
I made it a point to read ten books set in India during this trip. Luckily, there are some truly superb titles to choose from, and I tried to select award winners or runners-up as much as possible. Here are the ten I’ve read that I highly recommend:
Shantaram – Oh man. I read this one before the trip, and it’s one of my all-time favorite novels. Action-packed, this (supposedly) true account of an escaped Australian convict that settles in Bombay has it all, and a style and flow that keeps you gripped in to the end. The author manages to convey the feel of India like you’re there in Bombay’s slums and underworld right with him.
A Fine Balance – This book is just plain brilliant. Set during the difficult “State of Emergency” era of the 1970s, it chronicles the interweaving stories of four characters as they cope with fate and destiny. The story and writing are both haunting. Shortlisted for 1996 Booker Prize.
The White Tiger – This is one of the easiest and most fun reads of the bunch, the darkly comic story of a taxi driver’s escape from the chains of his fate. 2008 Booker Prize winner.
Q & A – Now known as Slumdog Millionaire, this is the story from which the award-winning movie was based. It’s another light and enjoyable read.
Sea of Poppies – Set in 1850s Calcutta at the height of the British opium trade, this lively novel does a wonderful job of bringing to life the life and atmosphere of the times. Shortlisted for 2008 Booker Prize.
Unaccustomed Earth – From Pulitzer-Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri, this isn’t a book so much as a collection of unrelated short stories. None of them actually take place in India, but they’re all stories of Indians, strangers in a strange land. Heavy on the drama, but most certainly thought-provoking.
The Inheritance of Loss – Set in the Himalayas during the Ghorkali insurgency of the 80s, this book deals with the intertwined lives of several main characters coping with the difficulties of the times. 2006 Booker Prize winner.
The God of Small Things – This is a poetic but bleak story of tragedy unfolding for a pair of fraternal twins and their mother in small town India. 1997 Booker Prize winner.
Life of Pi – What a wonderful read this is! A 16-year old Indian boy from Pondicherry after his boat is shipwrecked finds himself on a small lifeboat with an orangoutan, a wounded zebra, a hyena and a Royal Bengal tiger. 2002 Booker Prize winner.
Autobiography of a Yogi – As the name implies, this isn’t a novel but an actual autobiography, that of Paramahansa Yogananda. A truly fascinating read and priceless window into the spiritual depths of India.
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Clever post title. Are you familiar with the poem ‘Ten Little Indians”? :
Ten Little Indians
Ten little Indian boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Indian boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Indian boys traveling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Indian boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Indian boys going in for law,
One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Indian boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Indian boys walking in the Zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun;
On got frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Indian boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself and then there were none.
Morbid little nursery rhyme.
Wow. Glad I never had to learn that one as a kid!