Reader's Paradise discussion

Hi Aparna!! Guess it's your first copy cat challenge. Hope I'll be a good partner.

Wishing you a very happy new year.

I'm thinking of picking India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy. Since you gave it five stars. Also in 2017 I've decided to read more non-fics, therefore in my opinion, it's the best. What do you think?

Hey arpit, firstly a very happy new year...!!..hope you have a fantastic year with books in 2017...

Regarding this challenge , yes it is my first time here...so i am all excited .. :)..
If you are keen in reading non fiction this year..then india after gnadhi imo is a very good choice...I loved the meticulous research that ramchnadra guha has done in writing this masterpiece... hope you like it too :)

Your read shelf has some amazing books...and It was difficult to choose one for this challenge since many are equally tempting...
I choose Goodbye,Mr Chips...I liked the premise of the story..and though its a short book, I see that the impact it had on you is not small by any means
Your 5 star rating and heartfelt review has tempted me to pick it for this challenge...What do you think about the pick ?

Aparna wrote: "Hey arpit, firstly a very happy new year...!!..hope you have a fantastic year with books in 2017..."

Same to you, and thank you :)

Then India After Gandhi it is. It's my first book by Guha sir. I've read few articles in newspaper, but never a book.

Goodbye Mr. Chips? Wow, you go for it, ma'am. I guess it was my first book of 2016, and I'm glad that you too are reading it in the very starting of the year. I hope you like it.

I was gonna message you the link of this thread, but you already found your way here. Sorry for that.

Am getting greedy here. Chips and Guha both in my tbr!
Guha would take a looooooong time though.
Will keep chipping in and out of this thread.
Great choices!
And happy reading to both of you!

Gorab wrote: "Am getting greedy here. Chips and Guha both in my tbr!"

You are invited to join us, in both books :p

I'll start from tomorrow. Hoping that it doesn't take a looooooong time :)

Gorab wrote: "Am getting greedy here. Chips and Guha both in my tbr!
Guha would take a looooooong time though.
Will keep chipping in and out of this thread.
Great choices!
And happy reading to both of you!"
Thanks Gorab...do join in, it woukd be fun :)

Arpit wrote: "Goodbye Mr. Chips? Wow, you go for it, ma'am. I guess it was my first book of 2016, and I'm glad that you too are reading it in the very starting of the year. I hope you like it."

Thanks arpit... hoping to have great time reading it..!!!

I started the book today. Read the prologue. It seems VERY promising. But, as Gorab mentioned, it will take a looooooong time :(

Thats Great Arpit...this indeed is a looooong book..it was my reading companion for around 4 months ;).... but nevertheless its packed with so much info, that I suggest savor it slowly.
I have also started the journey with Mr Chips today :)

I'm reading it slowly, and liking it. It has so much information that I'm afraid I won't be able to remember half of it. Not a pleasant thought.

Author is using reference from lots of other researchers. Like in the first chapter there are two foreign scholar's opinion. One is saying that India is too diverse for democracy to exist effectively here, while the other is arguing that this very thing holds them together. This is fun.

This is my first such kind of book. I'm really liking it.

And I agree with Mr. Guha on the point that there's not enough literature, or not enough research done on Indian history, or to be precise, on Indian independence moment, compared to French revolution, or American revolution.

Meeting Gandhi in two books right now: first here, in a non-fic book, and second, in a fiction book written by R K Narayan :)

It's been such a long time since I last saw of Mr. Chips. How's he doing? Hope he's great:)

Arpit wrote: "And I agree with Mr. Guha on the point that there's not enough literature, or not enough research done on Indian history, or to be precise, on Indian independence moment, compared to French revolut..."

I totally agree...I remember studying history in school...it used to be only about india's freedom struggle, nothing after that.
This book gave so much less known info after the freedom struggle, like formation of constitution , hindu code bill,integration of princely states to name a few...Also, for first time I understood the role of the iron man sarder vallabhai patel ..all thanks to ramchandra guha...

Arpit wrote: "It's been such a long time since I last saw of Mr. Chips. How's he doing? Hope he's great:)"

Just got introduced to mr chips this weekend....read only 1 chapter..didnt get much time..hoping to read few more chapters tom...

**Intruder Alert**
I'll be picking Mr Chips today and will join in with Aparna.

Guha also on mind, but that'll have to wait a couple of months.

Gorab wrote: "**Intruder Alert**
I'll be picking Mr Chips today and will join in with Aparna.

Guha also on mind, but that'll have to wait a couple of months."

I knew this would happen :p
Welcome in the class, Gorab!
You are on time, Mr. Chips was just gonna start.

The third part of first chapter reminded me of the Train to Pakistan. I knew there were lots of deaths, but never knew exactly how many. The number really scared me.
Einstein was right about human stupidity, it has no limit :(

Gorab wrote: "**Intruder Alert**
I'll be picking Mr Chips today and will join in with Aparna.

Guha also on mind, but that'll have to wait a couple of months."

Wonderful....I just stated yest..reading the second chapter....how are finding it Gorab ?

too early to say anything. but I'm getting the hang of it. simple story of an old man reminiscing.
generally i love such stories :)
read 3 chapters.
how about you?

Liking it so far.I am reminded of another book that I read last year A man called Ove, this has a similar flow. I have just started chapter 9

Arpit wrote: "The third part of first chapter reminded me of the Train to Pakistan. I knew there were lots of deaths, but never knew exactly how many. The number really scared me.
Einstein was right about human..."

Thats indeed a pitiful state..I havent read Train to pakistan...have heard it Has too much gory details ..

Gorab wrote: "Ok. I should be picking IAGandhi during this weekend. How much you've read?"

Oh not much, not much. Part 1, chapter 2. I'll speed up after you touch me.

Aparna, I will only say that try Train To Pakistan. If we ever make a list of Top 50 Indian English novel, then certainly it will be in top 20.
PS: It was the book that hooked me to reading.

Aparna wrote: "Liking it so far.I am reminded of another book that I read last year A man called Ove, this has a similar flow. I have just started chapter 9"

Ove sounds great. Might try it sometime.

Chips - Have read till Chapter 15. Liking it much more after Chapter 9. It's a heart warming read so far. Enjoying it.

Will be picking IAGandhi after completing Chips.... should be soon.

You two are taking so much time to finish a book so small :/
Drive fast, dear :)

I am done with Chips. Loved it. Thx for the reco Arpit!
Joining in IAG today.

Hey all, I have read chips till the 9th chapter and paused a bit, and got distracted by other reads .;)
Will continue it this week....
Gorab , I saw ur rating..good to know u liked it :)

I'm glad that you two liked it.

I loved it more especially after Chapter 9. A good place to pause ;)

I am somewhere around 40 % pf Chips. Liking him . He has shades of A man called Ove and Harold Fry of The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

Havent read both - Ove and Harold Fry

Rebecca, you are also reading it? Didn't know. Well, great that you are enjoying it :)

IAG - Absolutely loved the second chapter. Especially after Khushwant Singh's Train to Pakistan... this provided loads of insight about partition.
Never expected myself enjoying this so much.

Have reached beginning of Chapter 3 - Apples in the Basket.

And all those factual details about Patel-Nehru... Jinnah's role. Very informative.

Finished reading Mr chips today...Such a sweet tale..thanks Arpit for the reco :)

Arpit wrote: "Rebecca, you are also reading it? Didn't know. Well, great that you are enjoying it :)"

I finished. It was a sweet tale.

My pleasure, ladies!

Gorab- Train to pakistan did help. That was my first book on this topic. Now reading it all again and realising the horrors of Partition....

I couldn't help but remember the last chapter of Waiting for Mahatma, when Guha was describing Gandhi's efforts for peace during those hard times.
Remember when Bharati and Sriram went to meet him, Bapu had just opened his fast, and people gave him lots of fruit. I guess it was one of those 3 fasts.