Indian Readers discussion

This year I will add books and challenges in the same discussion so I waste less time when I have to update.

I will have the same challenges as during the last years.

dely, far and wide through India


visited 17 states (48.5%)
Create your own visited map of India or Amsterdam travel guide for Android


States:
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Bihar: India: A Wounded Civilization
Chhattisgarh
Delhi:
The Wildings
Delhi
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
Goa: Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh
Gujarat:
The Algebra Of Infinite Justice
Il libro di Krishna
Haryana: Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata
Himachal Pradesh: Nine Lives
Jammu e Kashmir: Kashmir Saivism - The Central Philosophy of Tantrism
Jharkhand
Karnataka:
India. Cinque racconti, sei reportage, tre fumetti
Waiting for the Mahatma by R.K. Narayan
Kerala: Idris : Keeper of the Light
Madhya Pradesh:
Five Past Midnight in Bhopal: The Epic Story of the World's Deadliest Industrial Disaster
Un'isola di mistero : seguito delle avventure di viaggio di Dalle caverne e dalle giungle dell'Indostan
Maharashtra:
Sacred Games
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
Saturday Date
The Moor's Last Sigh
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Nagaland
Orissa: eFiction India Vol. 1 Issue 07
Punjab: Train to Pakistan
Rajasthan: India Was One
Sikkim
Tamil Nadu:
Shilappadikaram
The Toss of a Lemon
Tripura
Uttar Pradesh:
Sea of Poppies
Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead: v. 1
Uttarakhand
West Bengal:
Freedom at Midnight
The City of Joy
The Sleeping Dictionary
Sister of My Heart
The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice
The Lives of Others

India without a real setting:
Kamasutra
71 Golden Tales of Panchatantra
A Fine Balance
L'Induismo
Timeless wisdom from ancient India
The Dance of Siva: Essays on Indian Art and Culture
The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma

Cat Challenge

My previous year: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

1) Pene d'amore di una gatta inglese e altri racconti felini

Novel Cure Challenge

My previous year: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Reading Books I Already Own

My previous year: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

2017:

1) The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand Was in my to-read list since 2011, read 18/05/2017

2) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett In my to-read list since June 2012, read 07/09/2017

3) Sommerstück by Christa Wolf In my to-read list since April 2015, DNF October 2017

4) Rising of a Dead Moon by Paul Haston It was in my to-read list since 2013 and now I deleted it from my kindle. It's a terrible formatting and I don't like the book. I already tried to read it 4 years ago, arrived at 8% and then gave up.

5) The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil It was on my to-read list since April 2013. Tried to read it in December 2017 but I give up after 3%.

6) Faust: First Part by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

7) Faust, Part Two by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe In my to-read list since 2013, abandoned October 2017. I have the German editions, downloaded for free from Amazon, but it's not the right time to read them. I tried but gave up because I can't concentrate

8) The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss In my to-read list since 2013, read October 2017

9) Patterns of Childhood by Christa Wolf In my to-read list since 2014, read September 2017

10) The Satyricon by Petronius Arbiter In my to-read list since 2013, not finished October 2017

11) Insurgent Mexico by John Reed In my to-read list since 2013, read 22/10/2017

12) The New Gods by Emil Cioran In my to-read list since 2013, but I give up for the second time. I tried to read this book a few years ago, I tried again now, but it's not my cup of tea.

13) The Complete Stories by Franz Kafka In my to-read list since December 2013, read 18/06/2017


14) La cucina dell'Islam by Hocine Benchina In my to-read list since 2014, read 04/08/2017


15) Fiabe e storie by Hans Christian Andersen In my to-read list since 2014, read 10/12/2017


16) Gli anni by Annie Ernaux In my to-read list since 2015, read 11/09/2017


17) Living to Tell the Tale by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez In my to-read list since 2015,
read 22/06/2017

18) The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma by Gurcharan Das In my to-read list since September 2016, read 21/01/2017


19) Dissipatio H.G. by Guido Morselli In my to-read list since 2015, read 20/05/2017

20) The Cider House Rules by John Irving In my to-read list since January 2016, read 06/02/2017

21) Danube: A Sentimental Journey from the Source to the Black Sea by Claudio Magris In my to-read list since 2016, read 02/06/2017

22) Un brigante chiamato Libero by Vincenzo Labanca In my to-read list since January 2016, read 02/03/2017

23) Fantasmi: Dispacci dalla Cambogia by Tiziano Terzani In my to-read list since 2016, read 02/08/2017

24) In Asia by Tiziano Terzani Was in my to read list since December 2016, read 03/09/2017

25) Cathedral by Raymond Carver Was in my to-read list since December 2016, read 06/01/2017

26) Francesco d'Assisi: La storia negata by Chiara Mercuri In my to-read list since December 2016, read 03/01/2017

Welcome aboard , dely.
Sensible idea to add in one thread itself. :)

Em wrote: "Welcome aboard , dely.
Sensible idea to add in one thread itself. :)"

Also because I have always less time and in 2016 it was hard to update both my discussions.

Good luck Dely!

Thanks Manju!

All The Best Dely!

Rebecca wrote: "All The Best Dely!"

Thanks!

Good luck Dely.
Loooooved the far and wide challenge idea!
And lovely book suggestions against them. Will pick a few of them from your list and as usual keep lurking :)

I too have eyed deli's books (a couple at least) but didn't tell her :P

Gorab wrote: "Good luck Dely.
Loooooved the far and wide challenge idea!
And lovely book suggestions against them. Will pick a few of them from your list and as usual keep lurking :)"

Thanks!

Em wrote: "I too have eyed deli's books (a couple at least) but didn't tell her :P"

You have to tell me. I'm curious!

Fabulous list as always dely. I have Gurcharan Das and Kafka's stories on my list as well for this year. :)

I shall always be lurking for more.

Happy reading! :)

Wildings
Cider House rules

Srividya wrote: "Fabulous list as always dely. I have Gurcharan Das and Kafka's stories on my list as well for this year. :)

I shall always be lurking for more.

Happy reading! :)"

Thanks! I think Kafka can wait a little bit more, but Gurcharan Das will be read hopefully in January.

Em wrote: "Wildings
Cider House rules"

The Wildings isn't that good. I rated it only with 2 stars.

Wont' wait too much to read Cider House Rules.

Yay! My first book of the year and also a 4*

1) Francesco d'Assisi: La storia negata by Chiara Mercuri 4/5

There isn't an English translation of this book but I recommend it to who knows Italian and that want to know about Saint Francis and why after his death all the papers about him disappeared and there was only one official biography that wasn't trustful. After a lot of years the original papers written by his confreres could be found so they started writing new and trustful biographies. Very interesting, above all the historical background and how things worked in the Francisan Order.

Italian review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


1) Books I own Challenge
Was in my to-read list since December 2016, read 3th January 2017.

Mine too :)

Em wrote: "Mine too :)"

:D

2) Cattedrale 3/5

English edition: Cathedral by Raymond Carver

I enjoyed these short stories and Carver's writing style. All these stories deal with less important moments in life, or moments that don't seem important to us, but at the end they are. There aren't great happenings, but the reader is put in the story when things already happened. The many themes of these stories are: loneliness, divorce, alcoholism, loss of a job.

2) Books I Own Challenge
Was in my to-read list since December 2016, read 06/01/2017.

Wow dely. ..and I too may finish my 2nd book today. :)

Em wrote: "Wow dely. ..and I too may finish my 2nd book today. :)"

But on a yearly basis you usually read more books than me. It seems you still have to warm up :D

he he...2017 is a slow start. But no complaints. Am enjoying my reads.

3) The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma by Gurcharan Das 4/5

It could have been also a 5* if it wouldn't have been a bit dragging towards the end. The title says it all: it's about dharma in the Mahabharata, a book I love so I also like to read about it.

My English review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was forgetting to update my challenges! This book is part of my Indian Challenge and also of Books I Own Challenge.

1) Indian Challenge

3) Books I own challenge
It was in my to read list since September 2017, read 21/01/2017.

4) AAA Libertà cercasi: Amalgama multiforme di pensieri liberi e discutibili sedimentati negli anni by Umberto Cavazzini 1/5

I rate the book despite I didn't finish it. It's by an emerging Italian author and it was really badly written, it was impossible to follow the author's thoughts. You are lucky there isn't an English translation of this book.

My only Italian review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Aww...bad.

Em wrote: "Aww...bad."

Last year I had been lucky with Italian indie authors, so I tried to give also this one a try because I liked the book blurb....meh! I have to be careful.

5) Le regole della casa del sidro 2/5

English edition: The Cider House Rules by John Irving

I really liked the first part but then there was no development in the characters. They behaved the same way from the beginning till the end, and the whole story lasts at least 30 years. It isn't believable, it isn't real that people never change and always say and behave the same way. I wanted to rate it with 1* but seen that I liked the first part and seen that I was able to finish it, I decided for 2*.

My short English review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also part of my Books I Own Challenge. 4th book of the list. It was in my to-read list since January 2016.

6) Il tempo dei nuovi eroi by Oscar Di Montigny ★★★★★

It's a non-fiction about economics. It was really very interesting and well written and it's a pity it hasn't been translated into English

The author explains how companies have to put at the center of their economy the consumer but not only as a consumer, but as a human being. He wants an economy based on universal values and ideals that stops thinking only about its profit, but has to do also the profit of the consumer and the enviroment. He talks a lot about his own experience, about why and how a person has to change in order to be a better person not only for himself but for society.
The author isn't a dreamer, but he is a management director of one of the biggest banks in Italy and if I don't go wrong he founded also a Corporate University.

Really very very interesting. I loved it.

I have written only an Italian review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Looks very interesting. And tempting. Generally the "human being" part and introspection about human nature as a consumer isn't found easily in such non-fiction business and entrepreneur related books.

Gorab wrote: "Looks very interesting. And tempting. Generally the "human being" part and introspection about human nature as a consumer isn't found easily in such non-fiction business and entrepreneur related bo..."

Exactly so I was also glad to read that they are understanding that they have to think at the consumer as a human being and not only a "profit" for them. I liked above all the part dedicated to how and why people have to change. Not only managers and leaders, but also common people with whatever job they do. They have to do it not only for the salary, but as a mission. Seen that a real change can't arrive only from people or from politicians, companies have an important rule in changing society in a better way because they are midway.

That struck many a chords within me. Wish it was available in English. Or better yet wish I could read it in Italian.

Gorab wrote: "That struck many a chords within me. Wish it was available in English. Or better yet wish I could read it in Italian."

Maybe someday, who knows. It has been published only in 2016.

I have seen right now that his blog is also in English!
http://www.oscardimontigny.it/en/

Thx a lot for sharing this :)

Gorab wrote: "Thx a lot for sharing this :)"

You are welcome! On his blog he synthesizes his philosophy and if you read here and there you know what the book is about.
I have watched also some videos (that with Patch Adams and Simona Atzori, the dancer without arms) and it's really encouraging and motivating: everyone can change becoming a better person and everyone can do something for a better society.

Yes I got glimpses of his philosophy (in line with your book description) on that blog.

7) Un brigante chiamato Libero by Vincenzo Labanca ★★☆☆☆

No English edition. It's a book about brigandage in Italy after the unification of Italy (1861). It's fiction though all the dates and characters are real and accurate.

I have written only an Italian review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

5th book of my Books I Own Challenge. Was in my to-read list since January 2016.

The stars say that you didn't like it much. :)

IncRead wrote: "The stars say that you didn't like it much. :)"

For me 2* means that it was ok. It isn't a book I would throw out of the window, but I also didn't like it that much because of the language. It seems more children literature, the language was too simplistic. It was also full of grammar mistakes and typos.

8) I Vangeli per guarire: Lo straordinario potere del mito cristiano by Alejandro Jodorowsky ★☆☆☆☆

I thought this book talked about some nice and edifying verses of the Gospels but I was so wrong! The author explains some verses and events with his very personal interpretation. It was so forced and often also totally non-sense.

I have written only an Italian review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I wasn't dead, I was reading a difficult book!

9) La Filosofia Perenne ★★★☆☆

English edition: The Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley

It is an interesting book but I rated it only with 3 stars because it was really difficult, both the style and the language. But despite this I would recommend it to people who are interested in the philosophical and spiritual side of religions. It talks about the philosophy and the spiritual side that are very similar if not the same in the main religions (Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Taosim).

My short English review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

he he he...
I thought you were too bored to update the thread.
Glad to see you back. :)

Shalini wrote: "he he he...
I thought you were too bored to update the thread.
Glad to see you back. :)"

Lol
It was such a tough book that I could read only a few pages per day. In the meantime I also started reading the complete collection of fables by Hans Christian Andersen to satisfy my daily longing for "normal" reading.

I received this book as an unexpected gift from my son. I was so moved. I'm not used to receive gifts from him seen that every year, except last year, he also forgets my birthday. Of course I started reading it immediately.

10) Pene d'amore di una gatta inglese e altri racconti felini by various authors ★★★☆☆

There isn't an English edition. It's a collection of short stories by famous authors like Honoré de Balzac, Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain etc, where cats are the main characters.
The stories were all good, some better some less but there weren't stories I didn't like.

Also part of my Cat Challenge.

11) Il mondo in una scuola: Storie e viaggi dell'operaio europeo ★★★★☆

No English edition. It's a non-fiction about refugees, about the various wars around the world, or countries with a precarious working life, that lead people to flee from their countries.
The book is very well done. After an interesting introduction where the editors analyze all the numbers (how many people flee, how many die during these trips, from which countries, the importance for Europe of all these immigrants, etc), every chapter is dedicated to a different route. The most important are those that start from Africa, cross the Mediterranean Sea to arrive in Sicily or however South Italy.
There aren't only Africans who flee, but also people from Bangladesh, Syria, Irak, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and they usually arrive to Africa (above all Libia) and try there to cross the sea.
But there are also other routes: from the East to Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and then North Italy or Austria. Others who flee from Ukraine or Moldova do another route. There are also many people from South America that had to flee because of the collapse of the economical system of their countries.
All those people are linked because they flee from countries where life has become impossible if not dangerous because of wars.
At the end of every chapter there are real stories told by people who had to afford this trip and these stories are really shocking and moving.

It is a book that those little stinky fascists and racists should read but also leaders of countries that want to build wars. But leaders of capitalistic countries are usually the culprits of these many wars because they want to have control over those countries rich of oil, natural gases or because they are in a strategic position. Every chapter analyzes also the reasons of these wars or how people are exploited.

seems like a good read. wish was available in English