Reviews

I took my sweet time reading this beautiful book. It was supposed to be a quick read but I actually savored it the most. There’s something about feeling connected to a community when you’re from this city. It was known as Bombay for a long time until somewhere between growing up and politics it became Mumbai. It still very much feels like Bombay in most parts of Colaba, Bandra, Santa Cruz and my beloved Portuguese Church area of Dadar. The story the author tells here is of a community that endures generations of connections together. It’s something so easily seen in any space that thrives on social conmections. I missed Bombay so much while reading these pages even though most pages were from a time that were not the same as my existence. I’ll revisit this book again for sure when I know that I need to revisit Bombay.

anirban165's review against another edition

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5.0

I have always believed that books are the best way to travel around the world or beyond. One book which has only affirmed my belief is Bombay Balchao by Jane Borges.

The book is an amalgamation of humorous and heartwarming anecdotes, revolving around a family based in a Catholic neighbourhood in Bombay. It actually gave me a tour of the city's rich culture and history. The essence of life in the city has been captured so beautifully that I, as a reader, felt like having lived there.

The title of the book has been borrowed from Balchao, a pickle and is well justified due to its sweet and sour nature, making it a delectable read.

lynxcat_'s review against another edition

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funny informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

saintmaud's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

cute with a lot of heart <3

faves were 'the dance of love', 'dearest butterfly, with love' (had me close to tears lol), and of course 'bombay balchao'

Content Warnings

inkandinsights's review against another edition

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4.0

My heart is flying over Cavel and Dr. D’Lima street trying to spot the similar faces of Michael, Merlyn, Joe, Benji, Annette, Mario, Ellene, and several others.

Bombay Balchao has been a refreshing read. I have been reading intense books back-to-back and wanted something that is light and interesting. Bombay Balchao stood up to that assignment and fared really well. As icing on the cake, it also has some humor in it which made the reading pleasurable.

After turning the last page of the book, I realized that Bombay has a rich history that is slowly getting grazed with the march of time. Thanks to this book, I will look at Bombay (Mumbai) with a fresh pair of eyes.

saira_09's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

The book is an useful account of the often neglected early settlers of South Bombay and the multifaceted lives they led. The stories are poignant, heartwarming and in places funny. The conclusions aren’t thrust onto the reader and there’s space for the reader to arrive at their own conclusion and absorb new information revealed suddenly. The stories can feel a bit disconnected at times - however, the overarching idea of emotions it intends to convey stands out throughout.

swarnawrites's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.75

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