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em_beddedinbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I am so glad that I came upon this book. It was suggested to me by some IR friend and I ordered it via flipkart on May 28, the day on which flipkart gave 50% discount to many best sellers(this fact too, known via an IR thread). I only wish I had ordered more books. This is basically non-fictional travellogue of India, wherein Monisha, a British Indian travels the length and breadth of India in 80 trains. It was funny, sarcastic, amazing and true to the core. Initially I felt she was belittling India, but then I realized its because of love for India, rather otherwise- the way we tirade against our near and dear ones hoping that they will change for the better. I liked Passeportout (hope the spellling is correct) and googled his true name and went through his photography website. And after reading another IR friend's review about this book, came to know that Monisha has a blog chocful of pictures from this journey, and went through her blog in between. I would recommend this book to all who love India and want to know more about India and its ways.
shantesh's review against another edition
5.0
Fasntastic, fast paced book that I simply couldn't put down once I got started.
laureneg11's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Rajesh returns to India, the country of her heritage and where she lived briefly as a child. I liked the premise of ‘rediscovering’ the country via the country’s train network. Her mammoth journey is unique and brave for a woman in her late 20s to embark on. I read this book having enjoyed reading Rajesh’s Around the World in 80 Trains.
She chooses to travel with a friend of a friend, only referred to as ‘Passepartout’ which is one of the weaknesses of the book. They squabble over religion and it wasn’t very interesting to read about. I was hoping to learn more about India and whilst Rajesh writes about the towns and cities she visits, the journey seemed a bit jumbled – she visited Delhi and Chennai several times and I got a bit lost with where the journey was going.
Some of my thoughts on the book are not necessarily on its content. Unlike Around the World in 80 Trains, my copy featured a route map which was good. But there were no photos and the text was extremely small, so I feel the publisher could have improved the physical aspects of the book.
I did feel that the book had some strengths over Around the World in 80 Trains though, mainly that Rajesh doesn’t complain as much as she does in Around the World in 80 Trains and she seems more appreciative and considerate of her privileged position. Overall it was nice read to learn a bit about a different culture, way of life and the way that Rajesh relates to her British-Indian identity. But I also feel the book could’ve been better.
She chooses to travel with a friend of a friend, only referred to as ‘Passepartout’ which is one of the weaknesses of the book. They squabble over religion and it wasn’t very interesting to read about. I was hoping to learn more about India and whilst Rajesh writes about the towns and cities she visits, the journey seemed a bit jumbled – she visited Delhi and Chennai several times and I got a bit lost with where the journey was going.
Some of my thoughts on the book are not necessarily on its content. Unlike Around the World in 80 Trains, my copy featured a route map which was good. But there were no photos and the text was extremely small, so I feel the publisher could have improved the physical aspects of the book.
I did feel that the book had some strengths over Around the World in 80 Trains though, mainly that Rajesh doesn’t complain as much as she does in Around the World in 80 Trains and she seems more appreciative and considerate of her privileged position. Overall it was nice read to learn a bit about a different culture, way of life and the way that Rajesh relates to her British-Indian identity. But I also feel the book could’ve been better.
nayzjayz's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
I know, it’s not a popular opinion and I get it. To people who’ve grown up in india, this book may comes across as exaggerated. Having grown up abroad myself, I moved to India at age 6. I was heavily accented with a weak immune system and no knowledge of Bollywood. I also had the tendency to politely ask for things and I soon learnt that to survive here, you gotta make a grab for what you want - whether a seat on a bus, a packet of wafers or the only functional swing in a park. As someone who was treated differently, I completely related to this book.
Monisha describes Mumbai Local train travel perfectly and having interned with the Impact India Foundation, her account of the Lifeline Express is also on point. Monisha Rajesh is an unapologetic wry writer and I understand that most people love romanticism. This book is far from that. Neither is it a travelogue delving into the rich history of the places she visits. It’s an honest firsthand account of her experience travelling around India.
I know, it’s not a popular opinion and I get it. To people who’ve grown up in india, this book may comes across as exaggerated. Having grown up abroad myself, I moved to India at age 6. I was heavily accented with a weak immune system and no knowledge of Bollywood. I also had the tendency to politely ask for things and I soon learnt that to survive here, you gotta make a grab for what you want - whether a seat on a bus, a packet of wafers or the only functional swing in a park. As someone who was treated differently, I completely related to this book.
Monisha describes Mumbai Local train travel perfectly and having interned with the Impact India Foundation, her account of the Lifeline Express is also on point. Monisha Rajesh is an unapologetic wry writer and I understand that most people love romanticism. This book is far from that. Neither is it a travelogue delving into the rich history of the places she visits. It’s an honest firsthand account of her experience travelling around India.
majya's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Part of me wishes I had read this book before her other one just because the difference in traveling companions was so stark. Having to go from her lovely fiancé to a horrific raging atheist was very jolting and definitely lowered my enjoyment of the book. That said, I still enjoyed this book very much. Rajesh is just so talented at travel writing and once again I could not put the book down.
deepaknamachivayam's review against another edition
4.0
An adventurous debut which will give you the confidence and the desire to plan a small trip to a new area once you finish the book.
spyralnode's review
3.0
Ticket by ticket, train by train go the chapters, following the ambitious journey of a British woman of Indian heritage. Inspired by Jules Vernes' 'Around the World in 80 Days', she aims to reconnect with India by exploring every nook that can be reached by rail.
This is the first book I'm reading that is focused on India, and one of the only travel books I've ever read ('Notes from a Small Island' by Bill Bryson is one I find comparable perhaps). I was looking for something relatively high level, giving me a taste of the culture, the history and the geography, and for that this book is very well suited. It mainly features observations and interactions, such as women's safety on trains, how you are never by yourself for a long time and people will inevitably start a conversation, the judgement based on your clan and civil status, haggling and money making - all great intros for the first time visitor.
The tone is casual, fun, and the author tends to move pretty quickly from one topic the next. There is little in the way of deep diving or introspection, it's fast paced and light.
Even for me though I'd consider this too light. Two areas that I really wish she would have gotten more into is cuisine and landscape. Cuisine was mentioned only via names of dishes, rather than where they are culturally relevant or even what they are exactly, I had to google them to stay on top of the meaning of the words. And on landscapes we get nothing beyond non-specific adjectives like 'beautiful' or landform naming like 'mountain'. The fact that the number of train journeys is what the author prioritises, rather than the experience of the train journeys, is actually quite disappointing. You feel like the plot is in flux a lot and never slows down quite enough to understand all the nuances that may be at play.
This is the first book I'm reading that is focused on India, and one of the only travel books I've ever read ('Notes from a Small Island' by Bill Bryson is one I find comparable perhaps). I was looking for something relatively high level, giving me a taste of the culture, the history and the geography, and for that this book is very well suited. It mainly features observations and interactions, such as women's safety on trains, how you are never by yourself for a long time and people will inevitably start a conversation, the judgement based on your clan and civil status, haggling and money making - all great intros for the first time visitor.
The tone is casual, fun, and the author tends to move pretty quickly from one topic the next. There is little in the way of deep diving or introspection, it's fast paced and light.
Even for me though I'd consider this too light. Two areas that I really wish she would have gotten more into is cuisine and landscape. Cuisine was mentioned only via names of dishes, rather than where they are culturally relevant or even what they are exactly, I had to google them to stay on top of the meaning of the words. And on landscapes we get nothing beyond non-specific adjectives like 'beautiful' or landform naming like 'mountain'. The fact that the number of train journeys is what the author prioritises, rather than the experience of the train journeys, is actually quite disappointing. You feel like the plot is in flux a lot and never slows down quite enough to understand all the nuances that may be at play.