Scan barcode
A review by corinnemercury
Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh
4.0
This is a very warm and candid reveal of a woman's journey through India, very humorous at times and quite intense at others. I was instantly placed in the author's shoes and travelled with her throughout India, and I particularly admired the way she didn't shy away from certain controversial aspects of her journey: the dangers of being a woman on the road, the poverty of the slums, the misogyny encountered. One moment in particular stuck out for me, with the entire atheism vs. spirituality argument carried out by two characters, and how the author showcased the faults of both sides while still maintaining their validity. It was such an enjoyable read, it might just become a comfort read for me.
Some favourite quotes:
"To the right and up some steps was (...) a sign: HINDUS NOT ALLOWED. It looked rude. Why invite someone into your house if they could not warm their hands at the hearth?"
"Everything arises to disappear. Learn to face both pleasure and pain with equanimity.
The truth was that both hurt: one when it disappeared and one when it arrived. But by remaining a passive observer to both, perhaps day-to-day events would become more manageable."
"Are you travelling alone? I asked.
No, I'm not alone. I'm by myself."
Some favourite quotes:
"To the right and up some steps was (...) a sign: HINDUS NOT ALLOWED. It looked rude. Why invite someone into your house if they could not warm their hands at the hearth?"
"Everything arises to disappear. Learn to face both pleasure and pain with equanimity.
The truth was that both hurt: one when it disappeared and one when it arrived. But by remaining a passive observer to both, perhaps day-to-day events would become more manageable."
"Are you travelling alone? I asked.
No, I'm not alone. I'm by myself."