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A review by laureneg11
Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh
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.