Janet Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 East of the Sun by Julia Gregson The Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyanddandy Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Thanks Janet - I hate those kind of mistakes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icecream Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 I was looking at this yesterday. It would be good to read more about india, but it doesn't sound like such a good read now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madaboutbooks Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I was looking at this yesterday. It would be good to read more about india, but it doesn't sound like such a good read now. I have just finished reading this book and really enjoyed it. I never look for any mistakes in the text, just enjoyed the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 That's the thing though - I didn't look for them - they were so obvious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I was so disappointed by this book. I'd heard rave reviews on the radio and television, and I love books set in India, so I sat down expecting to enjoy a good read. Alas, it was not to be. The characters weren't engaging, and while I understand that the book was about the English in India, there was so little about India or the native population, it could have been set anywhere. At times the plot and character development were unconvincing, and I almost felt like some of the characters were contemporary women transported to the 1920's. Like Janet, I spotted the mistake about the parlour game, which smacked of lazy editing, as even if the author had made a mistake, the editor should have picked this up. Having said all that, it was a reasonably entertaining book and I did enjoy it enough to finish it, however, I was hoping for more. If you want to read other books set in India, I would recommend Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's books, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, Eclipse of the Sun by Phil Whitaker or, finally, my favourite of all, A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 If you want to read other books set in India, I would recommend Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's books, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, Eclipse of the Sun by Phil Whitaker or, finally, my favourite of all, A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth Oooh, thanks for those - I was only saying the other day that I'd like to read more books set in India - I'll be sure to check them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
France Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'm with Chesilbeach here - I was really disappointed in this book, it was curiously flat and seemed to lack a proper sense of place. Also being a historical pedant I foound that the main charecters simply didn't behave as women brought up then would have done. Sorry can't go into more detail as I got rid of the book almost immediately. I loved A Suitable Boy, that's a book that paints such a vivid picture you can practically smell the surroundings. Anita Desai is another writer who writes fine books about India, I'd particularly reccomend Fire On The Mountain and for a wonderfully lush, rollercoaster of a read there's Sister Of My Heart by Chitra Banderavi Something or the other which everyone I've lent it to has adored. And if you want a really good historical novel about India let's not forget The Far Pavillions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Ooo, Sister Of My Heart by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni is on my TBR - I might put that nearer the top of the pile and start on it soon. Thanks for the recommendation France Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermione Bennet Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Woah. . . mixed emotions here about the book. I bought it a while ago and never really got round to reading it. I like the India setting but as Chesilbeach points out; that setting was practically non-existent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Amazon description: Autumn 1928. Three young women are on their way to India, each with a new life in mind. Rose, a beautiful but na Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 I knew that Thomas Cook was the first 'package holiday company', but like you, I was surprised at the references to Debenhams, so I Googled it at the time and it was used as a name in its own right in 1905! (There had been previous incarnations of 'Something and Debenham' as early as 1813). :eek2: I wouldn't have been surprised if it was inaccurate though as there were other mistakes that were easily researchable! I do like it when a book makes me go and look up things on Wikipedia - it's amazing the things I've learned!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 (edited) I knew that Thomas Cook was the first 'package holiday company', but like you, I was surprised at the references to Debenhams, so I Googled it at the time and it was used as a name in its own right in 1905! (There had been previous incarnations of 'Something and Debenham' as early as 1813). :eek2: I seem to remember hearing it being called Debenham and Freebody and I remember my Grandmother referring to the store with that name. Good to read the reviews though, I had thought of picking up this book but I don't think I will now. Edited October 13, 2009 by SueK updating info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perky Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 Just thought I'd add that I read this a while ago and I enjoyed the book although I would say that it wasn't as good as other books I have read since. Perky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heffalumpi Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 I too read this book a while ago, it was good although I felt a bit disappointed with the characters as I found it really hard to relate to any of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.