vacation books

the hungry tide - amitav ghosh

this was one beautiful book! i normally skip the descriptive passages in any novel. but here i didn't - i couldn't!! it was all done so artistically. engrossing story - intertwining human relations, evolving personalities, pain and valor and truth. and of course - love.

i haven't read many books by indian authors. will have to try to change that!

the closed circle - jonathan coe

a story of an evolving generation against a background of political turmoil (9/11 and the iraq crisis). complex relationships - one coming dangerously close to incest. lots of divorces and break-ups. none of the couples ended up intact by the end of the book. i liked the emotional aspect of the book but i think all the argument about linking human relations with the political events was a bit stretched.

the cover of the book says - 'wonderful, hilarious'. i could agree with the 'wonderful' part but it's in no way hilarious. humor it has, but it's of the darkest shade, at the expense of some character's feelings.