The Book Page
Books I Am Reading - Books Still to Read - Books I Have Just Read - Indian Books I Recommend
Books I Am Reading
 | India - The Golden Jubilee by various authors | This book is a collection of articles about India - just the thing to stop and start on the journey to India. |
Books Still to Read
 | Taj by Colin De Silva | Hmm - not sure about this one - a multi-page saga about India (that's good) but haven't read any of his before. Is it just fit for a supermarket shelf? Time alone will tell. Looks good from a brief scan, though. |
 | The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye | An amazing story - one of my all-time favourites. I've only read this once before, many years ago, and have been saving it for a special occasion. This trip seemed just right. |
 | Vanity Fair by W.M. Thackeray | An all-time classic - what else can I say? Its a new one for me - I've just been watching the excellent BBC television adaption, and enjoyed it tremendously. I'm hoping the book will be the same, or better ! |
 | East Of Eden by John Steinbeck | Another re-read of a classic, which I'm really looking forward to as well. John Steinbeck is one of my favourite authors, and this is definitely one of his best. I haven't read this for about 9 years, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it again. |
 | God Is An Englishman by R.F. Delderfield | This book, and the next two, are a 3-part saga about Adam Swann, the guy who set up a huge furniture removals business. Doesn't sound very promising, does it, but let me quickly tell you that its an amazing book, by another of my favourite authors. |
 | Theirs Was the Kingdom by R.F. Delderfield | Part 2. Apparently, this saga is based on the English firm of 'Pickfords'. |
 | Give Us This Day by R.F. Delderfield | Part 3 of the saga. |
Books I Have Just Read
Indian Books I Recommend
 | India Handbook from Footprint Books | I wouldn't travel with anything else. This is the number-one guidebook to India, or at least it used to be. Editions 1-13 were written by Bob and Roma Bradnock. They have now retired from the job, and Footprint have appointed a new team. At the moment, the new team are just updating the previous edition - I wait with interest to see what their brand new handbook will be like. |
 | India & Bangladesh Road Atlas from Lonely Planet | Another book I wouldn't travel without in India. A lot of the home-grown Indian maps tend towards the colourful and artistic rather than the strictly accurate. This book changes all that - a brilliant set of large scales maps showing every little town and village. If you want one, better get it soon, though. Lonely Planet have just announced that they are abandoning this book, and won't be re-printing. A disaster for all future Sub-Continent travellers, for sure. |
 | India Guide by Lonely Planet | The firm favourite of all young backpackers. More chatty than Footprint, not nearly as much detail. Poorer city maps too, and not as many of them, but still, its got 1,000s of people around the country, and does it very well indeed. Tim's tip - avoid the hotels in LP - they are just too popular, get over-booked, and can let the quality slip whilst 'resting on their laurels'. |
 | India Handbook by Rough Guide | I place this book as joint second with Lonely Planet. Not as popular, certainly, but neither is single-malt whisky. The quality is definitely there, and the details are better than LP. Once they solve the presentation style, it will be a serious rival to Footprint. |
 | India By Rail by Royston Ellis | The original 'paperback writer' from the Beatles song, Mr Ellis combines a comprehensive guidebook with a chatty style that helps any visitor to India get the best from the mighty Indian Railways network. |
 | Slowly Down The Ganges by Eric Newby | Another classic from the king of travel-writers. Although I am not one to give blanket approval to an author, this book is immensely enjoyable; one of his very best. |
 | No Full Stops In India by Mark Tully | Mr Tully was the voice of India for many many listeners to the BBC over the last 40 years. His experience and knowledge of the country are vast - when he sits down to write a book, you can be sure it will be an important key to anyone wishing to learn more about India. |
 | Third Class Ticket by Heather Wood | A lovely book, based on a lovely idea. Put 40 Indian villagers in a railway carriage and go to visit the Holy places of India. How will they get on? What adventures will they have? Read this book, and find out. |
 | In My Grandmothers Footsteps by Imogen Lycett Green | Penelope Betjeman, wife of the English 'Poet Laureate', had a lifelong passion for India. The year before she died, she took her granddaughter on one of her expeditions. Six years later, Imogen Lycett Green returned to retrace the journey. Part memoir, part travel book; an unforgettable journey into India's past. |
| Ram Ram India by Alex Thompson | Away from the professional travellers for a minute, this tale relates the journey of 2 young Englishmen through India on bicycles. Read this book, and you'll want to do it too. |
 | Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie | Some people find Mr Rushdie's work hard going, but this novel makes the effort worthwhile. Set in Bombay, and based on his own experiences, 'Midnight's Children' is hard to put down. |
 | A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth | Well, of course you could read this just to say you've completed the longest novel in the English language. If you do, you'll soon find this family saga of arranged marriage in middle-class India is one of its best too. I was wishing it would never end. Will there be a sequel? |
 | The Gunpowder Gardens by Jason Goodwin | This book will tell you everything you wanted to know about tea. Though not exclusively set in India, it has large sections devoted to the Sub-Continent. Highly recommended - an excellent read. |
 | India - A Million Mutinies Now by V.S. Naipaul | A highle informative book that gives real insight into much of the history and background of India. Essential reading for the experienced traveller. |
 | Into India by John Keay | This book is one of the best ever introductions for the first-time visitor to India. Easy to read, much to learn. I am not sure if it has been updated recently - my edition is 1984, but even if not, it is still an excellent primer for any visitor. |
 | Bhowani Junction by John Masters | John Masters has been writing novels about India for many years. Well thoughout, gripping and informative, each one is a 'master' in its own right. 'Bhowani Junction' tells of the conflict between Indians, Anglo-Indians, and the British. It is set on the railways, just before Independence. |
| Night Runners of Bengal by John Masters | Set in India just before the 1857 'Mutiny', this novel relates the story of one British outpost, and how it was effected by the horrors to come. |
| The Deceivers by John Masters | This fascinating novel is set amongst the secret cult of 'Thugee', and narrates the story of how an English officer infiltrated and started the eventual distruction of the killer group. |
| The Venus Of Konpara by John Masters | An entertaining novel with many elements of excitement: a 3000-year secret, man-eating tigers, poison arrows, the evil caves, and the re-incarnation of the Golden Goddess of Love. |