Comments on: “The Billionaire’s Sleep”/ Tokyo Cancelled to be Filmed

By: Sunanda Reddy

Sunanda Reddy — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:46:08 +0000

I loved Tokyo Cancelled – was the movie ever made? And if this thread is not yet obsolete, Taz, may I suggest “A Suitable Boy” by Vikram Seth.

By: SemiDesiMasala

SemiDesiMasala — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 02:46:05 +0000

Taz,

I really liked "A Fine Balance" too. I was so into it that I read it in just a few days. I know this is a bit old skool (and also part of the Desi Carribean literature group) but have you ever read Naipaul's "A House for Mr. Biswas?" If you haven't, it's definitley worth reading.

By: Neale

Neale — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 20:14:42 +0000

…and, this being a literary thread, has anyone looked at Robert Olen Butler’s book – each piece 240 words long about what goes on in a decapitated head.

By: Manish Vij

Manish Vij — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 20:00:30 +0000

one has to ask what exactly you enjoyed?

It's a critique out of love, I couldn't put the book down. The writing strikes me as talented and fun to read (literary fun, not pulpy fun), but a touch lazy.

By: taz

taz — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:55:01 +0000

Mistry's A Fine Balance

That's true- that was really good and was my inspiration to write this article on hair extensions...

By: Neale

Neale — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:49:13 +0000

My thoughts....

What was disappointing about the book is the need to use magical realism as the actual plot of the stories. When in an airport, or on a crowded commuter train, is it not interesting enought to ponder/discover the real life of strangers? I don't mind magic realism so much when it is in someone's head AND it is so well written, the language just grabs the reader.

By: sonia

sonia — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:10:16 +0000

I know this is a little off topic but Taz what about Mistry’s A Fine Balance? Although it starts of a little slow it definitely picks up and ends up being an amazing book!

By: Amardeep

Amardeep — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:00:57 +0000

Manish, I hadn't seen The Final Cut -- that does sound pretty similar. Since you've been very forthright on the negatives on this book (and compelling for the most part), one has to ask what exactly you enjoyed? Somehow, despite its flaws (which I admit), I found this book fun to read.

I also still think there's a lot of potential there for a good film based on "The Billionaire's Sleep."

By: Manish Vij

Manish Vij — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:30:47 +0000

Here's another example: there's a story about a man whose job it is to cull people's memories, eliminate the trauma and sell it back to them on disk. That was done by Robin Williams in Final Cut in '04.

By: Neale

Neale — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 08:40:45 +0000

sorry to threadjack…Kiran Desai is going to be on Charlie Rose – for those still up on the west coast