Comments on: Q&A with Indra Sinha, author of the Booker shortlisted “Animal’s People”

By: sandhya

sandhya — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:05:57 +0000

I was pretty tickled to read that Sinha was (like most Indians who are English educated in India) a huge fan of Enid Blyton. I don't have most of my childhood books anymore given all my moving around, but one of the few that I've held on to is "The Big Enid Blyton Book" published in 1980 by Hamlyn. It is a treasury of excerpts from her various works, including my favorite Mr. Goon stories.

As for the khaufpur.com website, check out the horoscopes while you're there.

By: DJ Drrrty Poonjabi

DJ Drrrty Poonjabi — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:30:55 +0000

Did you guys check out the city’s website? Animal has a matrimonial up. Caste no bar, I’m assuming.

By: bombaygirl

bombaygirl — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:13:17 +0000

Man…I loved Enid Blyton when I was a kid (actually, I still do!) I would wander around our garden hoping to run into an elf or a fairy, looking for the toadstool, and the magic tree. I will have to introduce all that to my children.

By: Sunil

Sunil — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:31:24 +0000

Absolutely terrific review.

I've been waiting for the US paperback, and hope to get hold of it soon. It is interesting how almost every Indian author is now compared to Rushdie. Sinha's description of Rushdie's prose though is quite apt. Rushdie has this terrific ability to write rich sentences full of layers and ideas within ideas.

That said.....(and while I'm yet to read the book)....somehow this description of "Animal's people" reminded me of Rushdie's "Haroun and the sea of stories"

By: Ashi

Ashi — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:23:40 +0000

Sandhya – Great review and interview! I was just thinking about this book the other day, but couldn’t remember the title and/or author – nice timing!

By: Ardy

Ardy — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:54:03 +0000

On a related note, Indra was planning on a US book tour in summer but that did not come through. However, the Bhopal campaign is still looking to bring him over to raise awareness about the issue, etc and if there is enough interest in various cities. Please drop me an email if you know of any organizations that would be interested in hosting him in your city and I can get you in touch with people who are trying to put this together.

By: bess

bess — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:45:59 +0000

Sandhya, you're a fantastic interviewer.

If you know these things and keep silent, your silence is a bigger obscenity than any word I might utter.

Does that chap a hide or what? I can't wait to read his book.

By: SM Intern

SM Intern — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:41:59 +0000

KD – it was about some comments that were deleted that were totally and completely off topic, not related to this at all, but instead about recent news in India.

By: kenyandesi

kenyandesi — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:40:29 +0000

I’m not sure what you’re referring to, but if it’s the Enid Blyton comments, I’d like to state that the author brought them up first, and the comments are relevant to the post given the profound impact the books have had on several authors who read them.

If it relates to some other comment I apologize.

If it applies to the Enid Blyton comments, then I’ve stated my dissent, but it is your house, so delete away!

By: golfastrian

golfastrian — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:35:31 +0000

I’m loving the book reviews!