The Elephanta Suite: I should have read a little about it before I got stuck in as I expected more overt linking of the three sections as I was reading it. I only realised afterwards, on reflection, that it was indeed linked by different experiences of Americans there. Duh!
I found it quite thought provoking, not least after the last of the stories had a quite unexpected (for me)
ending.
The author is one I've heard of but never read before. I liked his style, even though I might have steered
clear of the book if details of the content would have been on the blurb.
My rating- a 6. FW
Now, the Paul Theroux book - started off ok and well written just lost interest with all the sordid affairs
and exploitation of young indigenous girls - read about 150 pages and scanned the rest, didn't think it
was worth my time! Barely 5/10 Agreed with Dwight when he asks on P167 -"How had he been
corrupted so quickly...prey"!! and P244 -top "most things that people....with it." Did the 3 main
characters link up?
(must have missed that bit!) SC
But I have read the book. Took it to Amsterdam & Bruges and got strangely hooked on it on
Eurostar 2 weeks ago and was pleased to have a book that was well crafted and I looked forward
to reading it - actually stopped reading occasionally to stare out of the window and
ponder on how I would have reacted if something in the plot had happened to me.
HOWEVER... writing this 2 weeks on I can't remember anything about what I read! It was
totally forgettable. I didn't 'get inside' any of the characters' heads in any of the stories.
The book didn't linger in my brain afterwards. I read it then moved on with my life.
SO... it's a 5 for me. HB
And my review from 2013:
Not finished. It was a depressing book made up of three stories about different Elephanta suites.
In all stories Americans come to India. the first, after Mr. & Mrs each have a brief affair with an
Indian they are effectively thrown out and possibly killed.
In the second a business man in India becomes enthralled with a young girl, then his business partner
leads him into eastern mysticism, and Dwight gives up all to pursue it, handling over
the American business to Shah, who is eager to grab it. The third was about a young girl in an
Ashram, who tries to leave. Marks - 1
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