My friend Fonda is always posting about the books she is reading and those waiting on her night stand to be read. In honor of her, I've made a list of books that I've been reading or have read since coming here.
May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons by Elisabeth Bumiller
I am currently reading this one. I am enjoying the wide perspective it gives on women in India. Bumiller is a journalist who spent three years living and interviewing women here. She encounters all sorts of women from the village to Bollywood. I appreciate the various issues she highlights.
Kite Runner vs. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
I find Hosseini’s writing elegant yet simple. He has a gift for capturing the heart and soul of his characters and expounding on the implications of the characters’ context. Kite Runner was intense and several times I had to take a break in order to properly wrestle with the gravity of the events as they unfolded. I’m glad I returned each time and saw the characters through to the end.
I was compelled to read his second novel. I found it even more impressive. How did a man capture the soul of these women? It is beautiful and moving. I felt like I gained friends and lost them throughout the story. Somehow these women who are only characters in a book became real and a part of my life.
Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez
Not sure why or how I ended up reading 3 books in a row set in Afghanistan. I am always interested in how and why people go to different parts of the world. It was intriguing to hear this women’s story and how she used her gift of cosmetology to change the lives of women in Kabul. In the process, it was insightful to see how these women changed her life.
Having just moved to another country to practice my vocation, I could relate to much of the beginning of the story as she made the decision to come and the roller coaster ride of entry. It was encouraging to see how things unfolded for her and the good things that came with time.
City of Djinns by William Dalrymple
This book is a travel journey of a writer living and working in Delhi.
I first started this book when I arrived. I was captivated as it opened in the area I was staying. Different chapters interested me more than others. It depended on my experience in the city thus far. It was a slow read. As I finished it, I was amused that the last chapter found the author back in my neighborhood at the time of the pilgrimage which was going on at the same time I finished the book. It was fitting that I could read the book over time and as it followed the seasons.
I was impressed enough with his insights and knowledge of the city and culture that I purchased his other book The Age of Kali.
Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald
I heard a lot about this book before coming. I appreciate hearing people’s stories. This book is the story of a news reporter living in India. There’s a lot in this book that made me laugh simply because it is so true. But there are other parts which I found insulting to the culture. Everyone encounters India differently depending on where they are coming from. I think this is a great book to read after you have your own encounter with India.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Finally, I am reading Harry Potter. I absolutely love it! Why didn’t I read them in the first place?
The Story of My Experiments with Truth by M.K. Ghandi
After my visit to the Ghandi Smriti I was inspired to pick up this book and start reading it even though I bought it on my second trip to India in 2005. It's about time I read it.
Longing for Love by Michael Frost
Found this on my roommate’s shelf. It looks at the relationship between our spirituality and sexuality. I haven’t read much but I find this topic very intriguing. The society I now live in has very different views on sexuality and gender roles which greatly affect my daily life. It affects the clothes I wear, the people I interact with, and the places I go. It has even made it difficult for me to find a place to live (see post: Shifting Houses). I find myself asking how the spirituality of the different groups here affects the sexuality and gender roles in each group. It makes me question how this issue is lived out and addressed back home and how that has influenced my perspective on this relationship.
