Helpful Score: 4
Filled with bizarre characters and several threads for the storylines, but why anyone would consider this a science fiction, or even a fantasy, novel is beyond me.
I enjoyed the book and will probably read more of John Irving, but it is not an easy read.
I enjoyed the book and will probably read more of John Irving, but it is not an easy read.
Helpful Score: 4
I am a huge fan of Irving's but this was just not very good.
Helpful Score: 4
If you like John Irving, I think you may like this. It reads like a murder mystery and of course there are bizarre characters.
Helpful Score: 2
Not an easy read, but worth the effort. The story of a man born in India, schooled in Vienna, living in Toronto who never feels like he belongs anywhere. It's as colorful as a silk sari.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed the book, it was not like anything I had read before. The novel is not about India but there is lots of take of India, also broken sexual boundaries.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is a thrill to read. From Bombay to the Circus, Irving takes you on a wild and fun ride.
Really an unusual book for it's time. If you liked Garp, you will love this.
All the quirkyness of a John Irving novel set against the patchwork quilt that is the nation of India.
This was a REALLY good story! I REALLY enjoyed it!
I'll begin by saying I certainly respect the author, he has received much acclaim for his work. The book presented a couple themes I love, the circus, and India. The author certainly created characters I grew to care about because I wanted to stop reading it after I gave it 150 pages of my time, but I couldn't bring myself to stop " in case" it got better. Once Nancy's character was introduced I was really drawn in, but not enough for me to really like it. I can fault the male narrator, and the human flaws of all the characters, and there were many, because I know I don't respond well to either of those themes. Worth a read, I think the author is excessively wordy and detailed, but some people might love that aspect of the book. Try it.
I love reading all of John Irvings books, he has a delightful perspective on how his world works, they always make me laugh, and cry and feel like I am part of the story. Captivating.
I have to be honest...it sounded good to me, but I only got maybe 1/4 of the way and I quit. I did get some laughs out of it though and even now I'm smiling remembering one "scene." A short review from the book, "Born a Parsi in Bombay, sent to university and medical school in Vienna, Dr. Farrokh Daruwalla is a 59-year-old orthopedic surgeon and a Canadian citizen who lives in Toronto. Periodicallly, the doctor returns to Bombay, where most of his patients are crippled children.
"Once, 20 years ago, Dr. Daruwalla was the examining physician of two murder victims in Goa. Now, 20 years later, he will be reacquainted with the murderer." Now that I re-read it, I'm thinking maybe I didn't give it a good enough chance...but NO. The reading is now up to you! What I read about was Dr. Daruwalla trying to get blood samples from dwarfs, mostly in the circus in Bombay. I don't remember any crippled children in the story and I never got as far as any murder. Have fun!
"Once, 20 years ago, Dr. Daruwalla was the examining physician of two murder victims in Goa. Now, 20 years later, he will be reacquainted with the murderer." Now that I re-read it, I'm thinking maybe I didn't give it a good enough chance...but NO. The reading is now up to you! What I read about was Dr. Daruwalla trying to get blood samples from dwarfs, mostly in the circus in Bombay. I don't remember any crippled children in the story and I never got as far as any murder. Have fun!
Overlong and incredibly slow story of an expat Indian doctor who leads a second life writing "Bollywood" detective movies.
There is also a subplot involving a serial killer, a dwarf bodyguard, prostitutes, missionaries, various circus scenes, and a "gentleman's club" holdover from the Raj era.
Certainly not Irving's best work, though it does have some very funny moments.
There is also a subplot involving a serial killer, a dwarf bodyguard, prostitutes, missionaries, various circus scenes, and a "gentleman's club" holdover from the Raj era.
Certainly not Irving's best work, though it does have some very funny moments.
An excellent novel by the aclaimed writer of Garp, A prayer for owen meaning and cider house rules.
Bombay people who do not feel at home in the world: immigrants
never actually finished this, tho i love irving's other books
A moving tale about a little of everything. A John Irving classic!
CIRCUS AS INDIA
From the back of the book part of a New York Newsday review:
"Dr. Farrokh Daruwalla, reared in Bombay by maverick foes of tradition, educated in Vienna, married to an Austrian and long a resident of Toronto, is a 59-year-old without a country, culture or religion to call his own...
The novel may not be 'about' India, but Irving's remarkable achievement - a pandemonium of servants and slubmen, dwarf clowns and transvestite whores, missionaries and move stars. This is a land of energetic colliding egos, of moderm media clashing with ancient cultures, of broken sexual boundaries"
"Dr. Farrokh Daruwalla, reared in Bombay by maverick foes of tradition, educated in Vienna, married to an Austrian and long a resident of Toronto, is a 59-year-old without a country, culture or religion to call his own...
The novel may not be 'about' India, but Irving's remarkable achievement - a pandemonium of servants and slubmen, dwarf clowns and transvestite whores, missionaries and move stars. This is a land of energetic colliding egos, of moderm media clashing with ancient cultures, of broken sexual boundaries"
"Ringmaster Irving introduces act after act, until three (or more) rings are awirl at a lunatic pace...(He) spills characters from his imagination as agilely as improbable numbers of clowns pile out of a tiny car...His Bombay and his Indian characters are vibrant and convincing.: -- THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
