[iwanttogoback]

Quote

Indian writer Kiran Desai won Britain's prestigious Man Booker Prize on Tuesday for "The Inheritance of Loss," a cross-continental saga that moves from the Himalayas to New York City.

Desai, daughter of novelist, and three-time Booker Prize nominee, Anita Desai, had been one of the favorites for the $93,000 prize.

"To my mother, I owe a debt so profound and so great that this book feels as much hers as it does mine," said Desai, dressed in a traditional Indian sari, as she accepted her award. "It was written in her company and in her witness and in her kindness."

read more here

http://seattlepi.nws...tml?source=mypi

[Shilpaks]

iwanttogoback, on Oct 11 2006, 07:59 AM, said:

read more here

http://seattlepi.nws...tml?source=mypi

apparently the sarah waters book is better than this, I havent read both though.

[neeleem]

I saw part of the telecast on the news the day it happened. Was surprised to hear that her mother had gone off to a remote village without access to a phone as she was so tense if her daughter would win the prize or not. Good achievement though for an Indian author. Lots of hard work paying off. She apprently spent 7-8 years writing the book. Wish her good luck in the future!

[iwanttogoback]

I haven't read it yet, i'm in the queue at the local library for it.

but I do love her mother's writing and am looking forward to comparing them.

[Casey]

I read it and wasn't terribly impressed.  It was good, but I was somewhat disappointed.

[iwanttogoback]

well i finally got my hands on a copy through the library system.

briefly, the book is about a retired judge living in the himalayas with his cook whose son is living illegally in america. the judge's granddaughter comes to live with them, and there is a nepalese insurgency.

it is beautifully written, and there are a number of stories interwoven: the judge's past and present; the first love of the granddaughter, and her boyfriend's involvement in the insurrection; the struggle of the son in america, and a number of small lines about long term neighbours.

but, i don't know if it's worth a booker prize. i've read thousands of books, including many prize winners and nominees and i'm just not sure that this is up there. for all the importance of its themes it is somehow lacking in substance, even though its characters are well drawn and credible. i was left feeling a little disappointed, like leaving a meal still hungry.

what do you think if you've read it?

[Yashodhara]

I bought that book a few weeks ago, but still did not get to read it. What you describe pretty much sums up my expectations for it though. I have started A SUITABLE BOY, and having little time for reading right now this will probably keep me busy for the next couple of months. But it is a wonderful ride so far.