Page 70 - Soul of India: The Colorful South

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (Fictionalized Memoir). Based directly upon the
experiences of its author, this is the story of a man who escapes from prison in Australia to
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Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth (Fiction). The tale of Lata’s (and her mother’s) attempts to
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interwoven cast of characters and sprawling length.
Taj Mahal, Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moghul Empire by Diana and Michael Preston
(History/Architecture). A complete, but easy-to-read, telling of the story behind the building
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The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (Fiction). A mystery, family saga and tale of
innocence lost set in Kerala during the tumult of the 1960s. Winner of the 1997 Booker Prize.

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux (Travel Narrative). A fun and fabulous recounting of
a 1970s journey across Asia by train. The author starts in London and makes it all the way to
Japan before returning via the Trans-Siberian Express.

The Little Book of Hindu Deities by Sanjay Patel (Region). The gods and goddesses are explained
in a brief “who’s who” kind of way in this sweet and colorful book. The author was an
animator for Pixar studios, so the book features lots of bold, cartoon-like artwork.

The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott (Fiction). Together, these four novels tell the sweeping, epic tale
of the transition from British-controlled India to independent India. If tackling four books
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The White Tiger, A Novel by Aravind Adiga (Fiction). Adiga explores urban India through the tale
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and entertaining, of hard-fought success. Winner of the 2008 Booker Prize.

Smash and Grab, the Annexation of Sikkim by Sunanda K. Datta-Ray (History) A vivid and
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e-book editions are available (i.e. Nook, Kindle).

Sri Lanka
Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje (Fiction). A lyrical story about a forensic scientist returning to
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Cinnamon Gardens by Shyam Selvadurai (Fiction). The novel explores what happens when
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she wants to marry and settle down, and her uncle, who is secretly gay. The same author also
wrote Funny Boy, which is a coming-of-age novel set within an extended upper-middle-class
family in Sri Lanka.

Eight Years’ Wanderings in Ceylon by Samuel White Baker (Historical Narrative). Reissue of the
vintage classic about colonial Sri Lanka, originally published in 1845.

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