anvayonline's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely a 5 star. There is no better book on Mumbai than this one. Deals with the film industry, the underworld, politics and all other aspects of life in Mumbai..
mkesten's review against another edition
5.0
This is a pretty damn good portrait of a city. More than anything I cannot get out of my mind the disfunction of the justice system. This a great introduction to Katherine Boo's book "Behind the Beautiful Forevers."
gmeluski's review against another edition
4.0
pushes the boundary of going on too long for the sake of completeness, interesting subject matter.
bridgewidge's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
nikhilesh's review against another edition
5.0
An honest bleak description of the biggest metropolitan city in India.
Suketu Mehta, an NRI (non-residential Indian) who moved to US in early teens, lays out an accurate, humane and shocking description of Land of Dream - Mumbai.
The book aptly opens with the description of shocks experienced by someone from a developed nation visiting a developing nation. After some acclimatization, the author takes us through the fascinating life of the true Mumbaikars - immigrants, hindus, muslims, marathi manus, filmstars, gangsters, cops, merchants and monks.
Those sheltered from the harsh reality of developing nations would find the book shocking. It will make you wonder about the bubble you have been living in. What shocked me more than the stories was the ability of the author to make friends and converse with people as disparate as film-stars and assassins.
The only gripe I have with the author is the title. I mean I get it - Mumbai is a city that the author lost in childhood and one that he found when he returned as an adult. We do see the city through author's eyes. So, it suits him. But the book isn't and cannot be about him, it is the story of Mumbaikars. I would have much preferred the title given by one of his subjects (a Bihari immigrant poet) - Untold Life.
Furthermore, it is a book that describes a lost city. While the last few pages do their best to paint a pretty picture of the city, it comes across as nothing but lip service.
If you come from a developing nation or have any ties to one. This is a must read.
Suketu Mehta, an NRI (non-residential Indian) who moved to US in early teens, lays out an accurate, humane and shocking description of Land of Dream - Mumbai.
The book aptly opens with the description of shocks experienced by someone from a developed nation visiting a developing nation. After some acclimatization, the author takes us through the fascinating life of the true Mumbaikars - immigrants, hindus, muslims, marathi manus, filmstars, gangsters, cops, merchants and monks.
Those sheltered from the harsh reality of developing nations would find the book shocking. It will make you wonder about the bubble you have been living in. What shocked me more than the stories was the ability of the author to make friends and converse with people as disparate as film-stars and assassins.
The only gripe I have with the author is the title. I mean I get it - Mumbai is a city that the author lost in childhood and one that he found when he returned as an adult. We do see the city through author's eyes. So, it suits him. But the book isn't and cannot be about him, it is the story of Mumbaikars. I would have much preferred the title given by one of his subjects (a Bihari immigrant poet) - Untold Life.
Furthermore, it is a book that describes a lost city. While the last few pages do their best to paint a pretty picture of the city, it comes across as nothing but lip service.
If you come from a developing nation or have any ties to one. This is a must read.
deepakchecks's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting depiction of Bombay, with close encounters with Police, Underworld thugs and also movie personalities. Through his interactions with these personalities, Suketu Mehta presents a detailed caricature of what it is to live in Bombay. The communal poison imparted by Bal Thackarey and its impacts, the origin and current relevance of the underworld dons, Dawood Ibrahim, Abu Saleem, Chotta Shakeel, the police actions and encounters of Ajay Lal, the working process of Bollywood via Vidhu Vinod Chopra are some of the rewarding passages in the book.
At times the book feels overlong, especially the third half of the book. Nevertheless, an interesting read.
At times the book feels overlong, especially the third half of the book. Nevertheless, an interesting read.
aniket976's review against another edition
5.0
For a long time I wanted to read a definitive book on all of Mumbai. Finally I have read it.
Suketu has painted the picture of Mumbai through various intresting characters. Everyone from the runaway poet Babbanji to the exiled gangster Chhota Shakeel tell stories which make Bombay such an interesting city to live in.
Eighty percent through the book I felt that this book deserves only four stars. But chapter on Babbanji and his father made this book a five star worthy.
Suketu has painted the picture of Mumbai through various intresting characters. Everyone from the runaway poet Babbanji to the exiled gangster Chhota Shakeel tell stories which make Bombay such an interesting city to live in.
Eighty percent through the book I felt that this book deserves only four stars. But chapter on Babbanji and his father made this book a five star worthy.
violetu's review against another edition
5.0
I'm vaguely obsessed with India, lately, and somehow stumbled across this book. It's a fascinating read - including personal anecdotes, fiction, history, present-day information - from a man who was born in India, moved to the United States as a young teen, and returned to India as an adult with his own family... It's everything you could possibly want, all under one cover. I plan to read this again.