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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Superlative!!” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“http://anuradhagoyal.blogspot.com/2009/11/city-of-djinns-by-william-dalrymple.html”
Anuradha Goyal wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“i need to read this book... at least before i die....”
Dhaval Bhate wrote this review Friday, November 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“interesting & extremely readable. not too much boring historical details but enough to keep the reader interested. ”
padma j wrote this review Saturday, October 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The brilliantest book i've read on delhi - a city i own in my heart and mind, but a firang did a better job at uncovering its layers than i would have given him the chance to.”
Puneet G wrote this review Thursday, October 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“yeh hai dilli mere yaar :)”
Nish wrote this review Saturday, August 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Excellent insight on how the course of the history shaped today's Delhi.”
Mohua M wrote this review Tuesday, July 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A very good book. you can not put down this book once you start. Well wrtten, easily readable, informative and entertaining. ”
prasadvidhata wrote this review Friday, June 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Seemed like a refresher course in Medieval History - but was a good read with some informative stuff”
Aneesha Myles Shewani wrote this review Sunday, May 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Superlative!!”
Black Mamba wrote this review Friday, October 24 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The book started off on a rather boring note - at times it even seemed to me like the usual diatribes of the culture-shocked foreigner in India. But as it progressed and picked up momentum it evolved into a sympathetic as well as unique perception of Delhi.
lekshmi wrote this review Sunday, January 6 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Especially charming is the description of life in Old Delhi - the Pre and Post-Partition contrasts as well as the writers explorations into Sufism. However, City of Djinns seems to me a slightly dated account of Delhi. Of course, it is not exactly a post-globalization narrative and seems to me rather far from what we see in delhi today. But somehow, as it always does in India, the essence of Delhi probably remains the same. The past survives along with the present and the future. Once we move to Chandi Chowk from Lutyens' wide avenues, we really start to wonder if the hip young things in Connaught Place and the burqa-clad-henna-dyed folks in Shahjahanabad can really share the same space. There is a time-warp zone around each corner in Delhi, even in 2007.
Even more interesting is the writer's explorations into Sufism. And the way he weaves present and past together. It gets rather uninteresting for someone not into 'peeling the historical onion' but for someone who does like it, it is supremely interesting even if you are Indian and know most of the stories and facts in the book.
Overall, it is well worth a read especially if you are planning to visit (or live in) Delhi. And yes, the elephant motifs which separate the chapters are quite cute.”
