Reviews

Breathless in Bombay by Murzban F. Shroff

maree_k's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Really enjoyed this short story collection from start to finish, not a dud among them. It’s too hard to pick a favourite because each story has something different to offer: different perspectives from class, gender, wealth, poverty, religion etc. A diverse collection that shines a light on contemporary Mumbai while showing the deep roots of history. 

devanshimer's review against another edition

4.0

I read this because I missed the city. Author does a really good job of bringing the city alive through his words - some stories are so real and gut wrenching while others just you a new outlook on something you already knew. Absolutely would recommend

literaryfeline's review against another edition

4.0

http://www.literaryfeline.com/2008/01/breathless-in-bombay-by-murzban-f.html

richa087's review against another edition

4.0

This book has 14 stories depicting the lives of people who inhabit, live, love, loathe and breathe Bombay. There have been a lot of books written on this city, some describing the beauty in the chaos that is Bombay, poetic renditions of the architecture of the port city and singing praises of all the places where the sea touches the land and lives of so many people and all that you can own in this city. This book stands out as it mainly has voices of people who are categorised as 'have nots' and it looks like an attempt made by the author to tell the rest of the world or society their stories, their struggles, their love for this city which in spite of all their hardships, struggles, they have come to admire and attach their sense of belonging to. This book addresses issues like corruption, competition, encroachment, unplanned development, poverty, class divide, daily struggles and stresses of living but believe me, this does not make the book a drab. What it does is make it more real, than any other story of Bombay can be. It does have stories on people who live comfortable lives in sea-facing bungalows or old heritage structures as well but they also narrate stories of struggle and issues they face. When I read this book, I was transported back to my college days and all the memories. I walked down the lanes of Colaba again, I sat down next to the sea at Marine Drive, staring into the water, looking at the skyline and sighing at the beauty this place is in the night, I got drenched in the rains again, I could taste the beer and pasta at Leopold and I could also feel the crowd,the rush, the infinite number of people walking on the pavements, in the stations etc. This was not a feel-good book, but maybe it is not supposed to be that. It is a very realistic portrayal of Bombay from the eyes of people (maalishwalla, victoriawalla, Parsi residents, Parsi doctors, sex workers, government workers, dhobis) who inhabit the by lanes, the slums, the tiny pockets, the oldest of old buildings and streets of Bombay.

sujata's review against another edition

3.0

I'm challenged by short stories in general and don't really search them out or read them (except for Tim Horvath's excellent collection of course), and these were challenging for me to read as well, but also truly captured Bombay and so many different aspects of living and being there.

flawednarrator's review

I liked this book, I didn't love it, but I liked it. I have read a lot of novels and stories set in India, and even had the good fortune to visit a number of years ago. He did manage to capture some of the flavour of India, and Bombay in particular; but all in all it felt a little lacking.