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oviyabalan's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first time I read any of Shashi Tharoor's work. Something about his writing was intriguing. I loved his knowledge about various books and poems. His words on various poets and their works just proved how inspiring their words were. Such a fun read. Perfect for a travel time. Highly recommend it.
maitrey_d's review against another edition
3.0
The only good thing that probably came out of reading this book is that I want to pick up some of the other better received books he has written.
This book doesn't contain any deep or critical thoughts on writers and books (as Tharoor himself repeatedly points out, he's never studied literature or writing in his life.) It is however a good sales pitch for his other books, especially the Great Indian Novel which he brings up repeatedly.
Some of his essays on his various visits to literary festivals and the like were mildly interesting. (I assume he was invited to these things more on the strength that he was senior member of India's diplomatic corps rather than a highly successful author.)
Overall, you can't help but pity Tharoor as you finish this book, that such a well read man, highly successful at the UN, but still ended up tangling himself in corruption scandals and getting sacked from a ministerial job, and now living in disgrace, god-alone-knows-where with a trophy wife.
This book doesn't contain any deep or critical thoughts on writers and books (as Tharoor himself repeatedly points out, he's never studied literature or writing in his life.) It is however a good sales pitch for his other books, especially the Great Indian Novel which he brings up repeatedly.
Some of his essays on his various visits to literary festivals and the like were mildly interesting. (I assume he was invited to these things more on the strength that he was senior member of India's diplomatic corps rather than a highly successful author.)
Overall, you can't help but pity Tharoor as you finish this book, that such a well read man, highly successful at the UN, but still ended up tangling himself in corruption scandals and getting sacked from a ministerial job, and now living in disgrace, god-alone-knows-where with a trophy wife.
ermina12's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
nehanatu86's review
3.0
I want to go back in time to my childhood and start reading books earlier than I did. https://www.instagram.com/p/BBb1m1qxQ8J/
lmfry's review against another edition
4.0
See my review at http://teaandagoodbook.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-bookless-in-baghdad.html
gillyroman's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed bag. In hindsight I should have probably picked this book up after I had made myself more acquainted with Mr Tharoor's other literary works. Because the essays in this book the topic of which are his other works felt like a drag, probably due to missing the context.
The short anecdotal pieces were more enjoyable. Same goes for his observations and remarks about other writers, except about RK Narayan.
The short anecdotal pieces were more enjoyable. Same goes for his observations and remarks about other writers, except about RK Narayan.
akshatk's review against another edition
3.0
There is more of the author in this than the books and the other authors he wanted to talk about. This works well as memoir and his self-reflection on his own books but then this leaves a lot to be desired.
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