This book @ Amazon
Executive Summary : I really liked the book (about 250 pages), maybe not a must read but if you have the time definitely go for it.
I read this book over the weekend, I quite enjoyed the book. The book starts off being funny & witty, then later moves into more serious issues.
Gopal is a small town boy and is destined to head the family hair-oil business. But before that Gopal leaves for the USA for a year to complete higher studies.
I liked the way the author puts himself in Gopal's shoes (or is he recounting his experiences ? ) to explain the feelings of a vegetarian who travels abroad. This book can be read at a high level without much involvement, or it can be a mental journey for all those who can associate themselves with Gopal (which I'm sure a large number of Indians will be able to). This book puts into words a lot of feelings that Indians encounter on their first visit to America.
This book is about Gopal's journey both physical & mental over a period of one year. A journey which can be described with the old-cliche 'a journey of self-discovery, realization and acceptance'. The humor, the Indian English and the author's depiction of Gopal is what makes this book an excellent read.
The books starts with Gopal eating only cashews and drinking large quantities of cola to avoid meat on the flight. After transit and on finally reaching his destination Gopal is greeted by an American college student who will be Gopal's mentor & friend thru his stay. Gopal for the life of him can't figure out why Randy is so called. Randy is a kind hearted soul who entire waking efforts are spent in pursuing goals which are chiefly girls. And Randy's unsuccessful efforts in introducing Gopal to the American 'way-of-life'.
The book I feel can chiefly be divided into three parts - the hook, line & sinker.
The first part is about 40% of the book and deals with Gopal's amazement in his introduction to the great land. This is mostly funny and will definitely get you to grin or chuckle multiple times. This is the hook that gets to you to keep reading the book.
The second part again about 40% is the stark realities of living in USA - the racial discrimination, the liberation of his mind, the educational system, the issues with staying away from meat, his introduction to bars, beers & cigarettes, and his gradual shift of perception and acceptance of the fact that his neighbors really don't care who he is and the lifting of the associated burden that he is no longer responsible for all the past of his country & ancestors.
And the sinker is the part where he has to part with his friends, the education and return to India to manage his hair oil factory. The sinker does really give you a sinking feeling as you know your coming to the end of the book.
I feel the author has shown a great depth of insight into the different characters - Gopal's cousins in the USA, his friend Randy, the dean & his wife, his landlady Gloria, his crushes Anne & Sue, Randy Wolf's parents, the African-American student 'peacock', the other Indian student Anand who calls our hero as 'Goh-Pal' whilst trying to sound like the Americans. All the characters complement each other very well, especially the characters of Randy & Gopal.
