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alcuteПрочитала недавно две книжки, про современный Афганистан и о современной Индии. И в том, и в другом случае постоянно напоминала себе, что описываемая жизнь в романах современна.
Первая книга понравилась, а вторая - очень, очень понравилась.
В нашем букклабе мнения разделились. Те, кому не понравился "The White Tiger", сказали, что автор представил Индию "однобоко и намеренно шокирующе". Мне же главный герой чем-то напомнил Раскольникова с его старушкой.
А вот цитаты, заботливо выписанные Жаклин. Жаклин - китаянка, поэтому её особенно задело, что книга написана в форме писем к китайскому ПМ (это такой известный кембриджский объект для прицельного метания обувью) и содержит массу сравнений Индии с Китаем:
The White Tiger
p5, para 2nd last
‘Only three nations have never let themselves be ruled by foreigners: China, Afghanistan, and Abyssinia.’
p41, para6
A line of poem on:
‘They remain slaves because they can’t see what is beautiful in this world.’
p91, para7, L2-4
‘…I will have to tell you all about democracy – something that you Chinese, I am aware, are not very familiar with.’
p96, L1-4
‘Some politician on the radio was saying that that’s why we Indians are going to beat you: we may not have sewage, drinking water, and Olympic gold medals, but we do have democracy.’
p176, para1, L5-7
‘I will never envy the rich of America or England, Mr Jiabao: they have no servants there. They cannot even begin to understand what a good life is.’
p206, para6 & p258, para2-4
‘Odd sum of money – wasn’t it? There was a mystery to be solved here. Let’s see. Maybe she started off giving me five thousand, and then, being cheap, like all rich people are –remember how the Mongoose made me get down on my knees for that one-rupee coin? –deducted three hundred.’
“‘Wait, Balram. Let me take out my wallet. You’re good member of the family. You never ask for more money – I know that other drivers are constantly asking for overtime and insurance: but you never say a word. You’re old-fashioned. I like that. We’ll take care of all the wedding expenses, Balram. Here’s…here’s…’
I saw him take out a thousand-rupee note, put it back, then take out a five-hundred, then put it back, and take out a hundred.
Which he handed to me.
‘I assume you’ll be going to Laxmangarh for the wedding, Balram?’
p275, Para4: on enlightenment
‘Now, Mr Premier, every day thousands of foreigners fly into my country for enlightenment. They go to the Hmalayas, or to Bearas, or to Bodh Gaya. They get into weird poses of yoga, smoke hashish, shag a sadhu or two, and think they’re getting enlightened.’
p276, Para1: on making a better country
‘Iqbal, that great poet, was so right. The moment you recognize what is beautiful in this world, you stop being a slave. To hell with the Naxals and their guns shipped from China. If you taught every poor boy how to paint, that would be the end of the rich in India.’
p276, Para4
‘Let animals live like animals; let humans live like human. That’s my whole philosophy in a sentence.’
p320, Para6-8: The importance of not being a servant
‘Yet even if all my chandeliers come crashing down to the floor – even if they throw me in jail and have all the other prisoners dip their beaks into me – even if they make me walk the wooden stairs to the hangman’s noose – I’ll never say I made a mistake that night in Delhi when I slit my master’s throat.
I’ll say it was all worthwhile to know, just for a day, just for an hour, just for a minute, what it means not to be a servant.
I think I am ready to have children, Mr Premier.’
А меня вот нисколько не задело, что все светловолосые проститутки в Индии, согласно этому роману - украинки.
Первая книга понравилась, а вторая - очень, очень понравилась.
В нашем букклабе мнения разделились. Те, кому не понравился "The White Tiger", сказали, что автор представил Индию "однобоко и намеренно шокирующе". Мне же главный герой чем-то напомнил Раскольникова с его старушкой.
А вот цитаты, заботливо выписанные Жаклин. Жаклин - китаянка, поэтому её особенно задело, что книга написана в форме писем к китайскому ПМ (это такой известный кембриджский объект для прицельного метания обувью) и содержит массу сравнений Индии с Китаем:
The White Tiger
p5, para 2nd last
‘Only three nations have never let themselves be ruled by foreigners: China, Afghanistan, and Abyssinia.’
p41, para6
A line of poem on:
‘They remain slaves because they can’t see what is beautiful in this world.’
p91, para7, L2-4
‘…I will have to tell you all about democracy – something that you Chinese, I am aware, are not very familiar with.’
p96, L1-4
‘Some politician on the radio was saying that that’s why we Indians are going to beat you: we may not have sewage, drinking water, and Olympic gold medals, but we do have democracy.’
p176, para1, L5-7
‘I will never envy the rich of America or England, Mr Jiabao: they have no servants there. They cannot even begin to understand what a good life is.’
p206, para6 & p258, para2-4
‘Odd sum of money – wasn’t it? There was a mystery to be solved here. Let’s see. Maybe she started off giving me five thousand, and then, being cheap, like all rich people are –remember how the Mongoose made me get down on my knees for that one-rupee coin? –deducted three hundred.’
“‘Wait, Balram. Let me take out my wallet. You’re good member of the family. You never ask for more money – I know that other drivers are constantly asking for overtime and insurance: but you never say a word. You’re old-fashioned. I like that. We’ll take care of all the wedding expenses, Balram. Here’s…here’s…’
I saw him take out a thousand-rupee note, put it back, then take out a five-hundred, then put it back, and take out a hundred.
Which he handed to me.
‘I assume you’ll be going to Laxmangarh for the wedding, Balram?’
p275, Para4: on enlightenment
‘Now, Mr Premier, every day thousands of foreigners fly into my country for enlightenment. They go to the Hmalayas, or to Bearas, or to Bodh Gaya. They get into weird poses of yoga, smoke hashish, shag a sadhu or two, and think they’re getting enlightened.’
p276, Para1: on making a better country
‘Iqbal, that great poet, was so right. The moment you recognize what is beautiful in this world, you stop being a slave. To hell with the Naxals and their guns shipped from China. If you taught every poor boy how to paint, that would be the end of the rich in India.’
p276, Para4
‘Let animals live like animals; let humans live like human. That’s my whole philosophy in a sentence.’
p320, Para6-8: The importance of not being a servant
‘Yet even if all my chandeliers come crashing down to the floor – even if they throw me in jail and have all the other prisoners dip their beaks into me – even if they make me walk the wooden stairs to the hangman’s noose – I’ll never say I made a mistake that night in Delhi when I slit my master’s throat.
I’ll say it was all worthwhile to know, just for a day, just for an hour, just for a minute, what it means not to be a servant.
I think I am ready to have children, Mr Premier.’
