Fab book you can really relate to if you visit India

Fab book you can really relate to if you visit India. Highly worth the listen.

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Thumbs Up

If you're looking for a fun easy-to-listen-to story and are interested in India and its myriad cultures and religions this may be for you. The narration is consistant and expressive, which makes visualisation an easy feat.

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Worth a read

Having travelled to India and worked there (got to love that driving), if only for a short time with my job, I found myself chuckling away merrily to this a great deal. It perfectly portrays the chaos that surrounded my visit there and I found constant parallels between the authors experiences and my own.
For some reason though I found it really hard to get through and took nearly a month to listen to it. Some of this was my doing but some of it was the story is pretty much one level throughout and samey.
I'm not sure about the religious stuff, Im sure some will take offence although I don't see any malice, just observation.
Well worth the read and the time.

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2 people found this helpful

I love it already and I'm only halfway into chap 1

love the authors voice (beautifully brought to life by narrator too) the way she tells it is fast paced witty and palpable.

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Should have read this years ago!

I remember seeing Holy Cow on the bookshop shelves back in 2002 when it was first published. I remember being drawn to it by its funky (possibly offensive) front cover. I remember reading the blurb on the back cover and thinking, “I have to read this, it sounds right up my street”. However, I didn’t read it. Don’t know why? Just never got around to it I suppose.
Fast forward seventeen years, and I find myself looking for some Indian travel writing. After some searching, I come across Sarah Macdonald’s Holy Cow. I read the blurb again and bought it.
It’s no literary masterpiece but I just couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely not meant to be taken too seriously. I suspect some parts were altered for effect of laughs. I don’t remember a dull moment to be honest. I do remember a fair bit of laughing.
The book starts off quite cynical and Sarah already has a very negative view of India from a previous trip. However, she shortly starts to explore various types of spirituality that can be found in and around India. Before long the writer starts to become more open-minded regarding the different religions and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
I can understand how some readers may find parts of the book offensive, especially the first chapter with the very cynical outlook at India and culture. But if you persevere, the writer expresses a much more open-minded outlook as she grows and tries to find positives in her surroundings.
I thoroughly enjoyed Holy Cow and would love to pick it up again one day.

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Disappointing

Having also been to India I was disappointed when listening to this book.
It leaves out so much of the joy of this unique country, but maybe I'm biased.
Worth listening to however.

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1 person found this helpful

similar to Shantaram? I don't think so!

It started off so well, thought it was going to be fun, but it was just boring!! I lost the will to live listening to this book, it felt like a very long lesson in Religious instruction

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A good read.

If you have been to India you will love this book. If you are going then its a good read before hand. Or take it if you are to go! It brings Indian with all its colour, tastes, and issues back to your mind. And leads you into another life. A world away.

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Great introduction to India

I am going to India for my first visit and this book was recommended as an introduction. It seems to give a good description of the country, the people and the different cultures and religions. I feel I have a better understanding of what to expect from everyday life. There really are a lot of experiences in this book too. A great insight.

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This womans voice is agony

Couldnt sound less interested and makes the whole experience sound mundane and a pain in the arse. She has one accent for every single Indian person male or female. People tell me its a fun enjoyable book but I scraped by the first 4 hours over a 6 week period when usually go through one this long in 2 days with my job but iv given up. I cant stand her.

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