Being of Indian origin myself, I am familiar with the daily challenges of life in India. So when I first started reading this book, I found some of the anecdotes of Indian life quite funny.
However for me the book ran out of humour and steam halfway and it was a little disappointing ending. Balram's rise to wealth, power and success is not convincing enough and there is little sign of repentance on his part about how he acquired his wealth and at the perceived cost to his family. Or maybe that is just the idealist in me coming through.
I have no doubt that this is how life is in modern India with the rich having far more than the poor than ever before. So in this sense ... Read More:
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If you love reading to your child, do not miss this book.
It is a delightful, humourous,dream-like surreal book, with a repetitive, poetic, chanting story.
It is (deservedly) a children's classic. Many reviewers here have tried to break down the different elements of this book.
What I would like to convey is the whole experience of reading the book which teaches a simple life experience to a child - which is highly spiritual, particularly the last pages where a riot of colour is the world through the eyes of a butterfly.
The story has optimism and beauty at its very core.
It has limitless opportunities for teaching and conversation. There is a colouring book of the fantastic illustrations ... Read More:
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Growing up with a Chinese mother who cooks the best chinese, I have developed a very good palate. I consider myself a foodie and relish in cooking, but always go back to the basics, which is Chinese.
This book is an excellent source of inspiration for people who can cook and also easy enough for beginners. A review here said the food was bland and I beg to differ. Growing up in Hong Kong, the Chinese I know relied on the freshest ingredients to deliver the best flavours. Spices were used minimally. Only when you travel inland to Szechuan do you truly encounter the fiery stuff.
Ching has given us classic recipes and more modern westernised ones. She allows you to use your common sense, you are able to add more or less of what you like. ... Read More:
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After reading the very mixed reviews on this page I was eager to see what all the fuss was about with this book. I am not overly concerned about the whole argument on whether or not it is right or wrong to cheat at cooking - although I might add that I am surprised at the anger from those who sit firmly in the latter camp (if you feel so strongly about it, why on earth would you buy a book entitled 'how to cheat at cooking' in the first place?) Personally, I bought the book on the basis that it might provide me with some after-work ideas for a quick meal. Flicking through the book, I have only really come across a couple of recipes that appealed to me and most of them contained so many specific ingredients that I felt it was not worth the bother. The ones with a shorter ... Read More:
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I really enjoyed reading this book and found it more than "Quite Interesting". Unfortunately though, if you are an avid fan of the television series like I am it offers nothing new. Most, if not all, of the material is taken from the series.
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It's derivative. There is absolutely nothing that hasn't been said over and over again.
It's simplistic. Life can be simple, but that doesn't mean you should treat your audience as if they are too.
It's repetitive. Get a variety of different figures in your niche to all say the same things using slightly different words.
It's nasty. Follow the philosophy through to it's logical conclusion and you are left with the concept that those who suffer have brought it upon themselves. There may be a grain of truth for some of the many unfortunates out there, but try telling a starving family in a poverty- and drought-stricken wilderness that really they ought to just change their attitudes ... Read More:
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I found this book to be very useful as it has got every bit of useful information you could possible want .It is like an encyclopedia only smaller .
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This is a great book, with some lovely ideas. I particularly enjoyed making the desserts. Kids food is good, as is the bbq section. The only problem i found was that there was rather a lot of seafood,which i dont like. but that's a personal issue, not a fault of the book!! i do like good hearty meals though, so maybe healthy options wasnt the book for me, assome of the recipes obviously arent as hearty as i would have liked.
Good book though, am pleased that Gordon's creating recipes that are healthier, as usual his recipes have lots of ingredients and are very rich and unhealthy!!
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My little girl has been interested in these types of books from the age of 2 months (she also has a pets one) when she became fascinated by the pictures. She is now 4.5 months and still loves to look at the pictures (with a few sound effects from mum or dad!) or just grab the book and scrunch it up (it makes a crinkly noise) and put it in her mouth! It's very light so she can move it around easily. These kind of books aren't expensive and I reckon they're well worth the money.
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I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.
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