Customer Reviews: Read 88 more reviews...
 An Inside Look August 11, 2008
I've made many trips to India. In that context, I quickly came to see that most books on India tend to be superficial: see this, see that, perhaps some history. In general there is little depth, and if anything spiritual is involved, little objectivity. It's the check your mind at the door thing that Westerners seem to do so well.
I have found two books very useful for introducing visitors to the real India. One is "Holy Cow" and the other is "The Spiritual Tourist". Not surprisingly, both books are by seasoned journalists, so there is both a spirit of investigation and a professionalism that seeks to set aside biases and to genuinely be objective.
Having extensively visited India, I know for certain the Holy Cow author, Sarah MacDonald, is one courageous lady. In her two years living in India, most of it with her husband absent, she somehow manages to boldly put in a lifetime's worth of spiritual experience across the country.
As with both of the books I mention here, Sarah's conclusion, if there can be such a thing, revolves around love. India made her relationship with her Creator and with her fellow human beings come to life, and she realizes this across many of the religions and spiritual paths India offers. The book is an objective account of a spiritual journey. It just happens to occur as she travels across the Indian subcontinent.
The unexpected plus with Holy Cow is that Sarah is a great writer, entertaining, humorous, and starkly honest. You get to know her personally as you get to know India, and that kind of writing is rare. Few authors expose their hearts in their work and stay objective at the same time.
To go to India with no understanding of the spiritual dynamics there is like coming to the US and visiting Orlando or Las Vegas and returning home thinking one now understands America. India is vastly more than the sum of its parts and this is one of the few books where that is lucidly shown. I continue to give these two books to friends who visit India for the first time. I can think of no better way to help visitors truly understand the real India. Enjoy.
Honest & Hilarious! July 15, 2008
In the beginning of the book, I was shocked at the harsh words that the author used to talk about India. In fact, I couldn't believe that one of my Indian friends, who is from Punjab (wait until you read how she feels about them) actually made it through the book without throwing it away. When we talked about this, he told me to give it a chance. He said that MacDonald's adventure in India is actually very beautiful and entertaining and that her initial culture shock (coming from Australia) goes away.
And--he was right! Not only was the story hilarious, but it was honest, and descriptive. I could see the colors of the women's sari's and could almost smell the dust and smog in Delhi. Not only that, I think that Sarah captured the beauty of the people of India and the variety of cultures, religions and beliefs that thrive there.
This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in India, has been there, or who would like a good laugh. But be prepared to be shocked at times, to feel scared for Sarah & Jonathon and to miss India when they leave.
The authors initial obervations of India are a little harsh, and a bit offensive, but give it time. As she grows and the story grows you will fall in love with her adventure!
 Whining, Whining, Whining June 26, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm a prolific reader and there are only a handful of books I've started and not bothered to finish. "Holy Cow" is one of them.
MacDonald spends a lot of time describing how awful she found India, how little she thinks of Hinduism, and how WONDERFUL her WONDERFUL career in WONDERFUL Australia was (who outside of Australia has ever heard of her or her WONDERFUL work on Australian radio?) -- but mostly what she does is whine about how nothing on earth meets her rather adolescent standards.
I gave up after 100 pages of her tedious complaining.
Hands on unvarnished insight June 5, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was looking for a lived-there book and this one is it! Fun, serious, always insightful observations shared by the author--who does not take herself seriously.
An engaging look at India! May 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've re-read this book about 5 or 6 times and each time found something different to enjoy. Ms. MacDonald is an engaging writer and her journey of understanding India (and Indians) will keep you reading until the last pages.
|
