Chasing the Monsoon: A Modern Pilgrimage Through India

Rating:
Summary: intelligent, evocative, subtle, not mainly about the author
Review: A very affectionate book, low-key but very vivid. It is of course, like all travel books, ultimately about the author, and in this case about the loss of his father, but he doesn't harp on it too much. He seems to have taken a great delight in all aspects of India, which travellers exhausted by touts and hustlers can only marvel at. A loving book, and a must-read for anyone going to india, monsoon or not.

Rating:
Summary: An Affectionate & Witty View of Human Nature
Review: A wonderfully droll and lively account of a deeply personal adventure to realize a singularly unique obsession. I loved it. Anyone who has ever experienced the collective madness and loopy high spirits that overtakes people who are about to contend with an overwhelming natural event in their lives (ie: approaching blizzard), especially one that isn't likely to kill them or be destroy their lives (ie: hurricane or earthquake), can appreciate this book and the wonderful characters brought so warmly to light.. Is there a people anywhere that isn't obsessed with weather? I think not. Is there any other weather system of so fundemaentally benign an aspect as the monsoon? I think not. Is there one that affects so many people on such a huge scale? I think not. Isn't there room for a great book here? I think so, and this is it. My compliments to Mr. Frater.

Rating:
Summary: Superb,evocative,intelligent
Review: Alex brings out the very essence of the spirit of the monsoons and it's place in India's existence (political, economic and social). His descriptive abilities are very, very good. He is economical in the use of the language, but I assure you that you will be able to smell the spices in the bazars he visits, a very entertaining and easy read. I have learned a lot about my country. This book has inspired me, and one day, I will retrace Frater's journey and chase the monsoons across the land they call India.

Rating:
Summary: an astonishing book
Review: An astonishing book, full of memory and desire...Frater captures the monsoon like no one else writing in English ever has. His joy in every detail comes through; unlike, say, Theroux, this is a nice guy, someone I'd like to know personally. One magical moment after another...how could this book be out of print? Grab an used copy while you can.

Rating:
Summary: Depicting the subcontinent is no breeze!
Review: Few books on India can easily hope to undertake and accomplish the monumental task of depicting this complex society. This book is no exception. By taking the lens of the monsoon -- and the beliefs and practices which surround it in India - this book has adopted a wonderful device to depict a wide swathe of this country. Entertaining and thoughtful, this is certainly one of the more informative travelogues on India.

Rating:
Summary: Depicting the subcontinent is no breeze!
Review: Few books on India can easily hope to undertake and accomplish the monumental task of depicting this complex society. This book is no exception. By taking the lens of the monsoon -- and the beliefs and practices which surround it in India - this book has adopted a wonderful device to depict a wide swathe of this country. Entertaining and thoughtful, this is certainly one of the more informative travelogues on India.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding for it's simplicity and style; top of the picks
Review: Frater's style takes just the reader with him and shares the experience, ideas and emotions on a personal level. The concept of chasing water is unique enough but his style of writing is like a personal letter. I could smell the rain before it fell, I felt drenched, could smell the spices, feel crammed in buses, felt scared in the 'plane, was elated at the climax. Alexander Frater conveys images in such an open, frank manner that I believe him. He's like a traveller reporting in letters of experiences, sights and smells. I felt I knew him and wanted to know more of how he thought. This is a writer of such simplicity without any artifice that I want to be more a part of his world through his writings. Definitely a "must read" of travel books!

Rating:
Summary: Just plain great
Review: Loved it, loved it, loved it. One of my all-time faves.

Rating:
Summary: A personal journey
Review: Mr. Alexander Frater has not only written a book about India, the onslaught of the monsoon, and the colourful and hospitable Indian people, but conveys to us the events of a deeply personal journey through an intricate mesh of heartfelt personal relations to the subcontinent itself as well as to his family and friends. 'Chasing the Monsoon'is a modern adventure to the 'wettest' place in the world - Cherrapunji, near Bangladesh - starting from Bombay, proceding south through Goa and Kerala, to finally turn back towards the north, while in the process resorting to various adventurous means of transportation. All through the book the common theme is of course the massive and spectacular rains embracing and rejuvinating the soil, lending new life to the parched landscapes, restarting the yearly cycle of organic life and death. Mr. Frater cleverly and poetically shows us the vital and perennial bond between the Indian psyche and the monsoon itself, and at the same time lets the enourmous downpours refresh and replenish his own inner world, such that the reader witnesses as gradual transformation fuelled by the power of the monsoon itself. It is a greatly insightful book, reminding us of how outside events are mirrored in the soul of man, and will affect us deeply, if we allow them to, and are attentive to the movements of the heart. For all of us with an interest and love for India and its people, it is highly recommended, especially since the monsoon is largely - and regrettably - unexplored by Indian travellers.

Rating:
Summary: Just plain great
Review: Mr. Frater's work does not get to the richness or vivid color of India. Any book having anything to do with India should be rich and complex, stunning, dazzling, challenging and confusing. I found this work dragged