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Rating: 
Summary: Magical Irony and Distance Make a Good Read
Review: ....as I got farther in the novel I realized my worries had been for naught. Rosie was not a witch and the ironic premise had not been betrayed. The entwining narrative, which had thrilled and fascinated me, continued until page 100, almost midway through this thin novel, when the fist person of Raju, the main character, who had once been a tourist guide and the manager of Rosie, Southern India's most famous dancer, trained in the ways of a very ancient Indian dance book, but now mooned as a spiritual swami in an abandoned temple, took over, narrating the entire story of his life from his beginning as as a mischievous boy to parts involving his courtship of Rosie and how he came to lose her. Had I not known from the first that Raju had been just a small crook who had come out of the prison and that his newfound fame as a wise man was nothing but a misunderstanding, I might have been intersted to hear him tell me what happened to him that led him to his current predicament. But I had and, as much as I enjoyed some parts of this Rosie-fest(early parts--to be specific pages 100 to 127), I didn't want him to go on, I wanted him to return to the current predicament or at least give us an indication, a sense of reflection, that would explain why we were listening to his life story or why it was relevant.( Incidentally, the poor peasant whom he told the story to didn't either. So there.) In the meantime his predicament had grown when he mistakenly accepted to hold a fast to end the drought over the town. Why then does Narayan go on with the story of Rosie that has much melodrama and not much in the way of characterization, for 100 pages, in words that are as barren of irony and self awareness as the Gobi desert is barren of cows is beyond me. As I said in the beginning of this review, Narayan is a magical writer, drawing characters that you would love to watch, and placing them in circumstances that are as well-planned as a Grand Stuppa. But he is not as modern a writer as one would expect( why did character A did what he did to character B? What does go thru his head?) or not, depends on where you stand. Narayan chooses to rely too much on the narrative twists and turns to flesh out his characters, which makes him obsessed with physical detail and merely casual about the interior life. If you think that would be as much fun, if not more, think about movies you saw that were made before the dawn of Method acting: how flat the characters were when they just said, "I am terrified," with a pancake face. Think of the reaction shots in the faces of Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier in "Rebecca" and think of the first time you saw James Dean or Marlon Brando on screen--would you really give up characterization for the plot?....
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Summary: flipping phenomenal
Review: A delicious journey into India with an oddly engaging character. I'd loan it to you but someone seems to have nicked my copy. Guess I won't recommend so loudly next time.
Rating: 
Summary: Master Story Teller Narayan
Review: Marvellously written book. Winner of the highest literary award in India, the Sahitya Kala Academy Award, this book makes fascinating reading. Among the few books that I managed to finish on an overnight train journey without being able to put down. I am sure it would be a book that would be reread by all those who have read it once. Charecterisations that Narayan weaves for Rosy and Raju are just brilliant. The high point of the book is I think the transformation of Raju, unaware to himself, into a sort of hermit from the guide at the railway station that he used to be.This has come off so beautifully in the book. Quite worth putting your money into. The book was also made into a highly successful movie by the same name staring Dev Anand. This movie,many may not be aware, was also made in English and had its screenplay written by oscar winning screen writer Pearl Buck.
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Summary: Simple oriental tale
Review: The guide is a very much appreciated work of RK Narayan. There aren't any twists in the plot. It is a simple smooth story with a great climax. Good for light reading but provides insight into the indian thought process. There has also been a movie made in Hindi ,named guide based on RK's story. First read the story, form a picture of the plot then when you see the movie you can know how diferent movies can be from the story they intend to tell.A good read for people interested in knowing India. That applies for RK's most books.
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Summary: Well laid out, simply fantastic
Review: The way Narayan interlaces the two different streams of stories in the book is wonderful. The novel is a masterpiece in the way it is written and takes the reader to a visual tour of malgudi lansscape. The way Narayan has developd the city of malgudi is really exemplery. The transformation of Raju from a high society man to a saint is well laid out. The lives of Raju and Rosy has been well presented. The day to day activities around Raju, the saint's, during fasting is also well presented. The whole episode is dramatised to such an extent that we can visualise the whole thing in front of our eyes. The most importent thing about Narayan is the language that he uses through out the book. Its amazing the way he presents the whole novel in such a simple language. The climax is really heart rendering. Narayan holds the readers interest through out the book. A must read for anyone.
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Summary: great book, good story, excellent !
Review: This book is well written and lyrical. Its believable and intelligent. I loved it! Read it .....
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Summary: Simple oriental tale
Review: This is very different from Narayan's Malgudi Days and an excellent read. The ending is... never mind.. I won't tell.
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Summary: Good read, but not extraordinary
Review: This novel is about a shopkeeper turned tourist guide named Raju. The vivid descriptions of Malgudi help bring the story to life and are certainly a high point of the book. The simple language and the subdued humor make it really enjoyable. While guiding a researcher to one of the historical spots in Malgudi, Raju falls in love with his wife. Most of the novel describes how Raju is blinded by this affair and loses his bearings in life. The story takes unpredictable turns frequently, each time pushing Raju further towards destruction. The plot lacks hope in that sense, it is about a person who fails repeatedly. But the ending attempts to depict a transition and is not convincing. Although a nice book, its certainly not a genius. Its more a narration of a corrupt person's life. It neither conveys a message nor does it attempt to be creative in terms of the plot.
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Summary: Lyrical Beauty
Review: Truly a literary classic, Guide is a brilliant presentation of the master story teller R.K.Narayan. From a petty tourist guide to a swamy the transformation of Raju was depicted with shocking reality and exceptional lyrical beauty. Transformation from the position of a neglected wife to an accomplished dancer of Rosy was another parellel life we see here. Both these lives reaches their pinnacle when raju becomes a swamy and do the wonder because of the belief of people on him. The description of everyday of fasting by raju shows beautiful transformation in the petty guide. The climax is really heartbreaking. Raju puts down his head, leaves this mortal world and it starts raining. It gave me little shrill in my spine and greatest sad feeling. Truely unforgettable work by the master.
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