Transplanted Man

Rating:
Summary: Well written, perfectly flavored and yet leaves one wanting
Review: An intelligently written, hugely entertaining book, 'The Transplanted Man' captures the desi (immigrant?) experience with sensitivity and humor. The book is replete with a cast of very human characters - Nigam, unfortunately regresses into being a diagnostician and quite literally spells out their failings, the one fatal flaw that stands between them and their happiness. Much as I enjoyed the book, especially when Nigam waxes eloquent about beloved glomeruli ('tall, proud, tamarind hued'!!), and Sonny's love affair with coffee, I could not help wishing that Nigam had delved deeper into the psyches of his characters and indeed, into the dynamic nature of happiness and sadness.

Rating:
Summary: Funny and Satisfying
Review: If you liked "Confederacy of Dunces", "Son of the Circus" (or any John Irving), or "Alice in Wonderland", run out and get this book. "Transplanted Man" has an incredible number of richly defined characters that dance in an out of each other's lives in a tightly choreographed ballet that mimics real life. I say "mimics", because many of these characters are so outrageous and wacky. Yet, somehow, they are also so believable. I found bits of myself in all of them. Philosophy aside, this is just a fun read. I think it can be read simply for the great twists and turns of the plots and the colorful characters, as well as a metaphor for the search for the meaning of life. I probably missed a lot of nuances of American Indian life, due to my very Caucasian upbringing, but this only whetted my appetite for more spice Indian food and, since I heard the phrase "Bollywood" for the first time, perhaps even take in an Indian movie. Especially rewarding is the ending, which inexplicably ties up all the lose ends and lets the reader know the fate of each character.

Rating:
Summary: an excellent read
Review: this novel vibrates with human interactions. there is a strong sense of human inter-relation and co-existence--from the hypo-kinetic man to a bollywood superstar trying desperately to hang on to his youth--everyone is tied together. the characters are lively and enjoyable. like the particles of an atom, energy is created as the chacters revolve around one another. each one polerizing and then bouncing off of the other. this is a wonderful book & i would highly recommend it to anyone.