Looking forward to reading and sharing this little novel.

**Reserved for the Contemporary Asian Literature Virtual Book Box**

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Selected by Annimani in ApoloniaX's Contemporary Asian Literature VBB.

A lovely little novel with a touch of magic and fantasy; I'm looking forward to reading more of Preethi Nair's work.

The book's in Finland, thank you so much! Thanks also for the beautiful bookmark :)

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From the back:

"Escaping from the dreary routine of work and the sad faces of her fellow nine-to-fivers, Evita follows the beat of a strange drum to a far-off land. There she finds not just the fabulously moustachioed José Del Ray, King of the Taxi Drivers, and the mysterious Gypsy, byt the source of her obsession and a dream she can make her own.

But when Evita comes home to London declaring her new direction in life, her family are thrown into turmoil. Sheila and Bali, their dreams of a family long gone, have raised Evita as their own child. The sadness of that time has kept them apart - holding on to their separate secrets, they have rejected the possibility of living the lives they truly wanted."

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Amazon.co.uk Review

"The subtitle of Gypsy Masala, "a book of dreams", encapsulates Preethi Nair's first novel. In a slimly elegant volume, the author manages to capture the soaring hopes and paralysing fears of human emotion. Resonant with the visceral anticipation of dread and excitement, this book appeals to the spirit of adventure.

Gypsy Masala follows the lives of 3 people--Sheila, Bali and their foster daughter, Evita. Each has their own crippling aspect. British-born Evita is stuck in a job and love life that don't inspire. Sheila, frozen by her experience of being torn from warm, passionate India to grey England. Bali, having lost not only his first child but also the woman he adored and risked everything for.

The catalyst of hope and confidence to change the character's circumstances comes in the form of the African dancer--an apparition that appears accompanied by the thumping, vital music of beating hearts. He is every aspect of being--to follow him is to follow your heart.

This is a book which at times makes you want to run out and follow your dreams, yet in the next chapter makes you realise why you haven't. Preethi Nair combines elements of the surreal and the prosaic as she details the intricate family dynamics and stomach-wrenching losses experienced by those who leap into a new world. Her idea of a gypsy masala--toss your dreams into the pan and savour the result--is a fatalistic yet exhilarating view of the world which leaves a spicy, yet sweet, aftertaste." --Sue Owen --

I really wanted to like this book, but was disappointed with the structure. The three sections were too separate to my liking; they felt like three protracted background descriptions to what to me was supposed to be the beginning of the story (according to the back cover blurb anyway), but instead they were all there was. I felt almost betrayed :D

The book will next go to Into-the-blue who picked it from the South East Asian VBB. Enjoy!

Received today with many thanks. Thanks also for the lovely bookmark!

15.03.2011:
At first I did not like the book too much (Evita's part). But then came the stories of Sheila and Bali and somehow it all fitted together like a puzzle. I found it quite interesting to see the story from the sight of 3 different persons.

The book will now travel to jumpingin in Canada, who has chosen it via the South Asian VBB. Enjoy!

Arrived safely. Thanks so much for the book and for the lovely postcard!

The premise for this book had a lot of promise, but I felt it was undeveloped. I liked the story overall and how it was told from three points of view.

This was Nair's first novel and from the excerpt of a later novel included in this book, it seems that her writing has become more sophisticated over time.

Sent to dancing-dog as a wishlist RABCK. Happy reading!

Thank you jumpingin for this RABCK and the accompanying sweet note :)

This has been on my wishlist for quite a while and it's exciting to receive such a well-traveled copy.

A little bit quirky - I liked having three different viewpoints on the same events as well as getting to know more about each character.

Added to the neighborhood little free library - enjoy!