Amazon did manage to get the book to me despite the strike, but I gather that most of us have not finished reading it yet! Think the book club is a wonderful idea and I am enjoying the book very much. I hope that other people will be brave and comment too. I was waiting for some other people to comment first, but have decided that you may think nobody was keen to join in if NOBODY was willing to post a comment at all!

 Humz | Oct 15 2007, 18:02 pm

Thanks for being brave enough to be the very first, ever commenter! I'm happy to hear that you like our book club idea and that you HAVE managed to get the book...phew! (And that you are enjoying it too!)


 burntsugar | Oct 15 2007, 19:43 pm

Feel sure the postal strike has meant a slow start, but hopefully soon lots of people will be posting comments. Have just got to the point where the poor vendor of sweets is beginning to stand up to his son and I am cheering him on!

 Humz | Oct 15 2007, 21:24 pm

I'm up and way with the 'Vendor' too, found Jagan hard to warm to at first but he's growing on me as he's starting to stand up for himself against Mali...and Mali: oooh - he reminds me of someone, and I've got that thing where I now can't get the real-life person out of my head when I'm reading about Mali, and I'm probably unfairly transferring my Mali-rage onto the real-life person and I'll end up snarling at them next time I see them and they won't know why

 gleaming | Oct 16 2007, 18:08 pm

I guess what worries me as a parent of young children is that Jagan has partly formed Mali's character, even if it was by benign neglect. I am hoping, for Jagan's sake, that Mali becomes more sympathetic. Know what you mean though - we all know a Mali!

 Humz | Oct 16 2007, 20:39 pm

I love how you get to know characters through their conversations with others - it's the little quips or inability to hold back that really lets you understand their thinking. Narayan is clever as this is how life is.

 burntsugar | Oct 17 2007, 21:14 pm

Well, I have finished the book and I have to say the ending surprised me. I don't want to say too much, in case gleaming (the only person apart from me and the person who chose the book that has posted a message!) has not finished it yet. If they have I would be interested to hear their thoughts. Maybe then we can get a discussion going! If there is anyone else out there come and join in.

 Humz | Oct 19 2007, 21:30 pm

Well, that was frustrating I just posted only to discover I wasn't logged in!
I haven't managed to get very far into the book yet, Mali is about to go to America, but already I feel so sorry for poor Jagan who is so 'used and abused' by both his son and his cousin. I so agree with burntsugar that every day conversations between characters in books helps to give a real impression of their lives, and R K Narayan depicts that excellently and with subtle humour. I loved the exchange between Jagan and his kitchen and shop staff, and Jagan's constant 'sharing' of his philosophy for life. RKN has artfully created Jagan's India so that I already feel that I know Jagan's home town and would be able to get to the statue of Lawley! I am pleased to learn from previous posts that Jagan does start to stand up for himself, I can't wait to read more...

 lala | Oct 21 2007, 18:52 pm

Totally agree that Narayan is very clever in utilising what is not said or done to portray things. For example, the fact that the printer just never gets around to printing his book, subtly portrays how poor Jagan is perceived by people. Also, the way the shop staff try to disappear whenever he begins to speak! I know there is a whole series of books set around this fictional town and I will certainly hunt some more out.

 Humz | Oct 21 2007, 21:02 pm

I'm so happy to see another reader commenting...and enjoying the book! I'm sure the rest of you are just waiting til the end of the month for the main discussion?? Hopefully you've all noticed that the next couple of months books are up so you can read ahead if you want to. We're hoping to get some of the authors involved in the comments/ end of month discussion. Some of them have shown interest, so watch this space...

I have to admit that I haven't got to the end of The Vendor of Sweets yet! I am really enjoying it though - and am going to get my nose stuck into it tonight - might need some fudge as sustenance to keep me going!) But I'm intrigued by the surprising end - Humz. I'm also finding it hard to feel sorry for Jagan, despite Mali's behaviour towards him. He's too wrapped up in his opinion of everything to notice what's really going on under his nose. And then even when he does - he never directly confronts them (i.e. Mali). Well not yet...?

 burntsugar | Oct 22 2007, 20:26 pm