In these 40 essays, Tharoor discusses the difficulties of finding books in beleaguered Iraq and reminisces about growing up with books in India. Tharoor, who is a UN undersecretary general for communications and public information and an author, also pays homage to Pablo Neruda and ruminates about India's love for Wodehouse, Pushkin, Kipling and Churchill. Equally astute in its approach to Hollywood and Bollywood and to global affairs, this collection is a thought-provoking consideration of today's world. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

This collection of short essays by the Anglo-Indian novelist and senior U.N. official would seem to hold out the promise of an ethnographic consideration of the life of letters. Alas, the title essay, about the "book souk" in besieged Baghdad, is something of a red herring. These essays, newspaper columns and speeches do not, by and large, try to assess the situation of literature in war-torn regions, or any other regions for that matter. In one piece, the author describes the experience of having his novel adapted to the big screen; another is an elegy for a defunct Anglo-Indian review; a third is an anecdote of traveling to Spain for a cup of coffee. These are all personal reflections-as when Tharoor devotes an entire column to answering the criticisms of an Indian journalist, deflecting critiques of his hairstyle and choice of clothing. Tharoor's novels, as he never tires of writing, have been lavishly praised all around the world. But this book's topics-as well as the author's liberal use of culture-specific shorthand-would seem to make it primarily of interest to the Anglophone Indian community. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

UN undersecretary and prize-winning writer Tharoor has assembled a superb and provocative collection of essays. The book's five sections-"Inspirations," "Reconsiderations," "The Literary Life," "Appropriations," and "Interrogations"-encompass a range of previously published essays. Some read like memoirs, others offer literary criticism, while still others reflect on India's history and Tharoor's previous novels (e.g., The Great Indian Novel, Show Business). His essays on novel writing-the attention to language, detail, themes, characters, and settings-add depth to those books while bringing nuances to the surface. Most essays show Tharoor's vision of and for India and its people, but he also addresses American culture, literature, and illiteracy. Particularly insightful is his speech delivered in Berlin at the International Festival of Literature in 2003, titled "Globalization and the Human Imagination," which ties all these themes together. Tharoor's work resonates with readers of any nationality, helping them understand the global purpose of literature, feel the inherent responsibility, and hear a call to action. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-Jamie Engle, Richardson, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information