The Glass Palace: A Novel

Author - Amitav Ghosh ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Paperback Book item from Random House Trade Paperbacks was reviewed on 29-Jul-2008.

Search ISBN:0375758771 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. The Glass Palace: A Novel Reference Book. Classifications : Contemporary Literature & Fiction Subjects Books Historical Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Subjects Books Literature American Literature Creative Writing & Composition English Literature Literary . Click the following link to view the cover of The Glass Palace: A Novel.

Related topics: Contemporary. Subjects. Books. Historical. Genre Fiction. Subjects. Books. Literature. American Literature. English Literature.

1) Paperback Book The Glass Palace: A Novel by Random House Trade Paperbacks. What a wonderful, wonderful novel!

Mr. Ghosh has concocted a deeply engaging, epic, tale chronicling the life of one character (and his extended family) against the backdrop of Burman, Malayan and Indian history over more that 100 years.
The novel clocks in at little over 600 pages yet it feels almost two short. In fact my only (albeit small) criticism is that at times the narration feels a bit too ´rushed´, as if the author has tried to cram too many twists and turns into the book´s pages.

The language is beautiful, simple yet elegant. Ghosh´s prose is ornate, yet it doesn´t fall into the excesses of writers such as Rushdie, whose style, at least to my taste, is too flowery for its own good.

Even if you aren´t into colonial India as much as I am, chances are you´ll devour this novel over a few days, unable to stop following the addictive storyline.¤

2) Paperback Book The Glass Palace: A Novel by Random House Trade Paperbacks. This is a soaring, marvelously entertaining, and always interesting multi-generational novel that poignantly tells the story of its extended number of characters over a hundred years of Burma, Malaya, and Indian history. It was, in fact, my wife who recommended the book for me to take on recent Maui beach vacation. And this was a perfect companion. Not only did I get carried away by the story and I even found I forgave the large number of coincidences that the story required. Let me try in a simple way explain how Ghosh´s writing envelops you. His story is propelled by small incidences told against the larger historic and cultural canvas with a most visual prose. You´re caught up finding you need to read every work as you may discover in one sentence in the middle of one paragraph at the bottom of a page that offers up a something surprising that takes the narrative a jump a head in events or time. Ghosh has developed powerfully complete characters in short bits and these individuals fall in love, die, get captured, get sick, fight a war, have children, by meeting fate head on, One may be a rags to riches store only to a Son in New York and a timber business and/or rubber plantation in Burma. Not to mention the splendid opening chapters where the British arrive to turn over this near east apple cart as they capture the King and Queen of Burma and take them, and us, into exile on the coast to India. You meet Rajkumar at age eleven on the first page and you stay with him till the end to discover, in part, redemption. The book jacket calls it a Dr. Zhivargo for the Far East; I would instead call it a Far East GONE WITH THE WIND. Let me not say more except to recommend that you must pick up this marvelous read.¤

3) Paperback Book The Glass Palace: A Novel by Random House Trade Paperbacks. Although The Glass Palace is not as sharply written as In an Antique Land, what is wonderful about Amitav Ghosh is his ability to present a beautifully written novel about historical events, and make one feel the strong presence of history in our lives. I knew little about the history of Burma or Malaysia before reading this book, but I have become compelled and inspired to learn more. I really appreciate
how Amitav Ghosh presents us with the idea that borders have and always will be translucent at best, and that many people are not citizens of a country or culture, but a collective citizen of many places, times, memories, personal connections, and experiences.¤

4) Paperback Book The Glass Palace: A Novel by Random House Trade Paperbacks. The author prose is very intelligent. A very different read, the information on Burma´s king (Myanmar now) and the country now and then (WW-II) was captivating. I haven´t read much of Amitav Ghosh; this was my first read but would love to read more of his work.¤

5) Paperback Book The Glass Palace: A Novel by Random House Trade Paperbacks. Sorry this book promises much (and does have some good historical research), but it soon lowers itself to melodrama and soap opera. Too many coincidences and cheesey scenes which spoils the deeper story. One of the very few books I have given up on before finishing.¤

6) Paperback Book The Glass Palace: A Novel by Random House Trade Paperbacks. Set in Burma during the British invasion of 1885, this masterly novel by Amitav Ghosh tells the story of Rajkumar, a poor boy lifted on the tides of political and social chaos, who goes on to create an empire in the Burmese teak forest. When soldiers force the royal family out of the Glass Palace and into exile, Rajkumar befriends Dolly, a young woman in the court of the Burmese Queen, whose love will shape his life. He cannot forget her, and years later, as a rich man, he goes in search of her. The struggles that have made Burma, India, and Malaya the places they are today are illuminated in this wonderful novel by the writer Chitra Divakaruni calls “a master storyteller.”¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 26-Aug-2008, 03757587719780375758775, 010-710-250-6X0-58B-WGB-8

The Glass Palace: A Novel, Book, Image © Random House Trade Paperbacks

Search: Random House Trade Paperbacks, Book Posters, Book Art