A small, girlie, cocktail-appreciating crowd gathered at the Mint Leaf for this one. After admiring my new shoes and boots and Jane's fabulous new jacket (which made me feel much better about my expenditure!), we got down to serious business - the cocktails and the menu! Exhausted from taking decisions for others all week, Jane left Shubha to choose Jane's meal but, as all the dishes went into the centre for us all to nibble and enjoy, it was almost irrelevant who ordered what. Little went to waste and we had to order additional naans to mop up the end of the delicious sauces.
Shubha and I agreed (woohoo) on our interpretation and enjoyment of this book and, although we were both able to find fault as well, found it highly readable. Jane found it somewhat repetitive, constantly reinforcing the poverty, and found some of the language unlikely, although I found it reminiscent of the language of the Indian newspapers. I also enjoyed the "names" ascribed to some characters such as, most obviously, Vitiligo Lips, an element which, for me, echoed the Orangedrink-Lemondrink Man from the God of Small Things and therefore felt authentic.
We came over all philosophical after that, inspired by the book, by India, by our memories of our travels and by the wines that lifted the bill beyond the realms even of the Gaucho Grill where we discussed Black Swan Green. We reminisced, compared travel tales, discussed the value of time versus the value of money and the quality of life as well as the value of life (with some incredible insights from Shubha). Then, to be honest, it gets a little hazy. When we eventually left the Mint Leaf, Trafalgar Square was alive with happy Algerians celebrating a football win over Egypt and, resisting calls to join their party, we wended our ways home.
Jane:
you are amazing. what a lyrical, delightful description...
[blush]