India Books

Veena Damle's I Am Om is a novel that mixes East Indian culture with that of the west, and fables with heavy realism. The never-ending struggle of the Hindu epic known as the Mahabharata is a direct analogy to a household in conflict, with a mother wishes to achieve fame while a father struggles with dharma and a grandfather strives to be worthy of final release into samadhi. The household daughter and main heroine measures herself against her personal hero, the Archer Prince. I Am Om is a particularly fascinating work of fiction for its innovative bridge between ways of life and frames of reference, and that makes for intensely enjoyable and thought-provoking cross-cultural reading.

Readers cannot fail to notice that women from the Indian sub-continent have recently made great strides in the fields of literature(Arundhati Roy,Jhumpa Lahiri etc.),movie-making(Leela Nayar),and even in the struggle against "Corporate-Globalism"(Vandana Shiva)! "I am 0m" is the latest additon.
Two tales have been ingeniously woven together in this beautifully written novel.
A child hears from her grandfather the struggle between good and evil depicted in the great Hindu epic,"The Mahabarat".Simultaneously she is also a witness to the tragic events unfolding in her own family. Her mother,a beautiful and accomplished doctor, is infatuated with a high-caste "Brahman" who is equally known for his surgical skills as for his reputation with women! This inevitably leads to her ruin and that of her family.
In the childs' mind the Epic and the reality become blended into one. The reader is also guided into a higher plane of "Karma","Samadhi",re-birth; all those lofty ideas that makes Indian philosophy so facinating!
It is an unusual work and I throughly enjoyed it.
Ted Wright.

'I AM OM' is a terrific story. I loved the parallel of myth and reality. The book is definitely worth reading.

I rarely read fiction but this gem of a first novel was delightful from beginning to end. It is a gripping story of a Westernized Indian family meltdown and transcending redemption. One reason I avoid novels is the poorly constructed characters that don't hold up. Not this book. The people in this story are so real, plausible, and absorbing that you could almost touch them. And they in turn touched my heart and made me feel right there amidst their confusion and pain. The book starts with a bang and the action and suspense build to such a frenzy it was hard to put the book down. Beautifully crafted description and dialogue make each page a delight to digest. I appreciated the directness of the writing especially in simplifying the essence of complex Hindu literature so any reader can understand the inspiring message. It is hard to believe that this is Veena Damle's first writing effort. I eagerly await her next work.

I rarely read fiction but this gem of a first novel was delightful from beginning to end. It is a gripping story of a Westernized Indian family meltdown and transcending redemption. One reason I avoid novels is the poorly constructed characters that don't hold up. Not this book. The people in this story are so real, plausible, and absorbing that you could almost touch them. And they in turn touched my heart and made me feel right there amidst their confusion and pain. The book starts with a bang and the action and suspense build to such a frenzy it was hard to put the book down. Beautifully crafted description and dialogue make each page a delight to digest. I appreciated the directness of the writing especially in simplifying the essence of complex Hindu literature so any reader can understand the message. It is hard to believe that this is Veena Damle's first writing effort. I eagerly await her next work.

I have never been able to travel much but have always liked learning about other cultures. This book provides a look into another life style in an area that is basic to the understanding of all cultures.

Monisha did a great job in writing this book. It reflects her good taste in decorating homes in Indian style. Eventhough it is nice to see some of the maharaja styles decor she definitely includes examples of decor of regular households and contemporary looks that could definitely be applied.

Most of the decorating items included in this book could be found in Indian arts and craft stores. The colors are so vibrant and enticing in each and every photograph. I read this book so many times, actually it is a very nice relaxing reading companion. I usually leave it on our coffee table when we have get togethers with our friends. It is a good conversational piece and everyone wants to borrow this book. Nicely done!

When asked to describe Indian style in one word, most people would say "colorful". That is indeed true. Indian style is rich in color, which is liberally used by everywhere- from palaces of erstwhile maharajas to homes in rural and urban parts of contemporary India. What fascinates most westerners is the ability of Indian interior decorations to assimilate mind-boggling number of styles from different cultures and even different eras. The whole design flows with ease- different elements blending together to enhance the look rather than impart incongruity.

This book presents exactly these aspects and is meant to inspire the reader. As each part of the home is visited, different styles are explored, explained and in some cases, re-interpreted for contemporary living. Some of these are high-end and would not be practically possible to duplicate. But most can easily be adapted in the Western settings to infuse them with an ethnic flair or just make them outright Indian. The beautiful color pictures are sure to fire your imagination. The types of accessories shown are commonplace in India and at most Indian art stores in other countries. You may not find the exact duplicates but you are bound to find something close. Recipedelights.com recommends this book and feels that it will start off the reader in the right direction. Everything else is limited only by the reader's imagination.

Monisha did a great job in writing this book. It reflects her good taste in decorating homes in Indian style. Eventhough it is nice to see some of the maharaja styles decor she definitely includes examples of decor of regular households and contemporary looks that could definitely be applied.
Most of the decorating items included in this book could be found in Indian arts and craft stores. The colors are so vibrant and enticing in each and every photograph. I read this book so many times, actually it is a very nice relaxing reading companion. I usually leave it on our coffee table when we have get togethers with our friends. It is a good conversational piece and everyone wants to borrow this book. Nicely done!

India Style is a timely and refreshing look at one of the oldest civilizations in the world. India 'style' relfects the complexity and depth found in Indian cooking. Similar to how spices are blended and prepared, the country's style is a vibrant blending of color, texture, culture, religion and history. India style has been developing for thousands of years. There is something within our soul that responds and reaches out to this richness.

this book is very easy to follow and the ingredients are easy to find......my only dissapointment was no recipee for the chickpea and spinach that I love.....but every other recipe is fabulous!

I bought this book because I was looking for something out of the ordinary in Indian cooking. I think Omana has done a fabulous job of presenting Indian home cooking to the novice cook. Some of the recipes are unlike anything I have had before. Maybe Omana should write another book for the US market. A lot of people are confused by the use of Chinese characters. Anyway Omana just wanted to say that I love you and if you ever visit Key West, we could perhaps could cook together.

Cheers!

I consider myself an intermediate skill cook, but working out of this cookbook, I get superb results every time. It's amazing. The recipes in this book are all written to take up no more than a page each, written in both english and chinese, and with a picture for each recipe. In other words, the author manages to keep things simple. If you're looking to get into Indian cuisine without previous experience, start here!

This book makes Indian cooking a breeze. Recipes are easy to follow and ingredients are explained. The only Indian cookbook you will ever need. If you haven't bought this book yet you are missing out on a crown jewel in culinary endeavor.

I have tried several of the recipes in this book and all of them are lip-smacking good. The method is systematic and the presentation style is concise yet thorough. Some not-so-typical Indian dishes which are absolutely delicious. Highly recommended.

Excellent value for the money. Beautiful photos covering a broad range of interiors.

We review a number of books and the first time we saw this one, we were very sure it was going to make to our top selections list. And we were not wrong.

A beautifully laid out book with 500 vivid color photographs is a visual treat. Recipedelights.com gives it a "must-buy" rating for interior designers and style lovers. One of the few books that correct the injustice done by western journalists and gives a positive spin to thousands of years of culture and history. It truly reflects the grandeur of Indian style by weaving a colorful mélange that will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever visited India. This book explores a spectrum of interiors ranging from Palaces to Havelis to Huts. It does not bore with endless text or try to influence the judgment of the reader. Short text (In English, German and French) accompanies each photograph though the pictures speak for themselves.

This LUSH book captivates the eye and provides such a visual feast of color, I feel saturated, then satiated, each time I dip into it. Good for hours of fun.

I have to say, I was lucky enough to meet Deidi on her travels in Ladakh and can tell you that she is one intrepid traveler. There was a war going on in Kashmir when she went to take these photos - although you'd never know it from these pictures which paint such a beautiful image of these sumptuous settings.

She is a great photographer, with three Taschen books to her credit (Gardens of France, and Fantasy Worlds). She also makes enormous photos of sacred trees in India which are exhibited in galleries - very dramatic and her best work yet!

This book focuses a great deal on Rajasthan, but also includes regional coverage of key areas.

A first of its kind and a good antidote to the predictable picture books of India. Everyone expects India photo books to show weird babas in Benares and starving people in Calcutta, so it's good for the West to see there's more to India than that.

Glad to see that scenes from the folk and peasant traditions are included alongside the fantastic royal palaces, proving that art has no boundaries.

This is a gorgeous book, beautifully laid out, with good photography and a vast range of type of interiors from palaces to village huts. Having spent significant time traveling throughout India, I frankly opened this book fully expecting to be disappointed and expecting it to be one more example of journalism not being able to do justice to the breadth and scope of India. We see that failure in all manner of books about India, from cook books, design books, culture books, and travel books; any subject that trys to cover the subcontinent in one fell swoop. Remarkably, this book achieves what no others I've seen has. In addition to photography of Deco interiors, British Revival, and Native Cultural Design, INDIAN INTERIORS wisely leaves the commentary to short blocks of text detailing the background of the property and the homeowners but not forming broad judgements or attempting to endlessly characterize and embellish. I have photo books on Village India, India Rail, Indian Design, etc., and they all try to do too much and not let the material speak for itself. This book is different, very different, and from what I've seen from this publisher in other venues, Taschen is one to watch for if you like your material presented succinctly and beautifully without gushing or extraneous filler.

This totally sumptuous book has been beautifully produced and is proof yet again that Taschen are publishing some of the most beautiful books around. Apart from being a visual delight, each picture has accompanying text on the place featured. The book covers a wide range of interiors from palaces and havelis to Rajasthani huts and everything in between. Whether you are interested in Indian style or interiors generally, you will find much to like in this book.

I cooked some of the recipes at my friends home and they were all very delicious!!! I hope to find another book, which is that good!

I know this woman personally, and she defines excellence in all aspects. I personally do not cook, but I'm sure it was a great book. All I know is that Roshi Razzaq is an extra-ordinary woman, and I am very lucky to know such a great person. I hope this review motivates her to write another cook book.

This cookbook is perfect for people who either don't have a lot of time to cook or are amateur cooks. The recipes are simple to follow and most take under an hour. These dishes are consistently delicious with every preparation and are guaranteed crowd pleasers.

Once you start cooking from this book, you will begin eating Indian regularly and you won't miss the fat.

It is pretty rare that a cookbook inspires me like this one did. Vibrant photographs of every dish, as well as author notes on the region and history of the dish, inspired me to try a number of recipes. I can honestly say that every recipe I have tried has turned out perfectly. I have many cookbooks, most of which I have not cooked from; this one stands alone, in that I have tried almost half the recipes. If only I could find more copies for all the friends I've gotten hooked on Roshi's recipes

We love Indian food but I had never cooked it before. We needed to change our way of eating after some family health scares. Low fat is no fun if it's also low flavor. Roshi Razzaq's beautiful book and clear recipes introduced me to a whole new way of cooking and eating - low fat but incredibly delicious. She has even given me the confidence to try my own combinations. Indian food has gone from a special treat to the mainstay of our diet. Thank you, Roshi!

This is a wonderful book!! Most of us will never have the opportunity to travel the world. We will be forced by circumstance to travel via armchair from home. My advice is to let Alistair Caldicott take you to glamorous, exotic and exciting destinations and leave him to deal with the disturbing, uncomfortable and dangerous because he copes so well and lives to tell us all about it. This book is not a travel guide. It's more personal than that, chatty and well written, and an all around good read in every way.
His journey begins in India. Through mind sapping heat, he shares every step with his readers: grand palaces, staggering poverty, beautiful people and places, and sickening squallor. We experience the river Ganges, a holy river so polluted that oxygen can no longer live in it. He hikes the Himalayas while fighting bouts of altitude sickness and diarrhea, introduces us to Sherpa strongholds and yak caravans in Nepal and Tibet, and climbs pristine blue glaciers. And just when you think it could not possibly get more exciting, he heads for Australia via Bangkok and Singapore.
I've always been curious about Australia. He soaks it all in like a sponge and takes his readers with him. From one end of Australia to another, he travels dusty outback roads, gapes in awe at ancient cliffs and Aboriginal rock paintings. We feel the blistering heat and the incessant swarms of flies that buzz at every human orifice demanding entry. And we share his wonder at sleeping under night time skies.
New Zealand is a land of charming contrasts: tropical vegetation, volcanoes, boiling mud pools and geysers, mist shrouded craters, ancient water caves, glaciers, fjords, and an unexpectedly mild climate.
Africa is a beautifully diverse continent in ways most of us will never see. Caldicott describes it as a raw, challenging, enthralling, rewarding continent, then sets out to show us exactly what he means by that statement. From the southernmost tip of Africa he treks, sometimes painfully, to his final destination, Mt. Kilimanjaro. Along the way we visit rubbish infested cities in decline, learn about apartheid and other political injustices, and walk pristine beaches. We accompany the author as he snorkels with whale sharks in the Indian Ocean and hikes the Khyber pass. He introduces us to oasis pools in the world's oldest desert and hidden gems not yet discovered by tourists. We rough camp in the bush surrounded by wild animals, go white water rafting on the Zambize River, and suffer with the author through a frightening bout of malaria. And finally we struggle with him through the crowning achievement of his travels -- climbing Kilimanjaro.
This is an exhilarating book, a thoroughly satisfying read from beginning to end. If you are at all curious about the world and its wonders, I suggest you buy this book then lean back and let Mr. Caldicott take you on a journey of the mind. Allow him to stimulate your senses through his words.

Laurel Johnson
Mid-West Book Review, US

I would like to recommend this book to anyone who aspires to travel as well as those who already have. And also for those who just like to sit back and read about faraway palces in other parts of the world!
Take an armchair journey around the world with this engrossing real life adventure. Experience unusual people, places and incidents. We learn about some very well known palces, but it is also the less well-known places which prove just as riveting.
During his long journeys we alternated between the unintentional and the unpredictable, as he both enjoys and endures, but does so in an engaging and articulate manner. His powers of observation are sharp and it is during the moments of difficulty when the entertainment is best.
Very enjoyable and out of the ordinary at times.

With a refreshingly crisp turn of phrase, admirable candour and disarming self-depreciation, this book is absorbing. There is little time for slushy banalities or bland, weary cliches, but there is plenty of time for the unleashing of an excellent sense of humour, which cares little for offending people who deserve to be offended, while warming to those who are genuinely hospitable. No patronising smugness or condescension in the narration - just honest, insightful observation from someone who somehow tends to do things the hard way.
And the author has plenty of unusually entertaining experiences along the way - the incident of him getting whacked by a tree branch on the top of a bus in Nepal had me in stitches. Just when you think his last close shave will not be surpassed, another one comes along, but he takes it all in his stride. There's been a lot of travel books on the market in recent years, but the style of this book carves its own niche and I look forward to his next one.
I can also recommend his website, which is worth checking out -some fabulous photos from all over the world - www.alitravelstheworld.com

This really is quite an adventure - more entertaining travel in one trip than most would be lucky to achieve in a lifetime. An astonishing array of diverse experiences in the sorts of places we all dream about going to; several major tests of character and a wonderfully self-depreciating sense of humour and cutting powers of observation which endear him to the reader. More boldly daring than some other high profile travel writers and grittily realistic
He has a useful knack of sizeing up both people and situations, being cuttingly savage of those who irritate and annoy, yet not shy to lavish praise for those who merit it.
There is ample scope for things to go wrong and exposure to danger, which is all part of the fun. In fact most of the fun (for the reader) derives from the things which go wrong.

If you cannot resist the lure of exotic daydreaming and faraway escapism then this book is for you. But this is far removed from the superficial world of 5 star hotels and fly-by-night, safe and sanitised tourism.
An incredibly captivating and absorbing journey told with gripping roller coaster momentum, which barely lapses. Compelling reading if the word `travel' stirs aspirations of excitement and adventure in you. Many twists and turns vividly described. Highs and lows, pleasures and pain all graphically laid down with endearing honesty.
Insightfully observant, hilariously dry humoured and refreshingly descriptive, his style seems like Bill Bryson meets Michael Palin, but much more adventurous and daring. The author somehow always finds challenges in front of him, be they from the natural world or in the form of other human beings, but he rises to them admirably. How he keeps his marvellous sense of humour in tact at times I do not know. Yet as well as being entertained by some of the testing situations he finds himself in, you are simultaneously likely to learn something as well. An enjoyable read.

A tremendous story told with great warmth and humor. It conveys the struggle to stay healthy, the process of adapting to local cultures, and the overwhelming sense of joy in receiving gratitude from people you help. Sol Resnick is able to find elements of humor and poetic irony in the daily activities and chance occurrences that shaped his life. Irrigating India also provides an absorbing historical perspective on India. Having served in the Peace Corps for three years, the book brought back memories of my own experiences. I highly recommend this book!

Armchair adventurers could not ask for a better book than this heartwarming story of a man who helped to bring water -- and a lot more -- to India. It is also the story of what India brought to him, with vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, tastes, and textures of post-WWII India and of the people he met there. Sol Resnick is an engaging story-teller, and his good humor and passion for his work make this impossible to put down. He loved his work, the people he met, and the places he traveled, and you will, too.

As a former University of Arizona Hydrology student of Dr. Resnick, I laughed and cried in reading Sol's terrific, engaging insight to practical rural water-resources and community development in India in the late 1950s. Based on my own observations, I confirm that Sol tells it like it was. And in some ways still is. I stayed up the night to read the book to my wife. We shared the joy of Sol's adventure to improve life in rural India by training Indian engineers and working with local people to improve irrigation and drinking-water supplies and to reduce the terrible effects of droughts. I've shared Sol's and Elaine's book with my international development colleagues and my own students. Sol's integrity and ingenuity, and love of people, justice, culture, community, and hydrology come across loud and clear, modestly and humorously. A fine read for anyone interested in people, development, practical hydrology, or India. Reading "Irrigating India" reminded me why I became a hydrologist and taught me more about myself.

Irrigating India: My Five Years As A USAID Advisor is the story of Sol Resnick, a USAID advisor who served faithfully in India from 1952 to 1957, as told in his own worlds to Elaine Minow Resnick. Sol Resnick, a civil and agricultural engineer, worked hard to help make the basic human needs of food and water stable and attainable to a populace that was previously at the bitter mercy of the annual rainfall. He would later look on that time as the best five years of his life. Heartwarming, inspiring, and highly recommended to students of international studies as well as the modern history and agricultural development of India.

Compelling tales bring the people and the land of India vividly to life. Stories of practical engineering, working with villagers and farmers, designing and building irrigation systems and wells. Most of all, stories about the people, the culture, the politics and the country. Travel rivers, meet tigers, have dinner with Nehru, and make wheelbarrows for the village children so that everyone participates in building the future of rural India.

When I was l5 years old, my mother brought the book home for me from
the library. I enjoyed it then. Throughout the years I have been looking
for it but could not locate it in libraries oe stores. I'm looking forward
to reading it again. By the way I'm now past the age of 75 years.

I've been reading--and rereading--Corbett for more years than I can remember. They not only tell the tales of his hunting man-eating tigers and leopards but tell of his wonderful love of nature, the land and the simple hill people of India. His descriptions and attention to detail are remarkable. You can practically smell the Himalayan foothills that he loved so much.

Corbett, although "just" a public servant had an unusual combination of talents and virtues. His woodcraft was exceptional; his stamina phenomenal; his courage phenomenal; and his talent as a writer...unique. Corbett puts the reader in his own skin as he tracks beasts that would like nothing better than to sink their teeth in his throat. The reader is actually present as Corbett comes on the scene of a recent tiger kill as evidenced by the single shapely leg of a young woman. You feel his terror as a man-eating leopard, in the dead of night, rejects his goat bait and tries to rip Corbett from his machan high in a tree.

You suffer with Corbett as he tries to maintain his lonely all-night vigil over a tiger-killed buffalo as malaria shakes his body apart and you rejoice with him as he fights the mighty mahseer from pool to pool in the icy waters of the Himalayas. You weep with Corbett as poor, frightened people thank him for ridding them of beasts that have destroyed lives and the economies of entire regions.

At the same time you get to know Corbett the field biologist and nature lover. He bore no animosity for the man-eaters he hunted to death. He entirely recognized that they were a part of nature whose only "crime" was to develop a taste for the "wrong" kind of food. He speaks of the nobility of the tiger, the sinuous beauty of the leopard and bemoans the fact that these creatures were gradually being eradicated. Nevertheless he takes justifiable pride in saving the lives of so many people and is grieved that he couldn't have saved many more.

Some people have questioned as to whether Corbett did all these things or whether, like Capstick, he was simply a gifted writer. I can't confirm the authenticity of all the stories but, all I can say, is that the government of India--that has no particular love for British colonialism--chose to honor this particular Englishman by naming a national park--a park containing many tigers and leopards--in his honor.

Ron Braithwaite, author of Mexican Conquest novels, "Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"

I have read all three of the books included in this omnibus many times over the space of thirty years. Each is a superb read filled with suspense, observations on nature, and a genuine respect for India and it's people. These are not books about hunting for the sake of senseless slaughter. While Corbett vividly communicates a sense of suspense and excitement he continually returns to the theme of sympathy for the plight of the impoverished villagers who are terrorized by the man-eaters he hunts. There is no macho posturing in Corbett's accounts, there is heartfelt regret each time he pulls the trigger to end the rampage of another killer.

I have been an avid reader of Jim Corbett for the past decade. Though he hasn't authored as many books so as to demand a decade, his story-telling is exquisite and therefore begs you to pick up his memoirs again and again. What were previously an assortment of separate short stories have now been compiled into this grand collection.

Armed with but a rifle, Corbett narrates in intricate detail how he managed to hunt down some of the deadliest man-eaters, deep in the northern jungles of pre-independent India. As much as it is a classic, one needs to remember that the events described herein, actually occurred! The narration seamlessly alternates between the romantic splendor of the Himalayan foothills and the imminent danger lurking not far behind. Corbett magnanimously describes in great detail the courage displayed by several individual men, women and children of these jungles when taking on man-eaters at close quarters. That the events described are factual makes you shudder even while sitting in the quiet comfort of your living room.

Parallels could be drawn between Corbett and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" due to fact that they both decipher more than the average individual when given the same set of information. Much like Holmes, Corbett interprets the gender, age, physical characteristics, possible injuries (and cause thereof), direction of approach etc. of the man-eater by just studying it's pug marks. The only incorrect assumption he makes is that tigers do not have a sense of smell. I recently found out that this was untrue. Nevertheless, to the armchair hunter, this triviality can be ignored. An excellent read.

This book is a collection of some of Jim Corbett's books, and it is really worth the expense to anyone who enjoys a good read. A bit of tongue-in-cheek, but very factual and understated, this book also describes life in India when it was the jewel in the British crown.

The author is a widely respected "shikari" who is ever ready to help simple village folk against wild animals who have turned vermin. However, he loves nature, and one can see how he revels in describing natural landscapes. He went on to become a very well-known conservationist, and the Indian Government has honoured him by naming the area he has described in his books as a National Park, with his name.

In the books, he describes how he learned to be a woodsman, and describes outdoor living in great detail. He describes a time when motoring was very rare, when the easiest way to travel was to depend on one's own two feet and a lot of "knee grease". His loving descriptions of nature, landscapes, jungles and jungle lore mark him as an environmentalist beyond any of today's known figures.

A must-read for anyone who enjoys reading.

This was an enlightening book for me and would be for anybody interested in spirituality, and pilgrimage. Filled with full colour pictures it is a MUST READ book!!!!! Very very hhighly recommended!

This book acts not only as a great travel guide for those lucky enough to be in (or visiting) Tibet, but also makes an enlightening read for anybody interested in the spiritual importance of Kailash and Mansarovar.

Well-written descriptions, inspired poetry, apt quotations and wonderful pictures all combine to transport the reader to this holy place and share the author's moving experiences.

I had the pleasure of reading this excellent book. The narration is superb, splendid, vivid and frank; it is poetry par excellence.

I just finished reading the book and actually feel I ought to start it all over again. It made a huge impression on me. Both the descriptions of place and the mystical experiences. Absolutely wonderful. I don't suppose I shall ever go there but I shall not forget the author's evocation of it. Not to mention his superb photographs. I am totally entranced, especially by his experiences that includes his strange near death dream.

The book is a travelogue with a difference. It is not devoid of practical details concerning items to be carried by the traveller or the manner in which government and non-government agencies can help him. But essentially it is an odyssey of spiritual wanderings intermingled with geography, history, tradition and an enduring sense of faith and belief.
Some of the photographs are truly fetching and are characterized by professional finesse. A highly recommended reading for potential travellers and even for arm-chair pilgrims who will be inspired by its evocatively devotional content.

Thanks to this cookbook, we have some wonderful dishes that have become family favorites. One of those is the Lime Rice; it is a delicious dish that is as stunning to present to guests (lovely yellow color) as it is eat! Best of all it goes with everything from barbeque meats to grllled vegetables. I have even brought it to church "covered dish" lunch!
The suggested "menus" at the back of the book, such as "vegetarian for beginnners" or "fish & meat for the more adventurous", help take the guess work out of planning a well-balanced menu.

The recipes in this cookbook are easy to read and follow. I especially liked the fact that The ingredients can all be found in the US, and that recipes go from easy to more time consuming. The variety of recipes is very good, and the ones I've tried so far came out delicious.

This cook book is more than a cook book. It gives a lot of details about the indian state of Kerala which I found particularly interesting. Being a reluctant cook, I found the recipes easy to follow as the author gives step by step instructions on producing the meals. I also found the nutrition information very useful.

A great cookbook for connoisseurs and novices alike! This book has some very authentic recipes that bring back memories of my childhood in Kerala. I've found recipes in here that I thought I could have only at my mother's house. All the recipes are well laid out and easy to follow.

I am from Kerala, & have found that the dishes come out tasting exactly the way they are supposed to, very practical, most ingredients are easily available. The author has tried to make the recipes as healthy as possible in terms of minimising oil & coconut use which are a major part of Kerala cuisine. Should be a very useful resource for those who are trying to learn how to cook this kind of food.