The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach

About this Book


This is the story about a group of pensioners who move into a retirement home in India. 

Now made into a film with a stellar cast

What I think 


Deborah Moggach must be having a good year. Her book, These Foolish Things, has recently been made into a film (renamed: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) starring some of the best actors England has to offer. Now having read the book, I'm looking forward to seeing the film. I'm flying to the UK soon and am hoping it'll still be available to watch on the plane. I have a funny feeling the film might actually be better than the book. And that's not something I hear myself saying very often. 


Although I found the book well-written - Moggach is clearly an experienced writer with a flare for words and descriptions - I found the pace of the book slow. Very slow. I spent the majority of the time waiting for something to happen. I'd even go as far as to say most of the 'action' took place in the last 20% of the book. 


Its redeeming factor was the characters. They were rounded, realistic, with flaws and redeeming factors of their own. I could just picture some of them in front of me. I actually spent most of the book trying to figure out who (out of the cast of the film) would play which character. Hopefully soon I'll find out!


About the Author

Deborah Moggach (b. 1948) grew up in Hertfordshire and London with her 3 sisters to the sound of the typewriter clicking away as both her father and mother were authors. She went to Bristol University and did various jobs before getting married and moving to Pakistan in the 1970's. That is when she wrote her first novel, You Must be Sisters, as well as writing for Pakistani newspapers. Since then she has continued to write journalism, has written 16 novels, two collections of short stories and a play. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.  

The Silent Monument by Shobha Nihalani

About the book


A young journalist is murdered for discovering hidden secrets in the caverns of the Taj Mahal. His widow decides to continue his work with devastating consequences. 

What I think


What I liked best about this novel was that it was set in India. I love reading books about different countries, cultures and peoples. I was especially interested to learn about the character's different backgrounds and how these differences affect their daily lives.  


There is a huge cast of characters in this story and they were all cleverly interwoven at various intervals within the narrative. I feel that this number could have been reduced somewhat, without compromising the story at all, and lowering the risk of confusion.  


This book is a real page-turner. I found myself totally absorbed on the boat to Macau, despite my seasickness!  


About the Author


Shobha Nihalani has a degree in Business and has worked as a freelance journalist, copywriter, book-keeper, teacher and salesperson. Her short stories have appeared in Hong Kong Writers Circle anthologies as well as the annual anthologies of the Women in Publishing Society. The Silent Monument is her second novel.