Books Read on the Road

roughly in correct chronological order (of my reading of course, not their publishing):

"Wild Swans" Jung Chang

"Beijing Doll" Chun Sue

"Things Chinese Don't Eat" Xinran

"The Namesake" Jhumpa Lahiri

"Hearing Birds Fly" Louisa Waugh

"In the Steps of Genghis Khan" Stanley Stewart

"The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles" Haruki Murakami

"Amrita" Banana Yoshimoto

"Sumthing of a Mocktale"

"From Heaven Lake" Vikram Seth

"Shantaram" Gregory David Roberts

"The Devil Wears Prada" Jennifer Weisberger

"Such a Long Journey" Rohinton Mistry

"Transmission" Hari Kunzru

"Fiesta" Ernest Hemingway

"Notes from a Small Island" Bill Bryson (unfinished, but challenging enough to slog through)

"Dawn on the Coast" Ann L. Martin

"Ramona Quimby, Age 8" Beverly Cleary

"A Farewell to Arms" Ernest Hemingway

"A Suitable Boy" Vikram Seth

not bad. 

Back in the Western World

and it hasn't been too much of a shock. I think by the time I got here (London) I was so ready for cleanliness, warm showers and food that I know won't make me sick that I didn't have time to be confused. Took the tube in from Heathrow and giggled to myself as the people around me had to sit next to a backpack with filth on it from a variety of places- including, but not limited to the horse head I rode with in Mongolia. Mostly I've enjoyed not worrying about where my passport is, going out for wine, and realizing that not everyone is staring at me. Also, sitting in parks undisturbed by questioning children is nice. London weather hasn't treated me too poorly, and when it does it just provides a good excuse to stay inside and job hunt.

Now, two haikus jointly written while riding on the general class of an Indian train. An interesting experience in space management and the art of time-pass:

sprawled like a raja
sparkling black sweater vest
my mustache, my pride

ma'am, you come here now
the rickshaw rigamarole
eighty rupees gone