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Indian Takeaway: A Very British Story
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Review
'How deep is Hardeep's love of food? As deep as Loch Ness and as unfathomable as India. Indian Takeaway is a very funny and beguiling journey.' Paul Whitehouse
Review
'Indian Takeaway is a very funny and beguiling journey.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have read many, many a book on India over the years, but rarely one as uninformative, under-researched and tedious as this one. We learn about the author's ego and bodily functions, but little else.
As a travelogue it suffers because there is no sense of place (what on earth is the point of going to Kovalam if all you do is go to a five star hotel and describe your "British cooking" kitchen experience there - with people who already have travelled Europe?).
As a book about cookery it suffers because the author either fails to do what the blurb suggests - ie present Indians with British cooking - or fails to have the trip planned out adequately. But most of all he fails to appreciate that the real strength of Indian cuisine is in its vegetarian cooking. No wonder we have to listen to his literal belly-aches about the inadequacy of his British body to keep up with an Indian meat diet.
Factually the book is seriously underfed, and when we do get some information like Delhi has India's only underground train system, the author is just plain wrong. He seems to think Hindi is spoken as a norm in the southernmost part of India. His incompetence along the road, from failing to deal with the train system to being incapable of finding his cooking ingredients, or mugs to eat his often-abortive efforts at cooking a dish, to me isn't amusing, it is just plain incompetent and sad.
If you extract a portion of the book describing the author's parents' and relatives' lives then the book is just bearable.
As a travelogue it suffers because there is no sense of place (what on earth is the point of going to Kovalam if all you do is go to a five star hotel and describe your "British cooking" kitchen experience there - with people who already have travelled Europe?).
As a book about cookery it suffers because the author either fails to do what the blurb suggests - ie present Indians with British cooking - or fails to have the trip planned out adequately. But most of all he fails to appreciate that the real strength of Indian cuisine is in its vegetarian cooking. No wonder we have to listen to his literal belly-aches about the inadequacy of his British body to keep up with an Indian meat diet.
Factually the book is seriously underfed, and when we do get some information like Delhi has India's only underground train system, the author is just plain wrong. He seems to think Hindi is spoken as a norm in the southernmost part of India. His incompetence along the road, from failing to deal with the train system to being incapable of finding his cooking ingredients, or mugs to eat his often-abortive efforts at cooking a dish, to me isn't amusing, it is just plain incompetent and sad.
If you extract a portion of the book describing the author's parents' and relatives' lives then the book is just bearable.
26 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really like Hardeep Singh Kohli and I love food; so this book should have been right up my alley. Having asked himself the question, `Why did I feel the need to apologise for being British in India and apologise for being Indian when in Britain?', Hardeep plans a journey to India in order to `find himself'. The blurb would have you believe that he does this by cooking typically English foods such as Yorkshire Pudding and fry ups, and using them as a means to connect with Indian people and as a result to learn more about himself and his feelings about having a dual nationality.
Unfortunately, the blurb is a bit misleading. Just to give you an idea of what I mean, I quote from page 208 (more than two-thirds of the way through the book) `I have been rather remiss in preparing the foods of Britain.' Yes, you have haven't you! I really don't like to be pedantic, but this book is more like a guide to long train journeys across India. The writing fails to convey any real connections made with people he met during his journey; he moves impassively through the landscape, failing to `find himself' at any of the stops along the way.
There are some nice anecdotes, but these mostly relate to his childhood in Glasgow, the tale of the stolen Victoria sponge was a particular highlight. There was also a lovely segment about shopping for turbans and a few more observational interludes like that would have made all the difference.
It's a shame. I wish I'd have liked it more.
Unfortunately, the blurb is a bit misleading. Just to give you an idea of what I mean, I quote from page 208 (more than two-thirds of the way through the book) `I have been rather remiss in preparing the foods of Britain.' Yes, you have haven't you! I really don't like to be pedantic, but this book is more like a guide to long train journeys across India. The writing fails to convey any real connections made with people he met during his journey; he moves impassively through the landscape, failing to `find himself' at any of the stops along the way.
There are some nice anecdotes, but these mostly relate to his childhood in Glasgow, the tale of the stolen Victoria sponge was a particular highlight. There was also a lovely segment about shopping for turbans and a few more observational interludes like that would have made all the difference.
It's a shame. I wish I'd have liked it more.
Format:Paperback
I can only agree with other reviewers that the interesting and amusing personality Hardeep Singh Kohli can evoke in person, on stage or TV, is lacking utterly in this book. It conveys neither the fascination of India, nor the delights of Indian cuisine. It barely manages to convey any thrill of travelling, as the author ponderously considers how the India he was born so far from, relates to his present, past and family. Very dull.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enchanting and humorous
Hardeep writes so well, I'm amazed this is his first book. In this wonderfully enchanting book he recounts his earliest memories as a Sikh boy growing up in Glasgow in the 70's. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Dr. Jane M. Mckenzie
Curiously lacking in spice
I'd seen Mr Kohli on TV and was impressed with his quick wit, enthusiasm and general air of bonhomie, so was excited to receive this as a birthday present. Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2009 by harold adams
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