- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; illustrated edition edition (17 Mar 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747568626
- ISBN-13: 978-0747568629
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 855,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
'An assortment of autobiography, travelogue, social commentary and interviews ... held together beautifully by her bristling wit, charm and intelligence' Telegraph 'Funny, irreverent and affectionate ... a fascinating look at the Bombay film industry and the story of a very unlikely friendship' Asian Leader 'Her quirky observations on Mumbai and its social strata are brilliantly cutting and her use of "Hinglish" is genuinely funny' Metro 'Hines has an appealing voice - chatty, self-deprecating, and with an eye for humanising detail. She does finally come to an understanding about Bachchan, but her biggest achievement is in putting across her passion for Mumbai and its film industry. Someone buy this book for Jade Goody, quick' London Paper
Product Description
'Jessica,' he pronounced, 'you have known me for seven years. My life has changed seven times. You will never finish this book.' There is no reason why Amitabh Bachchan and I should appear in the same sentence. He is India's most legendary film star - a mixture of Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino and Elvis. In India where film stars are treated as gods, Bachchan is the uber-god, the Big B. As for me, I am English, almost thirty, and not in the least bit famous. Yet here I am in Bombay about to start writing his story. How did I get here? Why did I get here? Can I pull it off? Bombay is mayhem and Bollywood is maddening. The Big B is strangely aloof, the magazines are full of lies, and no one is talking. I want to write a book that explodes the myths surrounding India's most famous man. But what will I find?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
The book arrived within 24/36 hours of placing the order with Amazon super fast delivery. It arrived in perfect condition with neat packaging. The amazing price of the book is unbeatable!!
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book, not only did it make me laugh out loud on numerous occasions but it really made me feel like I entered an unattainable world. It was great travelogue, history of Bollywood and emotional journey. I'd like to say that I was impressed that there was no navel gazing, faux spirituality, or exotic stereotyping that often accompanies western writers 'on India'. Jessica tells it how she lived it and i'd be inclined to believe that like Rekha, she was an Indian in a past life. I would reccomend this book to everyone.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great introduction to the city of Mumbai, a great introduction to the notions underpinning the huge glossy enterprise of Bollywood and a great way to understand stardom in India as well.
Looking for the Big B; Bollywood, Bachchan and Me reminds me of all those fables about distance. You acquire perspective with distance. You see things that those who live closer to the subject don't. In India, we're used to seeing Mr Bachchan every time we turn around. And we've been missing the woods for the trees. Almost everything that has been written about him goes from the deadly serious to the laughably adulatory. Looking...is one of those rare books that can make you laugh out loud with its comic moments but can also start you thinking.
For instance, Hines suggests that part of the Bachchan charisma that has led a billion people in thrall is the sexuality he oozes although his onscreen persona was that of a violent hero. This conjoining of sex and death is not new -- pace Freud -- but it is the first time it has been applied to the phenomenon of Amitabh Bachchan.
Looking for the Big B; Bollywood, Bachchan and Me reminds me of all those fables about distance. You acquire perspective with distance. You see things that those who live closer to the subject don't. In India, we're used to seeing Mr Bachchan every time we turn around. And we've been missing the woods for the trees. Almost everything that has been written about him goes from the deadly serious to the laughably adulatory. Looking...is one of those rare books that can make you laugh out loud with its comic moments but can also start you thinking.
For instance, Hines suggests that part of the Bachchan charisma that has led a billion people in thrall is the sexuality he oozes although his onscreen persona was that of a violent hero. This conjoining of sex and death is not new -- pace Freud -- but it is the first time it has been applied to the phenomenon of Amitabh Bachchan.
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