About this title: Sampath Chawla is a failure--at school, at work, at life in general. Then, quite unexpectedly, he achieves fame and recognition as a holy man. A "New York Times" Notable Book for 1998.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. Purchasing this book supports the King County Library System Foundation. Thriftbooks and KCLSF have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. 0385493703 Former library item may have library binding and show stamps, stickers or other marks. Items not meeting quality expectations may be returned. Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. read more
Description: Good. 0965618595 Former library item may have library binding and show stamps, stickers or other marks. Items not meeting quality expectations may be returned. Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. read more
Description: Reader copy. Ex-Public Library. Covers and page corners show some wear. Usual library stickers and stamps. Save a tree-buy used.. read more
Description: Good. Ex-Public Library. Covers and page corners are worn. Text is clean. Usual library stickers and stamps. Save a tree-buy used.. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Faber, London
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780571193363ISBN:0571193366
Description: Very Good/No Jacket. . Hardcover, very good condition, w. ltly rubbed brds, sme lt marks. Ltly slanted, v. ltly compressed sp, v. ltly bumped corners. Smwht tanned p. edges, sme v. lt soil. Fr inside hinge ltly stressed but intact. Cln, tight, unmarked. read more
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. VG Trade PB, v clean/bright/unmarked, dj lt cornerwear, faint water/rippling on front and back endpapers at bottom right edges, inside pgs fine. Sewn binding. Paper over boards. 176 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Description: Like New. 2009-Paperback-May contain minor shelf-wear. Otherwise, volume un-read and in "As-New" condition. -Used-Like New-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Date Published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780871137111ISBN:0871137119
Description: Fine in fine dust jacket. Signed by author. Sewn binding. Paper over boards. 176 p. Audience: General/trade. 1st edition 1st printing hardcover-book & dust jacket are fine-unclipped dust jacket-no remainder mark-author signed on title page read more
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. Fine/Fine 1st edition 1st printing in an unclipped dust jacket. The authors 1st book. Her second novel won the Booker Prize. read more
"this isn't the type of book I'd normally look out for but it sounded and looked interesting and I actually really enjoyed it, beautiful descriptions of India and lovely funny and affectionate characterisations of the villagers - amusing story, felt there was more to this on a deeper level but didn't get what it was....!"
"Fine comic touch. Great structure - it begins slow and languid, focusing on one character, then builds in pace to the end. Time is compacted with subtle grace. The ending is a little disappointing - more of a deus ex machina than anything - but the sub plots tie up nicely."
"Everything I want in a book: engaging characters, a bit of a plot, a little fun, a tiny bit of underlying seriousness. Sampath Chawla has grown up to become quite a disappointment to his family. He works in a post office where he spends most of his time reading the mail that comes through the office. His father is in despair; Sampath has no ambition. One day, Sampath leaves his job and, almost without thinking much about it, climbs up into a guava tree. He doesn't come down. As time passes, a mythology about Sampath begins to develop, and villagers come to sit under his tree, observe Sampath's tranquil state, and ask questions of Sampath. Sampath becomes known as a holy man.
There's more, involving monkeys and romance, bitten-off ears and spies for an atheist group, but you get the idea. Fun, but not necessarily frivolous."
"Not sure what to say about this one. Cute? Nice? Clearly I'm not overly excited about it. Didn't put it down either (I almost did before the boss's wedding scene, but luckily it arrived early enough in the book and convinced me to give it another chance). The second half of the book goes very fast and is somewhat entertaining - though I feel that I was nothing but annoyed by many parts that were supposed to be funny."
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