Customer Reviews

Love, Stars and All That, A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Narayan tells of a young Indian woman's quest for perfect love - in America. According to Gita's astrological chart, she will meet her perfect mate in March, 1984, while she is a graduate student in America.

But one is boring, another has a girlfriend. Then along comes a poet, an American, sent by her aunt in India. Shy Gita, to whom dating is an unthinkable concept, pursues him as best she can, but he's not interested. Then perhaps it's the poet's professor friend who is the one. To find out Gita marries him. No, he's not the one.

Now, too Americanized to settle down as a traditional Hindu wife, Gita finds a job teaching, enters into a telephone romance with an Americanized Indian man, fantasizes a practical romance. As each of Gita's romantic dreams unravels she loses a few of the scales from her eyes and dons a few more protective layers of American self-sufficiency.

While Narayan's satire remains light-hearted, she doesn't flinch from explorations of loneliness, American-style loneliness specifically, and the friction between feminist goals and marriage roles. The novel ends on an upbeat note but Gita has not resolved her opposing desires for love and independence.

This book had me hooked from the word go. I couldn't put it down, and ended up reading it all in one sitting. The book is about an Indian graduate student's journey to finding "Mr. Perfect." Watching Gita grow and learn throughout the book is funny and at the end it is satisfying to see where she ends up. The characters all come alive, and the plot moves smoothly. A great book to read on the beach or just to break away from the everyday.

I enjoyed this book very much. Halfway through, I was unable to put the book down. I should tell you that that I did not like the book so much at first--until I realized that the discomfort was my own. Gita's insecurities and constraints reminded me of how I was raised--which I think falls under the label of Indian. I was often feeling embarrased for her/me in her newfound American situations. I find this interesting since I went to American Public schools and not Indian Convent schools. The details recalled by Gita are vivid in my mind's eye.

Gita's adventures with men have already provided groundwork for discussions among my friends, who are Indian and American at the same time. I think others will find that it may be useful for opening such discourse.

The author's writing style was a bit disruptive to me at first, with a fast forward between sections, and then flashback. Ultimately this technique was very effective, allowing highlighting of key events.

I have already recommended this novel to several of my friends, and will recommend it to my book club.

Gita Dass is a convent-raised 23-year old Indian virgin doing graduate work at Berkley. Her endearing naiveté makes her a modern Alice in Wonderland as she hilariously negotiates her way through an alien culture where all the rules are different. LOVE, STARS AND ALL THAT is a modern comedy of manners. Kirin Narayan has a terrific ear for dialogue and a sly point of view that takes delight in revealing the veiled insults inside the compliments and the smiling counterattacks. I think Oscar Wilde would have loved this book.

It's a very sweet and outrageous story of Gita's maturing from a naïve third-worlder who gift-wraps her used menstrual blotting materials to a college professor who wears earrings made from condoms.

I do have some criticism. I felt that the male characters were less believable than the female characters (which are wonderfully drawn) and that some of the plotting was transparent (especially with the character of Firoze). I also had the feeling toward the end that the author was trying to shoehorn her story into something that she thought would please a bigger audience demographic. I didn't really buy the ending.

But basically this is extremely enjoyable light reading that had me chuckling throughout. With Ms. Narayan's gift for dialogue, she should be encouraged to write for the theatre. I give the book three and a half stars, but let's round it off to four.

I've read this book a few times and written papers on it, and it gets better each time I read it! I even got the chance to see Ms. Narayan speak, and she was just as witty and charming in person as in her writing! This book is about Gita, a 23-year-old who has grown up her whole life in India but has recently come to Berkeley, California to do a graduate degree. The book is chock full of her experiences in adjusting to American culture. Especially amusing are her efforts to not appear as the innocent, naive girl that she is! The plot takes an interesting, unpredictable turn about midway through the book. Overall, the reader comes away with a hilarious and thought-provoking book that is a very enjoyable read.

I simply love this book. Love, Stars, all That, is a book about Gita who came to study in Berkly, California and her experiences in a culture which is way different than her own. I can relate to her experiences in an American college. The situations she goes through reminded me of my own experiences in an American school as well as my cousins and friends who came as international students. The incidents she encounter are hilarious.......definitely a good book to read.

As I wonder about Manil Suri (The Death of Vishnu), when is this equally fine writer ever going to come out with another novel?? I keep checking and am beginning to despair. I loved this book and would snap up another one by Kirin Narayan.

I read Love, Stars, and All That for a class at the University of Virginia. The entire class seemed to really enjoy this book. I absolutely adored it. It is warm, funny, realistic, and not only intellectually stimulating, but emotionally fulfilling as well. It is about a girl named Gita who leaves India to attend college at Berkely. However, you don't have to be from India, or female to enjoy this book. I feel this book transcends any specific gender or nationality, and finds a common thread to relate to everyone. The characters are very realistic, and the plot moves with ease. It is such an intimate reading experience. You will find yourself laughing, and at the end, you will have found you have learned as well.

I first read this circa 1995....

it is SUCH an awesome book.

re-reading it is like eating comfort food --- dhokla.

Funny and touching story of a single female graduate student from India. I cannot wait for the sequel (hint for Ms. Narayan)