Comments on: Review: The Village, Nikita Lalwani

By: Nishita (@nishmvk)

Nishita (@nishmvk) — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:02:36 +0000

I kind of prefer the American cover. It seems more suited to what the book seems to be about, and that photo shows actual Indians, so it automatically gets more points.

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:54:33 +0000

In reply to aartichapati.

That is a super valid pet peeve. In this case, I believe it was part of the broader point Lalwani was making about how looking at people doesn’t give you a try sense of them — like, Ray looks at the villagers and doesn’t see them clearly, and they look at her and don’t see her clearly. I pulled that quote because I thought it was a good illustration of that.

So yeah! This was my problem with the covers! British one is like Hi, India here; and American one is like, Blur I am blurry who even knows. :/

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:52:26 +0000

In reply to Athira. It's pretty good! Give it a try.

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:51:55 +0000

In reply to aliceburton. YEAH you do because YOU are extremely CLEVER.

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:51:36 +0000

In reply to NWK (@MumsyNancy). Indeed? But the American cover is rather dull also?

By: aartichapati

aartichapati — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 03:48:30 +0000

Ugh, I’m sorry but i could not help rolling my eyes at the quote you shared above. I feel like EVERY BOOK about race relations somehow talks about how people “become” white when they live in “the West,” and it just REALLY ANNOYS ME. There are so many more relevant and deeper comments people can make about globalization and multi-culturalism – or they could even make the same point, but without hitting us over the head with it. It really bothers me. Though, granted, I may be reading the quote out of context and going on a rant for no reason.

I vote American cover. The British one just looks way too stereotypical “Hey, look! I am a book about India!” to me. The American one would probably be picked up by a more racially diverse (er, perhaps more white) set of readers.

By: Athira

Athira — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 22:08:55 +0000

This one had been on my list sometime back but then I totally forgot about it. The idea sounds pretty promising – I will be eager to check it out.

By: aliceburton

aliceburton — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:01:19 +0000

“Everything people see in Ray is there, but it’s not the totality of her identity, just as the inmates cannot be solely defined as murderers.”

HEY I GET IT.

British cover = totally more eye-catching. The American one looks stock photo-y.

By: NWK (@MumsyNancy)

NWK (@MumsyNancy) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 11:31:49 +0000

I have to disagree about the covers. I think the American one has it hands down in this case (based on your review). the British cover looks dated and dull to me. But the book sounds interesting!