Around the World in 80 Trains

Reviews

What makes the book is [Rajesh's] wit, astute observations and willingness to try everything ... She arrived at St Pancras, on time, tired and triumphant. Her riveting account of the odyssey leaves us feeling the same As Monisha Rajesh triumphantly demonstrates in Around the World in 80 Trains, there’s life yet in both the trip and the telling Delightful ... Rajesh is not only blessed with an elegant style, but is witty and ever ready for a bit of self-deprecation Monisha Rajesh has chosen one of the best ways of seeing the world. Never too fast, never too slow, her journey does what trains do best. Getting to the heart of things. Prepare for a very fine ride Rajesh [is] a rare rising star of the genre … She has a simple and easy style, she sees everything and listens to everyone, she’s funny when she wants to be and serious when she needs to be, and she keeps the whole thing barrelling along like a wonderful dinner party conversation A relentlessly curious and wonderfully descriptive writer … [Rajesh] offers us a never-ending series of Theroux-esque, quirky anecdotes … Remarkably engaging … If you fancy learning about global travel in the relative slow lane, try boarding this carriage and staring out the window – here you can view the world through Rajesh’s eyes, as she takes us on a lazy, time-bending meander in search of authenticity and humanity An epic journey … When I say that I felt almost physically tired at the end of this book, I mean it as a compliment, a testament to its vivid evocations A triumph: a rollicking account, full of memorable encounters and laced with wit … Rajesh is an elegant stylist with a winning line in self-depreciation; hers is a delightful book This is travel-writing entirely at home in the 21st century, penned by a travel writer entirely comfortable in her own skin, and unashamedly enthused by the thrill of setting out to meet new people and to see new places A wonderfully wry and witty debut. Crackles and sparks with life like an exploding box of Diwali fireworks Rajesh's quick-fire writing is unflinchingly frank, with details packed in as tightly as passengers on Mumbai's commuter trains. A lively read A great big lovely shambling train ride of a book, offering wonderful views, hilarious interludes, all sorts of dodgy characters and some very peculiar smells, all for the one ticket An ode to locomotive travel, it is bound with heart-warming human encounters, chaos, and awe-inspiring views Expand reviews