Reserved Seat

This review might be biased for it is the story of the city I love. A narrative that reminds me of the movie Man from Earth - but just on the 'beautiful city yet horrible place' of Bombay. The author's story of the city is short, crisp and fluid. The pre-Independence part 1 of the book makes you want to go re-discover your city now armed with the remarkable narratives of some areas. None of the weekend excursions that I planned in my head as I read along was more compelling than my wish to go to Nalasopara to visit the remains of a Mauryan Age stupa. The second part of the book takes on a political tone (bound to polarize readers) but the shift in voice too is indicative of the transformation our city went through. This is however Naresh Fernandes' story of the city and he delivers it as a ringside spectator view of the city through centuries. For falling in love with the city all over again (with all its glorious faults) and for ideas gallore on many weekend excursions to be planned within the city- this book is a must read for all those who live here.