Shoba Narayan

If you were completely meh about cows, you will worship them after this joyously true story. After many years in the US, the author, a native of Karnataka in South India, returns to her homeland with her husband and children. Although the family lives in a modern housing development, across the street is an urban dairy farm and author Shoba becomes great friends with Sarala, the woman of the title, and also becomes intimately involved with Sarala's sons and cows. Each chapter is like a show more glittering gem of cultural knowledge, wisdom, and silliness - for example, the advantages of desi (native) cows vs Holstein-Fresians is examined within the context of the taste and properties of their milk and their urine (yes). The overall look into the lives of the South Indian servant class, and how intensely troubled Shoba is by the vast trench between the classes and castes, is especially vividly told: "The pain of India, at least for me, has been to learn to deal with the inequalities of life that I see between my family and the people who help us in our house. For me, being surrounded by people whose means are drastically different from mine opens up a Pandora's box of guilt."

The stories here are equal parts amusing and troubling. It's a fine introduction to an area that few US tourists will see because there's no Taj Mahal around. show less

Delightful book - this memoir starts when the author is a young girl observing her mother in the kitchen and learning about the art and meaning of South Indian cooking. Each chapter tells a critical story about Shoba's life and includes the recipe for the food(s) that are associated with that story. I enjoyed learning about the culture and mores that influence girls and women in this Indian/Hindu trandition and about how the author reconsiders her culture once she emigrates to the US for show more college. While I only have a passing familiarity with Indian cuisine, I must say that I definitely want to try more based on this lovely book. show less

Moving back to India, after twenty years in the states, the first thing Shoba encounters is a woman with a cow, in the elevator of the apartment building in which she and her family are moving. This is her first introduction to Sarala who will soon be her introduction to all things cow.

Who would ever think a book about cows, their urine and dung, their milk and the benefits from drinking it straight from said cow, to be so fascinating? Yet,I was, I loved this story, loved the people in it, show more and loved reading about the vibrant and colorful country of India. The importance of cows in the Indian culture, and how this came to be. The many uses of cow urine and dung. So much about their culture, their traditions, and the importance of family. So yes, it is about cows, but it encompasses so much more.

Loved the friendly tone, like the writer is talking to you, explaining to you. Not at all snooty, just wanting to learn, understand, and embrace all that she can. Also explains some of the differences between those who hold with the old traditions, and the young people who now want to be modern. Generational gap. So friendship, family, and cows. Loved it! show less

This was a very surprising book to me, and I am so glad a read it. It is, in a word, about cows. Cows, it turns out, are a far more complex topic than I, as a westerner who group up with them could have imagined.

I am so delighted to learn more about Indian culture, especially how modern India is transforming into a massively urban culture and how they are holding on to rural roots and to religious values. The cow rescue compound was an eye-opening concept to me. The idea of walking a cow show more around in a living space to bless it with droppings (even if this living space is an apartment in a brand new building) is amazing. The many interesting medical properties of cow products (not all milk, my darlings, not by a long shot) are fascinating, and the writer does a marvelous job bringing outsiders in. show less