These Foolish Things

“Everything will be alright in the end, so if it is not alright it is not the end.”

This is one of those rare occasions where I preferred the film, although the film is only loosely based on the book. This book is very racist and reeks of colonisation. The British characters were either outright, unapologetically racist, or pretended not to be racist, whilst looking down on the Indian characters. So why did they move to India if they had such negative views of the country and its people? To stretch out their meagre pensions of course! Not too dissimilar to the ex-pat Brits who voted to leave the EU yet demanded the right to live in their European villas claiming the best of both worlds.

I get that this was meant to be comical, show more 'carry-on' comical perhaps. I also see this very negative nature reflected in many elderly people around me in the UK, so I get that it is a reflection of the real world, but that doesn't make it ok or acceptable. It left a bad taste in my mouth. show less

It’s kind of ironic that as I write this review, the Australian media is discussing the treatment of people in aged care facilities. While The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is an amusing look at getting old, it has some salient points about the care and respect that our elders deserve.

I was inspired to read this book after seeing a preview for the movie, because it looked really funny. I still haven’t seen the movie, but I’m really glad that I read the book. The premise is fairly simply – a doctor is inspired with his brother to start a ‘rest home’ for elderly UK residents in India, where everything is cheaper and the weather is better. It’s also a way to remove his troublesome father in law from his life! The residents come show more together in a motley fashion – some are looking to stretch out what little money they have left, others are returning to the India of their youth, some want adventure and some aren’t going entirely of their own will… There are cultural gaffes and tensions as the group settle down, but the friendship that blooms is really something special. It reminded me that it’s not just young people who have all the fun.

I raced through this book – all the characters are unique and have an interesting back story. I found Norman’s character particularly funny! Some may think the escapades of the elderly as being clichéd at times, but I found that wasn’t the case at all. It’s a lovely, light hearted look at getting older – both the good and the bad.

I’d definitely read another of Moggach’s books, even though I’ve heard that not all are as humourous as this one. That’s okay, because this book has demonstrated her excellent skills at creating memorable characters.

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I struggled to decide what I finally thought of this book. Initially I didn't like it very much at all: the characters seemed stereotypes and their situations didn't seem altogether believable, and at the beginning the book jumped around introducing one character after another at some depth so that I seemed to lose track of the earlier ones. However, it did grow on me halfway through. I listened to this as an audiobook and I think it would have been better read: I'd have probably read it more quickly and enjoyed it more.

Ravi's father-in-law Norman is the bane of his life: blacklisted at all the local care homes for his lecherous attention to the female staff, he is once more living with Ravi and his wife Pauline in London. After he show more accidentally sets fire to their kitchen, Ravi pours out his troubles to his cousin Suni, a businessman on a visit from his home in India, who comes up with a solution to Ravi's problem and a idea for a new money spinning venture at the same time. Why not outsource the old people of England to India: Indian prices would be so much cheaper that their retirement savings would pay for a much better standard of living. The perfect venue is found: The Exotic Marigold Hotel, a slightly run- down establishment which is reminiscent of the last days of the British Raj. The old people are collected: Norman himself; Evelyn a self-effacing woman lost in the modern world without her husband; Dorothy, an ex BBC producer who was respected but not much liked in her profession life; Muriel, a working class woman from Peckham who lives for her son Keith; and several more. All are transplanted to India, where as seems usual in this sort of book about India, they undergo various transformations as they find their true selves in the community of the hotel. And that's one of the reasons that the book falls down for me: I'm not a great believer in a change of country being a huge life-transforming experience - the people themselves are still the same. Those who make a success of retiring abroad always seem the ones who were reasonably happy in the UK anyway - unhappy people generally take their unhappiness with them. Certainly with the film of the same name I get the impression that you were supposed to come away with a lovely fuzzy warm feeling, which I didn't get from the book. show less

A diverse group of seniors have been given the chance to reside at a retirement home - sorry, hotel - in India. For various reasons the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is their most attractive option.

There are more characters, more complexities, and a more interesting story line, than the movie, which is significantly different. And although there is a deeper, more serious slant, the story is highly entertaining. Differences in culture are stark, but the human ability to adapt is still alive. Moggach portrays the modern India with its call centres and "Silicon Valley" existing side by side with poverty. What I liked least was that most of the characters had so much regret, and so little of their lives to look back on with joy.

The book was show more originally published with the title These Foolish Things. After the success of the movie it was reprinted as a movie tie-in. If I hadn't already seen the movie, I don't think I would have enjoyed this book as much. I could hear Judi Dench's voice every time Evelyn spoke. show less

This book is one of the rare examples where I find I prefer the film to the book. I found the characters in the book shallow and unlikable on the whole, which was disappointing. Generally, when reading a book that has been adapted for a film, you gain so much more from reading the book.

I am sure when I read this straight after seeing the film the first time I didn't feel quite as disappointed, just pleasure at the different perspective, the insight into the characters and the differences in the story. I have watched the film several times now and it is one of my favourites, so maybe that is why the book disappoints because the characters are more flawed and realistic in the book and it doesn't leave you feeling all warm and tingly show more inside just rather sad and with many unanswered questions.

I will be reading another book by Deborah Moggash, as my disappointment in this book may be due to the affect of the sugar-coated film rather than the book's author. show less

A very different book to what I had expected. I thought it was going to be a light-hearted comedy when in fact, it’s much more. I loved all of the characters, feeling they were a good representation either of their gender, age or nationality. The novel opens with Ravi, born in India but lived in London having trained as a doctor. His wife Pauline has the patience of a saint where her father, Norman, is concerned. Norman is once more living with them, having been asked to leave yet another residential home. This is to Ravi’s disgust and is having a detrimental effect on his marriage. One evening his cousin Sonny is visiting London on business and Ravi unburdens himself. It is at this point that Sonny hits on the idea to build a show more residential home in Bangalore, India. The plan comes through and Norman is the first resident.

Slowly, we are introduced to all the characters who eventually come to stay Dunroamin (play on words from ‘done roaming’). We hear their stories about why they got there and about their family lives. Some of the stories are brutally honest and seem to be representative of the aged today. Their initial fears of moving to India and also their prejudices are eventually put to one side as they realise one culture is not that different to another. Wonderfully written with superb narrative and characterisations, there are definite highlights and lowlights to retiring to a residential home but moving to another country was not one of the lowlights. It had an effect on all of the residents, making them evaluate their lives and what was important to them. I got to the end of novel having felt happy and sad – all the signs of a good writer to instil emotions in their reader. show less

It’s not often that I will say that a movie is better than the book it is based on, that is the case with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The flavor of India is better depicted in the visual medium, and the relationships between the characters seem to be better developed and understood. The excellent cast is surely the reason behind the success of the movie. That being said, the book is still enjoyable and the characters, though not all likeable, are at least entertaining. The premise of the book – out-sourcing your elderly citizens to another country for retirement – is an interesting one and open to further debate. The book is definitely worth reading, but then be sure to see the movie.