Best Selling Books by Rohinton Mistry

A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry’s stunning internationally acclaimed bestseller, is set in mid-1970s India. It tells the story of four unlikely people whose lives come together during a time of political turmoil soon after the government declares a “State of Internal Emergency.” Through days of bleakness and hope, their circumstances – and their fates – become inextricably linked in ways no one could have foreseen. Mistry’s prose is alive with enduring images and a cast of unforgettable characters. Written with compassion, humour, and insight, A Fine Balance is a vivid, richly textured, and powerful novel written by one of the most gifted writers of our time.

In these eleven intersecting stories, Rohinton Mistry reveals the rich, complex patterns of life inside a Bombay apartment building. The occupants - from Jaakaylee, the ghost-seer, through Najami, the only owner of a refrigerator in Firozsha Baag, to Rustomji the Curmudgeon and Kersi, the boy whose life threads through the book - all express, knowingly or unknowingly, the tensions between the past and the present, between the old world and the new. Compassionate and extremely funny, Tales from Firozsha Baag illuminates the meaning of change through the brilliantly textured mosaic of seemingly ordinary lives. ''Mistry''s joyful notation of the world reminds us that description is one of fiction''s first and gravest tasks.'' Guardian ''A fine collection . . . the volume is informed by a tone of gentle compassion for seemingly insignificant lives.'' New York Times

Set in Bombay in the mid-1990s, Family Matters tells a story of familial love and obligation, of personal and political corruption, of the demands of tradition and the possibilities for compassion. Nariman Vakeel, the patriarch of a small discordant family, is beset by Parkinson’s and haunted by memories of his past. He lives with his two middle-aged stepchildren, Coomy, bitter and domineering, and her brother, Jal, mild-mannered and acquiescent. But the burden of the illness worsens the already strained family relationships. Soon, their sweet-tempered half-sister, Roxana, is forced to assume sole responsibility for her bedridden father. And Roxana’s husband, besieged by financial worries, devises a scheme of deception involving his eccentric employer at a sporting goods store, setting in motion a series of events that leads to the narrative’s moving outcome. Family Matters has all the richness, the gentle humour, and the narrative sweep that have earned Mistry the highest of accolades around the world.

Such a Long Journey is set in (what was then) Bombay against the backdrop of war in the Indian subcontinent and the birth of Bangladesh, telling the story of the peculiar way in which the conflict impinges on the lives of Gustad Noble, an ordinary man, and his family. It was the brilliant first novel by one of the most remarkable writers to have emerged from the Indian literary tradition in many years. It was shortlisted for the 1991 Booker Prize, and won the 1992 Commonwealth Writers Prize.

Firozsha Baag is an apartment building in Bombay. Its ceilings need plastering and some of the toilets leak appallingly, but its residents are far from desperate, though sometimes contentious and unforgiving. In these witty, poignant stories, Mistry charts the intersecting lives of Firozsha Baag, yielding a delightful collective portrait of a middle-class Indian community poised between the old ways and the new. "A fine collection...the volume is informed by a tone of gentle compassion for seemingly insignificant lives."--Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

Explores the crowded, throbbing life of India in a collection of stories set in Firozsha Baag, a Bombay apartment building characterized by an unexpected sense of community.

Bombay 1975. Vier Menschen treffen aufeinander. Ihre Schicksale verknüpft Rohinton Mistry meisterlich zu einem großen Roman. Wir bedgenen Dina Dalal, einer Frau Anfang Vierzig und Maneck Kohlah, einem Studenten aus dem Gebiet des Himalaja; dem unglaublich optimistischen Ishvar Darji und seinem widerspenstigen Neffen, zwei Schneidern, die vom Land in die Stadt geflohen sind. Seine großen erzählerischen Bögen spannt Misty von den grünen Tälern des Himalaja bis in die Straßen von Bombay. Er erzählt von Rajaram, dem Haarsammler; dem geschäftstüchtigen Bettlermeister, Herr über eine Bettlerarmee; oder Mr Valmik, einem Korrekturleser, der eine Allergie gegen Druckerschwärze entwickelt. ›Das Gleichgewicht der Welt‹ läßt den indischen Subkontinent vor den Augen der Leser entstehen - ein Kosmos, der nur auf den ersten Blick fremd erscheint.

Esta obra maestra cuenta la vida de cuatro personas en la India de los años setenta que, forzadas por la necesidad, aprenden a mantener un equilibrio perfecto entre la esperanza y la desesperación. Estamos en 1975, en una ciudad india junto al mar. El gobierno acaba de declarar el estado de emergencia, y dada la escasez de vivienda cuatro personas se ven obligadas a compartir un pequeño apartamento. Forman un cuarteto especial: Dina, una costurera de cuarenta años viuda desde hace veinte y decidida a no volverse a casar. Maneck, que dejó su pueblo de montaña obligado por sus padres a abandonar el hogar para estudiar en la ciudad. El optimista Ishvar y su sobrino Omprakash, dos sastres que han huido de la terrible violencia de castas que existe en su pequeña aldea de origen. Unidos solo por el hilo impersonal de la necesidad común, estos cuatro personajes ven cómo sus vidas se entretejen de manera inexplicable e inseparable. La confianza, el humor y el afecto, que crecen gradualmente entre ellos, se convierten en un baluarte contra los rigores y las maquinaciones de la vida diaria, manteniéndolos unidos tanto para lo bueno como para lo malo. Novela ganadora de los premios Giller, Commonwealth Writter y Los Angeles Times. Esta novelapertenece al #FondoDeEditor de Literatura Random House «Ni la injusticia, ni la pobreza, ni la desesperación desplazan la belleza de esta historia atemporal y comprometida. Una novela a la que volver.» Claudio López Lamadrid Reseñas: «Una obra genial. Tendrían que leerla todos los que aman los libros, debería ganar todos los premios.» Literary Review «Una obra maestra. [...] Como toda gran ficción, transforma nuestra forma de entender la vida.» The Guardian (UK) «Una increíble novela [...] llena de sabiduría y carcajadas y toques de una inesperada familiaridad durante una lectura que ilumina la vida.» Wall Street Journal «Pocos son los que han recogido tan bien como Mistry la verdadera melancolía y la inexplicable fuerza de la India, la incomprensible criminalidad y la dulzura.» Time « Un perfecto equilibrio tiene la ambición panorámica y la numerosísima nómina de caracteres de las ficciones balzaquianas o tolstoianas.» La Vanguardia «Además de alta literatura, de lo más recomendable para conocer la India sin escenario, la India desnuda de sus habitantes cotidianos.» El País «Esta novela tiene el coraje de recordar y reafirmar quiénes somos, individualmente; siguiendola tradición de las grandes novelas, celebra la luminosidad y la insaciabilidad del espíritu humano.» Globe and Mail «Una destacada obra maestra escrita por un genio.» The Independent

Ein großer Familienroman über das moderne Indien Gustad Noble wohnt mit seiner Familie in einem Wohnblock am Rande von Bombay. Er ist mittlerer Bankbeamter, gläubiger Parse, besorgter Vater und ein treuer Freund. Seine Familie steht im Mittelpunkt von Rohinton Mistrys Roman, der einfühlsam und humorvoll das Leben der Menschen in der indischen Metropole schildert. Im Schicksal von Gustad spiegelt sich die ganze zeitgenössische Gesellschaft Indiens in ihren Wünschen und Widersprüchen. »Ein reiches, menschliches Buch, zweifellos einer der besten Romane über Indien.« The Spectator

Tiden er 1975. Stedet er Indien. Premierministeren hedder Indira Gandhi, og situationen i landet er kommet fuldstændig ud af kontrol. På papiret er Indien et demokrati, men millioner af mennesker lever under feudallignende forhold, og de urørlige går over på den anden side af gaden af frygt for, at deres skygge skal falde på en højkastehindu. I denne betændte situation finder fire umage mennesker sammen i et arbejdsfællesskab en lillebitte lejlighed ved havet: Lejlighedens indehaver, enken Dina Dalal, en ung studerende, den blide Manech Kohlah, samt to skræddere, den altid optimistiske Ishvar Darji og hans unge nevø, Omprakash (Om), hvis glæde ved livet er blevet slået helt i stykker hjemme i landsbyen. Rohinton Mistry modtog for denne i alle henseender store roman The Commonwealth Writers-prisen, The Giller Prize og den danske ALOA-pris. En hårfin balance blev ligeledes shortlistet til den prestigefyldte engelske litteraturpris, Booker-prisen.

Rohinton Mistry is arguably Canada’s most beloved and popular writer. His fiction has won prestigious prizes in Canada and around the world. The Oprah’s Book Club selection of his novel A Fine Balance increased Mistry’s already large audience in North America, and in Canada alone to more than a quarter of a million readers. He is working on a new novel, as yet unscheduled, but this delicious little book will be savoured by Mistry’s hungry and devoted fans. The Scream is a single story by Rohinton Mistry, to date his shortest book! And what a gem it is. Set in a Bombay apartment, The Scream is narrated by a man at the end of his life, who is angry at the predicament of old age, at his isolation from his family and from a world that no longer understands him. He rails and raves in ways that are both hilarious and moving, and which touch us with recognition. Printed originally in a limited edition of 150 copies that was sold exclusively by World Literacy of Canada as a fundraiser for their organization, The Scream was exquisitely produced and featured original artwork by the celebrated Canadian artist Tony Urquhart. This is the first trade edition of this treasure, which will retain beautiful production values as well as all of Tony Urquhart’s colourful, dynamic artwork, which was inspired by the story. This gorgeous little book is a must-have for all of Rohinton Mistry’s fans, for their own shelves as a collector’s item and as the perfect gift.

Nariman bor hos sine to ugifte stedbørn, Coomy og Jal, i den store lejlighed, han købte til dem – mod at de skulle tage sig af ham på hans gamle dage. Arrangementet er nogenlunde tilfredsstillende, selvom Coomy aldrig har tilgivet den gamle mand, at han elskede en anden kvinde end hendes mor. Derfor benytter Coomy, trods broderens protester, enhver tænkelig lejlighed til at gøre livet surt for Nariman. Men den dag, Nariman brækker anklen og bliver tvunget til at holde sig i sengen, går alting galt. Nu gælder alle kneb for at slippe af med den besværlige byrde! Måske kan det lykkes at få ham smurt af på datteren Roxie, hendes mand og deres to drenge – selv om hendes familie bor i en lillebitte lejlighed og kun lige akkurat kan få det til at løbe rundt økonomisk. Et Familieanliggende er en grotesk og galgenhumoristisk beretning om, hvor langt nogle vil gå for at undvige deres pligter, om de handlinger selv meget moralske mennesker vil begå i ren og skær desperation – og om den kærlighed, som overvinder om ikke alt, så dog en hel del. Pressen skrev: »Rohinton Mistry er en fremragende skildrer af familiens dynamik i ny strålende roman... Mistry kan skrive en roman, så man som læser føler sig suget lige ind i virkeligheden – til det levende og krævende sted, som en familie faktisk er.« – Politiken

Révélé par le succès de son roman L''Equilibre du monde, l''écrivain Rohinton Mistry occupe une place de premier plan dans la littérature anglo-indienne d''aujourd''hui. On retrouve dans ce récit multiforme son exceptionnel talent de conteur, mêlant avec bonheur l''humour, la tendresse et le sens du tragique pour illustrer à travers l''histoire d''une famille ordinaire la grandeur et la misère de l''humaine condition. Bombay, 1971. Nous sommes à la veille du conflit au Pakistan qui va aboutir à la création du Bangladesh. Gustad Noble, un employé de banque modèle, bon père de famille et honnête citoyen, va voir sa modeste existence bouleversée par une série de tourmentes qui le laisseront pauvre comme Job. Des troubles familiaux d''abord, puis une lettre d''un vieil ami qui lui demande de l''aider à réaliser une mission qu''on pourrait croire héroïque... Des événements dont Gustad ne soupçonne pas l''ampleur et qui marquent pour lui le début d''un long voyage : celui d''un cœur vertueux dans un monde en pleine turbulence. Un roman festif qui va de la grande comédie au portrait de famille profondément touchant. Rohinton Mistry est un vrai cartographe littéraire.

À travers le portrait pittoresque de la petite bourgeoisie parsie de Bombay, Mistry aborde, avec un regard tendre et humain, une réalité plus grave : celle du traditionalisme rigide et du fanatisme religieux. Comme dans ses précédents romans, l''auteur de L''Équilibre du monde met au service d''une vision sans complaisance de la société indienne son immense talent de conteur, son sens du cocasse et sa sympathie communicative pour des personnages naïfs, injustement malmenés par la vie. « Si Mistry figure parmi les écrivains indiens les plus remarqués d''aujourd''hui, c''est parce qu''il n''essaie pas de faire de l''Inde son sujet principal : son véritable territoire, c''est le coeur divisé. » The New York Review of Books « Profondément émouvant. John Updike a raison : Mistry nous dépeint Bombay avec un réalisme digne de Tolstoï. » The Times « Un récit magnétique qui approche la perfection. » Booklist

In these eleven intersecting stories, Rohinton Mistry opens our eyes and our hearts to the rich, complex patterns of life inside this Bombay apartment building. The occupants - from Jaakaylee, the ghost-seer, through Najamai, the only owner of a refrigerator in Firozsha Baag, to Rustomji the Curmudgeon and Kersi, the young boy whose life threads through the book - all express the tensions between the past and the present, between the old world and the new.

Set in contemporary India, this work confirms Vikram Chandra as one of the exciting young writers. In five tales, he paints a remarkable picture of Bombay - its ghosts, its passions, its feuds, its mysteries - while exploring questions of the human spirit.

Voici le grand roman de l''Inde contemporaine, réaliste, foisonnant, inspiré - traversé par le souffle d''un Hugo ou d''un Dickens. L''histoire se déroule au cours des années 1970 et 1980. Dans le même quartier vivent des personnages venus d''horizons très divers : Ishvar et Omprakash, les deux tailleurs des " intouchables ". Dina, la jeune veuve, qui, pour survivre, se lance dans la confection à domicile. Maneck, descendu de ses lointaines montagnes pour poursuivre des études. Shankar, le cul-de-jatte, exploité par le maître des mendiants. Bien d''autres encore... A travers les heurs et malheurs de leurs existences, au gré d''épisodes tour à tour drôles, tendres ou cruels, sur la toile de fond d''une actualité politique tourmentée et souvent tragique, Rohinton Mistry, romancier anglophone né à Bombay, brosse une fresque qui est à la fois l''odyssée d''une nation et une parabole de la condition humaine. Un de ces romans-fleuves, qui nous emporte irrésistiblement.

Rohinton Mistry er kjent for mange norske lesere for romanen "Balansekunst". I Familieanliggender tar forfatteren oss med til 1990- årenes Bombay. Mistry er en realistisk forteller, og i denne romanen skildres miljøer og enkeltmenneskets kamp i hverdagen med både humor og alvor. Nariman Vakeel er parsi, 79 år gammel og enkemann. Han lider av Parkinsons sykdom og bor i en nedslitt leilighet sammen med sine to middelaldrene stebarn. Da Nariman, stikk i strid med stebarnas anvisninger, spaserer en tur i byens gater og brekker foten, blir omsorgsbyrden for tung for dem, og de overlater ansvaret til sin mye yngre halvsøster, Roxana. Hun bor i en liten leilighet med mann og to små sønner, og den nye situasjonen setter hele familien på harde prøver. Boken var nominert til Booker- prisen i 2002.