Synopses & Reviews
Journalist Aaron Smith never planned to go to India before he had a contract put on his life by a drug dealer, and suddenly it seemed like the perfect place to get lost. In the process, he ended up finding himself, as well as encountering a dead body or two, witnessing the tragic death of a friend, dodging terrorist attacks and a revolution, and befriending a colorful cast of characters. This wild, on the road travelogue across the Indian subcontinent is more than just a coming of (middle) age story, it provides a look into contemporary India without drowning in rhetoric. Its the grittier, laugh-out-loud male complement to Elizabeth Gilberts Eat, Pray, Love.
Review
“Visceral …Its quite a trip.” —Richard Aedy, Life Matters, ABC Radio
Review
"At times as garish as a Bollywood flick and reminiscent of fellow Australian Gregory David Roberts' Indian adventure Shantaram." —Publishers Weekly
Review
“A funny and enjoyable romp packed with travellers tales that rings true.” —Julian Swallow, The Adelaide Advertiser
Review
"Smith's tale is part travelogue, part psychedelic journey, part coming-of-age, and strangely engrossing." —Publishers Weekly
Review
"The narrative of this spiritual quest/drug-fueled odyssey is striking and even lyrical, and the tension builds rapidly to a haunting end." —Ravi Shenoy, Library Journal
Synopsis
Providing a look at India that is humorous, unvarnished, and unsentimental, this travel narrative takes readers on a rollicking journey of personal discovery across the Indian subcontinent. A travelogue of journalist Aaron Smiths time in India—witnessing the tragic death of a friend, dodging terrorist attacks, getting caught in a revolution, and befriending a colorful cast of characters—it explores the inherent contradictions of India in a fast pace that allows the reader to explore the grittier side of India and revel in its swirling madness.
Synopsis
Journalist Aaron Smith never planned to go to India before he had a contract put on his life by a drug dealer, when suddenly India seemed like the perfect place to get lost. In the process, he ended up finding himself, as well as encountering a dead body or two, witnessing the tragic death of a friend, dodging terrorist attacks and a revolution, and befriending a colorful cast of characters.
Pulling no punches, this Gonzo-styled, page-turning Indian adventure has pathos, self-deprecation, and a wicked sense of humor. It provides a raw, honest, and amusing appraisal of traveling through contemporary India.
About the Author
Aaron Smith has been a punk rocker, actor, truck driver, construction worker, scuba diver guide, sound engineer, filmmaker, playwright, English teacher, and barman in various countries. He is now a freelance journalist who continues to travel extensively through Asia and Latin America. His work has appeared in Diver, Outer Edge, Australian Geographic, The Australian Way, the Qantas inflight magazine. Aaron makes regular appearances on the radio and at literary festivals to discuss his travels. He lives with his Brazilian wife and daughter in Australia (or where ever they drop their bags).