Bombay Balchao

If you are looking for a heart-warming read during these tough times, I would recommend Bombay Balchao. I think it's the best contemporary fiction I have read in recent times.It's a story set in Dr Ralph D’Lima Street in Cavel, Bombay. The book is a collection of interconnected short stories about Cavel and its interesting inhabitants. The book shares stories of multiple generations of Goan Christians settled in Bombay. Each story in this book is well textured, the characters are well rounded. I cherished every page of this book. I loved all the main characters. Michael Coutinho, Merlyn Mascarenhas, Ellena Gomes, Annette Coutinho and Mario Lawrence. Annette Coutinho is my favorite lady. There is a large group of secondary characters, each unique and hilarious in their own ways.When I started reading, I found the language a bit tough. But after a few pages, I got used to Ms. Borges' language. She has a unique sense of story, history, characters and nuances of the lives of Goan Christians. By the end of the book, I was sad, as I knew I'll miss the quirky inhabitants of Cavel.

Bombay Balchao is the perfect book for that lazy weekend read. It's written well, with a pace that is easy to maintain and is something you should read if you're at all trying to 'get back to reading'.The characters start off by being rather numerous and confusing and there were parts where I had to stop and go back to previous chapters to remember who was who. Another quibble was that the historical references appeared to be more of a force fit than a comfortable integration into the story.It's slow going for the first two chapters. But as the pages progress, something happens. The characters start becoming layered and more realistic. Their stories become the kind that you want to know more about. Weaving together multiple plots isn't easy and while it isn't perfect I'd say that it all does come together very nicely in the second half of the book.This book is also a reminder that Bombay is such an energetic and enigmatic city which continues to inspire some of the best storytelling in contemporary Indian writing.A writer to watch out for.

It’s an amazing book which keeps you engaged till the last page but still you can’t get enough of it . Being a Mangalorean , East Indian I could relate to this book . And not to forget the humour .I was really laughing while reading some pages as though the scenes were taking in front of me . It’s a must read .

I had come across Jane Borges' 'Bombay Balchao' on Twitter and even on Amazon many times. But I guess there is a time for everything.A couple of weeks ago, I picked up the book on Kindle unlimited. I enjoy reading fiction that give you a sense of place, and Bombay Balchao had that promise.But what I didn't expect is to get immediately sucked into the world of Goan and Mangalorean Christians living on Dlima road in a fictional Bombay neighborhood called Cavel.From pre-independence to the noughties, the story takes us through lives of many different characters from Cavel. From their love and hatred to their food and customs, you get to grow with the characters. But at the heart of the book is beautiful storytelling.I was a tad disappointed when the book ended. Because I didn't want to leave Cavel and it's people. I loved the book so much that I ordered a paperback immediately so my family members could read it too.I hope Jane follows up this book with another gem based in Cavel.

I loved the stories of families individually and how they were interwoven. This kind of intrigued me to explore the place and the dishes mentioned to kind of live the life and culture of these families.

The book is interesting - in parts. It is structured poorly, though. Instead of a steady narrative, it is more like an odd collection of memories with irregulsr links with each other.

Kissey, kahaniyan aur kuch atoot rishte... These three words summarise this book very well.It is a collection of interconnected short stories of people living in Cavel, Bombay. It is set against the backdrop of pre and post-independence era extending till modern times. There are several characters in here but the main character is Michael- around whose friends and family the story revolves.This book gives several insights too on the Portuguese conquered Goa and adjacent places.Some chapters are hilarious, some are sad while others are simply heart-touching and soothing. I was entertained throughout the book. Even though the stories were not connected, they still built ample anticipation in me to read further.Read this when you feel the blues of life. Read this to know the history, culture, and stories of old Bombay. Read this!

“For when it rains, I will take out our crumpled paper boat, yellowed and torn at the edges, and sail it through the narrow, muddy stream. If it stops mid-way, Tracey will laugh. Then I will do what I always did best and she will hold my hands and say, ‘I hate that smile of yours.’”Bombay Balchao is a set of short stories about a group of people living in a predominantly catholic area in South Bombay. The stories frequently jump over time periods, so if one is set in the 60s, the next one could be in the 80s and then the one after that in the 70s. However, the place, and the characters largely remain the same. They are all residents of this society and we get a glimpse into their lives in all these different time periods, growing up and down with them.The book is a refreshing read, and while it is short enough to be completed in a few sittings, I would encourage the reader to take their time with it. Every story ends with a lot to think about, and it is best absorbed if one gives some time to mull it over.

Interesting read

Delightful book. Really enjoyed this read. Very well written.

Move over, Amistead Maupin, our own Jane Borges is here with tales of Cavel. Each story is beautifully crafted, replete with humor and warmth. The curious lingo of Goan Christians, their prejudices and quirks are brought out in the book. The stories are standalone but are connected by common characters and their life events.It is one of the best contemporary books I have read in a long long time by an Indian author.

As someone coming from Bombay the characters are familiar, we all know people like them. The book is easy to read, and found it hard to stop. After finishing the book all I wanted to do was cook up a batch of balchao.