In her twenties, journalist Sarah Macdonald backpacked around India and came away with a lasting impression of heat, pollution and poverty. So when an airport beggar read her palm and told her she would return to India--and for love--she screamed, "Never!" and gave the country, and him, the finger. But eleven years later, the prophecy comes true. When the love of Sarah's life is posted to India, she quits her dream job to move to the most polluted city on earth, New Delhi. For Sarah this seems like the ultimate sacrifice for love, and it almost kills her, literally. Just settled, she falls dangerously ill with double pneumonia, an experience that compels her to face some serious questions about her own fragile mortality and inner spiritual void. "I must find peace in the only place possible in India," she concludes. "Within." Thus begins her journey of discovery through India in search of the meaning of life and death. Holy Cow is Macdonald's often hilarious chronicle of her adventures in a land of chaos and contradiction, of encounters with Hinduism, Islam and Jainism, Sufis, Sikhs, Parsis and Christians and a kaleidoscope of yogis, swamis and Bollywood stars. From spiritual retreats and crumbling nirvanas to war zones and New Delhi nightclubs, it is a journey that only a woman on a mission to save her soul, her love life--and her sanity--can survive.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
A Selfish Woman's Selfish View of India & Search For Self:
I have to admit that I decided to read this book because it has a great cover. I should have peeked a bit inside, though, because the cliched chapter titles would have kept me away: Insane in the Membrane, Birds of a Feather Become Extinct Together, etc. Basically, this is the memoir of a selfish Australian woman's year in India. She sees India as a filthy place full of disgusting people with intolerable cultural habits. And she spends her free time (while her husband is working in other cities or... more info
Travels in the Future:
India is our future - as the youngest, biggest, and increasingly smartest society on earth the way India goes will lead us all. So much I read on India is about macro forces....this book gives an on the ground view from a slightly wacky but always hilarious explorer from Australia. At this point in my life I can't pick up and travel around India...so this book is the next best thing.
Bit exaggerated whining, but entertaining neverthless.:
I picked this book because the front cover looked colorful (read funky) and the review on the back said it was hilarious account an Ozzie's journey. Good : Sarah definitely has a flair for humor. More on the sarcastic side, but it is there. She can also laugh at herself. She traveled extensively in India and experienced quite a lot during her stay. She definitely got a closer look at the typical social life in India and narrated her impressions in detail. So, you will definitely get a taste of... more info
Terrorists Don't Meditate For Peace:
Sarah Macdonalds Holy Cow was generally an enjoyable read particularly as she reported her experience with
her spiritual journey and the adventures she encountered. Her descriptions of the events, people and environment were colorful, witty and powerful. I thought that she ran into trouble when she gave her commentary on the aftermath of 9/11. She took a decidedly naive opinion as she expressed disappointment that the US reactions was not that of "forgiveness and compassion". She also some... more info
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