The Zigzag Way

Anita Desai

A thought-provoking book ranging across time, place and most importantly cultures. It looks at how we impact on our surroundings, sometimes in ways that we never intended and often in ways of which we have little or no awareness. This is a study of people seeking self-knowledge and personal redemption. And was that really Pancho Villa on the train?

Extract

Eric could only lie to be polite and avoid inflicting pain, not for any boastful reason. "Not really", he muttered, hoping the yipping of the pugs would drown out his craven response. He found himself actually shuffling his shoes. Now, if he had been the delivery man of a patisserie, he thought ruefully. Instead, he had to admit, "It's for a personal reason..."

Parallels