The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

A Novel

By: Deborah Moggach

Narrated by: Juliet Mills

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a major motion picture starring Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Billy Nighy, and Dev Patel

When Ravi Kapoor, an overworked London doctor, reaches the breaking point with his difficult father-in-law, he asks his wife: “Can’t we just send him away somewhere? Somewhere far, far away.” His prayer is seemingly answered when Ravi’s entrepreneurial cousin sets up a retirement home in India, hoping to re-create in Bangalore an elegant lost corner of England. Several retirees are enticed by the promise of indulgent living at a bargain price, but upon arriving, they are dismayed to find that restoration of the once sophisiticated hotel has stalled, and that such amenities as water and electricity are... infrequent. But what their new life lacks in luxury, they come to find, it’s plentiful in adventure, stunning beauty, and unexpected love.

©2012 Deborah Moggach (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

“[Deborah] Moggach has served us a treat with this novel. Moving, sincere, funny.” (Independent on Sunday)

“Underneath the ironies, [ The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel] is a book about remembering - too late, or not too late - how to be alive.” ( The Times Literary Supplement)

"Classic Moggach: funny, touching, and... full of colours and visual details.” ( The Daily Telegraph)

One of the Best Audiobooks Ever

Excellent audiobook. Juliet Mills’s voice is both animated and soothing. A pleasure to listen to, like a grandmother reading a bedtime story (for adults). She bring all the characters to life—English, Indian and even a few Americans. This book is so well written that it’s hard to believe Ms. Mills could have been reading at all. So happy I finally got around to listening to this audiobook. Don’t put it off any longer—tempus fugit, as the guests at the Marigold can attest.

could have been much better

The writer started off with a great idea but it never really came together. The stories interconnected in a rather absurd way and there was not very good character development. I think that although it was a cute story and not a terrible way to spend credits and time, it missed the boat! It seemed like it was a first novel to me, very amateurish.

entertaining but what was the plot?

I was waiting for the reason for the story. There wasn't a conclusion. Easy listening.

Exceptional

Character development made this book ! The narration was perfect for this Book. Fantastic circumstances were made so believable. I would recommend this book for a book club study.

Dont bother wasting your money!!!

A very dark, cynical, sad, and erotic piece of writing. The characters are weak, the story lines thin, and the narrative predictible. To support the sagging book, sex is used indiscrimately and becomes offensive. Any dignity of life in old age is stripped away. Every relationship fails. All people of faith become disillusioned. Not recommended on any level.

unable to follow the arc of the story

Listened to the whole book, and was unable to make sense of it. It seemed to me to be just a random telling of stories, without connection. Narration however, was very nice.

A disappointment.

Any additional comments?

I usually enjoy a book so much more than a movie, so when I saw the movie I was determined to read the book. The stories are completely different. This story did not engage my interest. I was not put off by anything, I simply didn't care what happened to the characters. I was enchanted by the movie and will buy it for my collection.

Disappointing after seeing the movie.Very negative

Tone of the book is very different than that of the movie and I am sorry I saw the movie before reading the book. Book characters are very one dimensional, quite the ideal of the little old men and women. Much criticism of the British health system, which is true, but no positives about it at all. Cynicism everwhere and just not the type of book I prefer to read. Really had to buckle down and force myself to finish the book. Good ending, however, despite the negativity of the book as a whole.

Movie was better, for once

Narrative was great I pictured Judi Dench but the story was lacking. Characters not as rich as they were in the film. less comical and more melancholy.

First for everything

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The person who has not seen the movie and therefore has no expectations.

Has The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, I will still listen to or read other books with similar themes.

Which character – as performed by Juliet Mills – was your favorite?

Evelyn.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel?

See additional comments.

Any additional comments?

This is indeed a first for me. When asked if I liked the book or the movie better the obvious answer has always been, "the book!" This is the exception. I saw the movie first and the characters and their lives are composites of the characters written in the book. I would have been okay with that since the movie is written based on the book. But the cover of the audio book is the same as the movie complete with pictures of the actors. There could have been maybe 30% similarity. And honestly the book could have been a lot better with a combination of the characters in the book and those in the movie. The characters in the book were not strong enough to bring the characters off the page for me and the plot was most certainly weak in my opinion.