The Hungry Tide

With its "heart of darkness" tone and subject matter, this book is an intriguing mix of adventure tale, geopolitical treatise, and love story. The author writes beautifully, bringing the eerily dreamlike Sundarbans and their inhabitants fully to life. Some of the characters--and particularly the young female environmental scientist at the heart of the story--remain a bit underdeveloped. But the book's setting, tone, and language are so lush and the story so authentic that this is easily overlooked. "The Hungry Tide" is a highly satisfying audiobook that I hated to finish.

I loved learning about the Sundarbans in the delta of the Ganges while being totally entertained by the story. Ghosh writes from a different cultural perspective that respects both the oral traditions and knowledge of Fokir, the fisherman as well as the educated principal and brave scientist from America. Their lives intertwine in sometimes funny, somtimes dramatic ways. Fabulous narrator!

I do not want to discourage anyone from downloading this book. It is well written and life like. This book will give you a good idea of the poverty in the mangrove swamps of India. It is also the point of view of a scientist devoted to river wild life (dolphins). While there are some tense moments, for the most part it is a travelogue. The subject did not grab my attention enough to rate it higher. Still a talented author.

This novel was fascinating. The characters were well drawn, and the reader actually cares what happens to them. The plot held my attention from start to finish. The ending was satisfying, unlike so many novels. The extreme fascination with dolphins was a bit "off key" in this otherwise excellent read.

This is another brilliant work by Ghosh. The geographical and historical detail and sensitivity with which he describes the remote ( unless you live there, of course) area of the Sunderbans is remarkable.
Although the narrator enlivens the reading with his convincing characterizations - no small accomplishment given the combination of accents and characters - the pace drags at times.

Beautifully read, this book draws you into a world so far from the reality most of us know. The storytelling is somewhat reminiscent of Anansi Boys, with elaborate interaction of gods, man, and nature, though the main story line is firmly set in "contemporary" India (the rural Bangladesh border area). The main female character is a field biologist, and the book offers insight into the lifestyle she has chosen. While the ending is not unexpected, the book is entertaining and enjoyable, and is suitable for sophisticated young adults as well.

I agree with the others who have alredy reviewed this book. I was captivated by the stories told and the characters. The manner in which the culture and way of life were explored in the book was very interesting. The narration was well done and the characters' voices still echo in my head.

A wonderful listen. Keeps one captivated right to the end. Highly recommended.

I would actually give this book four and a half stars if possible. Interestingly the main character of the book is the least interesting. He is merely the body about which the absorbing characters orbit. Besides the characters of the dolphin scientist and her fisherman guide is the fascinating historical and cultural aspects of the region. My only nit-pick is that sometimes the the author went on a bit too long about some of the historical and mythalogical aspects and I found myself zoning out. All in all I feel enriched by having read this book and was sad to have it end.

I almost gave this 4 stars. Interesting well paced story that creates a vivid picture of a very exotic and little known area and its inhabitants in India. My problem with this book was the characters; they just really never come to life. If the backdrop is enough for you, then you'll enjoy this book. If you want engaging characters, this comes up short.