The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

A Novel

By: Deborah Moggach

Narrated by: Juliet Mills

Now a major motion picture starring Jude Dench, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Tom Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith.

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.

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

What a pleasant surprise!

A colleague recommended this delightfully calming, warm, and intriguing novel that boasts of a slew of characters you will care about. Enjoy.

Better than the movie!

Would you listen to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel again? Why?

Yes, complex story-line and excellent narration.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel?

I watched the movie, which I loved, and was inspired to 'read' the book expecting the same story. I was pleasantly surprised when the book went much deeper into all the characters stories and introduced new characters.

What does Juliet Mills bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ms. Mills brought the characters and location to life - one could almost smell the heat in India.

If you could rename The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, what would you call it?

Live Before Dying

The book is not the same story line as the movie.

Any additional comments?

This book should not be sold as the Marigold Hotel. It should still be named These Foolish Things. I liked the story line of the movie much more than the book. I am not just referring to the visuals and the sounds,The characters are similar, but they are also so different from book to movie. Enjoy the book for what it is, Just do not expect it to follow the movie.

Good but not the same as the movie

Any additional comments?

Overall it was pretty good but this is one of those rare instances where I actually liked the movie better than the book. For those, like me, who liked the movie so much they want to read the book it might be disappointing.

Screenwriters Changed it for the Better

I saw the movie recently and looked forward to reading/hearing the book, because I almost always like the book better! Well, in this case, the screenwriters did a great job of streamlining the plot and condensing the cast of characters.
This book is a little strange. It's target audience, I think, may be a bit put off by the predominance of rather coarse sexuality. Younger people may not enjoy the yuck factor of senior soft porn. There are so many characters that you find yourself unable to relate to all of them.
Juliet Mills does a fine job, but see the movie instead!