My Dateless Diary
At half a century, when most find comfort in predictability, R. K. Narayan ventured beyond India's shores for the very first time, heading straight into the bewildering expanse of America. His observations paint a vivid portrait of a continent that baffles and enchants in equal measure. The cacophony of Manhattan pulses through these pages, whilst the Pacific coastline welcomes him with unexpected warmth. He witnesses the paradox of Midwestern prosperity alongside its curious insularity, and stands humbled before the raw splendour of the Grand Canyon. What makes this travelogue truly memorable are the peculiar encounters dotting his journey. Luminaries brush shoulders with ordinary folk—Greta Garbo, Aldous Huxley, Martha Graham share space with a forgettable railway passenger who lost interest the moment he learnt Narayan had nothing to do with India's steel mills. Between these vignettes lie wonderfully observed oddities: the lurking muggers, the frenetic fast-food culture, self-proclaimed spiritual gurus peddling instant enlightenment, harried tube travellers, the relentless television machinery, and the bewildering spectacle of American football. It's a journey that crackles with discovery, where the foreigner's perspective reveals what locals have stopped noticing. Engaging, sometimes wry, always perceptive.
- Author: NARAYAN R. K.
- Publisher: Penguin
- Genre: Travel Writing & Guides
- ISBN: 978-0140109412
- Pages: 192 pages