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Em and the Big Hoom
Em and the Big Hoom: A Novel | Jerry Pinto
12 posts | 13 read | 13 to read
The devastatingly original debut novel from a winner of the 2016 Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction. Profoundly moving . . . I cannot remember when I last read something as touching as this. Amitav Ghosh, author of The Glass Palace First published by a small press in India, Jerry Pintos debut novel has already taken the literary world by storm. Suffused with compassion, humor, and hard-won wisdom, Em and the Big Hoom is a modern masterpiece, and its American publication is certain to be one of the major literary events of the season. Meet Imelda and Augustine, oras our young narrator calls his unusual parentsEm and the Big Hoom. Most of the time, Em smokes endless beedis and sings her way through life. She is the sun around which everyone else orbits. But as enchanting and high-spirited as she can be, when Ems bipolar disorder seizes her she becomes monstrous, sometimes with calamitous consequences for herself and others. This accomplished debut is graceful and urgent, with a one-of-a-kind voice that will stay with readers long after the last page. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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AkashPhoenix
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Pickpick

Book#14 Octoberfest

One of the most amazing reads in quite a while. It portrays the story of family with the Mother, Em, who suffers from Manic Depression, the father aka The Big Hoom, sister - Susan and the unnamed son whose the storyteller. A story engulfed in pain but doesn't demand any pity and lifts you up with the dark comedy of the jovial, carefree & suicidal mother Em. One of the best books coming out of Indian Authors and a Must Read!

18 likes2 stack adds
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AkashPhoenix
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‘Do what your heart tells you. It doesn‘t matter if you make a mistake. The only things we regret are the things we did not do.‘

-Em | Em and the Big Hoom

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GlassAsDiamonds
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Complete fan girl-ing for Jerry Pinto but omg Paul McVeigh packs a punch and I‘m massively regretting not buying his book (and back in the spectacular Durban Hall - best calm morning venue!). @Tanisha_A - I‘ll be in Charles Spencer‘s talk in the Mughal Tent then Markus Zusak in Samvad if you‘re around!!! 😊😊😊😊

BiblioLitten I really enjoyed reading the tagged book. JLF💕💕 6y
GlassAsDiamonds @BiblioLitten oohh - Read his Murder in Mahim!! If you need help with the random Hindi words, let me know, I‘ve got a DIY glossary but it is *such* a tour de force! (I‘ve tried to have it added to the @Litsy database a half dozen times but to no avail. Still, read it, it‘s won quite a few awards and is simply brilliant!!) 6y
BiblioLitten Murder in Mahim sounds good. Added it to my #mounttbr 😊 6y
See All 7 Comments
GlassAsDiamonds @BiblioLitten you won‘t regret it! 😊😊😊 6y
Litsy @GlassAsDiamonds Sorry for the trouble. We're working on fixing the Add a Book to Litsy feature and will be sure to announce on here once it's fixed. Thanks for your patience! 6y
GlassAsDiamonds @Litsy thanks! (I‘ve also suggested this one to the Litsy Librarians twice in the last three months but... nothing! The author is prolific and highly acclaimed, not sure how else to get the Librarians to add it!!) 6y
GlassAsDiamonds @Litsy .... still not in the database, what‘s going on with this?? It‘s an award wining book by an award winning, well known author that was also shortlisted for a number of Indian literary prizes but I still can‘t get it added to the Litsy database or add it myself...???? 🤔🤔🤔🤔 6y
32 likes7 comments
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mrp27
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#fallintoreading

I may have bought this book just for the #colorful cover.

Jee_HookedOnBookz Love the cover!! 6y
readordierachel Understandable! 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💗❤️💗❤️ 6y
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batsy I've been curious about this one! Will look out for your review :) 6y
mrp27 @batsy I hope it's a good one! 6y
vkois88 Sometimes it's okay to judge a book by its cover 😊 6y
36 likes7 comments
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ChaitanyaSethi
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Mehso-so

Jerry Pinto's Em and the Big Hoom is a cute, idiosyncratic story of life with an eccentric, manic depressive matriarch. We get an idea of who she is but that seems about it. None of the other characters are given as much depth and description.
I give props to the author for bringing mental health to the forefront but I am not confident if the story will stick with me for a long time.
#books #reader #reading #mentalhealth #depression #indian

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mrp27
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Wodehouse
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Pickpick

There aren‘t too many books which talk about mental illness. This one deals with Bipolar Disorder from the point of view of the caregivers. Written with a sense of humour, a love story is deftly woven into the telling. I feel saying anymore will be a spoiler so suffice it to say that this book is a must read. There are tears and there is laughter and it leaves you wanting to know some more.

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Purrfectpages
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I've read Goodbye, Vitamjn and Rabbit Cake, but the other two books are still on my TBR. #strangetitles #awesomeautumnbooks

No_One These are pretty strange titles, alright! 😄 7y
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
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magictoyshop
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I read one article and add 5 books to my TBR list. It's quite amazing. #crime #crimefiction #india

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book.jedi
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Pickpick

"I didn't go to bookshops to buy. That's a little bourgeois. I went because they were civilized places. It made me happy there were people who sat down and wrote and wrote and wrote and ther were other people who devoted their lives to making those words into books. It was lovely. Like standing in the middle of civilization." ❤

Been a long time since I came across a book so good like this one. Jerry Pinto, I'm in love with your words. :')

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Lasalsas
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Mehso-so

Sad, confusing, short read about a family in need. Mom has mental health issues and it effects her family tremendously.