Such a Long JourneySuch a Long Journey
Score Modern
What it's about
In Bombay in 1971, as India goes to war with Pakistan, Gustad Noble, a devoted, ordinary bank clerk from the Parsi community, receives a letter from an old friend who asks him to help with a secret task that turns out to involve laundering money for the government. Meanwhile his son refuses the future Gustad dreamed of, his daughter falls ill, and his life starts to unravel.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker finalist. Mistry, author of A Fine Balance, writes warmly about family and community.
You'll love it if you liked
Family Matters
A Fine Balance
A House for Mr. BiswasGood to know
It's leisurely and full of characters.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller2 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #1277 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2344 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Rohinton Mistry
If you like this, read next
My Brilliant Friend
War and Peace
A Mercy
Ragtime
The Cider House Rules
The Power and the GloryExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Such a Long Journey worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker finalist. It ranks #2,344 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 60.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Such a Long Journey about?
In Bombay in 1971, as India goes to war with Pakistan, Gustad Noble, a devoted, ordinary bank clerk from the Parsi community, receives a letter from an old friend who asks him to help with a secret task that turns out to involve laundering money for the government. Meanwhile his son refuses the future Gustad dreamed of, his daughter falls ill, and his life starts to unravel.
How long does it take to read Such a Long Journey?
About 9 hours (356 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Such a Long Journey?
If you liked it, try Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry or A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul.