READERS WRITE...

Good writing should be like silk sliding over marble, and that certainly describes your work
- Sylvia Taylor, Freelance Writer - Canada

With regret I turned the last page of your book this morning. What took me so long? Let me tell you, Margaret. I savoured each page as a morsel of a much loved delicacy. It was enlightening and enjoyable. You brought out the best of the English language to take your readers on an exquisite journey to your beloved India
- Maxine George, Travel Journalist and Editor of Magic Carpet Journals - Canada

Finished reading - savouring a chapter or so at a time - "Haunting India" yesterday. What a treat! Was already a fan of your travel articles and thoroughly enjoyed your family roots retrospective...but your short fiction pieces are the real gems.
- Cynthia Brush, Editor of The Winterline Journal - USA

Finished reading your book this morning...loved it!! It was like taking a walk down memory lane, and going into a corner of your mind that felt like hot chocolate on a cold foggy day, comforting and fun. Loooved the ghost stories, were we all weaned on these? Also learned a lot about the Railway community. Had heard about this sub-species of Anglo-Indian, but being "city slickers" had never met anyone from this community....now I know.
- Audrey Hipper, (ex Calcutta-wallah) - USA

I thought I would write and express my delight in your book Haunting India. I am totally absorbed and cannot compliment you too highly on your excellent stories and poems. Thanks for providing so much pleasure.
- Cary Thomas, Editor of the Josephite Journal, U.K.

I have just finished reading your book and I want to let you know how much I enjoyed it. You have a 'way with words' that evoked many emotions as I read your stunning descriptions of various facets of life in India. Many times, as I read the passages of your book, I thought that the "Haunting" of the title of your book was reinforced by the ethereal quality of your beautiful prose. And, of course, I was touched by the pictures that you conjured up in my mind. Congratulations on your book. I hope it achieves the volume of sales that it deserves.
- Stan Blackford, Author of "One Hell of a Life" (An Indian Army Memoir)

...Absolutely "bloody" marvellous. To say anymore will only debilitate the awe with which Hazel and I have read each little story and related to so much. Wonderful effort and you get a standing ovation from both of us. It's both introspective and retrospective of the AI community at the same time, warts, beauty spots and all.
- Ed Haliburn, U.K.

Bravo! A great book, and one that will prove to be more memorable with the passing years. India is something different to everyone who has lived there - but there has to be a common thread that we all understand. Words like "jhut-phut" - so right for the occasion.

So what can I say that is good? Well all of it is good - the stories are interesting, of interest to people who have lived in India, and who have never been to India. What small child in India has not heard of the "bhooth" - the devil who lurks outside in the dark. What horrifying ghost stories we heard from the servants!

What is better than good? Well your storytelling ability, and the grammatical use of the English language. Excellent skills on display!

The story about the railway Anglo-Indians would have pleased Neville. This is the story of his childhood life as he repeated it to us with such pleasure. He would have loved it.

And the stories about Indians migrating to Canada were brilliant.

The stories seem to bring out the conflict for Anglo-Indians - their so-called home in India, and yet not being Indian, and their so-called home in England without setting foot in the place. What a dilemma! Psychologically it is damning not to have a country. Orphans abounded in India - fathers who had magically died but in truth had gone back to Blighty!. Single mothers raising children - pretending to be widows. What did the British think they were playing with?

So in the end Haunting India - I loved the book cover - left me with a feeling of melancholy - not sadness as such - but like re-visiting a place that once was in all its glory but has now been covered by dust and neglect. One could almost touch the cobwebs. Anglo-India is dead - and just as well. Now the Indians reign supreme and one day India will no longer be a 3rd world country, but will rise again to glory.

All that you have written has brought memories, but there have been more sighs than smiles. Perhaps after all this is what "haunting" means.
- Norma Gibbs, Australia.

I just finished reading "Haunting India", it was excellent, I couldn't put
it down; feel like I've traveled to India with you.
- Brenda Oliver, Vancouver, Canada

I've finished reading your book which was so enjoyable. It reminded me of a tin of "Golden Syrup" which we used to get as a treat when we were kids. You could eat it in one a few big gulps, or eat it by the teaspoon, slowly in small mouthfuls. Either way it tasted wonderful. I ended up reading your book in small doses at the end of the day and it was so enjoyable. So many of the incidents and anecdotes struck a chord of memories, and your description of places and events took me back in time .I was lucky enough to visit the festival of camels, and is only when you are at such an event
that one can understand and appreciate the splendour, size and historical significance of the event.

I have never been back to India since we came here 37 years ago.I found the chapter in your book in which you returned to India with your kids fascinating, intriguing and gave me an insight into a different concept of why you returned to visit old and familiar places. I have never had any inclination to return to India for a visit as most of our relatives and friends are now living overseas. The memories we left behind are so precious and the changes to the place sounds so dramatic, I have been very content to live with the memories of bygone days. The slant on things of why you returned and the journey with your kids and the reason for your return has definitely given me food for thought.
- Basil Cardis, Australia

You are a fabulous writer. I thoroughly enjoyed your book "Haunting India". You seem to take me back to my roots. I felt as if I was "back home" the only home we can call home (Dear Ole India).

Sharing your thoughts on paper is a wonderful way of stirring up old memories for us. You have a wonderful talent. Keep up the good work.

Cheers or should I say "dhanyabad"
- Sherry Horne, Australia

You are an excellent storyteller, Margaret. It's a wonderful world - and you have reached into the heart of it. Well done!
- Ursula Maxwell-Lewis (Editor of The Cloverdale Reporter), Canada