I was totally captivated by the dazzling style of Kunzru's prose, and his evocation of India is spot on. But I found the tone of the book problematic in parts. I know it's supposed to be tragi-comic, but there's nothing remotely funny about child abuse, and this did not sit well with the witty comic observations, particularly in the part set in the palace. Still, if Kunzru has taken out the tragedy it might well have been a dreary read. And the comedy is wonderful.