I moved to India after spending 13 years of my childhood abroad and I had a very different feel for India back then. While I loved my country from heart, the move was not very easy for me. The small streets, the beggars, the train, the crowd and what not, everything made me feel uncomfortable.
But as the years passed and I started accepting the reality of living here, I started seeing these as a part which signifies what Mumbai (Bombay as it was called then) really is. And there is much more to Mumbai than this. The tallest and the most expensive private residential building in the world to the Queens Necklace, the Marine Drive and other beautiful beaches we get as a perk of staying by the bay, the night hustle and bustle from the city that never sleeps, Mumbai has won me.

“Bombay Balchao” by Jane Borges is one such book which will make you miss the old Bombay as it takes you back in time with the stories of Cavel, a Goan Catholic colony in South Mumbai. The chapters are Non-liner and congested with characters, who are from the same building and neighbourhood and the story progresses in time as Bombay turns to Mumbai. Its like some one is reciting their own life story and jumping from one time of their life chapter to another and then going back in time again. The Coutinho family is the centre of the story with every other character sharing some life experience with them.
All the characters have been beautifully created and each one has their own uniqueness which will leave you in awe of some, empathy for the other, some will make you laugh till you can laugh no more while some have their own sad story to share.

Between its pages, the book will make you experience the taste of lip-smacking Goan delicacies. You can actually feel the aroma of the food as you read about it and the yummiest Balchao recipe that has been shared in the end. You will get the feel of Goan lifestyle, festivals, celebrations and food with every turn of the page.
In the end I would say, Jane Borges’ has plated this book with a pinch of humour, a dash of nostalgia and lots of love for the city of Mumbai. With this book you will travel in time from when Bombay turned to Mumbai and the stories in-between of the Cavelites, their memories, their laughter, their unrequited love and loss which will make it difficult for you to put this book down till the last page and then crave for more.
I give it fabulous 5 stars.
63 replies on “Bombay Balchao- Book Review”
Wow! I’ve lived in Bombay for 3 years and even the title and cover make me nostalgic 😍
It’s a it’s a magical city
Thank you for this sweet review. Glad you enjoyed the book.
Loved every bit of it….
thank you for sharing this review
The way you describd takes me in the old Bombay. I grown up in bombay only n that y I would love to read.
And will love to check out the yummy goan recipee😋 too.
Oh you will love the recipe for sure.
Beautiful review Hansa. I have roots from Goa and yet my family is all settled in Mumbai then called Goa. Would love to this book a read!
Seema you will relate to the book so well and enjoy every bit of it…. give it a read for sure…
Such a short and crisp reviews are so delightful. 🙂 never been to Mumbai but I am sure I can experience it afire my eyes through this book. Thanks for sharing.
M sure u will enjoy reading this book
Such a crisp and fine review.Definitely worth a read.It makes the city look so amazing and beautiful.
Mumbai is a magnificent city…
The plot of book sounds really exciting to me. Would love to give it a read. Thanks for sharing your honest review
It’s a great book and the language n writing is very lucid. It will be a quick read
Such an awesome review. Would love to read this amazing novel “Bombay Balchao” by Jane Borges . I always loved mumbai for its Beaches ,Bollywood and Trendy Lifestyle..Now I have a chance to sneak into an old Mumbai Life through this book..
I love reading and reviewing books on my blog. Being a typical middle-class Christian girl born and brought up in Bombay, I am sure that I will enjoy reading this one. Loved the way you have written this review. Keep writing and bringing fab content to us.
Glad that you liked the review. Yes m sure u will relate n enjoy the book a lot. Do give it a read.
First of all I am in awe with the cover of this book , the cover itself gives a feeling of nostalgia a feeling when people not only in Bombay in other cities also were together , I will buy this book as I can already feel a connection with it.
Yes the cover is very nice n quirky a typical neighbor vibe…. do let me know what do you think about the book incase u read it…
I’m sure you will enjoy the book thoroughly.
The book really shows the essence of BOMBAY!
Very neat and crisp book review. I must say that not everyone can review a book so beautifully 😀 This book looks very interesting to read and definitely I will look forward to reading it.
Thanks a lot… I am glad you liked the review
Well written and described… Based on your review I have reached half way mark… your review is spot on…
I visited Mumbai in 2010, and didn’t much time to explore the city at that time, through your review I was able to relive some moments 🙂 sounds like a wonderful quick read
I lovee this book
This sounds like an absolute delightful read! I loved the vibes of the old city life, and reading it, and reliving it would be lovely. I have ZERO knowledge of the Goan life – the lifestyle and the food, i think i would enjoy reading the recipes too 🙂
this was my first read on Goan life too and the story and indeed you will enjoy reading the book and yes the recipe, its great.
You got me hooked to this one buddy, I am sure reading it at the earliest and I loved the way you build the premise for the review
im glad you liked the review. for sure you will love the book too. do give it a read.
5 star is no less… that book needs to be read. Your review has made it interesting.
if you liked the review, you will love the book. just read it and enjoy it.
I would surely love a read which will take me into the old Mumbai era, plus your review surely makes me want to read this one.
Wow I really want to read this. Being a Goan with family in Bombay I’m sure I can totally relate to it.
It’s such an amazing book review. I am going to read this book soon , it looks like a must read 🙂
-nitya
its a light and fun read and you will for sure enjoy it.
Omg im so glad i stopped by your Blog post.
First of all im in love with this vibrant cover & second ly i stay in Colaba So im super excited to read this now.great post
since you are from town side, somewhere you will be able to connect with the book and surely enjoy reading it.
Such a cool review; roots speak a lot
What a treat this book must be. The conversation..characters..visuals in the writing is clear from your review. Something to cuddle up with cofee on a rainy day
it would indeed be fun to enjoy the book with ur coffee and blanket to snuggle in..
I am putting this book on my reading list.
Got to add, given the pandemic, I am stuck at home. The talk of Mumbai makes me nostalgic.
surely you gonna enjoy this book.
What a lovely review, Hansa. I will surely grab a copy of this book now and read it during lockdown.
Wow this will be such an interesting read. I have always loved Bombay as I studied there when it was called Bombay and changing it to Mumbai was really hard to visualise because of the emotions. I would love to read the journey and get a perspective.
so you have experienced the old Bombay…. Mumbai has come a long way after that but we still miss Bombay.
Your wonderful description of the book literally took me to times back in Mumbai. I would love to read the book.
Such an awesome review. Would love to read this amazing novel “Bombay Balchao” by Jane Borges . I always loved mumbai for its Beaches ,Bollywood and Trendy Lifestyle..Now I have a chance to sneak into an old Mumbai Life through this book..
you will enjoy this book for sure.
First of all, the book cover deserves full marks. I love such types of cover which grab attention. Also the plot looks so nice, will read it soon.
yes do give it a read. a light and quick read it is.
The plot of the book sounds really interesting. You must have been able to relate so much already.
I am gonna get this book . The story seems very much intersting to me.
Do notjudge a book by its cover but I am definitely attracted to it by the painting! Great review!
The book just like its cover is very interesting.
I loved the concept of the book people born and brought up in Mumbai can really relate to this.
I had been just once to Mumbai have always seen in movies and serials loved the book copy definitely will be checking out tnx for the review..
mumbai is much more than movies and serials. this book will shown you the local side of Mumbai.
I stayed in Mumbai for nearly a year and I loved it.. For me, barring the sky high real estate prices, everything else about Mumbai is great! Thanks for giving a wonderful brief about the book which seems to be a worthy read…
Enjoyed reading your review. I loved the book and it is one of my favorite reads of the year.
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