watchingthedaisies

Book Review – Kept-An American Househusband in India by Gregory E. Buford

Kept Book Cover

I really enjoy reading and reviewing other authors’ books, and posting my reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and BookBub. As a self published author, I like to think of it as good Karma.

Goodread’s Reading Challenge

Last year, I read 50 books in the Goodread’s Reading Challenge.

In 2018, I have already read and reviewed 68 books!

I will be sharing some of my favourite books over the next few weeks, with the aim of posting regular book reviews over the coming months.

Synopsis

Kept: An American Househusband in India is a hilarious, heart-warming tale of a company man turned trailing spouse when his wife gets his dream job and drags him halfway around the globe. World travelers and armchair tourists alike will marvel as Greg and Dana dine with royalty, smash an immigrant smuggling ring, flee angry mobs, foil a terrorist plot and survive a Russian rocket assault. When they adopt an Indian girl, Greg embarks on an altogether new career, and India becomes a part of their lives forever. Winner of the PNWA Zola Award for best memoir, Kept: An American Househusband in India will have you scouring the house for cobras and wondering if you’ve got what it takes to walk on fire.

My Review

Greg Buford, his wife Dana and young son travel to Chennai, India when Dana gets her first diplomatic post. Greg finds a position with Dell, which does not go as planned, and he becomes a house husband.
This is both a heart warming and poignant memoir, highlighting the poverty of many and the privilege of others…
Greg shares the ups and downs of hiring staff, their poor living conditions and the realization that what his family considers disposable waste can be recycled in many ways on India’s roadsides.
The Buford’s form lasting bonds with many of their employees, while they mix with both diplomatic staff at lavish parties, and Indian families from less affluent backgrounds.
This book brought back many memories of my own travels in India, and it is among my favourite reads of 2018. Highly recommended.

You can find out more about Gregory, and purchase this book HERE 

Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.

41 comments

  1. Brigid, I love the way you set up your reviews with a synopsis and the a review! I love how you organize everything so beautifully. I have not been able to do much reading at all or writing (just a little bit each day). I have to have eye surgery and I have postponed it until after Christmas. I have anterior basement membrane dystrophy (ABMD) in both eyes, and a corneal swelling in both eyes. It makes it very difficult to read or write. I will always have ABMD, but once they fix the corneal problem I should be able to read as just fine, I hope. And, that is why I have read or written a review for anyone for months. Once my eyes are good, I will get back to those reviews, for your book as well. Karen 🙂

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  2. What a glowing review, Brigid! I love the sound of this, being funny & thought-provoking & warming all wrapped up in one. Will make a note of this one, could make a good gift (maybe for myself, but who’s counting) 😉
    Caz xx

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  4. 68 books in ten months! That’s an accomplishment I could never dream of Brigid! The memoirs are always interesting as they talk about life and people on the ground. Thanks for sharing this compelling review.

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  6. A very good review, Brigid. It must be a lot of adjustment to live in India so different than America. My husband’s family is planning to go to India in year 2020 to trace their roots. It will be a lot of walking and being in the car on the road. My health may not do well with the travel due to the lymph-edema on my leg. I wish I could go!

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  10. This sounds like an awesome read, Brigid. I love books that take a humorous view of cultural differences and how we navigate them, with tidbits of wisdom and, I’ll assume, a happy richly human ending. Thanks for the recommendation. 🙂

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  13. Hi Brigid– this book sounds really interesting!! I love expat stories—learning new cultural norms. I’ll have to look it up! thanks. And– You’ve already read68 books this year??! Wow! You must be a fast reader– So glad you’re sharing reviews of your favorites! xox

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  15. I lived in India for quite some time and I absolutely loved your post. This work gives a wonderfully accurate but funny at times look at Indian life and India itself. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  16. I actually found a cobra in my home so I can completely resonate with this book. It’s hilarious and brings back so many wonderful memories.

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