"Rivers and waterfalls flow through the mesmerising narrative of this beguiling debut novel. The story powerfully juxtaposes joy with horror. Nature is majestically described, and Bhattacharya skilfully sketches the interactions between humans and a bewilderingly beautiful landscape . Bhattacharya displays an artful handling of his own narrative. The tributaries of stories open up into the main swell of narrative. The greatest joy is in the novel''s unexpected twists and turns, so the reader shares the narrator''s wonder at the flash of toucan, the sudden glint of a river, or a floating blue butterfly."-Anita Sethi, The Independent "To follow in the footsteps of the likes of Naipaul is a daunting journey, but Bhattacharya, in his first novel, has shown a talent reminiscent of the early works of that great pioneer."-David Dabydeen, The Guardian "Bhattacharya's gift for reproducing the rhythms and intricacies of his characters' speech…places him in the company of Mark Twain.
He understands the world by listening to it."- The New Yorker " The Sly Company of People Who Care is a travel novel that reads like award-winning journalism . From the novel's very first line, we know we're in the care of a narrator unmatched in his lyricism and sensitivity."-Alice Gregory, The Boston Globe "This ferociously gifted writer has already been hailed as the natural successor to the great Naipaul and yes, he is that good. His narrator has a charming, confident voice that engages instantly and his descriptions of landscapes and people are ravishing."- The Times (UK) "[ The Sly Company of People Who Care ]''s heart lies in the exuberant and often arresting observations of a man plunging himself a world full of beauty, violence and cultural strife. It''s impossible, reading Bhattacharya, not to be reminded of V.S.
Naipaul." - Dinaw Mengestu, The New York Times Book Review "Bhattacharya''s understanding of displacement and drifting comes from a completely original place, and he has all of the humour and the sharpness of the young Naipaul, with none of the spleen. This book, and this writer, are here to last." - India Today "In vigorous yet lyrical prose employing a pungent vernacular, Bhattacharya describes Guyana''s horrid heat and thunderous rain in sensuous detail. Bhattacharya''s distinctive voice, which incorporates both Guyanese and Indian dialects, results in an authentic and sybaritic tale." - Publishers Weekly (starred) "Words as musical notes, a book as symphony. An exotic locale and lyrical language make for a duzzling debut." - Kirkus Reviews (starred) "[ The Sly Company of People Who Care ] is a lovingly delicate study of Guyanese culture, in which Bhattacharya captures the restlessness of youth, the yearning for new experiences, and the driving need of travelers to go beyond their own internal borders.
" - Booklist "An exceptional first novel, which leaves the reader to decide where facts lie and fiction rings true. A madcap cast of original characters abound.Their explicit, rum-infused patois, more potent than V.S. Naipaul''s Caribbean-speak, is addictive. It is certainly the best first novel by an Indian I have read in a long time." - Outlook India "What a voice, what a startling, funny, charming, provocative voice! Rahul Bhattacharya's narrator is a true wanderer and a gifted poet of description. The journey he takes us on, through Guyana, through histories and selves, is a wonder.
"-Sam Lipsyte, author of The Ask.