A fable set in the chaos of Bombay, The Cripple and His Talismans marks the emergence of a unique, engaging voice. By turns philosophical, funny, violent, and tender, The Cripple and His Talismans tells the many-layered, surreal story of an amputee in search of his lost arm. Alienated from his privileged upbringing by his handicap, the unnamed narrator sets off on his quest. He encounters bizarre and fascinating characters: a beggar who lives under an egg cart; a leper who bites off his own finger and presents it to the cripple; a lady who sells rainbows; a blind man who can not go to the bathroom unless he hears the sound of a train; and a mysterious coffin-maker. The cripple soon becomes a riddle-solver, and the trail of clues inevitably leads him to a godlike character named Baba Rakhu - a master of the underworld who procures and sells lost limbs. From Baba, the narrator learns the story of his lost arm and a new maxim: that the world cannot be changed by ending suffering, but by a more judicious distribution of it.
“A highly imaginative novel, full of humour, poetry, and insights, written in a beautiful, spare style. Throughout the narrative looms a great city, Bombay, crazily reflected in the life of one of its inhabitants who, by means baffling, heinous, desperate, and often very funny, seeks to embrace the divine with both arms.” - Yann Martel, Author of Life of Pi
“Irani's brilliant debut novel,The Cripple and His Talismans, radiates with the energy of Bombay, albeit a dark energy... Irani commands attention from the first sentence.” - Globe and Mail
“The Cripple and His Talismans makes demands on the reader, but our effort is triply rewarded - first, by the lush imagery of the writing; second, because of its surprises and, finally, because of its deep moral gravity.... This debut novel marks a step in the evolution of Canadian literature.” - The Vancouver Sun
“Darkly comic and brave, this novel has no fear when it comes to facing the lepers, beggars, and prostitutes of the city. Irani seeks out territory that would frighten away other writers.... The book's sheer audacity and humour elevate it well above the level of most first novels.” - Quill & Quire
“Sly…Irani captures the cadence and inflections of his surreal Bombay perfectly.” - National Post
“An impressive debut, a beautifully written modern-day fable.” - Ottawa Citizen
“A book with a message, but one that is artfully and originally integrated into an entertaining and accessible fable structure. The language is rich, the dialogue precise and nuanced.” - Times Colonist
“A remarkable book. The writing is stylish, and the author's willingness to take risks, disarming.” - The Edmonton Journal
“Anosh Irani has an eye for the absurdities of human existence and an ear for the comedy inherent in nearly everything we say. This is a marvelous debut.” - BBC News, The World Books
“…[A] lush debut novel…an undercurrent of dark humour as well as Irani's atmospheric evocation of Bombay enliven this compelling story.” - Publishers Weekly
“Irani's prose is audacious and spare. A challenging offering from a writer with a penchant for mixing the profane and divine.” - Booklist
“The Cripple and His Talismans is an absurd, and absurdly eloquent tale of a man who wanders Bombay in search of his lost arm. The book is a toothy metaphor for modern India and the forces that cripple it. Canada-based Irani deftly weaves the coarse realities of Bombay with dystopian notions of giants and rainbow hawkers. Irani's flair for wordplay and leering wit make The Cripple... an enthralling story that won't leave you in a hurry.” - Elle India
“The Cripple and His Talismans is a surreal tale set within the folds of a breathing entity called Bombay. Irani's prose is both imaginative and strikingly visual in its lucidity and style. How the author moves towards the denouement makes for a startling read in this tale of lost and found… replete with a sense of whimsicality….” - Bengal Post, India
“The Cripple and His Talismans by Anosh Irani is a unique book. The journey of the man in search of his missing arm is often hilarious, sad, and at the same time human and absurd.” - IBNLive
“Irani's writing is both simple and startling, his musing on faith and morality especially quirky and strong...The Cripple and His Talismans is downright splendid.” - The Asian Reporter
“These are the real books of Mumbai…” - Scroll.in
“Read it for the audacity of a wordsmith who sets out to write a prose poem of the fantastic, mythic, horrible and hilarious memories he has of a city he once knew.” - Live Mint