*Penguin Books India, Bombay Dost and Crossword cordially invite you to the *
*Official book launch of R Raj Rao's 'Hostel Room 131' by Onir * * * * * *on Friday 27 August 2010 at 7.00 p.m. **at Crossword Bookstore, G-1, Plot No. 250-B, Kanaiya Building, Linking Road **Bandra (W), Mumbai.* Seven years ago, we proudly organised the launch of Raj's first novel 'The Boyfriend' in Mumbai. We are now pleased to be associated with the launch of Raj's latest, 'Hostel Room 131' by noted filmmaker Onir. If you'd like to share the event invitation, please feel free to forward this email or share this link: *http://tinyurl.com/HR131* *About the author:* R. Raj Rao was born in Bombay and now lives in Pune where he is professor in the Department of English, University of Pune. Two of his books, BomGay and The Boyfriend (the latter published by Penguin India, and translated into French and Italian) are regarded as cult classics. His other books include One Day I Locked My Flat in Soul City (short stories), Slide Show (poems), The Wisest Fool on Earth and Other Plays, Nissim Ezekiel: The Authorized Biography, Ten Indian Writers in Interview (edited), Image of India in the Indian Novel in English (co-edited), Whistling in The Dark: Twenty one Queer Interviews (co-edited). Rao in a pioneering Indian academic who runs a course on queer literature in his department. *Synopsis of the book:* In the winter of 1978, Siddharth, 23, meets Sudhir, 20 in a friend's room in Pune's Engineering College Hostel. He falls instantly in love. A man of unconventional views--he believes, for instance, that the two heroes in Sholay have the hots for each other rather than for the heroines--Siddharth becomes a full time lover over the next seven years and stubbornly pursues the object of his lust and affection, despite his job as a college lecturer in Bombay. There are many obstacles along the way, including Sudhir's family, against whom Sidharth files a police complaint, and Sudhir's classmates from Belgaum, led by the homophobic Ravi Humbe, who start an anti-Siddharth association. But Siddharth gets support from Gaurav and Vivek, a militant gay pair keen to ambush the enemy. Deadpan humour and farce come together in this entertaining love story, giving us a glimpse of what really goes on in a boys' hostel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Keep in touch with Bombay Dost via:* The Bombay Dost Wiki (http://bombay-dost.pbworks.com/) OR The Facebook Fan Page (http://www.facebook.com/Bombay-Dost<http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Bombay-Dost/52817999936>) OR follow Bombaydost on Twitter (http://twitter.com/bombaydost OR Google Buzz: http://www.google.com/profiles/bombaydost2009 OR subscribe to Google SMS Channel ( http://labs.google.co.in/smschannels/subscribe/BombayDost) OR e-mail: bombaydost2...@gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=bombaydost2...@gmail.com> OR find us on Google Wave: bombaydost2...@googlewave.com
