"Goodbye and good riddance, India, I hate you and I'm never, never, ever coming back."

That was Sarah MacDonald, an Australian Radio personality; in her own words describing her feelings towards India after her first trip there. But before she left the airport a beggar read her palm and predicted that she will one day return to India, and that the reason would be love. At that time she thought the palm-reader couldn't be more wrong. However, she does indeed return, and exactly in the way the palm reader described.

Her fiancé Jonathan, a TV correspondent, is posted to India. She packs her bags and heads off for India, very upset about the prospect of having to see the country again. But her opinions of the country gradually change for the better and so do her views on God and religion.

Up until now, she is an atheist who has a disdain and distrust of religion in general - which is one of the reasons why she hated religious India so much in her first trip. But in her second trip, the deeply enchanting and all permeating religious culture gradually wins her heart. She becomes enthusiastic about religions. Hinduism is the main religion in India that she studies, but she also explores the many other faiths that reside there, which happens to include every single major world religion! It makes for a fascinating read as she moves from one faith to the next and describes her views and experiences. You're more likely to learn about and appreciate different cultures and religions by reading 'Holy Cow' than a standard religious studies textbook.

It's almost impossible to find a page that doesn't make you laugh. The 'tips' her friend Aarzoo gives about marriage classifieds in India are a classic example and worth a read in its own right. It is also difficult not to sympathise with the author as she from time to time witnesses and experiences certain injustices and catastrophes.

The book also gives some brief political commentary of major events in India,during her time there. She doesn't actually give her own opinions on issues (for the most part at least), but just mentions events and the way that she has seen people reacting to them.

Her frankness, wit, sarcasm and cynicism is hilarious at times (she is well aware of Indian timing) and her writing is all the better off for exploring India through its citizens (rather than through books), whoever they may be from her taxi-drivers to Hindu gurus like Mata Amritanandamayi Ma, from Israeli backpackers to local beggars, from her friends' mothers (the typical Indian 'aunties') to even Bollywood stars such as Preity Zinta.

She does not refrain from denouncing the negative aspects of Indian society. The sleaze, pollution and corruption she finds drive her almost to the brink of madness. Yet she also finds solace and strength from the spirituality she discovers in India, from the Kumbh Mela to her visit to the Golden Temple. She finds inspiration from every faith she encounters; the last few paragraphs of the book are a testimony to this.

Does this book have any negatives? One stupid thing about the book is the title itself, which is just an attempt to grab people's attention, in a way that many Hindus would find offensive. But she has to sell her book and the target audience of this book (white westerners) are more likely to fall for the 'exotic sensationalism' that the title reflects rather than a more straightforward or sober title. Also, one may find some of her observations and thoughts somewhat offensive and annoying (try describing Lakshmi as a Barbie on a lotus). This is part of her writing style and after reading the book one can safely conclude it was done in good faith. She certainly can raise a chuckle or two when she comes out with an observation of Indian society, its people, traditions and cultures.

Still, this is undoubtedly an upbeat book with a feel good factor all over it, and for that it comes highly recommended. No matter what your own thoughts on India, you would find it difficult not be warmed by the book's charm. You'll never read anything like this.