I'm glad i did this thread! A whole new Indian world is opening up. Having taken a look over at Amazon, i've decided to take a chance on 4 different ones mainly cos the subject + reviews make them sound my cup of tea):

Clear Light of Day- Desai
Interpreter of Maladies- Lahiri
A Fine Balance- Mistry
The Hungry Tide- Ghosh.

The God of Small Things already on the way.

And of course i really should get round to Midnight's Children, which was voted best Booker prize winner of the last 25 years i think. I couldn't find any review of In the Forest- so can you say something about it?