Annette's Book Spot: India

Showing posts with label India. Show all posts

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Audiobook Review: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese book cover and review

I read Cutting for Stone and really enjoyed it. Verghese is such a great storyteller. So when I saw The Covenant of Water, there was no hesitation on my part. And I was totally correct. I think this is one of my new favorite books of all time.

I'm inserting part of the amazon.com description, because I can't do better: Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on South India’s Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning—and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala’s long-existing Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl—and future matriarch, known as Big Ammachi—will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants.

There is so much to this story, much like Cutting for Stone. It spans generations. It takes you from India to Ireland (and you have to just be patient to see how things all fit together.) The characters are so richly detailed that they feel like a part of your own life. My only complaint is that I wasn't ready for it to end. There were some situations that I would have liked more resolution, although the ending is comfortable. It isn't a cliffhanger or anything. But I was so involved that it felt abrupt.

Verghese narrates the audiobook himself and is superb. He has an accent, but it is appropriate and easily understood.

It is a long story, but it flies by. I highly recommend the audio version. The only thing I didn't realize is that there are illustrations. So either get a copy of the book or go to https://www.abrahamverghese.org/the-covenant-of-water/. I wished I had known this while reading because I would have liked to see the illustrations at the proper part of the story as I was listening. The Covenant of Water will stick with me for a long time.

Published by Grove, May 2, 2023
Audiobook obtained from libro.fm
736 pages

Rating: 5/5

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Book Review: Girls Burn Brighter, by Shobha Rao

Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao book cover and review

Girls Burn Brighter is a very well-written, compelling book. But it is heartbreaking.

Poornima and Savitha become best friends during their poverty-stricken childhood in India. Because of circumstances beyond their control (like being forced to marry, which actually is the least barbaric act in this book) they are torn from each other.

Their lives are so miserable, and through it all, what keeps them going is the possibility of escaping and finding each other again.

Rao's writing is beautiful. I was truly sucked in and couldn't put this down. (I may have snuck some reading of this one during work...) I felt so deeply for each of these women and couldn't believe the lengths they went to in order to find each other. There was some luck involved, but a lot of this luck stemmed from the fact that they were so close, that they knew what paths each of them would take in certain situations. It was fascinating.

This isn't a light book. And it's made worse by the fact that it ends so abruptly. After such a distressing narrative, I wanted a complete ending. I wanted just a little denouement or some kind of epilogue. At the end of the book, I still felt all of the grief that I suffered throughout, even though the ending is "happy." It was jarringly abrupt. You are waiting and hoping for them to finally find each other and you don't get to see any of that play out. Ugggh. This was so frustrating to me!

I would still recommend Girls Burn Brighter to adults and older teens who enjoy dramatic stories that emphasize friendship, oppression of women, powerful females, and survival at all costs. Just be aware that you have to finish the story for yourself if you want a "feel good" ending.

Published by Flatiron, March 6, 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Book Review: Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

I don't remember what I read that prompted me to order Love, Hate & Other Filters through interlibrary loan. But it arrived, and I read it--and really enjoyed it.

Maya was born in the United States and has Indian parents. She dreams of going to film school in New York, but her parents have other ideas. Ideas about her finding a suitable Indian boy and attending a local college. But she's been hanging out with Phil, who she's known since they were in grade school. An act of terrorism hundreds of miles away changes all of Maya's hopes and dreams.

Maya's struggles are real and authentic. She is dealing with parents having difficulty letting her go, with the added issue of her becoming Americanized and losing her Indian culture. She's dealing with the attention she's getting from Phil, even though he supposedly has a girlfriend. And she's dealing with an act of terrorism that, because of her heritage, causes her to suddenly be besieged by students at her school.

The reader gets insight into the terrorist through small vignettes between chapters throughout the book. This is a nice technique and works well to dole out the information. Maya is a sympathetic character that I wanted to see happy. Her supportive aunt gives an alternative idea of an Indian woman succeeding in the United States, which also worked well to demonstrate the turmoil of these poor Indian parents. The plot moves quickly, and the book is easy to read.

I do have a small nitpick. I really don't see schools being locked down for a terrorist attack hundreds of miles away. Not a biggy, but seemed odd. An added bonus is that this takes place in Illinois, which is where I'm located, so this will definitely appeal to my students. Actually, that might be why this ended up on my list. Students of Indian heritage will be able to relate, and others will enjoy learning about Maya's situation and seeing it through their own eyes. I'll be purchasing a copy for my library.

Published by Soho Teen, January 16, 2018
Copy obtained from the library
281 pages

Rating: 4/5

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Book Review: Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran book cover

Prepare for some gushing about another great historical fiction, Rebel Queen.

The Rebel Queen is India's Queen Lakshmi from the mid 1800s. The British are slowly taking over India. Our narrator is Sita, a young girl from a small village that has trained for years to be one of the queen's guards. In her village, she was subject to purdah, the seclusion of women from public. She never left her home, unless she was in a covered buggy. The family is very poor and there is no chance of a dowry so that Sita can marry, so her father plans for her to become a member of the Durga Dal, the group of elite female soldiers that protect the queen.

Sita's life changes dramatically after her arrival at the palace, and she wins favor with the queen because she can speak English. Tensions continue to mount, as the British take over more and more of India. After unbelievable tragedy, the queen has no power. The British are prepared to relieve her of her kingdom. But the queen, Sita, and the other Durga Dal won't let that happen without a fight.

The customs of India are engrossing. The characters are vivid and interesting, each with distinct personalities. Sita makes mistakes but is always strong. There's heartbreak and brutality beyond belief. There's romance and devotion to god. I was fascinated by every minute of this story, which is based in fact. I couldn't put it down.

I've always been a Moran fan, and Rebel Queen just solidifies my admiration. I still haven't read Nefertiti, but it's going on the list! Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will love this well-written beautiful story. And, if you are interested in the history of India, Rebel Queen will captivate.

Published by Touchstone, March 3, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss and NetGalley
368 pages

Rating: 5/5

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Book Review: A Time to Dance, by Padma Venkatraman

A Time to Dance would interest readers who want to know more about India and dance, in particular.

Veda wants nothing more than to perfect her dance technique and become a famous dancer. She dances an ancient Indian dance form called bharatanatyam. She wins a prestigious competition and she is on her way--until she is in an accident and loses her leg below the knee.

The rest of the story is Veda learning to live her new life and realizing that she can still dance, even with a prosthetic leg. Romance is also part of the story, as well as family relationships.

A Time to Dance is a good, heartwarming story about a young girl overcoming obstacles with much courage. Not a lot happens plot-wise, and there isn't much that's unpredictable. However, I enjoyed the story and wanted Veda to succeed and be happy.

A Time to Dance is written in verse, but reads very much like prose, so don't let that keep you away. Actually, this would be a good "first book" if you've not experienced this type of fiction written in verse.

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books, May 1, 2014
ARC obtained from Library Media Connection Magazine
307 pages (Qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 3/5

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Audio Book Review: The Sandalwood Tree, by Elle Newmark

The Sandalwood Tree is a very interesting historical tale of India in the 1940s (and the 1850s).

Our main character Evie goes to India with her husband who will be interviewing the native population as they are released from British rule. Evie is hoping that this trip will reunite her relationship with her husband, who has suffered from PTSD (although it's not called that) since he fought in WWII in Germany.

They bring their 5-year-old son with them. They live in a bungalow in a small town in a remote part of India. In the bungalow behind a loose brick, Evie finds a packet of letters that have been written between two women beginning in 1857. They are both British women and one of them lived in the bungalow in India.

Evie slowly pieces together the story of these women, and at the same time tries to figure out what she can do to help her husband. She's an unconventional women in India -- wearing pants and not associating much with the British elite in the country. She enjoys learning about the Indian culture, teaching English to the native children, eating the native food and learning their customs -- unlike most of the British.

The stories have some parallels, since there was an Indian uprising in 1857 during the time of the letters, and now that the British are leaving, there is violence among the Hindus and Muslims, who are being forced to separate into two countries -- India and the new Pakistan.

The Sandalwood Tree is a story about family and romance. There are lessons about bigotry and acceptance. People die. Even the 5-year-old has something happen to him, so there's a lot going on. Evie traces a big family secret about the women in the 1850s all the way to the present time, and you feel such a sense of triumph when she finally pieces it all together.

The Sandalwood Tree is pretty slow and meandering, especially at the beginning. But the details are rich and you will be rewarded if you stick with it.

Since I listened to the audiobook, I was easily kept enthralled in the story. Justine Eyre, the narrator, does a brilliant job with all the accents and voices. Nothing over the top, but easily distinguishable -- and this is no easy task, with all the different characters from many different places.

If you are at all interested in India, The Sandalwood Tree is highly recommended. I think it would be a great book for book club discussions. I would love to be able to discuss some things with someone! While it is a bit long and detailed, teens who are interested in the subject will also enjoy The Sandalwood Tree.

Published by Atria, 2011, Tantor Media for the audiobook
Copy obtained from the library
368 pages

Rating: 4/5

Friday, April 8, 2011

Book Review: Toads and Diamonds, by Heather Tomlinson

Toads and Diamonds is a delightful fairy tale. It takes place in India, and I’ve always loved stories of other lands, and this one has some fantasy elements that add to the beautiful descriptions of this country and its customs.

The main characters are two sisters, Diribani and Tana, and the story is told from each of their perspectives, in alternating chapters. They are both given gifts from the Goddess Naghali-ji. Diribani’s gift is that flowers and precious gems fall from her lips whenever she speaks. When Tana speaks, lucky toads and different forms of snakes (some very poisonous) fall from her lips. Now, you might think that Tana got the worst end of this deal, but you must read the story before you decide.

The sisters are separated from each other by circumstances, and both suffer much, but in different ways. This is a story of the girls’ quest to figure out what Naghali-ji wants them to do with their gifts. They long to find their purpose. In the process, the path is plagued with danger and near-death for both of them. There’s a bit of romance for each of them, but this isn’t a love story.

Tomlinson has created two opposing religions in this version of India, and as the author’s note says, neither of these religions exist in reality. But “the guiding principles of nonviolence, the equality of all souls, quiet contemplation, and selfless service to others may be found across the wide spectrum of India’s religious traditions.” (p.278) And these principles are beautifully portrayed in this novel.

The novel isn’t action packed, but there’s enough to keep the reader’s interest. I was reminded a bit of Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix, which I also enjoyed very much. I would recommend this to fans of fairy tales, especially those from foreign countries.

Published by Henry Holt, 2010
Copy obtained from the library
276 pages

Rating: 3/5