Tag: Indian setting

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s—The last queen

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s—The last queen

This is historical fiction at its best. JIndan lives in a village while her father works for the maharaja in Lahore. Her brother, Jawahar and Jindan steal produce from farms and their mother sews because her father doesn’t give the family enough money. As Jindan grows, she becomes more beautiful and her father sees her potential for marrying into a rich family. He takes her to Lahore after she pleads with him to take Jawahar too where her life is about to change forever.

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Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s—Sister of my heart

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s—Sister of my heart

Although Anju and Sunda are cousins, they grow up in the same Calcutta household. Sunda’s father is full of money-making schemes while Anju’s father supports them financially. The fathers set out on a journey to a ruby cave, but never return, leaving a house full of women to fend for themselves. Both cousins had dreams of attending college, but as money grows scarce their hopes become a pipe dream.

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Abraham Verghese’s—The covenant of water *****

Abraham Verghese’s—The covenant of water *****

When twelve-year-old Mariaamma’s father dies, she is forced to leave her Kerala village and marry a forty-year-old man. She knows nothing of the hereditary “condition” that runs through his family, but she becomes aware that her husband goes out of his way to avoid water. After her son’s birth, she notices he tries to avoid a bath and dislikes water poured over his head. What is this mysterious condition? It takes three generations before this comes to light, while family members lose their lives all too soon.

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Margaret MacMillan’s—Women of the Raj *****

Margaret MacMillan’s—Women of the Raj *****

This was a well written close look at women who braved the journey by ship to stay in India during British rule. From the beginning right through until India’s independence, we follow women who came to join their husbands or in the hope of getting married. We learn about their journey by sea, their first impressions and their social life. For anyone interested in India during the British Raj, this is an informative read.

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