From the acclaimed author of A Breath of Fresh Air, this beautiful novel takes us to modern India during the height of the summer’s...
read full description
reviews
Nov 03, 2007
Rachel
rated it: 
In reading The Mango Season, I was introduced to a country and culture that I knew nothing about. You are immediately drawn into the culture of India, and the values of Indian family life. It is Mango Season and Priya returns home to tell her parents of news she knows they won’t want to hear. She has become engaged to everything that they are against. Living in the United States, Priya meets an American man and falls in love. Returning home to face the sweltering summer heat, the mango harv
More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Mar 10, 2009
Preeti
rated it: 
The entire book takes place within a span of a few days (2-4), but is full of detail. The sights and sounds of India, even the smell and taste of mangoes, are abundantly described. It throws you right back to the Homeland.
The story is about a woman who, having grown up in India, has lived in the U.S. for the past 7 seven years (school, then career) and finally goes back for the express purpose of telling her family that she is engaged to and wants to marry an American. O_O
More...
The story is about a woman who, having grown up in India, has lived in the U.S. for the past 7 seven years (school, then career) and finally goes back for the express purpose of telling her family that she is engaged to and wants to marry an American. O_O
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jan 06, 2012
Shweta's Book Journal
rated it:
With such a blurb how could I resist myself from reading this book ? Indian girl engaged to an American guy , all set to break the news to her family back home. Could it get any better than this ? It does. Amulya Malladi's Mango Season is just as it promises to be. It's funny , smart and a delightful book.
Female readers will instantly connect to Priya , the protagonist who knows her family too well to understand that breaking this news to them isn't as easy as her fiancée Nick thinks. More...
Female readers will instantly connect to Priya , the protagonist who knows her family too well to understand that breaking this news to them isn't as easy as her fiancée Nick thinks. More...
Nov 07, 2011
Darcey
rated it: 
While this is not your standard "romance", I'm still tagging it that way, because it deals with romance and love - or a lack thereof. Priya Rao returns after 7 years to her home in Hyderabad, AP to tell her parents she's marrying an American man. She finds herself changed more than she had expected, and sees her interactions with her family so differently, it distracts her from the reason she returned.
Intra-family interactions; marriage, love and romance; commitment to one's More...
Intra-family interactions; marriage, love and romance; commitment to one's More...
Nov 19, 2010
Megan
rated it:
After seven years in America, Priya has returned to tell her parents that she's engaged to an American. Because she knows this decision isn't going to go down well with her very traditional family, she keeps stalling, and over the course of a couple days, she has the chance to see herself and her family members in different lights.
What I liked most about this book was the complicated family dynamics. Priya knows she has to live her life for herself, but she still struggles with the gui More...
What I liked most about this book was the complicated family dynamics. Priya knows she has to live her life for herself, but she still struggles with the gui More...
Nov 02, 2010
Smitha
rated it:
There are some books, which when once started are difficult to put down again. And lo behold, if you start reading such books late night. This happened to me yesterday. I started on Mango Season around 11 pm, reluctantly went to bed at 12.30, day dreamt about the characters while at work ( luckily or unluckily, today was a very busy day), read a bit more at lunch time, and finally finished it off at a stretch at around 9 pm today. My son had an inkling that I liked the book a bit too much, when
More...
Aug 03, 2009
Ariela
rated it: 
Indian girl moves to America. Falls in love with an American boy. Worries that her traditional family won’t accept him. Those three sentences pretty much sum up the entirety of this book, which had promise but fails to deliver in terms of creating three-dimensional characters. The first quarter of this novel consists of Priya, the main character, complaining about what a horrible person her mother is. The rest of the story gives her family similar treatment, reducing them to a collection of ster
More...
0 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Feb 16, 2011
Jamila
rated it:
Amulya Malladi vividly describes a rich and vibrant India. It's beauty and it's ugliness are described in meticulous detail. We meet Priya and her large extended family early in the book. Priya is returning to India after seven years abroad to tell her family she is engaged to an American man. Her family members are described like characters from an Indian movie: the nagging mother, the modern brother, the mean aunt. Thankfully, Malladi develops the characters further as the book goes on.
More...
More...
Jul 28, 2009
Jeni
rated it:
Good story and a quick easy read. The description was great. I could see the places that where being described and the clothing, for example, that the women where wearing (good color descriptions).
I also appreciated the read portrayal of how Priya's family feels about her living in America, and her engagement to an American man. Learning about Nick at the very end was a complete surprise! Didn't see that coming.
Overall, I think that it could have been more. I don't really know how More...
I also appreciated the read portrayal of how Priya's family feels about her living in America, and her engagement to an American man. Learning about Nick at the very end was a complete surprise! Didn't see that coming.
Overall, I think that it could have been more. I don't really know how More...
Dec 28, 2011
Jyoti
rated it:
Chanced upon this book and read it because of its visibly Indian theme.
It was a quick read and I liked the idea of Avakkai and other recipes as they helped connect with this Andhraite family even more. The interview at the end gave further insights into the author's method of planning the plot and characters. Priya's adoration for her Nana (father) and Thatha (maternal grandfather), empathy for Sowmya, affection for Nate (her brother) and impatience with her mother felt real. I could a More...
It was a quick read and I liked the idea of Avakkai and other recipes as they helped connect with this Andhraite family even more. The interview at the end gave further insights into the author's method of planning the plot and characters. Priya's adoration for her Nana (father) and Thatha (maternal grandfather), empathy for Sowmya, affection for Nate (her brother) and impatience with her mother felt real. I could a More...
Mar 18, 2009
Saima
rated it:
Easy to read and enjoyable. It is the story of a woman (Priya) who lives in America and is returning home to inform her family that she wants to marry an american man (Nick) - something that most asian families would probably dread! The book tries to show that attitudes eventually change and hopefully it is worth all the struggles and drama in the end. Beautiful descriptions of the country but not too over the top as to drag the story along. Plus there's a fair few recipes included at the begin
More...
Sep 24, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
I love India. I've been there several times, and written a book with my husband about some of our friends there. I loved this book because of the "insiders perspective" into an Indian family's life. People in the U.S.A. are usually very surprised when they find out that arranged marriages are still very common in India. There are many beneficial, successful marriages done this way, and many that are not.
My favorite part of this book is where the author says, "Indi More...
My favorite part of this book is where the author says, "Indi More...
Feb 02, 2012
Kristen
rated it:
This was good. I enjoyed learning about Priya and her family even though I had issues with a lot of their beliefs and actions. Honestly, I found myself able to visualize the characters in this book really easily and Priya's predicament in particular seemed to be understandable, although sometimes I felt like she didn't think enough about how her reluctance must seem to Nick. It saddened me to see how Priya's relationship and subsequent decision to marry outside of her culture and race could caus
More...
Dec 25, 2009
Tamara
rated it:
Favorite Quotes:
Don’t kill yourself if you get pregnant, was my mother’s advice to me when I was fifteen years old…
Summer, while I was growing up, was all about mangoes.
[F:]air somehow always meant beautiful and having darker skin was a flaw…Nick was heartily amused when I told him how my own mother had discriminated against me because I was dark. He couldn’t see the subtle differences between the various shades of Indian dark…
Unlike most Indian men, Na More...
Don’t kill yourself if you get pregnant, was my mother’s advice to me when I was fifteen years old…
Summer, while I was growing up, was all about mangoes.
[F:]air somehow always meant beautiful and having darker skin was a flaw…Nick was heartily amused when I told him how my own mother had discriminated against me because I was dark. He couldn’t see the subtle differences between the various shades of Indian dark…
Unlike most Indian men, Na More...
Jul 27, 2009
okyrhoe
rated it: 
A quick and pleasant read, but a shallow story, overall (esp. when compared to several novels* by fellow Indian/Pakistani authors I've read recently).
The novel covers the events of a few days, Priya's trip to India during which she is meant to inform her family about her impending marriage to her American fiance, interspersed with flashbacks and descriptive passages explaining what is presently going on and why.
I sometimes felt that some of these expository segments were merely 'fi More...
The novel covers the events of a few days, Priya's trip to India during which she is meant to inform her family about her impending marriage to her American fiance, interspersed with flashbacks and descriptive passages explaining what is presently going on and why.
I sometimes felt that some of these expository segments were merely 'fi More...
May 26, 2008
Alix
rated it:
I enjoyed the book, but it read like a melodrama. I would put this on your to-read list if you enjoy a good story and have any parental (i.e., my family runs my life) issues. I could relate to the protagonist!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 04, 2011
Diane
rated it:
I picked up this little book with the beautiful dust jacket while browsing in the local library and thought it might be a nice light read. I found the story compelling enough that I couldn't put it down even though it was the classic tale of an Indo-American girl fending off her parents' attempts to arrange a marriage for her with a "nice Indian boy". However, the book was about little else and the sturm and drang got to be a bit much after a while. The author did include numerous r
More...
Jan 08, 2011
Charlotte
rated it:
The Mango Season
Amulya Malladi (2003)
Not worth more than a quick read, maybe on the beach in the summer.
It’s the story of a woman who lives in the bay area with her fiancé and, after a seven-year absence, goes home to India to tell her extended Brahman family that she’s marrying a non-Indian.
I enjoyed the inclusion of recipes and the exploration of the woman’s world. Although I felt that the issue of racism both against Indians and within the Indian culture, t More...
Amulya Malladi (2003)
Not worth more than a quick read, maybe on the beach in the summer.
It’s the story of a woman who lives in the bay area with her fiancé and, after a seven-year absence, goes home to India to tell her extended Brahman family that she’s marrying a non-Indian.
I enjoyed the inclusion of recipes and the exploration of the woman’s world. Although I felt that the issue of racism both against Indians and within the Indian culture, t More...
Jun 30, 2011
Shelly
rated it:
Book #30 for 2011 - Meet Priya, a 27 year old native to India who has been living in the Silicon Valley for the last 7 years. She is returning to India for a visit. Oh, and to tell her parents that she has met and fallen in love with a *GASP* American man! I loved this story. Traditional Indian expectations meets 21st century life. Priya is forced to deal with her parents, her grandparents, her brother and her extended family regarding her relationship with the "evil American." A
More...
Jun 13, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
This is an easy read. I've read better books with Indian characters, or even characters who are from India and now live in America. This one almost had too many stereotypes. Maybe it's really like that, but it was laid down a little too thick. There are recipes sprinkled throughout, though I don't know how easy it will be to make them for those who are interested, because it might be tough to obtain some of the ingredients. But what do I know? It adds a nice touch to the novel. I don't know how
More...
Aug 11, 2009
Megan
rated it:
This is a book about an Indian woman, Priya, who is home visiting her family after living in the United States for seven years. She struggles with having to tell her strict, traditional Indian family about the American man she is engaged to, as she knows they will not accept this and is afraid they will disown her. She's finally forced to decide between family and love when her parents and grandparents arrange for her to wed an Indian man.
We get to experience the sense of family important More...
We get to experience the sense of family important More...
Mar 22, 2010
Jamie
rated it:
It takes me a good chapter or two to get used to books that are set in different countries - especially non English-speaking countries. But, after the first 20 pages of The Mango Season, I really enjoyed the book.
It takes place in India in the summer, where the narrator, Priya, has returned home after spending eight years in the United States, where she works as a software engineer. She returns home to tell her very traditional family about her American fiance, Nick.
The More...
It takes place in India in the summer, where the narrator, Priya, has returned home after spending eight years in the United States, where she works as a software engineer. She returns home to tell her very traditional family about her American fiance, Nick.
The More...
Aug 23, 2009
Ali
rated it:
I read another book by this author some time ago, and enjoyed this one just as much. It is a light and quick read with all the usual ingredients: an independent young woman, difficult family members with differing expectations, opposing eastern/westrern habits and values. This is a novel about love, family and forgiveness. There were times when I was frustrated with Priya and her reluctance to tell her family the truth about her relationship in America, as at other times she was very outspoken.
More...
Aug 17, 2011
Amy
rated it:
If you had any doubt over whether or not every culture has dysfunctional families, this book will prove it.
It was a sweet book, my only problems with it were:
1) the author assumes that the reader has some understanding of Indian culture and phrases - if you're a person like me, with little to no understanding of it, there are some phrases and parts that can be a bit distracting.
2) The formatting of the narrator's emails to her fiance, being in all caps, was kind of More...
It was a sweet book, my only problems with it were:
1) the author assumes that the reader has some understanding of Indian culture and phrases - if you're a person like me, with little to no understanding of it, there are some phrases and parts that can be a bit distracting.
2) The formatting of the narrator's emails to her fiance, being in all caps, was kind of More...
Nov 01, 2011
This story never really grabbed my attention. It was interesting to learn about the culture of India. I knew topically about "arranged marriages" but not in the detailed extent that Amulya Malladi expressed in her book. I felt a great sorrow for the plight of the women in The Mango Season especially as this is probably an accurate account of real life scenarios. Also I had a lot of compassion for the protagonist, Priya, because I have experienced a similar circumstance of having to giv
More...
Oct 10, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Set in India. An American-returned Indian young lady who's come to tell her family about her American fiance. Really loved it! The ending packed quite a punch. Definitely worth a read...
A more detailed review:
This is the story of Priya Rao, a young woman who had left India at the age of twenty to study in America. Seven years later, she returns for a visit to discover that her parents are intent on arranging her marriage to a suitable Indian boy. Not just any Indian More...
A more detailed review:
This is the story of Priya Rao, a young woman who had left India at the age of twenty to study in America. Seven years later, she returns for a visit to discover that her parents are intent on arranging her marriage to a suitable Indian boy. Not just any Indian More...
Dec 18, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
I had to put it down, mercifully at the 75 page point (that's my point for deciding if I can put it down without guilt). The main character, Priya, is home visiting relatives after 7 years in the US and can't bring herself to tell them that she's engaged to - and living with - an American man. The dealbreaker for me was a conversation with an auntie in which she was defending "other" Indian women who do this - that's just about the same as telling them, silly character!
Apr 21, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
This book is about an Indian woman who returns to see her family in India after living in the US for seven years. She returns to break the news to them that she is engaged to an American. We follow the minute-by-minute details of her visit, which is unfortunately not all that engaging. I'm recently back from my first visit to India, so I enjoyed more exposure to the culture. But I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book.
Mar 21, 2011
Zainab
rated it:
I really enjoyed the authors sense of humor & lighthearted way of addressing serious issues. For someone like me who's never been to India, I also liked the way she draws you a picture using her descriptions & brings it to life to the point that you can see & feel what she's experiencing. Mostly a lighthearted story & an easy read but I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in India & it's culture. There is also the aspect of an outsider looking in since the main character moves
More...
Apr 13, 2009
Mayanka
rated it:
This takes place in 2 days and didn't have a whole lot of plot. The protagonist has to tell her Indian family about her American fiance, she does, and they react. That's it.
It was more like a memory of my own than a new story, but it was extremely accurate (her family's reactions are SO much the same as my family's!)
Short, light, funny read. Have no idea what this book is like for someone who didn't go through it...
It was more like a memory of my own than a new story, but it was extremely accurate (her family's reactions are SO much the same as my family's!)
Short, light, funny read. Have no idea what this book is like for someone who didn't go through it...
