When Alice marries Ramesh, she is plunged into a battle of wills with her mother-in-law. Namesake of a god, Amma reigns over Alice's household unti...
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Dec 20, 2011
Cheryl
rated it: 
From a seemingly simple clash of cultures, Shiva’s Arms evolves into an exploration of cultural identity, the power of reconciliation, and the meaning of home. The author uses South Indian myths and customs to explore questions of class and ideology. as well as of belonging--national, cultural, and linguistic--- within the context of immigration.
Alice marries Ramesh, a man from a tradition she can’t fathom. Ram aspires to the modern way of life. Alice, eager to belong, embraces the c More...
Alice marries Ramesh, a man from a tradition she can’t fathom. Ram aspires to the modern way of life. Alice, eager to belong, embraces the c More...
Jul 23, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
I learned how intense and strong some life struggles are and the strenght it takes to make changes. It made me believe we can get through difficult personal and cultural changes that we must. All our lives and all of us as individuals will be stronger as a result and pass this on. I cried at the end.
Nov 14, 2010
Julie
rated it: 
Originally posted on my blog, Knitting and Sundries (although this review has an addendum):
I was immediately drawn in by the picture of Alice being hustled through the airport and into the sweltering Indian heat on her first visit to meet her new Indian relatives-by-marriage. Most of us have or know someone with an overbearing mother-in-law, and I think those issues are doubled, if not tripled, when you add in the cultural differences between groups like Americans and Indians.
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I was immediately drawn in by the picture of Alice being hustled through the airport and into the sweltering Indian heat on her first visit to meet her new Indian relatives-by-marriage. Most of us have or know someone with an overbearing mother-in-law, and I think those issues are doubled, if not tripled, when you add in the cultural differences between groups like Americans and Indians.
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Jul 20, 2010
Sheila
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If you’ve ever wondered about Indian culture, Hindu festivals, mixed marriages that span continents, or how people from a different background assimilate in America’s new world, Shiva’s Arms is surely the book for you.
A literary story, Shiva’s Arms tell the tale of Ram, who marries the American Alice, of Ram’s mother, known as Amma, of his sister Nela, and of son Sam who grows from childhood to adulthood with a foot in each world. The story’s narrated through the eyes of each of the ma More...
A literary story, Shiva’s Arms tell the tale of Ram, who marries the American Alice, of Ram’s mother, known as Amma, of his sister Nela, and of son Sam who grows from childhood to adulthood with a foot in each world. The story’s narrated through the eyes of each of the ma More...
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Jul 28, 2010
Laura
rated it: 
Shiva's Arms is a book about the struggle between husband and wife, son and mother, and daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. The plot not only follows these conflicts but adds cultural differences in the mix to make it more complicated. Alice is American and she married the Indian born Ramesh, only to face a life she didn't know was coming. The book explores the cultural difference and the difficulties that these marriages often face. I liked that the author took on a new take in having the charac
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 16, 2010
Dorothy
rated it:
I love learning about different culture and Cheryl's book Shiva's arms is a wonderful way to learn a little about the everyday interactions of the Indian Hindu culture.The story is simple yet complex. Alice a young free spirited American and Ramesh a young college student from India fall in love.From that point on Alice and Ramesh both deal with the struggles and joys of a cross cultural relationship and marriage. I love this book . No outrages plot just a good strong story line about every
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(3 people liked it)
Jun 28, 2010
Freda
rated it:
Right from the beginning of this story I was lured into the lives of a family, most specifically a woman, who culturally is not accepted. Yet she keeps with it until the very end. I felt so much empathy for her, and then at the end I felt her strength. Truly powerful!
This is a book that will hit nerves with most who read it, but in a way not offensive.
The writer has done an outstanding job on the detail of emotion, good and bad. Conveyed to the reader it rang loud and clear.
Yes th More...
This is a book that will hit nerves with most who read it, but in a way not offensive.
The writer has done an outstanding job on the detail of emotion, good and bad. Conveyed to the reader it rang loud and clear.
Yes th More...
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(3 people liked it)
Jun 21, 2010
Lindsay
rated it:
Shiva’s Arms is really a book with two different main characters, if you ask me. On one hand, you have Alice…The sometimes-lovable wife of poor Ramesh. Throughout the book, the reader is led to love Alice and then, just as strongly, pushed to hate her. She is a strong-willed woman with a venomous streak.
On the other hand, there is Amma (or Shiva). Amma is a traditional woman. Indian through and through. She follows all of the oldest traditions from her homeland of India, prepares tra More...
On the other hand, there is Amma (or Shiva). Amma is a traditional woman. Indian through and through. She follows all of the oldest traditions from her homeland of India, prepares tra More...
Jun 23, 2010
Dr.K
rated it:
This is a fine story of the cosmic clash of cultures. It is layered and nuanced, with meanings that extend beyond words. For instance, character is revealed by physical expression rather than spelling it out, and the type of movement from scene to scene underscores where the characters are emotionally - fragmented and unsettled at first, smoothing into an uneasy truce, only to be plunged into a more authentic recognition of what "family" means. Shiva's Arms is a beautiful book in every
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 12, 2010
Kathleen
rated it:
Shiva's Arms is a blending of American and Indian culture and also the diversities of the two cultures. There is Alice who marries Ramesh, and his mother Amma and huge family in India. Nela is Ramesh's sister and then there is Sam, son of Alice and Ramesh. Alice and Ram meet while in college and fall in love and marry. Alice is apprehensive meeting his family and rightly so as she knows absolutely nothing of the Indian culture. She tries very hard to be a good wife and do what a good Indian wife
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