The Feast of Roses

by Indu Sundaresan

book data

842 ratings, 3.93 average rating, 133 reviews (more data...)

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4		42%
3		22%
2		6%
1		0%

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published

February 1st 2007 by Blackstone Audiobooks (first published 2002)

details

Audio CD, 200 pages

isbn

1433200740 (isbn13: 9781433200748)

description

In her critically praised debut novel, The Twentieth Wife, Indu Sundaresan introduced the love story of Emperor Jahangir and Mehrunnisa. The story con…more

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Dec 01, 2008

Roossy rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in November, 2008

The Feast of Roses was about Mehrunissa; her life as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an empress and a ruler. She was the love of Emperor Jahangir and they wed because they loved each other. As she gained more power from the harem, she asked to have more power in the kingdom’s politics, which meant she was to be consulted for any problems concerning the kingdom. Love apparently blinded Jahangir and he granted all of Mehrunissa’s wishes.
As Jahangir’s health deteriorated, Mehrun...more The Feast of Roses was about Mehrunissa; her life as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an empress and a ruler. She was the love of Emperor Jahangir and they wed because they loved each other. As she gained more power from the harem, she asked to have more power in the kingdom’s politics, which meant she was to be consulted for any problems concerning the kingdom. Love apparently blinded Jahangir and he granted all of Mehrunissa’s wishes.
As Jahangir’s health deteriorated, Mehrunissa was the one in charge for many of the Mughal India kingdom’s affairs. This woman’s power was not common back in their time and many of the high-ranking officers despised it. The fear of losing power came to Mehrunissa when Jahangir had severe asthma attack and almost died. She then tried to secure her power and position by asking Khurram, one of Jahangir son to marry her daughter, Ladli. Unfortunately, her attempted failed and when Khurram became the emperor, she was exiled and forgotten.
My first encountered with Mehrunissa character was in Taj. She was mentioned as an aunt of Arjumand. There was not much information about her except that she did not like her husband and was married to Jahangir after her husband was killed. She was viewed as ambitious and smart. In one instance, she was humiliated by her lack of skill of archery by his husband’s other wife, which made her practiced archery very hard in a short time, succeeded in killing a tiger and gained her husband respect.
Nevertheless, I admired Mehrunissa as a strong woman. She went through humiliation as she thought as barren and only gave a daughter to her first husband. She witnessed her first husband assassination, she worked hard to earn her living and she loved her child despite of the child’s gender.
I have seen Mehrunissa's courage in many women. Eva Paron, Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton were among them. They were the brains behind their husbands. Many of these women are the brain machines in today’s commercial worlds and they are the reason why women should still fight for equal right.(less)

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Dec 15, 2007

Adam rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

Sundaresan picks up the story of Mehrunnisa, the remarkable heroine from her debut novel, Twenty Wives, as the so-called "Light of the World" consolidates her power as wife of Emperor Jahangir of the Mughal Empire in 17th-century India, only to see her dominion destroyed by her own aggressive tendencies. The early chapters find Mehrunnisa confronting two rivals, who happen to be old friends of her husband, and eliminating them in a brief series of power struggles. She also talks Jahang...more

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Mar 22, 2009

Naida rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

Read in March, 2009

UGGG this was horrid. Had to drag myself through it. The 1st book in the series - The 20th Wife was SO much better.

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Mar 10, 2009

Preeti rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

bookshelves: desi, favorites, historical-fiction

Read in December, 2004

Never judge a book by its cover. That is the oft-repeated mantra, which can be applied not just to literature, but to many other subjects.

In this case, even though I really wanted to read the book, the cover just blew me away. To me, it's a perfect representation of what the story is about: power, opulence, beauty, sensuality, and, above all, a need to step beyond the confines of a well-defined, though rather ill-fitting, role.

The woman on the cover is showing herself but...more Never judge a book by its cover. That is the oft-repeated mantra, which can be applied not just to literature, but to many other subjects.

In this case, even though I really wanted to read the book, the cover just blew me away. To me, it's a perfect representation of what the story is about: power, opulence, beauty, sensuality, and, above all, a need to step beyond the confines of a well-defined, though rather ill-fitting, role.

The woman on the cover is showing herself but only partially - her face is still hidden. And that was how I saw Mehrunnisa.

I never really knew the stories of the Mughal empire. Growing up in the U.S., it was not exactly a subject given much, if any, gravity. So, I knew about the Taj Mahal and about Shah Jahan and his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, but not much beyond that. Then, I heard about The Twentieth Wife (the first in the two-book series) from Amulya Malladi's website. Intrigued, I read the first chapter online and was instantly hooked.

Both books follow Mehrunnisa, or, as she is more popularly known, Nur Jahan, throughout her life, from the unique circumstances of her birth through to her reign over the empire.

This books starts after Mehrunnisa arrives into the imperial zenana as Emperor Jahangir's twentieth wife. We follow her as she establishes her power over the Emperor and over his kingdom. We see how, as a friend so eloquently put it, her strength becomes her weakness, and eventually, her downfall; a strong, aggressive, cunning woman whose actions changed the course of history becomes a mere line in history books.

The imagery in this book is absolutely delicious. The lives of the royals: the majesty, the opulence, the splendor - all of it is depicted in vivid detail, allowing the reader to see it all, to actually be there. Oh, and the romance:

"He moved closer to Mehrunnisa's back and went to sleep. Heat hung inside the apartment, the punkah did little but spin the air around the room, but Jahangir could only close his eyes when some part of him was against her. They would each wake many times at night to find sweat thickly matted between their skins, but half-asleep they would wipe it away, find another position in which to lay their bodies, another place in which they made contact. An arm, a leg flung across, a shoulder lodged against a hip, even fingers touching, it did not matter, touch they had to."

Overall, this book was a much slower read compared to The Twentieth Wife. I think there was just a lot more to take in in this one.

Never having been a fan of historical fiction, these two books definitely changed my perception. It was interesting to learn about the treachery, the friendships forged, alliances broken, the campaigns, the wars, the tireless work of a ruler controlling a vast land.

I hope Indu Sundaresan writes more and I'm off to learn as much as I can about Nur Jahan.

Note: Although the author claims to have followed history very closely, there is some leeway she has allowed herself in constructing the story. Being a work of fiction, this artistic license is to be expected.(less)

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Sep 18, 2009

Tara rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

bookshelves: historical-fiction, india, women-that-really-existed-fiction

Read in December, 2008

The Twentieth wife was better, in my opinion, but this novel, again about Empress Nur Jahan aka Nisa, was just as beautifully written with historical details, romance and courage. This novel follows Nisa's life after her marriage to the Emperor. The only thing I grew weary of was the stories, details and characters pertaining to the Portuguese and English trading, ships and treaties. That was dull. However, the court and zenana intrigue was abundant. I found Nisa's story incredibly sad despite t...more

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Feb 23, 2009

Linda rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

Read in March, 2009

A very good sequel to The Twentieth Wife. The first book, The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan, is a must read prior to The Feast of Roses, although, both books could easily stand alone. Both are very detailed and in depth looks at life in ancient India. This book is every bit as breathtaking as the Twentieth Wife. The author, Indu Sundaresan, educates readers about ancient India all the while entertaining with page-turning happenings. The riches, power struggles, family fueds (with dire c...more A very good sequel to The Twentieth Wife. The first book, The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan, is a must read prior to The Feast of Roses, although, both books could easily stand alone. Both are very detailed and in depth looks at life in ancient India. This book is every bit as breathtaking as the Twentieth Wife. The author, Indu Sundaresan, educates readers about ancient India all the while entertaining with page-turning happenings. The riches, power struggles, family fueds (with dire consequences) and the way in which power and wealth is distributed is amazingly detailed. The way in which India dealt with England on issues of trade was captivating. This book deals with the betrothals, marriages and harems of royalty. Everything in their lives has a political spin to it. Fortunes can turn on a dime. In many ways, there is nothing new under the sun.

The author did research on 17th Century history of India for a thesis paper. The accounts are historical with some creative license taken to make the story congruent. Both books are love stories but so much more. Every sentence is flawlessly written and it is so beautifully done and so elegantly detailed that sometimes I would reread paragraphs and even start chapters over to savor the intelligence of the story. The Twentieth Wife should grab you right away as Mehrunnisa is born to poor parents in the dessert in a sand storm and is set out in a basket in her father's hopes that she be retrieved by someone more able to care for her. How her life unfolds is amazing and based on actual facts. The author does admit to filling in some blanks as the focus in those times was not to document women's lives, but the powerful men they served. Also, it is really Mehrunnissa's niece who is most highly honored as her husband constructs the Taj Mahal in India after her untimely death. The niece, not a centerpiece in the story, actually becomes empress following Mehrunnissa but is only empress for four years as she had 14 children and dies in childbirth. Even so, Mehrunnisa is in power for 16 years after clawing her way to the top and fighting all sorts of impossible circumstances and is much more powerful. She is so clever and deflects the most arduous attempts at bringing husband, Jahangir, and her empire down making few mistakes. If it seems there are spoilers in this review, rest assured there is so much more that will now go unsaid that you will not be disappointed by what has been said. I highly recommend both books. Take care, Linda(less)

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2 comments

Aug 09, 2009

Stacy rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

bookshelves: book-club

Read in August, 2009

Honestly, I was bored a lot of the time while reading this book. The first one was fun and entertaining, with good character development. Well, the characters had already been developed, so the author had to rely more upon plot...and the plot was sorely lacking.

I really ended up disliking both Mehrunnisa and Khurram, and I felt sorry for Jagat Gosini (which irritated me, since she was so unlikable in the first one). There were way too many double-crosses...how did anyone trust a...more

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Mar 14, 2009

Selena rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

bookshelves: chick-lit, fiction, historical-fiction, historical-royals, race-and-minorities, royalty-and-nobility, young-adult

Read in April, 2009

I rooted for Mehrunnisa all the way in The Twentieth wife and now she's back in The Feast of Roses. The story is as interesting and well written as ever and I found myself transported into 17th century India. Mehrunnisa seemed so close that I can almost touch her. There is one problem though, I did have a harder time connecting to her in this book. It might be due to the fact that ever since she became empress, she no longer has the common problems a normal person can understand and experience....more

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May 24, 2009

Tasnuva rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

bookshelves: my-highly-recommended-ones

Read in May, 2009

Judged by the cover, definitely not a book I would have picked out. My mom's friend has been recommended it for months now.
For the first Indo-Historical fiction that I've read, its very very good. Writing was concise but also with the kind of details that the Mughal lives demand and the conjugal love story of Jahangir and Nur Jahan was unexpected and excellently portrayed. I do wish I had read 'Twentieth Wife' first. I still might.

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Dec 07, 2008

Yvonne added it (review of isbn 0743456416)

This is the continuation of The Twentieth Wife (which is actually the haphazard courtship of the couple -- Marinisa, a commoner and Salim, the prince and then emperor).

Sundaresan narrates the marriage through the death of the emperor. Hard to put this one down, also.

I am hoping to read The Splendor of Silence by Sundaresan soon. I think it's set around WWII. I know it will be good.

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Sep 28, 2009

Zenia rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

Read in September, 2009

Quite enjoyed this book but it wasn't as fast as a read for me as the prequel, Twentieth Wife. Also, I found that at times, the book read like a historical account rather than a fictional novel. I know the book is based on history, but at times, it lost the story telling appeal. Overall though, great book. Would definitely recommend it and can't wait to see what the author does next.

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Feb 17, 2009

Cara rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

Read in March, 2009

I liked this book even better than "The 20th Wife" (the first book about Mehrunissa and Jahangir.) THe author does an amazing job of blending fact and fiction. I liked this one better because this was really the love story; although Mehrunissa is powerful she is only so because Jahangir trusts her above all others and gives her opportunity to help him run the kingdom. I love the strong will of Mehrunissa and her determination to make a difference but her arrogance began to make her ...more

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Dec 15, 2008

Christine rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in April, 2009

A great follow-up; although I have to admit I was hoping to learn more about Khurram's reign after Jahangir's death. I wanted so see what the two emperor's had in common in their politics and their love for their wives, but this apparently hadn't been the author's purpose and so didn't detract from the novel.

While you can't help but love Mehrunissa in The Twentieth Wife, this novel shows her as more human, more vulnerable, and capable of making mistakes and living with regret. I ap...more

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Feb 24, 2009

Heather rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

Read in March, 2009

Sundaresan continues right where she left off with Twentieth Wife. The characters grow more and the historic story continues to unravel as the throne to the Mongul Empire slowly begins to shift hands. I still loved the main character Mehrunnisa, but her personality definitely changes in this book and she becomes a lot more self-absorbed. Wish the author would have continued the story to follow the rise of the Taj Mahal and the love story that ensured from it.

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Jun 07, 2009

Kari rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

The second book in the series. I read the last half of the book in a few hours. I couldn't wait to finish it and see what happened. I have read Beneath a Marble Sky, which is the tale of Arjumand, the niece to Nur Jahan (the main character in this book) so it was interesting to see her portrayed differently in this book. Loved it!

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Jul 16, 2009

Jo rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

Read in July, 2009

This is a wonderful sequel to The Twentieth Wife. It is as rich and appealing as a great chicken makhani - full of luscious tidbits, meaty with descriptive passages and full of the raisins and cashews of information about life of the mughal emperors and their wives. Historical fiction at its very best.

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Jan 26, 2009

e.c.h.a rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: fiksi-sejarah, hadiah, milik-sendiri

Owns a copy — Read in May, 2008

Sekuel dari kehidupan Mehrunnisa, yang sudah menjadi istri Raja Salim dan mendapat gelar Nur Jahan. Salim sangat mengagungkan Nur Jahan dan tergantung pada Nur Jahan.

Dalam kisah ini, terlihat bagaimana Nur Jahan mempunyai pengaruh sangat besar dalam segala lini kehidupan Raja Salim, baik kerajaan serta keluarganya. Nur Jahan yang penuh dengan ambisi untuk mempertahankan posisinya. Nur Jahan yang menjadi jantung dari Kerajaan Mughal, bahkan sampai dengan penerus tahta Raja Salim. Penu...more

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14 comments

Oct 22, 2009

Ami rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

Read in September, 2009

The author again does a fantastic job with illustrating the life during the Moghul Empire amoung the royals. I would have to stay this book was a quick read, but The Twentieth Wife was certainly a page turner and read in a day. I couldn't put the book down. Definitely a must read!

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Sep 02, 2009

Arsala rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

I think The Twentieth Wife was better but this is a pretty decent read as well. The storyline is interesting and all the politics of the court really intrigued me. Like the first book, it's a very comprehensive story that can at times feel overwhelming as you try to figure out who is who.

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Feb 11, 2010

Ivana rated it:

(review of isbn 0743456416)

In comparison to "The Twentieth Wife", I found it rather less readable and catchy to read. However, together with "The Twentieth Wife" it makes a good memoir of Mehrunisa's life and a good story about a different culture and interesting historical period.

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