"The most stimulating and thought-provoking book on India in a long time..Bumiller has made India new and immediate again."
THE WASHIN... read full description
THE WASHIN... read full description
reviews
Feb 06, 2012
Mona
rated it: 
[Note: I wrote this review for SAWNET (South Asian Women's Network) in 2001 or so.]
I remember reading "May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons" by Elisabeth Bumiller when it was first published more than 10 years ago and thinking that it was a refreshing look at Indian women and that it did NOT stereotype Indians in the way that other western writers did before. In fact I was very impressed with the fact that she met with and described women from all strata of society from village More...
I remember reading "May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons" by Elisabeth Bumiller when it was first published more than 10 years ago and thinking that it was a refreshing look at Indian women and that it did NOT stereotype Indians in the way that other western writers did before. In fact I was very impressed with the fact that she met with and described women from all strata of society from village More...
Aug 30, 2007
D.
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This was an extremely interesting book about the lives of women from various classes in India, from the poor villagers to upper-middle-class women. It gave me a bit more perspective on the lives of my MIL and SsIL. However, the book was written based on the author's experiences living in India in the 1980s, and I think things have changed so much since then, at least for the middle class. It would be interesting if the author did a follow-up.
Jan 28, 2012
Ally
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*Content warning: this review does not contain spoilers, but it does mention some of the tougher topics in this book. Read at your own risk.*
Loved this book. It is probably one of the most even-handed and respectful books on the topic of the many and horrible situations of the women in India. I have many friends who are first or second-generation Indian immigrants, and because of my interest in British history, at some point I stumbled sideways into a fascination with Indian history, More...
Loved this book. It is probably one of the most even-handed and respectful books on the topic of the many and horrible situations of the women in India. I have many friends who are first or second-generation Indian immigrants, and because of my interest in British history, at some point I stumbled sideways into a fascination with Indian history, More...
Sep 21, 2011
Kyle
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Could have been a much better book in the event that a professional journalist didn't write it. It's a well-researched book, but you never get a sense of how the western author actually merges with the Indian culture -- she seems to be a reporter on the outside. Still a great read (in terms of being informative) however, and it goes quickly. The 9th chapter on the poet/the director/the painter really give a sense of what I'd want out of the book, as I really felt as though I saw India. While I c
More...
Jun 08, 2009
dead letter office
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updated below. June 09.
an interesting book about women in india by the woman who later became (starting sep 10, 2001) the white house correspondent for the new york times. she should have stuck to writing books about india, because she was fairly good at that and in her incarnation as a national affairs correspondent in washington she was a total failure.
as she said of her role in the press conference leading up to the war: "I think we were very deferential because More...
an interesting book about women in india by the woman who later became (starting sep 10, 2001) the white house correspondent for the new york times. she should have stuck to writing books about india, because she was fairly good at that and in her incarnation as a national affairs correspondent in washington she was a total failure.
as she said of her role in the press conference leading up to the war: "I think we were very deferential because More...
Mar 18, 2010
Amit
rated it:
even though it covers well worn topics like arranged marriages, dowries, bride burnings, female infanticide, still a fascinating look from a western woman's perspective in India. not a light or easy read, but well worth it
Oct 16, 2010
Ktolsson
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A little dated, but learned about the beginnings of some incredible organizations helping women and initiating the micro-finance movement;
The author seemed a bit out of her element and interjected many unnecessary and somewhat naive personal opinions throughout - not what you would expect from a reporter - have since learned she was a social reporter before her time in India so this may explain some of her distorted perspective.
This book was a gift from Pete from his last trip this More...
The author seemed a bit out of her element and interjected many unnecessary and somewhat naive personal opinions throughout - not what you would expect from a reporter - have since learned she was a social reporter before her time in India so this may explain some of her distorted perspective.
This book was a gift from Pete from his last trip this More...
Mar 26, 2009
Samir
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I read this book long time ago. This book might be slightly dated today. However, it is one of the most unbiased books I have ever read on life in India. Interesting.
Jul 22, 2009
A collection of tales of women in modern day India, what they must endure... plus, as an added bonus!! a couple of uplifting stories of women working to make change.
Jan 05, 2009
Monet
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An excellent exploration of the lives of different women in India--a housewife, a police woman, a mother in the fields...
Aug 10, 2011
June
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a careful note of Indian women complex ... exalted yet denigrated all at once
Aug 09, 2011
Sarah
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A good read if you want to learn more about the challenges facing Indian women, the history of the women's movement in the country and the diversity of situations that women find themselves in today. Covers a vast expanse of topics, although especially after reading Bombay: Maximum City, the interviews and contacts that Bumiller relies on for much of her content seem pretty superficial. She generally does a good job of recognizing these limitations, though.
Jan 19, 2011
Cassidy
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I hope that someone writes a book updating the data and perspective here - it seems like it was a great start in the 90s and I would be curious to see what has changed since then.
Aug 01, 2007
Sephie
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A very interesting insight into the lives of women in India. Although written in 1990, this book does explain the diversity of women's status from earlier times up to fairly recent times. Grinding poverty still exists, but India is an emerging SuperPower and her women are very much part of the reforms.
Jan 27, 2008
Karen
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Sometimes you can't believe how far women have come and how far we have to go. Skip the chapter on Indira Gandhi. Bumiller is only connected to those she has personally interviewed, not those she has only researched.
Jan 06, 2008
Jennifer
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I read this book as I was engaged to a man from India and it really scared me! I went through information overload with this book, and it caused me to have some misconceptions about the country of India.
Dec 16, 2007
Chandler
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Would be a good book, if the author did not put so much of her opinion in this book.
The stories of women in India should stand on their own--they are incredible in their own right.
The stories of women in India should stand on their own--they are incredible in their own right.
Oct 17, 2008
Kathie
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Sheila, a woman of Indian extraction was annoyed by this book, and I wasn't surprised. It had a very pejorative tone. It did provide one author's insight.
Aug 08, 2008
Rev. Bobbie
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Again India and the life of women. The place of women. The hope of women. Not so much a tale as a journal of observations that take you there.
Mar 21, 2008
Shikha
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Simply stated: one of the most thought-provoking, inspirational, and life-changing books I have ever read.
Oct 03, 2007
Kelsey
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Overall a decent book. Most of it is a pretty light read, but some parts of it can be a bit tedious.
Jan 29, 2008
Ruti
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I really liked the variety of essays. Read it while I was in India in 2001
Dec 16, 2009
Aileen
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A very insightful book, portraying a wide range of Indian womens' plights...
Feb 12, 2012
