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95th out of 396 books
—
965 voters
What the Body Remembers
Out of the rich culture of India and the brutal drama of the 1947 Partition comes this lush and eloquent debut novel about two women married to the same man.
Roop is a young girl whose mother has died and whose father is deep in debt. So
she is elated to learn she is to become the second wife of a wealthy Sikh landowner in a union beneficial to both. For Sardaji’s first wif...more
Roop is a young girl whose mother has died and whose father is deep in debt. So
she is elated to learn she is to become the second wife of a wealthy Sikh landowner in a union beneficial to both. For Sardaji’s first wif...more
Paperback, 496 pages
Published
January 16th 2001
by Anchor
(first published 1999)
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Oct 28, 2012
Rowena
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
indian-lit,
bookclub-reads
I read this book with my bookclub ; it was chosen because three of the members are Canadian-born Sikh and wanted to learn more about their history.
I've read many books set in India over the years but this is the first book I've read by a Sikh author. Like many other books that discuss Indian culture, this goes into a lot of detail about British colonialism in the country, as well as the many religious beliefs and languages.
The story itself was quite sad. As a woman, I couldn't help but empathi...more
I've read many books set in India over the years but this is the first book I've read by a Sikh author. Like many other books that discuss Indian culture, this goes into a lot of detail about British colonialism in the country, as well as the many religious beliefs and languages.
The story itself was quite sad. As a woman, I couldn't help but empathi...more
Great book although quite a depressing storyline.
November 13, 2010
I found this book difficult to start as there were a lot of cultural references that I didn't get. Once you read past the first 100 pages or so the storyline develops into quite an unforgettable story of the struggles the characters faced. I felt that the ending was a bit dragged on and had a hard time finishing it.
What the Body Remembers illustrates the difference between what it's like to be a man and what it's like to be a women in India during the 1940s. How a man's world i...more
I found this book difficult to start as there were a lot of cultural references that I didn't get. Once you read past the first 100 pages or so the storyline develops into quite an unforgettable story of the struggles the characters faced. I felt that the ending was a bit dragged on and had a hard time finishing it.
What the Body Remembers illustrates the difference between what it's like to be a man and what it's like to be a women in India during the 1940s. How a man's world i...more
Roop, one of Bachan Singh’s two daughters, grows up without her mother. Her father, a respected however not-too-well-off a person in the village, does his best in bringing up his daughters and son.
Roop grows up believing that she is destined to a better life. When Bachan Singh gets a proposal from one of the wealthiest men in the village for his daughter, he is delighted, only to be disappointed when he realizes that it is not for one of the wealthy man’s sons. but for an already married relativ...more
Roop grows up believing that she is destined to a better life. When Bachan Singh gets a proposal from one of the wealthiest men in the village for his daughter, he is delighted, only to be disappointed when he realizes that it is not for one of the wealthy man’s sons. but for an already married relativ...more
The reader/writer connection wasn't successful for me in the early third of this book -- there were too many times I found myself thinking about the writing style rather than the story. Part of the reason for that was a number of what one of my favourite creative writing teachers called the "editorial lump" -- where the writer steps out of the story and catches us up on world events, philosophy -- anything but the story.
Towards the end, I was totally over that, as I realized how difficult it wa...more
Towards the end, I was totally over that, as I realized how difficult it wa...more
I expected to finish Wolf Totem this month, but my boss unexpectedly recommended this book. I'm glad I followed her suggestion.
The book tells a story which resonates deeply with my own views; being a middle-ground-sort of person in a world that forces people to take sides is tough, especially if you were a woman, and were not afraid to speak out.
Ms. Baldwin's writing is beautiful; sometimes I paused and re-read a paragraph or a sentence just to admire how she describes things and tells her stor...more
The book tells a story which resonates deeply with my own views; being a middle-ground-sort of person in a world that forces people to take sides is tough, especially if you were a woman, and were not afraid to speak out.
Ms. Baldwin's writing is beautiful; sometimes I paused and re-read a paragraph or a sentence just to admire how she describes things and tells her stor...more
1 like · like · see review
Shauna Singh Baldwin brings to life India before and during WWII, and most especially after the war has ended, during decolonization and the making of divided India. This moving story centers around two women, Satya and Roop, wives to the same man, beautiful characters who made me feel all glowy and proud to be a woman. The story has left me somewhat enlightened on the differences and similarities among Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. And it sent me rushing through my highschool and university histor...more
1 like · like · see review
If the circle that is your body falls on a ladder inscribed on the game board of time, you climb.If it lands on a snake,you slip-slide back.Resume your journey again.
And if you do not learn what you were meant to learn from your past lives,you are condemned to repeat them.
This is Karma.
This is what got me hooked!
I loved this book...you travel with Roop as if your really their and at times I swear I could taste and smell what I was reading,and would have to come to relisation I was at home sittin...more
And if you do not learn what you were meant to learn from your past lives,you are condemned to repeat them.
This is Karma.
This is what got me hooked!
I loved this book...you travel with Roop as if your really their and at times I swear I could taste and smell what I was reading,and would have to come to relisation I was at home sittin...more
After reading The Tiger's Claw by the same author, I was quite excited when my book club chose this book as a selection for this year. I really struggled with this book, however.
The writing was beautiful with great imagery and insightful comments. I enjoyed the central story of Roop, Satya, and Sardarji. I found the history and culture interesting. The book provided us with a fantastic discussion. I just got bogged down in the Punjabi words that I couldn't always decipher the meaning of, the mu...more
The writing was beautiful with great imagery and insightful comments. I enjoyed the central story of Roop, Satya, and Sardarji. I found the history and culture interesting. The book provided us with a fantastic discussion. I just got bogged down in the Punjabi words that I couldn't always decipher the meaning of, the mu...more
I really enjoyed this book -- it had a fairly good pace and Baldwin was very good at providing the point of view of three very different characters. She also provides a fascinating window into the events surrounding Indian/Pakistani independence and the partition. I learned a lot about the position of the Sikhs, which can be underrepresented in movies and novels concerning the same issues.
I was particularly impressed with Balwin's ability to explore women gender issues by playing the two female...more
I was particularly impressed with Balwin's ability to explore women gender issues by playing the two female...more
It's a bit tough to read if you know little about east Indian culture. I persevered because the characters were so interesting.
The life of Roop, a Sikh girl born during the occupation of India by the British, is not easy, even when she becomes a wife and mother. The book covers the years 1928 to 1947 and encompasses the turmoil of the Sikhs during the division of the land into India and Pakistan. I not only learned a lot about a foreign culture, and the history of the country, but also the attit...more
The life of Roop, a Sikh girl born during the occupation of India by the British, is not easy, even when she becomes a wife and mother. The book covers the years 1928 to 1947 and encompasses the turmoil of the Sikhs during the division of the land into India and Pakistan. I not only learned a lot about a foreign culture, and the history of the country, but also the attit...more
A mediocre book at best, I was surprised that it has won some award as well.
The blurb on the back was very promising but the book did not live up to it. I could not digest the totally joyless lives of the characters,the constant tragedies and the ever present sense of impending doom.
The only thing of personal interest were the historical references to many of the cities & towns eg. Rawalpindi, Lahore etc. but I dreaded the fact that we were heading towards the Partition as I knew what was...more
The blurb on the back was very promising but the book did not live up to it. I could not digest the totally joyless lives of the characters,the constant tragedies and the ever present sense of impending doom.
The only thing of personal interest were the historical references to many of the cities & towns eg. Rawalpindi, Lahore etc. but I dreaded the fact that we were heading towards the Partition as I knew what was...more
A tale of the events leading up to, and including Partition in 1947 and the impact it had on the lives and families of a young Sikh woman is essentially what the text is about. Woven into that story is a somewhat arch, but understandable commentary on the perception and roles of women within Sikh culture, a nuanced understanding of the complexities of living in a colonial and then post colonial world, and an interesting depiction of gendered perceptions of personal property.
While one expects the...more
While one expects the...more
A stunning novel that'll keep you reading late into the night.
"It's 1937, and with her father in debt, motherless 16-year-old Roop learns she is to become the second wife of Sardarji, a wealthy Sikh landowner whose first wife, Satya, has failed to bear him a child. Roop believes that the strong-willed Satya will treat her as a sister, but their relationship swiftly becomes ominous and complicated. WHAT THE BODY REMEMBERS is also Satya's story. Mortified when Sardarji marries Roop, satya resorts...more
"It's 1937, and with her father in debt, motherless 16-year-old Roop learns she is to become the second wife of Sardarji, a wealthy Sikh landowner whose first wife, Satya, has failed to bear him a child. Roop believes that the strong-willed Satya will treat her as a sister, but their relationship swiftly becomes ominous and complicated. WHAT THE BODY REMEMBERS is also Satya's story. Mortified when Sardarji marries Roop, satya resorts...more
The last 100 pages of the book are heartbreaking, moving and sad. But they are also the story of so many people and families torn from the place they called home due to the India - Pakistan partition.
In the larger more political scenario that unfolds in an India that is struggling to be free and where Hindus and Muslims are asking for their fair shares, their very own "pure" nations - the Sikhs find themselves in the center of this divide, wanting nothing less than their own nation too - but be...more
In the larger more political scenario that unfolds in an India that is struggling to be free and where Hindus and Muslims are asking for their fair shares, their very own "pure" nations - the Sikhs find themselves in the center of this divide, wanting nothing less than their own nation too - but be...more
A lush, beautiful read. Her writing is steady, graceful and confident. The story is compelling while being subtle as it grasps the reader's attention and imagination. I found the depiction of the Partition of India from a Sikh perspective refreshing and engaging. And it is certainly one of the best (perhaps of 3-5 such stories) on this historic and horrifying event. I am convinced that Partition continues to have an impact today, including on us in the U.S. There are many lessons and insights, h...more
The story of Sardarji, an English-educated Sikh engineer in India during the last days of British rule, but more centrally of his two wives. Satya is Sardaji's contemporary, strong-willed and well-suited to him, but unable to have children. Roop, his much younger second wife, is an independent child, when we first meet her, but soon gives way to societal expectations that she be "good-good, sweet-sweet." The tensions between the three, and the restricted roles placed on Satya and Roop, are at th...more
What the Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin is one of my favorite books of all time! I wish I had read this book sooner. It took me almost eight weeks to finish the book; I read in intervals because I had to take detours to complete other reading commitments.
The book centers around three main characters: Roop, who at the age of sixteen, becomes a second wife to a rich landowner; Satya the landowner's first wife who is childless and struggles to maintain her status when a new woman comes int...more
The book centers around three main characters: Roop, who at the age of sixteen, becomes a second wife to a rich landowner; Satya the landowner's first wife who is childless and struggles to maintain her status when a new woman comes int...more
I was disappointed in this book. I picked it up mainly because it is a work of historical fiction about a time period that I know little about (i.e. Indian independence from Britain and the ensuing war between amongst Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims as the country was partitioned into India and Pakistan). But instead of helping me to learn about this time period, I was mainly confused because the author didn't provide enough background information for those unfamiliar with this historical period. Also...more
What the Body Remembers is complex and beautiful novel that exceeded my expectations. The story centers around Roop, the young second wife of Sardarji, as well as Sardarji himself and his jealous first wife, Satya. It takes place before and during Britain’s withdrawal from India and leads us right through the violence and chaos that follow the partition. I put the book down halfway through because I couldn't bear the heartbreak that hung over Roop’s life, and because I was dreading the impending...more
Really was mystified by the thought processes of the Sikh minds revealed here. I enjoyed this book, except for the political parts about the establishment of a separate India and Pakistan, which were part of the whole point, and it was from a different point of view, neither Hindu nor Muslim which was very interesting. Lots of tragedy. To me, the last few chapters were the most gripping.
A storyline set during the India/Pakistan partition when the divide between two countries, several religions (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh) and the various class and caste systems takes you to a time in history when turmoil and turbulence were everyday occurrences for all. I truly appreciated the insight into the past with the sadness and upset resulting from so much divide.
Une auteur à découvrir. Elle est née à Montréal mais a grandi aux Indes. Son roman “la mémoire du corps” a reçu en 2000 le prix Commonwealth Writers pour le meilleur roman pour la région Canada/Antilles.
L’Inde au moment de la partition est racontée à travers la vie de deux femmes Satya et Roop. Toutes deux épouses de Sardarji qui lorsque Satya n’a pu lui donner les fils qu’il désirait, a épousé la jeune Roop qui lui donnera trois enfants.
Dépaysement total pour les lecteurs. Shauna Singh Baldwin...more
L’Inde au moment de la partition est racontée à travers la vie de deux femmes Satya et Roop. Toutes deux épouses de Sardarji qui lorsque Satya n’a pu lui donner les fils qu’il désirait, a épousé la jeune Roop qui lui donnera trois enfants.
Dépaysement total pour les lecteurs. Shauna Singh Baldwin...more
3 stars because it never truly captivated me and i was able to put it down, but overall this book made me think a lot and was crafted so skillfully as a metapor for the plight of India during the era leading up to partition. I can't believe this is the author's first novel. A jewel, but not the crown one. Well written, mostly enjoyed.
This is the story of Roop, a young Indian woman whose kismat (destiny, fate) it is to become the second wife of a wealthy man. This book gives an interesting view of British colonialism as seen through Indian eyes, but unfortunately, the author does not take chances in her writing (HINT: Isn't Tuesday a bad day for travelling?).
I really liked this book. I thought the character development was good, the writing style enjoyable, and the storyline interesting. It is the story of Roop, a naive young Sikh girl who becomes the 2nd wife to Sardarji, much to the dismay of his first wife, Satya. Roop quickly learns that this arrangement is not going to be the bed of roses she had expected it to be. The relationship between the two wives and between Sardarji and each wife is quite complex. The story is told against the backdrop...more
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Story of 16-yr old Roop, who is married off to an older man to become his second wife. Roop expects the first wife to welcome her, but their relationship is very hostile. Very good read. Deals also with the political situation of India from 1937 until 1947; I didn’t know much about it, so I learned a lot.
A perfect view of political violence taking place in the southern part of the globe. I had to read this for class and then we watched the movie "Earth" to see a resemblance taking place. Both were powerful and understanding how distinction itself becomes a power source and especially for violence.
One of the best books I've ever read. Learned more about the partition in India and all that happened to the people of all belief systems, from that book, than I ever did from what was taught in history. Fabulous writing and beautifully woven. Couldn't recommend it more highly.
Reading India stories before my daughter left for India - Baldwin writes very forcefully of a man who takes a second wife after his first wife bears no children. The second wife is young, lower caste and gives him children. A very emotional story of both women. A good read.
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Shauna Singh Baldwin is a Canadian-American novelist of Indian descent. Her 2000 novel What the Body Remembers won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize (Canadian/Caribbean Region), and her 2004 novel The Tiger Claw was nominated for the Giller Prize. She currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Baldwin and her husband own the Safe House, an espionage themed restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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“Learning is just remembering slowly, like simmer coming to boil.”
—
3 people liked it
“Why does Papaji tell Jeevan this story? Roop wonders. Whenever Gujri tells Roop a story, se reminds Roop that stories are not told for th telling, but for the teaching.”
—
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Oct 28, 2012 06:49pm
:):):)
Oct 28, 2012 07:02pm