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78th out of 396 books
—
965 voters
Difficult Daughters
by
Manju Kapur
Set around the time of Partition and written with absorbing intelligence and sympathy, Difficult Daughters is the story of a woman torn between family duty, the desire for education, and illicit love. Virmati, a young woman born in Amritsar into an austere and high-minded household, falls in love with a neighbour, the Professor--a man who is already married. That the Profe...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
September 1st 2009
by Faber & Faber
(first published February 28th 1998)
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This book made me miss a lot about north India (talk of cooking, of food, of sleeping outside). I wanted to like Difficult Daughters, but overall I thought it was clunky. The partition motif was pretty heavy-handed, and the story skimmed along so many events that I never got much of a feel for the characters. The writing on spaces was much stronger, but didn't receive as much attention. If the narrative was going to be so character focused, I would have liked more time spent ruminating on feelin...more
The story of this book describes the love story of a 24year old girl, Virmati and her struggle to own the man of her life.
Describing Virmati would be similar to describing any girl of the same age; young, enthusiastic, adventurous, vibrant and highly emotional.
This book provides a brief experience to understand the situation of our country, India during the time of war and how the war along with the social taboos of Indian culture effected the life of Virmati.
Virmari, a young girl who is on a q...more
Describing Virmati would be similar to describing any girl of the same age; young, enthusiastic, adventurous, vibrant and highly emotional.
This book provides a brief experience to understand the situation of our country, India during the time of war and how the war along with the social taboos of Indian culture effected the life of Virmati.
Virmari, a young girl who is on a q...more
Set in the backdrop of World War II, partition and the nascent India, this book is about love- myopic, pure, rebellious, painful but strong. Virmati is the eldest daughter of an affluent Arya Samaj family which encourages education but not independent thinking for their girls. She falls in love with a much married professor with two kids and thus starts the painful journey of being suspended in time for her life to start. After they are married and Virmati disowned by her family, her husband enc...more
I’m posting the review under this edition with a brown cover, conveniently ignoring that what I actually read was a flowery pink atrocity. I would have never picked it up myself but I actually reserved it at the library because I liked the title. The pink cover with flowers is the new edition by nons other than Faber, recently responsible for the sacrilegious cover of the anniversary edition of The Bell Jar (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...).
If you have read other books about the strugg...more
If you have read other books about the strugg...more
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A beautifully written story of a young, independent woman and her life around the time of India's independence from Britain and partition from Pakistan in 1947.
Vrimati is strong-minded and refuses to go along with the plans her family have for her: marriage, kids, and the like. She falls in love with a Professor, residing in the house next door. The catch: he is already married. Difficult Daughters is about the struggle Vrimati goes through in her life. Though the story is well-developed and th...more
Vrimati is strong-minded and refuses to go along with the plans her family have for her: marriage, kids, and the like. She falls in love with a Professor, residing in the house next door. The catch: he is already married. Difficult Daughters is about the struggle Vrimati goes through in her life. Though the story is well-developed and th...more
a pretty in depth study of a woman fighting against her family, her lover, and her own nature in times where the latter is meant to be worth far less than the other two. a historic tragedy is examined, a middle aged woman attempts to come of age as she searches through the relics of her mother's mistakes and melancholy - all in all - it was a bit of at tough read, but it did throw me into punjab in the 1940s with some bit of veracity.
I found this sitting in a box of old books and realized I'd never read it. I could not put it down! One of the better books I've read in a while.
Evocative description of life in India in the post-Independence era, especially the culture surrounding women. Some of this has continued even in the 21st century so it felt a little familiar. And poignant description of the few months around Partition - brought it all to life for me. A must-read!
Evocative description of life in India in the post-Independence era, especially the culture surrounding women. Some of this has continued even in the 21st century so it felt a little familiar. And poignant description of the few months around Partition - brought it all to life for me. A must-read!
I have had this book sitting on my shelf at home since xmas 2006. Finally decided to give it a go and found it to be a wonderful story of a young women striving to be Independent in a pre-partitioned India, while being pulled in different directions by her older,married lover.
I really enjoyed this book and was desperate towards the end to find out how she finally married the Professor. I felt it ended too quickly and didn't explain thoroughly enough the difficult relationship between Virmati an...more
I really enjoyed this book and was desperate towards the end to find out how she finally married the Professor. I felt it ended too quickly and didn't explain thoroughly enough the difficult relationship between Virmati an...more
It’s a good reading and it give us flavor of India before partion which is truly admirable for at least young generation who now a days not at all aware of situation, Moreover author has done justice in portraying virmati feeling, Most splendid part of novel is conversation between professor and virmati through letters, the way professor express his love, feeling & concern is really admirable.
the book is somehow flow like a simple memoir, though the bits of partition become something of a raw part, out of all the narrations. something not thoroughly explored as much i was expecting. but this maybe because i read urvashi bhutalia detail account before i read this book. overall it was an interesting insight to the main character of this novel, virmati. her parts is the most enjoyable ones.
Story of the life of an Indian woman, from childhood to death, as it’s being told to her daughter after her death. Interesting insight into arranged marriages, expectations of women, etc. A little confusing at the beginning because it jumped around a bit through three generations, and all the names were unfamiliar Indian names, but once I got into it, it was really good.
I seem to love all movies and books about India - maybe I was Indian in a former life? In any case, this is a heartfelt and endearing story of the lives of several generations of Indian women, beginning early in the last century. Also a fascinating look at everyday life of the period, and an education for me on the political issues of the time.
Fabulous book!
I loved the way the relationships in this book are laid out and how much understanding has gone into writing this.
I can sympathise with both the mothers and daughters and it's easy to see how you start thinking and acting like your own mother as you get older and have children of your own.
All the Indian references make me miss my family.
I loved the way the relationships in this book are laid out and how much understanding has gone into writing this.
I can sympathise with both the mothers and daughters and it's easy to see how you start thinking and acting like your own mother as you get older and have children of your own.
All the Indian references make me miss my family.
I was very frustrated when I read this book. Gsh the so call hero was so spineless. But when I come to the ending, I found myself thinks differently.
Indeed the author hv great talent. Able to slowly highlight about yhe cultural differences there.
Interesting...what we want may not be good for us
Indeed the author hv great talent. Able to slowly highlight about yhe cultural differences there.
Interesting...what we want may not be good for us
it ws a nyc book. gives a glimpse into pre independence india and life therein, especially life of women then. how women were like pawns in the hands of their families and had to act accordingly. woven with various incidents of our freedom struggle makes it an interesting read on the whole.
Very evocative, absorbing family story. A readable writer, I plan to get hold of her other books too. I specially liked the Punju rural culture -- it was like biting into fresh mooli pulled out of the earth!
Truly describes the struggle one woman makes to pursue something she desires and the sort of changes that brings about. Exciting though the ending disappointed me, a 21st century girl a little
Having enjoyed Home by this author, I was deeply disappointed by how weak and watery the characters in this book are. From the blurb on the back, I expected to find a protagonist with the strength and confidence to stand up for her feelings in a time when women were often treated as no more than furniture. Instead, Virmati spends almost the entirety of the novel simply waiting for the men in her life (father, brother, lover) to make a decision for her. Even the backdrop of the Partition that the...more
Another excellent read and an insight into what it is like to have an illicit love affair in a society where the perils of this behaviour and tbeir consequences are much more severe than in our own.
This books allow the reader to peep in the life of revolutionary girl of pre-independence era.
This young girl want to break the shackles of the society and fly free.
the novel deal in a very simple way about the life of each charcter who is affected by the decision of the protagonist.
Lack of psychological depth in the character makes it a bit immature stuff
This young girl want to break the shackles of the society and fly free.
the novel deal in a very simple way about the life of each charcter who is affected by the decision of the protagonist.
Lack of psychological depth in the character makes it a bit immature stuff
I loved the writing style and characterization - no efforts to explain Indian food, culture - not even translations. Description of Indian households in that period really stand out.
But really what is captivating is the characterization of the women and the men in all grey shades, as victims of circumstance and tradition, of being torn between convention and the need to seek out their own destinies.I dont think there could have been a better title - all sons are expected to be difficult, not dau...more
But really what is captivating is the characterization of the women and the men in all grey shades, as victims of circumstance and tradition, of being torn between convention and the need to seek out their own destinies.I dont think there could have been a better title - all sons are expected to be difficult, not dau...more
A glimpse of complicated relationships set against partion of India... The condition of India during partion has been converged well with the life of Virmati.
It is a tale of a beautiful young woman who meets a selfish married man. It is also a fascinating description of the pain and suffering of partition.
Did not match up to the hype when it was released in India. Not that this is a bad book, but it is just that I expected so much more.
Interesting book set in an era that is not as often written about as others. The conflict and drama were all there but the book could have been better structured; the time shifts and points of view switch are not done well, so it ends up being less engrossing than it could have been. I sort of understood why V. initially falls for the professor but he's behaves so badly and is so selfish that it's a mystery why she stayed faithful to him. I would have liked to know more of Virmati's mother and d...more
A good and interesting read. I really hate the Professor. Never have I ever read a book in which I hate a character as much as I hate him. He is a sly and manipulating.
I read this a couple of years ago, so I don't remember much, except that I was disappointed.
Beautifully crafted novel about the changing role of women in India during the middle part of the last century.
It was an amazing book which keeps you hooked on to it. It is unpredicatable at times. It brings back the times of partition to life with the apt description of events. Non-conventional people existed in those times too.
The only point to be argued is that the author does not sympathize with the wronged wife and glorifies the second love marriage. Overall a good read.
The only point to be argued is that the author does not sympathize with the wronged wife and glorifies the second love marriage. Overall a good read.
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Manju Kapur is the author of four novels. Her first, Difficult Daughters, won the Commonwealth Prize for First Novels (Eurasia Section) and was a number one bestseller in India. Her second novel A Married Woman was called 'fluent and witty' in the Independent, while her third, Home, was described as 'glistening with detail and emotional acuity' in the Sunday Times. Her most recent novel, The Immig...more
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