Prosjak pred vratima

Mariana Givens #2

by Thalassa Ali

Prošle su dve godine otkako je Marijana Givens napustila utvrđeni grad Lahore. Međutim, još ne može da zaboravi opojni miris ruža koji je osetila onog dana kada se udala za Indijca i zapanjila englesko visoko društvo u Kalkuti. Da stvari budu gore, prinuđena je da se odrekne Sabura – dečaka koji navodno poseduje magičan dar, a čiji je život spasla. Marijana sada mora da se vrati u Lahore kako bi odvela Sabura njegovoj porodici i kako bi se razvela od Hasana Ali Kana. Međutim, može li da se oprosti od zagonetnog čoveka čija je ljubav prkosila dvama kulturama – ili od deteta koje je volela kao svoje? Dok politička previranja prete da prerastu u nasilje, Marijana će potražiti odgovore u svetu u koji nijedna Engleskinja nikada nije ni kročila. Naći će se suviše blizu tajne koja je toliko moćna da će zauvek promeniti njen život i živote ljudi koje voli. Priča o ljubavi i razumevanju, dužnosti i časti, duhovnosti i iskupljenju

Genres: Historical Fiction, India, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Historical Romance, Ebooks

383 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2004

About the author

Thalassa Ali is an American who married a Pakistani and lived in Lahore for 12 years, before returning to Boston to become a successful stockbroker. She is the daughter of two archaeologists, one British. Ali is the author of two previous novels featuring Mariana Givens, A Singular Hostage and A Beggar at the Gate. Although she now lives in Boston, she has never lost her deep connection to Pakistan, the country she calls her second home.

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. It was a random find at the library and since I love a good historical romance, these were a nice surprise.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 19th Century India and Punjab, this is a wonderful continuation of a story by Ms Ali of intrigues in the Indian and British courts and politics. The heroine married an Indian in the previous book to protect his small son. She has lived unhappily for the last two years in isolation in Calcutta as her fellow British are appalled by this marriage. Marianne and her step son Saboor travel with a large British caravan to return the boy to his father and ask for an annulment. The boy is known to have spiritual powers and his family are well known spiritual leaders and healers.
Marianne is the protector of this special child. Her road is very hard due ti the rigid mores of Victorian England as well as the many plots of other interested parties. I love seeing a view of each culture as Marianne tries to see where her destiny resides.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in a series that begins with "A Singular Hostage" and finishes with "Companions of Paradise," altogether a most satisfying set of romantic historical fiction novels that offer an eye-opening look at the history of the British in 19th century India and Pakistan.

This is not your standard romance -- none of the silly formulaic romance traditions -- but the growing relationship between Mariana Givens and the Muslim Hassan Ali Khan was absolutely compelling. Hurrah for an author who can transport us to a faraway place so accurately and so respectfully.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 stars. The series is almost as good as shadow of the moon and other Kaye's books, and it's unique in it's own way.
I liked the aspect of the mystical baby and the Indian father rather than another European romance set in India and in this the books were the most unique I've read in this genre.
The h was foolish and thoughtless at times but she was also brave and I definitely felt for her, and also felt like she gave way to people around her too much as well-but all this is to the good since it had good character development and kept me interested to the end.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago and found it absolutely enthralling. It proved to be a very interesting read and I couldnt put it down. I didnt realise it was part of a trilogy though, until I read the reviews here so will definately be looking out for the other two titles to read!

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Bish Denham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know, until I was several chapters in, that this was the second book in a trilogy. By the time I discovered that fact and understood why I was confused by references to passed events, I was already so engrossed with the story that I just went ahead and finished it. And now... well, I've gone ahead and bought the first and third books!

I don't know what I enjoyed more: the strength and individuality of the characters, descriptions of the places, or the historical context of the story. Oh yes and the romance. But it is a romance that exists on many levels. There is the love Mariana has for her aunt and uncle, the love she has for India and it's people, the love she has for the "magical" child Saboor for whom she has risked her life, the love she has for Saboor's family - particularly the wise Safiya, Saboor's aunt - and lastly the possible love she has for Saboor's father, the mysterious and handsome Hassan.

All in all, a delightful book that set me down in Victorian India and carried me away.

[Nessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the negative review I gave to this book’s predecessor, I remained curious, so, despite my better judgement, I read this book. It was…better, perhaps because I have figured out that the only way to read this series is to skim.

The character motivations are still a mystery to me; this is a series that leans heavily on plot. The author plays at character development, with Mariana regretting her previous silly behavior, but her reflections ring false, and are a bit shallow.

What I did enjoy, although at times sloppily executed, were the bits of information about the Punjab and the historical events of the book. The author clearly did her research.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable sequel to the first novel, but unfortunately including a few more grim details (I'm pretty tame when it comes to reading about suffering, mind you). It is still a very readable story, with everything working out nicely, and the romance is very nicely done without being the only thing you are interested in as you read. The element of mystic Islamic traditions is what really makes it special.

[Lyndsey Petro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure! Here's a more casual version of the review:

Really easy read set in an interesting historical context. I found myself Googling the Sikh Empire.There are some thoughtful moments and little nuggets of wisdom, but overall, I found the characters and events a bit flat. Nice that it stands alone though, no need to read the full trilogy if you don’t want to.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished it 03/17 I got this book at a second hand store and it turns out it is the second in s as trilogy. Excellent! I loved it. Intriguing historical events described plus an engaging heroine and an unlikely romance.

[Anne Lind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing story of the brave Englishwoman in India in 1841, married to a Punjabi Muslim, torn between two worlds, and the young stepson she protects.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are awesome at conveying life in India during this time period. But I can’t get over the way women were treated back then, by either culture.

[Stefani · Rating 2 out of 5]

why did i not notice this was a series before I started reading it...now I have the look for the next one

[Fahima · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good but took me ages and didn’t even finish it

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thalassa Ali takes her readers to another time and place with this story. I had not read the first book of this trilogy, but the author had not left me questioning what had happened. Now I do want to read the third book. I would suggest you find all three books before you start reading.

[Kb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book better than the first in the trilogy, perhaps because it spent more time in the household of Miriam's husband, Hassan, than with the British. There is also a new character, the Albino courier Ghulam Ali, whose future becomes entwined with Mariana's. And speaking of character, Mariana's development receives more attention from the author this time -- similar to an Austen heroine or maybe Anne of Green Gables, but with much higher stakes.

The story is set at a pivotal point in history, and the author has placed Mariana at the heart of the action. It's all very interesting, how she is able to disguise herself simply by wrapping up in a borrowed dirty chador, but it just makes me wonder: why would Akhtar, whose chador it was, a servant whose responsibilities included laundering clothes for the household, not have washed her own chador given the opportunity? (Granted, it was originally her mother-in-law's before Akhtar liberated it from her [in the first book], but I see no reason why the chador should have still been available in its filthy state given that Akhtar was, among other things, a laundress.) A minor quibble.

In this installment, Mariana has more social support than before, so when bad things happen and all looks hopeless, sometimes help turns up in surprising ways; and I don't mean from natives who saw something happen in a dream, which was the go-to scenario in the first book. Seeing that this is the second installment of a three-book series, the final pages set up for the next part of our journey, while still providing some closure to the ongoing historical and personal events in Mariana's life. As you probably have guessed, I am about to go and read the final offering of this entertaining trilogy.

[Jo Rothbaum]

Loved this book felt it had better pace than the first book.

Mariana resolves to divorce the father of her step son and travels to Lahore after the Maharaja Singh has died. However the kingdom is no longer the stable place it once was and there is intrigue from the British who covertly wish to place their flag in this fertile plain.

She is captured again by the awesome wisdom and presence of her husbands' family, now she must choose to continue with her ambition to marry in the army or stay with Saboor and her husband.

[Susan Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many emotions running through my mind, I was so moved with what Mariam had sacrificed. She has braved it all like a white woman and yet embraced her path as a Punjab's wife. Though she had to go through a tough journey to learn the nooks, with all the dreams and wars, she has truly prevail it all. Many unexpected turn of events especially since mixed marriage was abhor back then. Definitely a good read and I didn't expect the book to end as it is.

Here's my full review:
http://www.sholee.net/2016/09/mpov-be...

[Zainab · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a spoiler:

The first in the Paradise Trilogy. It is set in the 1840s, in South Asia. An easy read, rich in setting and historical facts of the time. M. M. Kaye's The Far Pavilions is one of my favourite books, and she gave a positive review. I know that the next time I go to these areas, I want to be able to close my eyes, and imagine what it was like during that time!

[Jozo Mandić · Rating 5 out of 5]

Možda je ovo previše zvjezdica za ovu knjigu. Ne znam. Ali ja sam njome oduševljen. Nakon onako prosječnog prvog dijela nisam puno očekivao od drugog. Ispočetka mi je bila malo dosadna i mislio da će ova knjiga biti priprema za radnju u zadnjem dijelu. Vjerojatno i je. Ali ni ovoj nije nedostajalo napetosti. Lijep završetak, jako romantičan. Radnja nije išla u onom pravcu u kojem sam mislio da će ići, ali je svejedno odlična. Toplo preporučujem i jedva čekam kada ću doći do trećeg nastavka.

[Mo Olusoga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thoroughly enjoying reading books based on 19th century British india. It is so enthralling...... Reading this book on same days on a crowded tube made me wish I was one of the ladies living in the zenana in Lahore..... Excellent book in the romantic historical fiction genre. Looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marianna Givens seeks a divorce from the Indian stranger she has rashly married. The only things standing in her way are her love for his child, whom she has recued, and her fascination with his mystical Muslim family.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea this was the second in a series when I picked it up. But I had no problem following it--plus, I definitely plan to pick up the next one. I enjoyed the comparison in cultures plus with a little romance, love of child, bravery, etc thrown in. Debated between a 3 and 4.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't realize this was part of a trilogy. Quite enjoyed it, although it got off to a slow start. I found myself rooting for the main character and there was a good payoff in the end that made the book a satisfying read.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a difference between English society and India's. What is a looked down upon in English society, is a totally different way in another country. Most people do not bother to open their eyes and see that each lives their own way and is acceptable to them and to heck what others think.

[Jennifer Jeffries · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the trilogy by Ali. Maybe not quite as good as the first, but a necessary continuation of the story. Can't wait to read the next.

[Helen Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

waiting for the third in this series, maybe i'll get it before Jen!

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the beginning was boring and the overall book was not as good as Singular Hostage, I still enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

book two