The Gallery

by Manju Kapur

The Gallery pursues the question of what it takes for a woman to stand up for herself, through the intertwined lives of Minal and Ellora Sahni, wife and daughter of a successful New Delhi lawyer, and Maitrye and Tashi, wife and daughter of the office peon at the Sahni law practice.

In her new novel, Manju Kapur brings together themes of independence, identity and womanhood by focusing on a set of principal characters who are connected through work and physical proximity, yet separated by class and power.

As the women navigate their own desires, they are forced to re-examine marriage, as well as to consider the role of art as property, value and self-expression. The titular gallery that Minal opens becomes a powerful symbol of both autonomy and constraint.

Set in Delhi and Nepal, The Gallery surveys the lives of two families over three decades, becoming, in the process, an exploration of sexual freedom and the world of art.

388 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 24, 2023

About the author

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 Immigrant, has been longlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. She lives in New Delhi.

Reviews

[Sneha Pathak (reader_girl_reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manju Kapur's latest book is once again about women and their lives- both internal and external. This time, she narrated her tale through two families and two generations who grow up in the same compound but with very different dreams, lives and aspirations. Minal and her daughter Ellora are the fortunate ones because they have what Matti and her daughter Tashi do not - financial security. And yet, there lives are so closely intertwined that towards the end, it is Matti whom Minal calls her companion of several births.

Read my full review at the following link:

https://kunzum.com/the-gallery-review...

[Parvathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can pick up a book by Manju Kapur blindly and be assured it would be something I like. Very few writers do Indian women and their internal conflicts better than her. Kapur's narrative is straightforward, very focused on the inner voices of her women characters, and as she keeps us engrossed in her storyline, she explores important themes - independence in a marriage, the casual cruelty engendered by the disparity in wealth we see around us, the difficulty of upward mobility in a class-concious society, the strength women give each other. This one is an easy read, but one that also makes us question some inherent fears and biases in women and men in a fast-changing society.

[Indra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book by Manju Kapur, and I found her latest novel, The Gallery, to be truly captivating. ManjuK skillfully weaves the narrative, making it easy to relate to the characters. The emotions of the characters are well portrayed, including their silent conflicts, dedication to their work, and the isolated lives they lead.

ManjuK offers profound insights into the world of art and artists, detailing how she meticulously selects artists while building her art collection for the gallery. Additionally, she vividly describes various geographies as the characters embark on their journeys, painting a beautiful picture of their explorations.

Overall, a great read.

[Noor Anand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kapur always chooses themes that are easy to identify with and handles them sensitively. This book explores the interesting dynamic between the kids of rich people and those of their domestic staff. She deals with this concept far better than other books I’ve read on the theme. The book is also set in the backdrop of the contemporary Indian art world which I found very interesting. An easy and fast read that I highly recommend.

[Poonam Kamath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed tapestry of interwoven experiences across the borders of social and economic spheres. Truly a women centric, well written feminine narrative. The wonderful interplay of art and emotion, as tools of individual self expression indeed makes it a story worth reading and understanding upto the greatest possible relatable extent.

[Aditi Varma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Week 25 Book 11
The gallery by Manju Kapur
Rating 4/5

The Gallery is a story of two generations of women... The same age and phase in life but departed by money and class. A simple yet powerful narration of women exploring their identity and potential in the realm of the Indian society. It's a kinda slow paced novel that you relish and savour. The MK fan in me enjoyed reading it a lot.

[Divya Pal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pedestrian.

[Rashtravardhan Kataria · Rating 4 out of 5]

reminded me of a monsoon wedding in some ways

[Lalana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 actually.

[Anne-Trine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps not her best ...

[Test1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It shows us the lives of Minal and all the women around her. The book is about her life, the art and the inner conflict she feels at different points in her life.