Jaya is a New York journalist whose marriage is falling apart after several miscarriages. With her and her relationship at a breaking point, she goes to India to rediscover her heritage and look into her family’s past after learning that the grandfather she never knew is dying and her emotionally distant mother Lena, the man’s daughter, has refused to go see him. There she meets Ravi, the faithful servant and confidant to Amisha, the grandmother she never knew, who slowly unfolds the mesmerizing mystery and history of this woman, and in the process, unveils why Lena behaves as she does. In the story also lie the keys to Jaya's future.
Ravi’s story about Amisha, taking Jaya back to the days of the British occupation of India, tells of an intelligent, creative, independent-thinking woman ahead of her time, who struggled with the confines and norms of her culture, and found tastes of freedom in an unexpected friendship with British Army Lieutenant, Stephen. Existing in an emotionally cold marriage and discouraged from her beloved writing by husband Deepak, Stephen opens up possibilities she never imagined, and in the process, her heart. What follows is the aftermath of Amisha’s choices, and the effects on everyone after her - including Jaya, whose own life starts to make sense through the lens of her grandmother and mother’s lives.
I loved this dual-timeline story - particularly wonderful, gentle Ravi, whose stories I would sit and listen to all day. I thought Amisha was a compelling central character. I was sympathetic to her cultural constrictions and why she felt the need to do certain things, even if some would seem to be profoundly self-centered. Despite this, she had a great deal of generosity and kindness in her character, and her friendship with Ravi was lovely. Her story, especially after Stephen enters the picture, is in turns beautiful and heart-breaking, and I felt so invested in it. I didn’t care quite as much for Jaya or the modern story, because she was simply a little less likeable, but by the sweet and uplifting end, I was invested in her as well.
This was a wonderful story with fascinating characters, fantastic structure and rich cultural insight into some of the history of India, and the experiences of Indian women, both past and present. You see the good, the bad and the ugly effects of rigid cultural beliefs and practices. For those who love historical fiction, foreign culture, drama, a bit of romance and a good cry (or two), you’ll likely enjoy this one.
Ms. Badani tells a beautiful, touching story and it's well worth the read!
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5) ❤️