Blind Faith

by Sagarika Ghose

The distraught daughter of an artist who committed suicide, Mia first meets Karna in London.

Mesmerized by the charismatic young guru, she resolves to follow him to India, even if she must marry Vik, a suave corporate businessman, to do so.

Once in India, Mia is drawn to Vik's mother, Indi, an accomplished, inordinately attractive woman who rages unceasingly against her blindness, her beauty, and her clinging son. Troubled by Indi's anguish, and by her own strange journey into duplicitous love, Mia realizes she must travel even further—to the Kumb Mela religious pilgrimage—for a different perspective on her clouded and confused life.

Brilliant, bold, heartfelt, and transcendent, Blind Faith is a provocative reexamination of the human condition, of reason that binds, hate that liberates, and love that strangles.

288 pages, Paperback

Published February 26, 2008

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has got to be one of the most frustrating books I have ever read. I am both fascinated and completely disappointed by it.

The predominant theme is most certainly love, and the complexity it brings into our lives. Various relationships are observed, none of which ever really demonstrate the end result of ‘true love’.

The character development is all but non-existent with epiphanies or revelations only really occurring in the final few chapters –but not sufficiently enough to bring any absolute conclusion to the experiences had. Considering the locale of Kumbh Mela, I had hoped for a far deeper exploration into the cultural side of Delhi and India – but even this was more focused on the obscenity of religion and belief systems.

As for the blurb. The bit about Mia being drawn to Indi? Can anyone who has read this book PLEASE tell me when and where this happens? Because as far as I read, and recall, it doesn’t. In fact, their meeting is only at the very, very end of the book – and even then, it’s alluded to but we don’t get to actually see it play out?

I get antsy about giving low rated reviews – but this is one where it just couldn’t be helped. This is going to go under my ‘borrow don’t buy’ recommendation, I will however say that I’d like to have a go at one of Ghose’s other books, her writing is truly exquisite and I like to think this was a case of wrong book/wrong person

[Jeet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, well, well...what a bloody disappointment. I was extremely excited at finding a book written by an asian author in the libray anyway so couldn't wait to read the book. It was all so watery, and totally unrealisitic...honestly...I was really disappointed,I could not relate to none of the characters, and I can't understand how Vik got away with being 2 people and Mia not thinking something was suss, the blood staining sheet would of made me think "Wierd...something not right here...." The only page I did enjoy reading was when there is a convo between Mia and an aquaintance and they discuss how residents indians view non resident indians (NRI's),and that made me my brain tick a bit, but that was it. Indi's character, was at one point in the book being compared to a prostitute and it just got boring after a while. And Mia's father death I think was a real weak reason for her to end up at the Kumbh Mela, I thought it would emerge that he was drunk and fell into the canal, as no real reason was given for suicide, it was just assumed...If you have limited reading time and want to pick up a good book by an Indian author then don't choose this..really disappointing:(

[Qube · Rating 2 out of 5]

A watery novel that is likely to appeal more to foreigners than Indians. To say that it gives insight into India would be stretching it a bit.

The narration and style did not appeal to me; nor did the story. Perhaps, I am not the target audience for the book.

[Shefali · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnt knw wt wanted from lyf.. vocab was a bit higer

[Santana García · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wtf did I just read.

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overall entertaining read that explores the psychology of families very well. However, while the premise is certainly easy-reading, there is absolutely no suspense in what Ghose sets out, indeed much of the verbosity erodes the credibility and any authority that may have been possible. The attempts at "streams of consciousness" and philosophical ruminations become quite tiresome. The back-cover blurb is unfortunately inaccurate and much of the plot involves waiting for what the blurb describes to happen, which does not until the very last paragraph. Much like the male protagonist who dabbles in a dual life through cosmetics, this book too had promise of profundity but which is unfortunately belied too easily by a mere smear of surface-level makeup of words resulting in an unsatisfying aftertaste.

[Rajashri Singh · Rating 1 out of 5]

What is travel after all but a kind of pilgrimage, a journey seeking unknowable truths?

[Vishakha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blind Faith speaks about the dark side of love... Love of son and mother, husband-wife and lover. And love with oneself. The story is quite superficial but it contemplates between self-obsession and a thin line of accepting the truth of oneself. The author has craved out characters in so enchantingly and clearly that I couldn't control myself dive into them. It's a mystery that unfolds the dark side of parenting and superstition which take one's child away.
If I'll write more on it, it may disclose some spoilers which I really don't want too.
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Rate:4.5🌟
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Blind faith is one such book, I have come across that to read it again and again and take notes from characters. Words are lucid and spellbinding. I think pace is quite disappointing. It's slow in midway. Not much though, but it could have been 5star if it would be in a fast pace. Ends disclose that no matter what you have to succumb in front of destiny or karma whichever u would like to call it by. I would definitely read her other books as well. Definitely a recommended one.

[Sharanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sagarika Ghose’s Blind Faith is gripping novel. Starting from London, the novel traverses sandy Goa, glitzy Delhi and the holy Kumbh Mela. The story can be looked at as Mia’s journey in finding herself, her belief and her faith through the people she comes across after she marries Vik and moves to India. The other principle characters - Indi, Vik, Karna and Justin – add great depth to this stunning tale that is simultaneously shocking and stunning.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good book, i like the contemporary-ness of the plot. nothing too surprising -- i had it figured out pretty early on but the descriptions of india and maya/mia's life and surroundings were very nice. i enjoyed the moving forward and moving back and the change of cities and continents. good read.

[George Abraham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing read from one of India's finest media persons. The convoluted story and the even more entangled symbolism just have no rhyme or reason for the actions. The characters seemed so shallow and even the strong headed lady was portrayed a heroine in some sections and a villain in some other sections. Confusing altogether

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

How will humans deceive themselves in the quest to find meaning? Why do we choose to see certain facts but not others? How can we define happiness and how can we alter our own realities to find that happiness?

[Nunyah Biznuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, intelligent and full of metaphor and play on Hindu cosmologies. A must read for yoga peeps and anyone who's fascinated by India and the Kumbh Mela. Don't listen to the reviewers who say it's predictable. It's not - unless you're psychic.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. I didn't really like it as I read it, but it was so compelling that I found myself reading it whenever I had a free moment.

The relationship structure was very reminiscent of Wuthering Heights to me, but with many more twists.

[Kit James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out really well; was interesting and deep and complicated. Petered out weirdly at the end (like she was tired of writing the story....or didn't want to commit to anything shocking or enlightening).

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the writing in this book was really strong the plot itself was disappointing in the end. I did see that it would likely head in that direction but it was so far fetched in an otherwise believable story that it was too much.

[Aishwarya Damodar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blind Faith is a fine plot delving into the inner minds of all the characters and the superficial relations they share with each other.

Mia's quest for finding answers pertaining to her father's death and her own journey towards liberation stands out.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprising ending-worth trudging through, even though I found the plot to be a unbelievable at times.

[Geeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice plot

[Shami · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some of the most bizarre characters and while it took a while, they grew on me. I also figured out what was happening before the end but kept going as it is a good read.

[Surbhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have followed the writer's blogs and hence picked up the book. The plot was engaging and kept you guessing till the end.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful novel about dual identities and terrorism set against the background of Khumba Mela in India.

[Ansima Singh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read it long time back. This book does not make sense at all.