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Woman of an Uncertain Age
"In her debut novel, India-born, New York—based journalist Malhotra vividly portrays aspects of Indian immigrant life in the United States." — Library Journal
When fifty-something Naina Mehta’s husband unexpectedly dies of a heart attack, this imaginative suburban wife turns into a bold woman thirsty for new experiences, a far cry from the classic image of the aging Indian widow dressed in subdued colors and focused solely on her children and God. Naina also grew up in a society where historically widows have been expected to abandon all pleasure, particularly remarriage, and, in extreme cases, have even had to give up eating sweets, making Naina's foray into such territory groundbreaking. As Naina becomes more empowered, she nervously dips her toes into the world of dating for the first time in her life. She might find that the possibility of love still exists for a woman of her age, but what happens if the man in question is Muslim and stirs generational wounds and the wrath of her conservative son?
When fifty-something Naina Mehta’s husband unexpectedly dies of a heart attack, this imaginative suburban wife turns into a bold woman thirsty for new experiences, a far cry from the classic image of the aging Indian widow dressed in subdued colors and focused solely on her children and God. Naina also grew up in a society where historically widows have been expected to abandon all pleasure, particularly remarriage, and, in extreme cases, have even had to give up eating sweets, making Naina's foray into such territory groundbreaking. As Naina becomes more empowered, she nervously dips her toes into the world of dating for the first time in her life. She might find that the possibility of love still exists for a woman of her age, but what happens if the man in question is Muslim and stirs generational wounds and the wrath of her conservative son?
- GenresFictionLiterary Fiction
340 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2022
27 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Priya Malhotra
4 books6 followersPriya Malhotra has been a writer and journalist in New York for almost 20 years and has contributed to Newsday, Time Out New York, The Times of India, The Japan Times, Asian Art News, Cosmopolitan and News India Times. She has a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York City and a Bachelor’ s degree in English literature from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.
She is represented by Jennifer Lyons of Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency whose clients include luminaries such as Jesmyn Ward who made history by becoming the first woman and African-American to win the National Book Award for fiction twice. The agency also represents the estates of Gabriela Mistral, the late Chilean Poet and first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for literature, and Oscar Hijuelos, the late Cuban-American novelist and first Hispanic writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
She is represented by Jennifer Lyons of Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency whose clients include luminaries such as Jesmyn Ward who made history by becoming the first woman and African-American to win the National Book Award for fiction twice. The agency also represents the estates of Gabriela Mistral, the late Chilean Poet and first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for literature, and Oscar Hijuelos, the late Cuban-American novelist and first Hispanic writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 27, 2022
I loved this beautifully written exploration of a woman dealing with the loss of her husband and her look at midlife. As Naina is challenged in changing up her life, author Priya Malhotra skillfully addresses Indian and American culture and clashes, old and newer norms and acceptances, and stereotypes and realities between city sophisticates and conservative suburbanites. I particularly found Naina’s challenge in dealing with grown children expectations as they collide with her own insecurities, desires and questions sometimes surprising but also insightful. I highly recommend this book.
October 30, 2022
The book is an eye opener - especially for women in the Asian community (maybe other communities
too) who may live long in liberal communities but are bound by unwritten rules and expectations
engrained by generations repeating the same mantra.
Naina fiftyodd recently widowed two grown up professional children is struggling to cope with the "inevitability" and I like this "startlement" of death. There is no turning back, you just move on. sheexpected Harish to be with her for decades, a comforting security blanket who would take up all the insecurities, the barbs and issues of life. Taking the step to move to New York after being in the haven of New Jersey surrounded by over thirty Indian families who were familar was the first battle. Finding a low level job in an art gallery was a major plus for Naina, but even here she hid the actual work she did even from her children not wantung them to know the actual work she did. it was only after many years of grit and hard work and results of being promoted was she confident enough for her children to visit her at her place of work.
The massive issue was when she developed feelings for the boyfriend of her daughter - Jai. ten years younger than her twelve years older than Amaya,she did the unthinkable revealing her feelings to him thinking it was reciprocated and being rebuffed brutally. the story then evolves into a hitherto little known area of online dating for the Asian single older woman. scandalous to many, unknownto many uncharted territory to many.
Cultural barriers, stigma exists even amongst second generation Asians and it is difficult toerase. to those first generation Asian Americans it takes great courage to break the barriers
and live your life the way you want to. Naina herself felt guilty at her ability to find and develop relationships which were making her happy, and fulfilled when her daughter and son wereboth failing in their quest to find partners.
this was a emotiinal book dealing with peculiar, specific issues facedby only some people. This was seen in the attitude of Naina's American friends who could not figure out the need for hide and seek, for hiding evidence of a partner or a sexual relationship from family and friends. they could not comprehend at all and by including it in the story, the author was able to highlight the divide.
this was for me a page turner, rich, varied, so symtomatic of the system itself and the unwritten rules in life.
too) who may live long in liberal communities but are bound by unwritten rules and expectations
engrained by generations repeating the same mantra.
Naina fiftyodd recently widowed two grown up professional children is struggling to cope with the "inevitability" and I like this "startlement" of death. There is no turning back, you just move on. sheexpected Harish to be with her for decades, a comforting security blanket who would take up all the insecurities, the barbs and issues of life. Taking the step to move to New York after being in the haven of New Jersey surrounded by over thirty Indian families who were familar was the first battle. Finding a low level job in an art gallery was a major plus for Naina, but even here she hid the actual work she did even from her children not wantung them to know the actual work she did. it was only after many years of grit and hard work and results of being promoted was she confident enough for her children to visit her at her place of work.
The massive issue was when she developed feelings for the boyfriend of her daughter - Jai. ten years younger than her twelve years older than Amaya,she did the unthinkable revealing her feelings to him thinking it was reciprocated and being rebuffed brutally. the story then evolves into a hitherto little known area of online dating for the Asian single older woman. scandalous to many, unknownto many uncharted territory to many.
Cultural barriers, stigma exists even amongst second generation Asians and it is difficult toerase. to those first generation Asian Americans it takes great courage to break the barriers
and live your life the way you want to. Naina herself felt guilty at her ability to find and develop relationships which were making her happy, and fulfilled when her daughter and son wereboth failing in their quest to find partners.
this was a emotiinal book dealing with peculiar, specific issues facedby only some people. This was seen in the attitude of Naina's American friends who could not figure out the need for hide and seek, for hiding evidence of a partner or a sexual relationship from family and friends. they could not comprehend at all and by including it in the story, the author was able to highlight the divide.
this was for me a page turner, rich, varied, so symtomatic of the system itself and the unwritten rules in life.
November 6, 2024
Took me longer to finish this book even though I was so invested in the whole drama - the complex characters. I personally have a beef with the son, Karan. Low key wanna smack his head.
November 25, 2022
After reading Priya Malhotra's gorgeous WOMAN OF AN UNCERTAIN AGE I felt compelled, rather than writing a review, to write a letter to the protagonist, Naina.
LETTER TO A PROTAGONIST
Dear Naina,
First of all, I'm sorry for your loss. I know it's been quite a while since you lost your husband, but I think one can never just "move on" from such immense tragedy. It becomes part of you.
You'd be pleased to know that Priya did a remarkable job retelling your journey, her lush descriptions of your life, how you arrived in America from India, your arranged marriage, your life in New Jersey first of all, and your (brave!) move to Manhattan after the unthinkable happened, rather than doing the "expected" thing of resigning to being the dutiful widow, blending into the background, demure.
You might be less pleased to hear that Priya wrote your story candidly, unflinching, pulling no punches, and revealing far more about yourself than you would have wanted, considering you’re quite a private person.
The guilt you felt when you fell for your daughter's boyfriend for instance.
The horror upon your daughter's discovery, the heartwrenching months that followed.
But they were necessary revelations.
If we were to meet in real life, I assume you'd only tell me what I might want to hear, hiding the painful and embarrassing aspects of your journey (don't we all do that, giving people the version we'd like them to hear?).
"What kind of mother are you, Naina?"
I must admit, I did question this, and it was tricky at times to refrain from judging you, but the fact that you could barely live with yourself because of what had unfolded, and the remorse which seeped from the pages made me want to climb in between the sentences to comfort you.
You are a flawed human being, a beautiful, wise, and inspiring one.
It was no surprise that you turned to online dating eventually, even though you never thought you'd do so. It was entertaining to read, some of the emails you received actually made me laugh out loud.
Rest assured, Priya made your knowledge of and passion for art and music come alive on the pages, many times I found myself looking up references to books you read I was unfamiliar with.
I love the fact you enjoyed reading Isabelle Allende. It made me think, if Priya had not decided to write your story, it could have easily been Allende who'd conjured you up.
Last but not least, my dear friend (I hope you don’t mind me calling you that, you feel like a friend) the hummingbird, which makes a fleeting appearance in your story.
I looked up its symbolism. It’s uncanny.
I hope one day I’ll run into you.
Ideally in a nondescript place, a supermarket, perusing the fruits and vegetables. You’ll mutter something to yourself, and I’ll laugh and comment I do that too, talking out loud to inanimate objects. And I would tell you I like the top you are wearing.
You’ll look at me and smile, bemused.
I wouldn’t need to say anything more. I’d simply know I’d recognized you.
Love, Barbara
LETTER TO A PROTAGONIST
Dear Naina,
First of all, I'm sorry for your loss. I know it's been quite a while since you lost your husband, but I think one can never just "move on" from such immense tragedy. It becomes part of you.
You'd be pleased to know that Priya did a remarkable job retelling your journey, her lush descriptions of your life, how you arrived in America from India, your arranged marriage, your life in New Jersey first of all, and your (brave!) move to Manhattan after the unthinkable happened, rather than doing the "expected" thing of resigning to being the dutiful widow, blending into the background, demure.
You might be less pleased to hear that Priya wrote your story candidly, unflinching, pulling no punches, and revealing far more about yourself than you would have wanted, considering you’re quite a private person.
The guilt you felt when you fell for your daughter's boyfriend for instance.
The horror upon your daughter's discovery, the heartwrenching months that followed.
But they were necessary revelations.
If we were to meet in real life, I assume you'd only tell me what I might want to hear, hiding the painful and embarrassing aspects of your journey (don't we all do that, giving people the version we'd like them to hear?).
"What kind of mother are you, Naina?"
I must admit, I did question this, and it was tricky at times to refrain from judging you, but the fact that you could barely live with yourself because of what had unfolded, and the remorse which seeped from the pages made me want to climb in between the sentences to comfort you.
You are a flawed human being, a beautiful, wise, and inspiring one.
It was no surprise that you turned to online dating eventually, even though you never thought you'd do so. It was entertaining to read, some of the emails you received actually made me laugh out loud.
Rest assured, Priya made your knowledge of and passion for art and music come alive on the pages, many times I found myself looking up references to books you read I was unfamiliar with.
I love the fact you enjoyed reading Isabelle Allende. It made me think, if Priya had not decided to write your story, it could have easily been Allende who'd conjured you up.
Last but not least, my dear friend (I hope you don’t mind me calling you that, you feel like a friend) the hummingbird, which makes a fleeting appearance in your story.
I looked up its symbolism. It’s uncanny.
I hope one day I’ll run into you.
Ideally in a nondescript place, a supermarket, perusing the fruits and vegetables. You’ll mutter something to yourself, and I’ll laugh and comment I do that too, talking out loud to inanimate objects. And I would tell you I like the top you are wearing.
You’ll look at me and smile, bemused.
I wouldn’t need to say anything more. I’d simply know I’d recognized you.
Love, Barbara
September 12, 2022
✨ BIPOC Monthly Review ✨
This month I am reading not one but two of the latest upcoming releases this month. Priya Malhotra’s Woman of An Uncertain Age!
📅: Sep 20th!
Representation matters - it is how I think of Priya Malhotra’s upcoming release. In this powerful narrative in which she introduces us to fifty-something year old newly widowed Naina Mehta, who unexpectedly loses her husband and is forced to pick up the pieces. She moves to New York City and begins with her life again taking up a job in an contemporary art gallery. However, things take turn for the worst when she chooses a man who from the Muslim religion angers her conservative son.
Widowhood within India and diaspora tends to be a stigmatized subject. Often, many are subjected to a life of isolation and a bare life, and historically, the misogynistic and troubling practice of sati hood also is present in colonial and ancient history.
Given this historical and cultural context, Malhotra’s latest novel calls for our attention as she explores often underrepresented themes of female midlife crisis, acceptance, judgement, society’s restrictions, and ageism. She takes into consideration contemporary cultural and sectarian issues and through Naina, deeply engages with these imminent yet difficult subjects.
Malhotra’s contribution to South Asia/South Asia diaspora literature is significant for taking a chance on exploring contemporary cultural and social mores especially of ageism, female desire, and empowerment. Her writing is gripping, immersive, and her novel - a page turner.
QQOTD ⁉️: What are some topics that you think authors should explore but aren’t in the mainstream?
#PriyaMalhotra #WomanOfAnUncertainAge #BedazzledPress #RepresentationMatters #bookstagram #instabook #book-photography #bookporn #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs
This month I am reading not one but two of the latest upcoming releases this month. Priya Malhotra’s Woman of An Uncertain Age!
📅: Sep 20th!
Representation matters - it is how I think of Priya Malhotra’s upcoming release. In this powerful narrative in which she introduces us to fifty-something year old newly widowed Naina Mehta, who unexpectedly loses her husband and is forced to pick up the pieces. She moves to New York City and begins with her life again taking up a job in an contemporary art gallery. However, things take turn for the worst when she chooses a man who from the Muslim religion angers her conservative son.
Widowhood within India and diaspora tends to be a stigmatized subject. Often, many are subjected to a life of isolation and a bare life, and historically, the misogynistic and troubling practice of sati hood also is present in colonial and ancient history.
Given this historical and cultural context, Malhotra’s latest novel calls for our attention as she explores often underrepresented themes of female midlife crisis, acceptance, judgement, society’s restrictions, and ageism. She takes into consideration contemporary cultural and sectarian issues and through Naina, deeply engages with these imminent yet difficult subjects.
Malhotra’s contribution to South Asia/South Asia diaspora literature is significant for taking a chance on exploring contemporary cultural and social mores especially of ageism, female desire, and empowerment. Her writing is gripping, immersive, and her novel - a page turner.
QQOTD ⁉️: What are some topics that you think authors should explore but aren’t in the mainstream?
#PriyaMalhotra #WomanOfAnUncertainAge #BedazzledPress #RepresentationMatters #bookstagram #instabook #book-photography #bookporn #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs
March 8, 2023
I love that this book explores the second life that mothers live after their children leave home. We don’t often think or talk about that, much less make literature or films about it. It also gets into who women are aside from being mothers. So this novel is great fodder for discussion.
It would be improved by some really intense editing. It’s just too long and overwritten. I would love to cut about 200 pages, and I know just what I’d cut. I found myself tiring of the excessive description (of every outfit, its provenance, why she chose to wear it, every location, the backstory of every single character, however minor—and there are a LOT of characters). I also felt like there were a lot of scenes that did nothing to either move the story forward or further develop the characters. Speaking of which, as I neared the end of the book, I found myself wondering why I didn’t really care about any of these people. And I think the answer is that I never got to really KNOW them. There’s a difference between reading a biography and spending time with a person—the biography tells you ABOUT a person, but spending time let’s you KNOW them. This book was a lot of learning about people without really getting to know any of them.
Overall, I love the themes, but the writing could be tightened up and the characters more developed.
It would be improved by some really intense editing. It’s just too long and overwritten. I would love to cut about 200 pages, and I know just what I’d cut. I found myself tiring of the excessive description (of every outfit, its provenance, why she chose to wear it, every location, the backstory of every single character, however minor—and there are a LOT of characters). I also felt like there were a lot of scenes that did nothing to either move the story forward or further develop the characters. Speaking of which, as I neared the end of the book, I found myself wondering why I didn’t really care about any of these people. And I think the answer is that I never got to really KNOW them. There’s a difference between reading a biography and spending time with a person—the biography tells you ABOUT a person, but spending time let’s you KNOW them. This book was a lot of learning about people without really getting to know any of them.
Overall, I love the themes, but the writing could be tightened up and the characters more developed.
June 16, 2022
This book is a delight for the senses, especially if you like art and music and books. It is filled with beautiful language and thought provoking images and lots of culture. I really liked the colorful descriptions, the beautiful writing and metaphors. The author paints a stunning picture for our minds.
Naina is a lovely curious woman trying to find herself after the loss of her husband. She loves art and music and is a thoughtful and creative soul. A little unsure of herself as a single, 50s something woman, she wants to live a life rich in experience.
I like how Naina is starting to find her true self, and how she's constantly questioning herself in the process. It is like a coming of age story, but for an older woman.
This book is a work of art, full of interesting characters, and one that will really make you think.
Naina is a lovely curious woman trying to find herself after the loss of her husband. She loves art and music and is a thoughtful and creative soul. A little unsure of herself as a single, 50s something woman, she wants to live a life rich in experience.
I like how Naina is starting to find her true self, and how she's constantly questioning herself in the process. It is like a coming of age story, but for an older woman.
This book is a work of art, full of interesting characters, and one that will really make you think.
June 23, 2022
In A Woman of an Uncertain Age, a man talks about pleasure for pleasure's sake. Naina, the protagonist, luxuriates in his words, “lush and plush," and "the curving cadences of his voice.” This is also how Priya Malhotra writes. With a poet’s sense of lyricism, a painter’s sense of color, and a novelist’s sense of story, she pushes her language to ever greater heights, teetering at the edge, but always pulling back in time. To me, A Woman of an Uncertain Age is about loneliness and longing, about acceptance and understanding, about the strangeness of existence, especially for Naina, who grew up in India but now lives in New York, all caught in an intoxicating range of metaphors, yet told with an honesty that cuts to the bone.
September 28, 2022
Complex, compelling & thought provoking read.
This debut novel tackles distinctly South Asian themes with finesse. Desi womanhood, widowhood & ageism are revealed & dealt with deftly. The storytelling is refreshingly honest. I highly recommend this page turner!
Grateful to the publisher for my advance copy*
This debut novel tackles distinctly South Asian themes with finesse. Desi womanhood, widowhood & ageism are revealed & dealt with deftly. The storytelling is refreshingly honest. I highly recommend this page turner!
Grateful to the publisher for my advance copy*
October 16, 2022
A very different book from what I read till now.
As you must have guessed from the blurb, Naina is in her fifties and is a widow. She and her husband had a typical arranged marriage; almost like a contract. After his death, she makes a bold decision to leave New Jersey where she lived for almost three decades, moves to New York and takes up a job at an art gallery. Her son, like a typical Indian man, doesn't like his mother being independent and making her decisions. Her daughter, Amaya, is cool about it all. As for friends, there are a few people Naina really talks with; the rest are for namesake. Naina considers having a partner, which is outrageous and forbidden for widows in the community she comes from.
Till here, I liked it. The author elaborately describes how Naina never got to be her true self in the marriage and explores a lot after Harish's death. She is confused - whether to follow her heart or be the good Indian widow. As I was liking her character development and the internal conflict, she does something unjustifiable. I can't write what it is because you have to read it.
The author did an amazing job with the descriptions and emotions. The book feels much longer than 400 pages. I took around 4 days to finish it. As much as I admire Naina for breaking the stereotype and daring to do something for herself, she is sometimes just bad.
The writing is impeccable. Naina is a literature fan who can't stop talking about books and inserting bookish references effortlessly (like most of us).
The book is an average read. I would suggest it to hard core fans of this genre.
As you must have guessed from the blurb, Naina is in her fifties and is a widow. She and her husband had a typical arranged marriage; almost like a contract. After his death, she makes a bold decision to leave New Jersey where she lived for almost three decades, moves to New York and takes up a job at an art gallery. Her son, like a typical Indian man, doesn't like his mother being independent and making her decisions. Her daughter, Amaya, is cool about it all. As for friends, there are a few people Naina really talks with; the rest are for namesake. Naina considers having a partner, which is outrageous and forbidden for widows in the community she comes from.
Till here, I liked it. The author elaborately describes how Naina never got to be her true self in the marriage and explores a lot after Harish's death. She is confused - whether to follow her heart or be the good Indian widow. As I was liking her character development and the internal conflict, she does something unjustifiable. I can't write what it is because you have to read it.
The author did an amazing job with the descriptions and emotions. The book feels much longer than 400 pages. I took around 4 days to finish it. As much as I admire Naina for breaking the stereotype and daring to do something for herself, she is sometimes just bad.
The writing is impeccable. Naina is a literature fan who can't stop talking about books and inserting bookish references effortlessly (like most of us).
The book is an average read. I would suggest it to hard core fans of this genre.
October 30, 2022
Naina’s life as a fifty-something year old living on her own in dazzling New York City is equal parts a breath of fresh air and an intriguing box dictated by unwritten rules of society. It is a breath of fresh air because an Indian widow of her age isn’t expected to be as independent and a lover of life itself as she is; and that is exactly where the unwritten rules of society of the kind ‘what will people say?’ or ‘is that how you behave at this age?’, and the worst, ‘think of your kids at the very least’ rear their ugly heads.
"The day had been unusually busy, filled with continuous movement, mostly of the mind. It had been like a one long paragraph without commas, semicolons, or periods." Haven’t we all experienced such days, the kind that don’t seem to end and when they finally do, it’s almost the next day already. While Naina’s story is quite relatable in parts and it is possible to explain her actions and behaviour, it is quite a long one at about 350 pages and the elaborate descriptions of her feelings and overthinking make it seem like it is even longer. Be ready to gain a ton of information about art, books, food, and even movies amidst the details.
"While trauma isn’t a person’s fault, healing that wound is definitely an adult’s responsibility."
Naina is written quite well and in enough depth to include every dimension of her life. She is all yours to love, hate, question, and judge in this eye-opener. Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy.
"The day had been unusually busy, filled with continuous movement, mostly of the mind. It had been like a one long paragraph without commas, semicolons, or periods." Haven’t we all experienced such days, the kind that don’t seem to end and when they finally do, it’s almost the next day already. While Naina’s story is quite relatable in parts and it is possible to explain her actions and behaviour, it is quite a long one at about 350 pages and the elaborate descriptions of her feelings and overthinking make it seem like it is even longer. Be ready to gain a ton of information about art, books, food, and even movies amidst the details.
"While trauma isn’t a person’s fault, healing that wound is definitely an adult’s responsibility."
Naina is written quite well and in enough depth to include every dimension of her life. She is all yours to love, hate, question, and judge in this eye-opener. Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy.
November 11, 2022
If you're one of those people who enjoys excellent writing for the lush imagery, perfect word choices, unique metaphors, but you're also one of those people who enjoys a soap opera-lite amount of drama (count me as one), then look no further than Priya Malhotra's stunning debut. Naina came to America as a older teen for an arranged marriage, one that turned out to be a bit dull but satisfactory in many ways she doesn't quite appreciate until her husband, Harish, suddenly dies leaving Naina a relatively young widow in her early 50s. She moves to Manhattan to be with her grown daughter but also to fulfill long pent-up dreams of having a life that goes beyond being a wife and mother. She gets a job at an art gallery, dates, develops a disastrous crush on her daughter's boyfriend, takes yoga, and makes new friends.
I can't tell you how refreshing it was to have a main character, a woman of color, who wasn't obsessed with oppression, as is not only trendy now but requisite. Perhaps because the book takes place in the early aughts, Naina has plenty of white friends, and not only that, they are the ones she feels understands her the best, while her Indian friends are mostly either appalled or bewildered that she wants to have a life of her own making (one which she keeps from them to avoid their barbs and judgments). Naina's dating life is delineated realistically with its heady highs and disappointing lows. Naina, though never able to shake off her Indian heritage, nor wanting to, nevertheless acknowledges and appreciates the good life America gave her and her husband.
Also refreshing was that Malhotra has created a 50-something female character who is sexual, passionate, and not preoccupied with constantly listing her many feeblenesses.
Read the book for its evocative writing, its rich characterizations, its impressive blending of realism and painterly imagination. But read it!
I can't tell you how refreshing it was to have a main character, a woman of color, who wasn't obsessed with oppression, as is not only trendy now but requisite. Perhaps because the book takes place in the early aughts, Naina has plenty of white friends, and not only that, they are the ones she feels understands her the best, while her Indian friends are mostly either appalled or bewildered that she wants to have a life of her own making (one which she keeps from them to avoid their barbs and judgments). Naina's dating life is delineated realistically with its heady highs and disappointing lows. Naina, though never able to shake off her Indian heritage, nor wanting to, nevertheless acknowledges and appreciates the good life America gave her and her husband.
Also refreshing was that Malhotra has created a 50-something female character who is sexual, passionate, and not preoccupied with constantly listing her many feeblenesses.
Read the book for its evocative writing, its rich characterizations, its impressive blending of realism and painterly imagination. But read it!
January 2, 2023
Described with an extreme sensibility, this novel follows the journey of a woman who wants to gain new experiences and live a different life.
In the aftermath of her marriage to Harish, Naina relocated to New Jersey. Even two years after the untimely death of her husband, she is still looking for answers to the question of why it happened. However, she always pictured being with him forever, even when they were old. Thus, she missed him immensely in her days, and the thought of him fills her with a great deal of tenderness.
A memorable moment was when they drank tea and he asked her to add more milk to the tea. Apart from that, they had a clear understanding of each other based on their food tastes and facial expressions. They were part of each other for a long time, regardless of their arranged marriage.
An insightful book that revolves around many aspects of the life of a woman searching for herself. In Naina's culture, widows are treated absurdly and taboo is prevalent.
I then wandered to the Bhagavad-Gita, which is one of the most important holy books of ancient India, where widows are discussed as lotuses that are "required to survive pure and untouched by dirty waters'".
Therefore, this is an incredibly fascinating and brilliant story. Throughout the story, you feel like you are in the character's shoes. Through every page, you learn to identify with Naina, who instills fearlessness no matter how old you are.
It might be worth a shot.
In the aftermath of her marriage to Harish, Naina relocated to New Jersey. Even two years after the untimely death of her husband, she is still looking for answers to the question of why it happened. However, she always pictured being with him forever, even when they were old. Thus, she missed him immensely in her days, and the thought of him fills her with a great deal of tenderness.
A memorable moment was when they drank tea and he asked her to add more milk to the tea. Apart from that, they had a clear understanding of each other based on their food tastes and facial expressions. They were part of each other for a long time, regardless of their arranged marriage.
An insightful book that revolves around many aspects of the life of a woman searching for herself. In Naina's culture, widows are treated absurdly and taboo is prevalent.
I then wandered to the Bhagavad-Gita, which is one of the most important holy books of ancient India, where widows are discussed as lotuses that are "required to survive pure and untouched by dirty waters'".
Therefore, this is an incredibly fascinating and brilliant story. Throughout the story, you feel like you are in the character's shoes. Through every page, you learn to identify with Naina, who instills fearlessness no matter how old you are.
It might be worth a shot.
December 5, 2022
Woman of an Uncertain Age by first time novelist Priya Malhotra is a well written, artistic view of the life of a middle aged, widowed, Indian immigrant living in New York City, on her own for the first time since her arranged marriage 30 years prior and the birth of her two now adult children. It’s at times sad, triumphant, sensual, sentimental, honest, and reflective. It demonstrates the conflicting emotions people have regarding sex, religion, age, marriage, death, racism, prejudice, customs, traditions, loyalty, love, respect, and self-respect. Ms. Malhotra is an author to watch for in the future, and Woman of an Uncertain Age is a book to read now.
I received Woman of an Uncertain Age as a free digital advanced readers copy for which I would like to thank Ms. Malhotra, BookSirens, and Bedazzled Ink Publishing.
I received Woman of an Uncertain Age as a free digital advanced readers copy for which I would like to thank Ms. Malhotra, BookSirens, and Bedazzled Ink Publishing.
February 20, 2023
I was absorbed in this book within minutes.
This book was about expectations, what your spouse expects of you, what your children expect of you, what your parents and their culture expect of you, whether they are on this earth or not, and living up to those expectations. Some women feel we need to live up to others' expectations at the cost of not pursuing our interests.
After a few decades of catering to others' needs Naina finally builds a life based on her own interests and at times hides them from her adult children lest they do not approve of her choices.
This book is also about change, as the cliche goes 'it's never too late'. I believe, this is an inspiring story to women in their fifties and beyond no matter which culture they belong to.
This book was about expectations, what your spouse expects of you, what your children expect of you, what your parents and their culture expect of you, whether they are on this earth or not, and living up to those expectations. Some women feel we need to live up to others' expectations at the cost of not pursuing our interests.
After a few decades of catering to others' needs Naina finally builds a life based on her own interests and at times hides them from her adult children lest they do not approve of her choices.
This book is also about change, as the cliche goes 'it's never too late'. I believe, this is an inspiring story to women in their fifties and beyond no matter which culture they belong to.
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December 6, 2022A debut novel by author @writer_priya12 , Woman of an Uncertain Age tells the story of Naina, an Indian woman widowed in her early fifties.
I love flawed and real characters in books - especially women - especially Indian women who otherwise are portrayed very often as puppets conforming to our culture. Naina is a young widow who has a zest for life, who struggles with what we struggle with - a desire to live life at her own terms and be accepted for who she is.
The book deals with real issues and I loved the honest portrayal of a middle aged woman discovering and exploring her sexuality.
The pop culture references are very familiar and relatable, having grown up with a similar upbringing.
Maybe that’s what I enjoyed most about the book - that Naina could be anyone - even me. In a way we all go through a period of self-discovery in our mid age. God knows we’ll all be making a few mistakes. You will root for Naina as she makes hers. You will want her to succeed because you will want to succeed under those circumstances as well.
I love flawed and real characters in books - especially women - especially Indian women who otherwise are portrayed very often as puppets conforming to our culture. Naina is a young widow who has a zest for life, who struggles with what we struggle with - a desire to live life at her own terms and be accepted for who she is.
The book deals with real issues and I loved the honest portrayal of a middle aged woman discovering and exploring her sexuality.
The pop culture references are very familiar and relatable, having grown up with a similar upbringing.
Maybe that’s what I enjoyed most about the book - that Naina could be anyone - even me. In a way we all go through a period of self-discovery in our mid age. God knows we’ll all be making a few mistakes. You will root for Naina as she makes hers. You will want her to succeed because you will want to succeed under those circumstances as well.
January 3, 2023
Very interesting look at another culture and views on marriage and aging. Personal thoughts laid bare for all to witness her internal struggles with life, love and multiple conflicting cultural biases. A colorful read.
January 25, 2023
A really good story about the relationship between a mother and daughter. Couldn't put it down!
February 25, 2023
I have a feeling I would have loved this book if I were middle-aged. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful exploration of womanhood, loss, guilt, desire, fear, acceptance and self-acceptance.
November 8, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this, it was what I was hoping for from the description. The characters were what I was hoping for and really enjoyed reading this. The plot does everything that I was hoping for and really enjoyed getting to go on this journey. Overall this was a great job and I appreciated reading this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 19, 2024
Captured my attention from the get-go. This is a well written story of a migrant without focusing on the usual set of migrant issues. It's a believable story woven around a middle-aged woman navigating life after the death of her husband. She discovers who she is without the labels of ' wife' and 'mother' while at the same time discovering who she is and was as a wife and a mother. I like the way Priya had woven South Asian spiciness to the story that's situated in the USA.
April 9, 2023
I wanted to like this, but found it real hard going. Kept waiting for the protagonist to stand up for herself and get out of her own head.
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February 7, 2023WOMAN OF AN UNCERTAIN AGE is a deep and lyrical exploration of midlife romance and sex. Having wed young through an arranged marriage, protagonist Naina Mehtra finds herself unexpectedly single at 52 when her husband dies of a heart attack. Now Naina must manage the uncharted territory that is midlife dating, as well the expectations and resentments of her grown children and still-married friends. Set against the backdrop of the NYC art world, this book is a beautifully written, occasionally spicy, reminder that it is never too late to become who you were meant to be.
December 19, 2025
There are many themes in this book that I loved and so many more themes in this book that I wanted to love, but just didn't. It felt like there were almost too many topics the author wanted to touch on and none of them got enough time or merit. For example, I wish they leaned in more to the battle between finding your independence and finding your love, and just scrapped the Jai storyline all together. It felt like such an unnecessary space filling plotline that just made Naina so unlikeable in the first half of the book. Then there were fragments of different storylines relating to British colonialism, the Indian-American experience, embracing sexuality as an Indian woman, the India-Pakistan war, Americans adopting Indian culture as their own, and anti-Islamic racism following the 9/11 attacks. All of these human experiences are so heavy and none of them got the time they deserved.
The character building was also hard to follow. I felt either indifferent or annoyed by almost everyone, except for Faisal, who unfortunately enters the game so late in Naina's story. The dialogue doesn't help because if often felt cheesy or cliché. Naina herself often comes off as self-indulgent, superficial, and ostentatious. I liked when she was killing it in the art industry or when she put herself first with her dating life, but hated so many of the decisions she makes and her obsession with looks and age.
Overall it is an easy read with good pacing and interesting themes, but the storylines and character building were lacking.
The character building was also hard to follow. I felt either indifferent or annoyed by almost everyone, except for Faisal, who unfortunately enters the game so late in Naina's story. The dialogue doesn't help because if often felt cheesy or cliché. Naina herself often comes off as self-indulgent, superficial, and ostentatious. I liked when she was killing it in the art industry or when she put herself first with her dating life, but hated so many of the decisions she makes and her obsession with looks and age.
Overall it is an easy read with good pacing and interesting themes, but the storylines and character building were lacking.
August 21, 2023
I enjoyed this story about Naina, a recently widowed woman in her fifties. In the beginning, we find Naina embarrassed by her age, job, feelings, actions, body, and everything else in her life. Naina is torn between feeling guilty about wanting to lead a more fulfilling life and boldly following the urge to plunge head-on into the life she longs for. Moving to NYC to be near her daughter Amaya has opened up new opportunities for her. And while her new job at an art gallery is far from what she had hoped for, she gains experience and knowledge that will prepare her for new prospects over time.
Nothing, however, could prepare Naina, who had only been with one man from an arranged marriage, for finding a suitable romantic relationship following her husband's death. The reader is drawn into Naina's struggles as she navigates the world of online dating and deals with the trauma of being fascinated by Jai, her daughter's boyfriend, who was midrange in age between Naina and Amaya. Naina's adult children come across as shellfish brats who aren't concerned about the emptiness of their mother's life. I found myself not liking them at all – but it is the mark of an excellent writer to portray characters that make the reader love or dislike them. This book will not disappoint; many will identify with Naina's heartbreaks and triumphs.
Nothing, however, could prepare Naina, who had only been with one man from an arranged marriage, for finding a suitable romantic relationship following her husband's death. The reader is drawn into Naina's struggles as she navigates the world of online dating and deals with the trauma of being fascinated by Jai, her daughter's boyfriend, who was midrange in age between Naina and Amaya. Naina's adult children come across as shellfish brats who aren't concerned about the emptiness of their mother's life. I found myself not liking them at all – but it is the mark of an excellent writer to portray characters that make the reader love or dislike them. This book will not disappoint; many will identify with Naina's heartbreaks and triumphs.
March 8, 2023
A welcome distraction! I picked up this book because it was a club pick, but I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a different kind of main character. Naina is a menopausal woman of color completely wrapped up in figuring out what would please her. Reading this felt so indulgent. She's a mom, and she talks about her kids, but she's figuring out how to move forward when she's feeling like there isn't a lot of support in her choices. The story is from her perspective. It felt indulgent.
Our club couldn't agree if we were rooting for her, but that's what makes this book an even better distraction than turning to social media for the fun of judging other people—Naina's fictional. Follow her online dating. Follow her travel. Follow her career trajectory. The descriptions of New York City are spot on and her job as an assistant in an art gallery includes so many amazing descriptions of the work she encounters. Worth the read!
Our club couldn't agree if we were rooting for her, but that's what makes this book an even better distraction than turning to social media for the fun of judging other people—Naina's fictional. Follow her online dating. Follow her travel. Follow her career trajectory. The descriptions of New York City are spot on and her job as an assistant in an art gallery includes so many amazing descriptions of the work she encounters. Worth the read!
December 4, 2022
The narrative voice of Woman of an Uncertain Age is immediately engaging, playful and intelligent, with a touch of irony. The reader feels just the right amount of delight and dread when the widowed female protagonist, Naina, falls head over heels for her grown daughter’s boyfriend. As readers, we want to cover our eyes, but we can’t stop reading.
The story of Naina’s second half of life self-discovery will be sympathetic and meaningful to many readers. With great feeling, detail and fun, her journey as an immigrant woman is complex; she explores new territory while still minding her connection to her past and to India. This is one of the most entertaining, bold and insightful explorations of women at middle age that I have read.
The story of Naina’s second half of life self-discovery will be sympathetic and meaningful to many readers. With great feeling, detail and fun, her journey as an immigrant woman is complex; she explores new territory while still minding her connection to her past and to India. This is one of the most entertaining, bold and insightful explorations of women at middle age that I have read.
August 3, 2023
The rhythm of the story is very engaging. I stayed up some nights to read that extra chapter. I loved Naina's dreamy character, building a career as a widow in NYC in one of the most vague industries. I loved how the author used some old english that is only use in India these days. The references from New York and India along with an existential crisis is a fantastic idea. Priya's writing is extremely creative with very interesting references. It is like having Rumi and Jackson Pollock in the same room. I am eager to read her next book.
December 24, 2022
Absolute loved this book which I received through Voracious Readers. So easy to relate to Naina, an Indian widow of a ‘certain’ age who is having to come to terms with the ageing process of a woman. The body may age but the mind doesn’t. She has numerous crisis of conscience attempting to live her life to suit others ie. Her family, her culture of origin and how she feels a woman of her age ‘should ‘ behave. An excellent and original ‘coming of age’ novel. Loved it
January 22, 2023
I'm not quite sure what I think of this book. I thought the blurb on the back was misleading as most of the book is written in response to Naina's relationship with her daughter and her daughters boyfriend. Only the last bit of the book deals with the men that she dated. There was a lot of food eaten, seems that Naina spent most of her life eating out. It was probably an honest book in terms of growing older as a woman. Library book.
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