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Girl Made of Gold
Thanjavur, the 1920s. One night, the young devadasi Kanka disappears and, as if in her place, a statue of a woman in pure gold mysteriously appears in the temple to which she was to be dedicated. Through the story of Kanaka's disappearance, Gitanjali Kolanad gives us a beautifully realized world - of priests, zamindars and devadasis, and of art, desire, and their dark reverse sides. Girl Made of Gold is a mystery, thrillingly told, and also a moving human story of the pursuit of love and freedom.
256 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2020
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463 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 28, 2021
Lust is an intense passionate longing for another and love, a deeper affection. An overlap of the two is treacherous ground because one could go either ways from here. This story about a devadasi girl holds both these emotions and a lot more. Devadasis trained in several art forms besides the truth and rules of love and lust are also taught to detach themselves emotionally and not fall prey in this game.
Gitanjali Kolanad's Girl Made of Gold is an elegantly written mystery about a missing devadasi girl set in a feudalistic Tanjore of the 1920s. The story that unfolded from several perspectives had me captivated right from the first page. Although each narrative had it's own style, the POV of the autistic child and the priest stood out to me. While the priest set the mood with his nostalgia, pride and knowledge in the history of the temple, the child brought a poetic charm to the prose.
...Beings appear wherever she puts them with her fingers, thick forests with branches that block out the sun, snakes entwined, a river, the crescent moon... The gods look down, I see them; they throw flowers, I catch them...
Althought our moral anglophilic hearts are inclined to vilify the tradition, the author managed to draw our attention to the fact that back then, devadasis took pride in their Apsara lineage and enjoyed much more power and privilege when compared to dutiful wives who had to meet familial demands, perform poojas, care for their husbands in their old age, wash his diseased limbs and kiss his gummy mouth as per the codes laid out in Manusmriti. Kanakavalli, the protagonist of the novel outright rejects an offer to marriage because she couldn't imagine a life without dance and because devadasis were free women.
Girl Made of Gold is a heartwarming story about three strong women who stood their ground, dreamt high, covered up for each other and let men carry the emotional burden. A wonderful novel that left me feeling high long after I was done reading the book
Gitanjali Kolanad's Girl Made of Gold is an elegantly written mystery about a missing devadasi girl set in a feudalistic Tanjore of the 1920s. The story that unfolded from several perspectives had me captivated right from the first page. Although each narrative had it's own style, the POV of the autistic child and the priest stood out to me. While the priest set the mood with his nostalgia, pride and knowledge in the history of the temple, the child brought a poetic charm to the prose.
...Beings appear wherever she puts them with her fingers, thick forests with branches that block out the sun, snakes entwined, a river, the crescent moon... The gods look down, I see them; they throw flowers, I catch them...
Althought our moral anglophilic hearts are inclined to vilify the tradition, the author managed to draw our attention to the fact that back then, devadasis took pride in their Apsara lineage and enjoyed much more power and privilege when compared to dutiful wives who had to meet familial demands, perform poojas, care for their husbands in their old age, wash his diseased limbs and kiss his gummy mouth as per the codes laid out in Manusmriti. Kanakavalli, the protagonist of the novel outright rejects an offer to marriage because she couldn't imagine a life without dance and because devadasis were free women.
Girl Made of Gold is a heartwarming story about three strong women who stood their ground, dreamt high, covered up for each other and let men carry the emotional burden. A wonderful novel that left me feeling high long after I was done reading the book
March 16, 2020
Girl Made of Gold is the first novel of Gitanjali Kolanad and I’m amazed how she has written such an enticing novel as her debut. Her writing is raw, though simple but looks fresh. I was twenty pages in and totally immersed in her narrative. First, the story shall bind you with its intriguing characters and then the mystery of the missing girl. It’s tempting, intense and beguiling.
The story is set in the times of 1920s of Thanjavur, a city in the state of Tamil Nadu. The times of slavery, caste bigotry, devadasis, zamindars, priests and faith. Kanaka, a young devadasi goes missing one morning when she didn’t arrive for the daily morning puja in the temple. Primarily, it was thought to be her laziness or unpunctuality until a golden statute alike her image appears before the deity. Following the advent of the statute, the story unfolds through the prospect of different characters of the village connected to Kanaka in some way or the other including the priest, Subbu, the grandmother, Vallabendran, Indra, Nagaveni, Ratna, the sorceress, and a few others.
I finished this book in two days and loved it till the end. If you’re looking for an appealing story of past times, then Girl Made of Gold is a sure pick. Trust me, this tale of devadasis, love, and desire will surely captivate you.
The story is set in the times of 1920s of Thanjavur, a city in the state of Tamil Nadu. The times of slavery, caste bigotry, devadasis, zamindars, priests and faith. Kanaka, a young devadasi goes missing one morning when she didn’t arrive for the daily morning puja in the temple. Primarily, it was thought to be her laziness or unpunctuality until a golden statute alike her image appears before the deity. Following the advent of the statute, the story unfolds through the prospect of different characters of the village connected to Kanaka in some way or the other including the priest, Subbu, the grandmother, Vallabendran, Indra, Nagaveni, Ratna, the sorceress, and a few others.
I finished this book in two days and loved it till the end. If you’re looking for an appealing story of past times, then Girl Made of Gold is a sure pick. Trust me, this tale of devadasis, love, and desire will surely captivate you.
November 9, 2020
Review to follow soon
October 21, 2020
Its a mind-blowing book. It's a book that literally made me crazy. I was trying not to shut my eyes and complete the book filled with twists. Yes, it's that crazy and amazing at the same time.
.
It's a story of devadasi Kanaka who disappeared and in her place, there was a statue of a woman in pure gold. Subbu, who wants to solve this mystery is stopped by the people around him. Why? Where is Kanaka? How this statue came here? There are many questions and many answers to find. Dwell into the world of Devadasis, Zamindars, Priests and of art, desire and their dark reverse sides.
.
It's a fast-paced book with multiple POVs. From a perfect storyline to all the twists it's an interesting read with an engaging narration. Many sub-stories are parallelly explained blending with the story, which makes this book more exciting. As we proceed with the story it fills us with more curiosity and find answers.
.
The crisp and gripping writing style of the author keeps the reader hooked throughout from the very first page. The way the story started, taking us back in the 1920s to the way it proceeds is just mind-blowing.
.
I had that omg face till the end🙈. From what was happening to what will happen, I wanted to know everything immediately 😅. The well-developed characters make this book more enthralling. You'll dwell with every character here, each of them creating their own image in our minds. The way their emotions, their desires are expressed by the author is commendable.
.
It's a blend of thriller, mystery and love. Not to forget about that unexpected climax which again made me fall in love with this book more and more.
Looking for a perfect thriller read?
Do pick up this book. With an excellent storyline and engaging writing style, it won't disappoint you.
.
It's a story of devadasi Kanaka who disappeared and in her place, there was a statue of a woman in pure gold. Subbu, who wants to solve this mystery is stopped by the people around him. Why? Where is Kanaka? How this statue came here? There are many questions and many answers to find. Dwell into the world of Devadasis, Zamindars, Priests and of art, desire and their dark reverse sides.
.
It's a fast-paced book with multiple POVs. From a perfect storyline to all the twists it's an interesting read with an engaging narration. Many sub-stories are parallelly explained blending with the story, which makes this book more exciting. As we proceed with the story it fills us with more curiosity and find answers.
.
The crisp and gripping writing style of the author keeps the reader hooked throughout from the very first page. The way the story started, taking us back in the 1920s to the way it proceeds is just mind-blowing.
.
I had that omg face till the end🙈. From what was happening to what will happen, I wanted to know everything immediately 😅. The well-developed characters make this book more enthralling. You'll dwell with every character here, each of them creating their own image in our minds. The way their emotions, their desires are expressed by the author is commendable.
.
It's a blend of thriller, mystery and love. Not to forget about that unexpected climax which again made me fall in love with this book more and more.
Looking for a perfect thriller read?
Do pick up this book. With an excellent storyline and engaging writing style, it won't disappoint you.
May 25, 2020
Girl Made of Gold | Gitanjali Kolanad | Book 76 of 2020 | Juggernaut
.
A young devadasi on the verge of her 16th birthday, disappears. A small golden statue is found near the deity of the temple to which she was to be dedicated.
Has she turned herself into gold out of devotion then? Most of the villagers, including her mother thought so. Her childhood friend though, was still skeptical.
14 days later, something else was unearthed.
What really happened to her?
.
Told in 16 chapters, with 14 characters, the author succeeded in enveloping me within a temple-based atmosphere set in 1920's Thanjavur, thronged with centuries old lifestyle of devdasis, zamindars, purohits, laymans, sorceress - mixing with the advent stream of new doctors, police-inspectors, medical-examiners, lawyers finding their ways into the pores of colonized India.
.
The sharpness and sensory alertness of a hunter, or verbatim of a priest in re-telling akhyans and their significance, an estranged apprentice with his dilemma of handling both temple-duties and household - while making peace with his father's disappearance, bygone days of a grand-old lady reminiscing, or routine exploits of a zamindar, homecoming frolics, etc mingles with the life and times of the devadasis and how they are shaped in carrying forward their heritage and legacy to the next generations, conjuring a vista as ethereal as crystal pond water. Thrown in also are minimal eyeshots into reports of scientific inspections and prophetic dreams.
.
Superstitions, caste and gender based dogmatism, meager conditions of beggars and people living in outer peripheries of society, and other upheavals at these changing times in the turn of a century are captured with nuance in deft storytelling.
.
The story is placed leisurely, with various POV's thoughts and learning, looking back at their individual experiences of the world and going through daily chores, their angst and happiness - mixed with jarring interactions of surprises, violence and shock. The twists in the story doesn't surprise often, as they are weaved neatly into each character's tale and when the reader makes out 2+2=4, it feels more like peeling leaves of a water-soaked onion, the pungence not stinging anymore. It's heavily detailed, yet information is not thrust into the forefront but tweaked in places like sunlight pouring over a forrest canopy.
.
The story is churned in a flux of harmony of discontent, and while most of its streams converge together towards the end, many of its subtle threads are left unstitched. Hence, the ending may not satisfy people who are obsessed with conclusions. For me, it was a dip into a pool of colored times - some mirroring the temperament of current times, while the rest differed. A must read for lovers of historical-fiction.
.
A young devadasi on the verge of her 16th birthday, disappears. A small golden statue is found near the deity of the temple to which she was to be dedicated.
Has she turned herself into gold out of devotion then? Most of the villagers, including her mother thought so. Her childhood friend though, was still skeptical.
14 days later, something else was unearthed.
What really happened to her?
.
Told in 16 chapters, with 14 characters, the author succeeded in enveloping me within a temple-based atmosphere set in 1920's Thanjavur, thronged with centuries old lifestyle of devdasis, zamindars, purohits, laymans, sorceress - mixing with the advent stream of new doctors, police-inspectors, medical-examiners, lawyers finding their ways into the pores of colonized India.
.
The sharpness and sensory alertness of a hunter, or verbatim of a priest in re-telling akhyans and their significance, an estranged apprentice with his dilemma of handling both temple-duties and household - while making peace with his father's disappearance, bygone days of a grand-old lady reminiscing, or routine exploits of a zamindar, homecoming frolics, etc mingles with the life and times of the devadasis and how they are shaped in carrying forward their heritage and legacy to the next generations, conjuring a vista as ethereal as crystal pond water. Thrown in also are minimal eyeshots into reports of scientific inspections and prophetic dreams.
.
Superstitions, caste and gender based dogmatism, meager conditions of beggars and people living in outer peripheries of society, and other upheavals at these changing times in the turn of a century are captured with nuance in deft storytelling.
.
The story is placed leisurely, with various POV's thoughts and learning, looking back at their individual experiences of the world and going through daily chores, their angst and happiness - mixed with jarring interactions of surprises, violence and shock. The twists in the story doesn't surprise often, as they are weaved neatly into each character's tale and when the reader makes out 2+2=4, it feels more like peeling leaves of a water-soaked onion, the pungence not stinging anymore. It's heavily detailed, yet information is not thrust into the forefront but tweaked in places like sunlight pouring over a forrest canopy.
.
The story is churned in a flux of harmony of discontent, and while most of its streams converge together towards the end, many of its subtle threads are left unstitched. Hence, the ending may not satisfy people who are obsessed with conclusions. For me, it was a dip into a pool of colored times - some mirroring the temperament of current times, while the rest differed. A must read for lovers of historical-fiction.
July 22, 2020
"How do you keep a man wanting more? You make him wait. You say no and then yes, yes and then no. Love is a science like any other, and we have studied long to discover the rules"; says Nagaveni in this book.
The author sure knows how to make the reader want more. The narration switches from one character to another and there are about a dozen significant players. This makes you focus on the story rather than skimming through.
It's a very simple story told in a style that was used by last generation historical fiction writers in tamil like Kalki and Sandilyan. A very detailed information of the temple, the traditional practices of devadasis and their patronage with all the intricate details keeps your attention on the story.
On the whole a very refreshingly different book that is a welcome change from the standard fare being dished out today in the name of fiction novels.
Read it to challenge yourself.
The author sure knows how to make the reader want more. The narration switches from one character to another and there are about a dozen significant players. This makes you focus on the story rather than skimming through.
It's a very simple story told in a style that was used by last generation historical fiction writers in tamil like Kalki and Sandilyan. A very detailed information of the temple, the traditional practices of devadasis and their patronage with all the intricate details keeps your attention on the story.
On the whole a very refreshingly different book that is a welcome change from the standard fare being dished out today in the name of fiction novels.
Read it to challenge yourself.
October 12, 2021
A gem of a book. Beautifully evokes an early 1900s Tamil Nadu village. Kolanad, a Bharatnatyam trainer, unleashes with raw emotion the complexities of temples, their libidinous patrons, and the lives of the devadasis sandwiched between them. It's fiction that's both compelling and imaginative, and throws interesting light on the largely debated morals of the temple dancers.
July 22, 2021
A stunning 4.5/5 stars
Definitely a favourite of the year
Definitely a favourite of the year
September 17, 2020
Girl Made of Gold by Gitanjali Kolanad.
A unique mystery in the backdrop of historical fiction, a story of desire and its dark side. Set in the 1920s, it’s a detailed journey back in time to Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu - its social systems, culture, people. A society marred with caste dogmatism, superstition, misogyny, archaic traditions, rituals and customs.
Kanaka, a beautiful young devadasi (temple dancer) suddenly and mysteriously disappears and simultaneously a gold statue with a striking resemblance to her, also mysteriously appears in the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple. The story is a build-up to her disappearance.
Gitanjali Kolanad takes you through one of the most disturbing traditions of South India, the Devadasis. Young girls, usually from the lower castes sacrificed for the service of the temple, the Brahmin priest, the zamindar or the king, all in the name of appeasement of the Gods and patronage of the arts. It’s the use, abuse and objectification of women supported by legends, folklore and mythological and other alleged Hindu scriptures.
Gitanjali Kolanad’s writing is simple and poignant with distinct, unforgettable characters. The lives of the characters is beautifully woven. She makes an era come live with vernacular descriptions and songs.
It’s a must read especially to understand Indian society a hundred years ago, and some of the issues that modern India continues to grapple with even today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPjMdjJV...
December 24, 2020
Gitanjali Kolanad has managed to weave this story with such beautiful intricacy and deep cultural relevance that it's hard to believe it's a debut. She plays with the characters and readers leaving you guessing till the end. Easy language, engaging plot, strong characters and lots of culture!
As a South Indian, born and raised amongst Tamil and Telugu culture, I found the book with it's deep cultural language and relevance easy to follow. However, I can see it being a struggle for people who are both, foreign to the country as well as South Indian culture. I would recommend a Glossary next time (whenever reprinted) to make this more relevant and accessible to a larger group as this is a book that must be available and understood in it's depth by more people.
Fantastic and Fabulous!
As a South Indian, born and raised amongst Tamil and Telugu culture, I found the book with it's deep cultural language and relevance easy to follow. However, I can see it being a struggle for people who are both, foreign to the country as well as South Indian culture. I would recommend a Glossary next time (whenever reprinted) to make this more relevant and accessible to a larger group as this is a book that must be available and understood in it's depth by more people.
Fantastic and Fabulous!
January 29, 2021
The book started promising, loved the way the story unfolded from the voice of different characters, each one intriguing in their own self. But the way the mystery ended, it was only a struggle to finish.
September 2, 2020
India has many temple towns with each having its own culture, legends and traditions in the times gone by. Set in the 1920's, this story reflects on the Devadasi culture that prevailed at the time, while revolving around a missing young girl.
Much has been said, written and shown on television about the Devadasi women, most of it unflattering, painting them as various shades of negative.
While they are ostensibly dedicated to the service of the temple and God when very young, in reality they became the prey of the rich men who flocked to them and cruelly moved on once they got bored. Here we see them as believing themselves to be similar to the celestial beauties called apsaras who were believed to be too beautiful to be bound in marriage. They have learnt to use their beauty and wiles to get what they want and keep it. In fact, in this story, they feel sorry for the wives of the men who come to them because while they can concentrate only on pleasing the men, their wives have to look after the in-laws, the house and the myriad other things marriage involves! They are portrayed as free spirited, lovers of dance and involved in temple rituals.
Kanaka is a young girl just on the brink of being dedicated as a Devadasi to a temple in Tanjore when she disappears and a golden statue that uncannily resembles her appears in the sanctum sanctorum.
Told by several voices, including the priest of the temple, Kanaka's childhood friend Subbu who is desperate to find her, her mother and sister with their rich patron, unsure of how to deal with this situation in a way that benefits them most and several others, this is the unfolding of a mystery as well as a portrait of the town mores.
Many legends and stories are recounted as the truth is gradually revealed. This is one tradition whose obsoletion is to be celebrated in my honest opinion because whatever the women believed, it led to young girls being exploited by the zamindars and the rich, with no means of escape.
I liked the inclusion of vernacular words in the conversation and the songs. It lent an authenticity and atmosphere to the story. This is a debut novel and the depth of the historical research and attention to detail was very pleasing. I enjoyed the read.
Much has been said, written and shown on television about the Devadasi women, most of it unflattering, painting them as various shades of negative.
While they are ostensibly dedicated to the service of the temple and God when very young, in reality they became the prey of the rich men who flocked to them and cruelly moved on once they got bored. Here we see them as believing themselves to be similar to the celestial beauties called apsaras who were believed to be too beautiful to be bound in marriage. They have learnt to use their beauty and wiles to get what they want and keep it. In fact, in this story, they feel sorry for the wives of the men who come to them because while they can concentrate only on pleasing the men, their wives have to look after the in-laws, the house and the myriad other things marriage involves! They are portrayed as free spirited, lovers of dance and involved in temple rituals.
Kanaka is a young girl just on the brink of being dedicated as a Devadasi to a temple in Tanjore when she disappears and a golden statue that uncannily resembles her appears in the sanctum sanctorum.
Told by several voices, including the priest of the temple, Kanaka's childhood friend Subbu who is desperate to find her, her mother and sister with their rich patron, unsure of how to deal with this situation in a way that benefits them most and several others, this is the unfolding of a mystery as well as a portrait of the town mores.
Many legends and stories are recounted as the truth is gradually revealed. This is one tradition whose obsoletion is to be celebrated in my honest opinion because whatever the women believed, it led to young girls being exploited by the zamindars and the rich, with no means of escape.
I liked the inclusion of vernacular words in the conversation and the songs. It lent an authenticity and atmosphere to the story. This is a debut novel and the depth of the historical research and attention to detail was very pleasing. I enjoyed the read.
August 6, 2020
I love to read novels that have multiple POVs. A 4-dimensional gleam into each of their world enhances my immersive experience of reading.
Not to mention the undertone of poetic writing style that left me in awe of the words, sentences and the entire story.
And in awe I was, in the smooth flowing narrative in which I was entirely immersed. The narrative that had many substories running parallel to each other, yet the confluence of each of these stories harmoniously merged into a book, forming a tale of a beautiful devadasi.
And in between the narrative and this mysterious story, I was surrounded by some of the most eclectic characters.
Characters that were so intricately woven into the story that not a single lose strand did I find in the journey of me reading this book.
I adored them, hated some and wanted to kill a few for their utter lack of sympathy. Did you see how deeply involved I was with the characters. And the credit for this goes to the author Gitanjali Kolanad, for writing this raw and beguiling debut novel Girl Made of Gold.
Girl Made of Gold by Gitanjali Kolanad is a story of a 14-year-old Devdasi. Who one day mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind her a gamut of people who were as baffled about her disappearance as I was. But there was something more she left behind her other than the people she knew; a gold statue of her.
I am compelled to give this highly recommended book a 5 on 5 stars, for its total immersive tale of a mysterious disappearance, Devadasis, love and desire is going to keep you on your toes throughout.
Not to mention the undertone of poetic writing style that left me in awe of the words, sentences and the entire story.
And in awe I was, in the smooth flowing narrative in which I was entirely immersed. The narrative that had many substories running parallel to each other, yet the confluence of each of these stories harmoniously merged into a book, forming a tale of a beautiful devadasi.
And in between the narrative and this mysterious story, I was surrounded by some of the most eclectic characters.
Characters that were so intricately woven into the story that not a single lose strand did I find in the journey of me reading this book.
I adored them, hated some and wanted to kill a few for their utter lack of sympathy. Did you see how deeply involved I was with the characters. And the credit for this goes to the author Gitanjali Kolanad, for writing this raw and beguiling debut novel Girl Made of Gold.
Girl Made of Gold by Gitanjali Kolanad is a story of a 14-year-old Devdasi. Who one day mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind her a gamut of people who were as baffled about her disappearance as I was. But there was something more she left behind her other than the people she knew; a gold statue of her.
I am compelled to give this highly recommended book a 5 on 5 stars, for its total immersive tale of a mysterious disappearance, Devadasis, love and desire is going to keep you on your toes throughout.
January 12, 2023
Book Made of Twists!
I couldn't come to accept the fact that the story concluded at the climax. Gosh! This is one gooooood book I've read so far in the contemporary fiction category. Not so contemporary though, set in the 1920s timeline, yet so much more vivid before my eyes!
Devadasis, their art, lifestyle, and bittersweet secrets are catered to before the reader, and the story sways from the perspectives of several characters similar to the sway of their hips. I have to admit that the dialogues were semi-lewd in some instances. The author made sure to write her lines by concealing them as much as she could with metaphors falling in place to her aid, while they are partially visual. Yet, that's the thing that makes sure to transport us to an authentic 1920s village centered with a Shiva Temple, its agraharam, the zamindars, and the devadasi households.
All the characters involved are completely developed, which makes the reader understand their mysterious follies. You can't loathe anyone, but you can't like what they've done. Just pity!
Every chapter unfolds a new perspective to the primary storyline. Then, the chapter that succeeds makes sure to refute it to the foundation and when you begin to believe in this one, the next starts its work. Gauge yourselves, 'cause the climax will confuse you to the core. I needed some time to revise what I read, before conceding to it finally.
Definitely recommended!
Rating — 4🌟
I couldn't come to accept the fact that the story concluded at the climax. Gosh! This is one gooooood book I've read so far in the contemporary fiction category. Not so contemporary though, set in the 1920s timeline, yet so much more vivid before my eyes!
Devadasis, their art, lifestyle, and bittersweet secrets are catered to before the reader, and the story sways from the perspectives of several characters similar to the sway of their hips. I have to admit that the dialogues were semi-lewd in some instances. The author made sure to write her lines by concealing them as much as she could with metaphors falling in place to her aid, while they are partially visual. Yet, that's the thing that makes sure to transport us to an authentic 1920s village centered with a Shiva Temple, its agraharam, the zamindars, and the devadasi households.
All the characters involved are completely developed, which makes the reader understand their mysterious follies. You can't loathe anyone, but you can't like what they've done. Just pity!
Every chapter unfolds a new perspective to the primary storyline. Then, the chapter that succeeds makes sure to refute it to the foundation and when you begin to believe in this one, the next starts its work. Gauge yourselves, 'cause the climax will confuse you to the core. I needed some time to revise what I read, before conceding to it finally.
Definitely recommended!
Rating — 4🌟
September 29, 2020
"No one knew, or admitted to knowing, how the statue came to be in the sanctum sanctorum; everyone considered it to be a miracle, a statue of Kanaka appearing in place of the real girl."
This is the cornerstone of entire plot of the book. The narrative is so crisp, flowy and wonderfully engaging from thereon. With multiple characters pitching in to tell their perspectives, different tales begin to emerge.. Of love, loss, & lust. Following the parts & piecing the story together is any reader's delight.
Since this is just her debut, I look forward to reading more from the author in future!
This is the cornerstone of entire plot of the book. The narrative is so crisp, flowy and wonderfully engaging from thereon. With multiple characters pitching in to tell their perspectives, different tales begin to emerge.. Of love, loss, & lust. Following the parts & piecing the story together is any reader's delight.
Since this is just her debut, I look forward to reading more from the author in future!
January 11, 2021
I’m hooked on the world of this novel- confidently crafted with nuance and care and without apology. Everything about this story is compelling, down to the description of where it came from and how it was pieced together. The writing is beautiful.
June 3, 2021
Set in the 1920s of the UNESCO’s world heritage site of the famous Chola temples, Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu, Girl Made of Gold (Juggernaut, May 2020) is the first novel by the renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, writer and Kalarippayattu teacher, Gitanjali Kolanad.
A Girl Is Missing
Kanaka, a devadasi, is missing. She performs temple rituals, as usual. But one day, a priest and his limp nephew, Subbu, are waiting for her at the crack of the dawn; however, much to their bewilderment, Kanaka doesn’t arrive on time. It’s surprising for them as Kanaka was never late. Subbu is sent to the devadasi (matrilineal) house to wake Kanaka up and bring her to the temple, but no one knows her whereabouts. Nagaveni, the matriarch, orders people, but to no avail. However, upon learning nothing about Kanaka, the temple doors are opened, and there it is: a tiny, gold idol of a girl; a prepubescent girl maybe. And everyone shouts, “Kanaka!”
Hence, it’s assumed upon priest’s announcement that Kanaka, the girl, has transformed into a statue. Subbu didn’t believe it. He was on his quest to find his love interest. Subbu’s mother, Brhadambal, tries to console him, but he remains inconsolable; he, in fact, accuses her chirpy behavior to be the cause that his father left both of them.
Contrary to what Subbu believed, his father left his household after mating with a devadasi. Justifying his act (leaving) by taking example of “others, great men, Buddha, Mahavira,” who left sleeping wives and children without saying a word, he did so, according to him, in a search, “to learn how to not do what [he] knew to be wrong, to act in opposition to what [he] desire.”
An Alchemy of Desire
Told through its characters, which are many in this tiny volume—no, no one is telling their perspective—Girl Made of Gold is a peculiar tale of desire. There are multiple axes through which the story is told, but desire is the principle one.
There’s Subbu, in need of Kanaka, his desires running wild for Kanaka reminiscing on the past and dreaming her naked daily. And Vallabedran, who was a patron of Nagaveni, also desired Kanaka. Nagaveni, who has mastered the art of seduction keeps it simple, “How do you keep a man wanting more? You make him wait. You say ‘not’ and then ‘yes’, ‘yes’ and then ‘no’.” She’s perfected love “as a science” by practicing, and in order to retain her patron didn’t mind when Vallabedran was attracted to Ratna. She’s never fooled into falling in love, as it’s not useful. What was useful was to keep Vallabedran, and influential people like him, visiting and monetarily supporting the matrilineal house. And it’s this reason that she’d have never minded if Vallabendran now wanted Kanaka, Ratna’s daughter.
But it’s not possible according to Ratna, who says this to Vallabendran, “She’s your daughter, you can’t just turn around and fuck her.” Valladendran never paid attention to this, listening to this he felt “an irritation with the world.” He wanted Kanaka, as “more and more often these days” Ratna’s skills were “useless” in bed. Given his position, “he was used to achieving the satisfaction of all his desires, and this was no different.”
However, blinded by his lust for Kanaka, he’s unaware of the fact that there’s a romance building up between his son, Indra, and Kanaka. But someone in his family knew about it: Indra’s grandmother. She is fond of talking to her grandson, who used to tell her about everything. She listened to him with utmost pleasure, as she desired him too, in a way. And upon finding Indra’s “dancing girl” to be different, she gives him, among many jewelry and artifacts, a diamond nose ring.
Like everything in the world, this secret was never to be kept forever. A frequenter to the matrilineal house learnt about the romance. It’s Janardana, Indra’s maternal uncle. It’s he who broke this news to Vallabendran, immediately repenting its consequences, which turned out to be really gory and disturbing. Janardana was never a typical man from the start: as a kid, he used to put ribbons in his hair; he never passed lewd remarks about the young girls; and “he learned ways of keeping his desires secret while revealing them too.”
It’s Ratna who told him if Vishnu can be transformed, then why not he? She’s amused by the fact that he has a hairless body, and immediately blurts that he’s not her type for she likes “rough dark hairy men,” precisely the kind that excites Janardana. She wore him a green sari, and asks him to take the round of the area in a sari, letting him fulfill his desires: being teased by men, being lusted for.
The Great Divide
Indra studied in London, and he was discriminated there because of his origins; not as a Brahmin, but because of being an Indian. He wonders, “Because a man has a black face and practices a different religion, that is reason enough for an Englishman to treat him as a brute?” This portion is deftly squeezed in the narrative in Girl Made Of Gold to show how a person in one system can be discriminated against in another system, for a similar argument can be extended to explain the exploitation of devadasis by his father, and others of his like. But that’s how discrimination works. It’s useful for one party at the cost of the other. Back home, his father and his likes championed this art; and, in Britain, the Whites.
What was common between both of them? Hypocrisy.
It’s interesting when the object of disenchantment becomes an object of desire in a different setting, as all men of good caste were happy to keep distance with the “untouchable girls,” but at the same time didn’t mind raising their legs onto their shoulders. At this juncture, untouchability was never a barrier, as “in the privacy of their desire, they’d been equals.”
Such divisions were baffling for a foreign-educated child. He felt that there’s one code of conduct for his “mothers and sisters and wives, and quite another standard for the other kind of women.” He reflects that it’s not only in India, but in England, too. In a sense, this way, Indra is a man of modern sensibilities. Unlike his father, he’s attracted to Kanaka because of “her beauty and accomplishments, quick wit and playful, passionate nature,” which he thought were “natural and appropriate for a devadasi.”
But were these qualities good enough for becoming his wife? He was willing to reject such thoughts out of love for her.
With each turn of the page, this enthralling literary fiction keeps you on the edge. You’re constantly asking, ‘Who’s that person that the hunter on the first page found dead? How far did the romance of Indra and Kanaka go? Did Kanaka actually get transformed into a golden statue, the “dancing girl”?’
These are baffling question, which Kolanad reveals one by one, in a rich prose, keeping readers engrossed by using all storytelling devices: ‘river’s flow,’ ‘lion’s glance,’ ‘frog’s hop’ and ‘flower garland.’ And as a brilliant narrator, toward the end, she also comes “swiftly and precisely to the point, like a raptor sighting its prey, ‘flacon’s dive’.” And so do I. I hope that this book reaches many of us, and is widely read. It’s certainly the most important book interrogating a variety of desires, in a nuanced way, without taking any side; but telling a story, a narrative, in a hope that the “actions produce the results intended.”
A Girl Is Missing
Kanaka, a devadasi, is missing. She performs temple rituals, as usual. But one day, a priest and his limp nephew, Subbu, are waiting for her at the crack of the dawn; however, much to their bewilderment, Kanaka doesn’t arrive on time. It’s surprising for them as Kanaka was never late. Subbu is sent to the devadasi (matrilineal) house to wake Kanaka up and bring her to the temple, but no one knows her whereabouts. Nagaveni, the matriarch, orders people, but to no avail. However, upon learning nothing about Kanaka, the temple doors are opened, and there it is: a tiny, gold idol of a girl; a prepubescent girl maybe. And everyone shouts, “Kanaka!”
Hence, it’s assumed upon priest’s announcement that Kanaka, the girl, has transformed into a statue. Subbu didn’t believe it. He was on his quest to find his love interest. Subbu’s mother, Brhadambal, tries to console him, but he remains inconsolable; he, in fact, accuses her chirpy behavior to be the cause that his father left both of them.
Contrary to what Subbu believed, his father left his household after mating with a devadasi. Justifying his act (leaving) by taking example of “others, great men, Buddha, Mahavira,” who left sleeping wives and children without saying a word, he did so, according to him, in a search, “to learn how to not do what [he] knew to be wrong, to act in opposition to what [he] desire.”
An Alchemy of Desire
Told through its characters, which are many in this tiny volume—no, no one is telling their perspective—Girl Made of Gold is a peculiar tale of desire. There are multiple axes through which the story is told, but desire is the principle one.
There’s Subbu, in need of Kanaka, his desires running wild for Kanaka reminiscing on the past and dreaming her naked daily. And Vallabedran, who was a patron of Nagaveni, also desired Kanaka. Nagaveni, who has mastered the art of seduction keeps it simple, “How do you keep a man wanting more? You make him wait. You say ‘not’ and then ‘yes’, ‘yes’ and then ‘no’.” She’s perfected love “as a science” by practicing, and in order to retain her patron didn’t mind when Vallabedran was attracted to Ratna. She’s never fooled into falling in love, as it’s not useful. What was useful was to keep Vallabedran, and influential people like him, visiting and monetarily supporting the matrilineal house. And it’s this reason that she’d have never minded if Vallabendran now wanted Kanaka, Ratna’s daughter.
But it’s not possible according to Ratna, who says this to Vallabendran, “She’s your daughter, you can’t just turn around and fuck her.” Valladendran never paid attention to this, listening to this he felt “an irritation with the world.” He wanted Kanaka, as “more and more often these days” Ratna’s skills were “useless” in bed. Given his position, “he was used to achieving the satisfaction of all his desires, and this was no different.”
However, blinded by his lust for Kanaka, he’s unaware of the fact that there’s a romance building up between his son, Indra, and Kanaka. But someone in his family knew about it: Indra’s grandmother. She is fond of talking to her grandson, who used to tell her about everything. She listened to him with utmost pleasure, as she desired him too, in a way. And upon finding Indra’s “dancing girl” to be different, she gives him, among many jewelry and artifacts, a diamond nose ring.
Like everything in the world, this secret was never to be kept forever. A frequenter to the matrilineal house learnt about the romance. It’s Janardana, Indra’s maternal uncle. It’s he who broke this news to Vallabendran, immediately repenting its consequences, which turned out to be really gory and disturbing. Janardana was never a typical man from the start: as a kid, he used to put ribbons in his hair; he never passed lewd remarks about the young girls; and “he learned ways of keeping his desires secret while revealing them too.”
It’s Ratna who told him if Vishnu can be transformed, then why not he? She’s amused by the fact that he has a hairless body, and immediately blurts that he’s not her type for she likes “rough dark hairy men,” precisely the kind that excites Janardana. She wore him a green sari, and asks him to take the round of the area in a sari, letting him fulfill his desires: being teased by men, being lusted for.
The Great Divide
Indra studied in London, and he was discriminated there because of his origins; not as a Brahmin, but because of being an Indian. He wonders, “Because a man has a black face and practices a different religion, that is reason enough for an Englishman to treat him as a brute?” This portion is deftly squeezed in the narrative in Girl Made Of Gold to show how a person in one system can be discriminated against in another system, for a similar argument can be extended to explain the exploitation of devadasis by his father, and others of his like. But that’s how discrimination works. It’s useful for one party at the cost of the other. Back home, his father and his likes championed this art; and, in Britain, the Whites.
What was common between both of them? Hypocrisy.
It’s interesting when the object of disenchantment becomes an object of desire in a different setting, as all men of good caste were happy to keep distance with the “untouchable girls,” but at the same time didn’t mind raising their legs onto their shoulders. At this juncture, untouchability was never a barrier, as “in the privacy of their desire, they’d been equals.”
Such divisions were baffling for a foreign-educated child. He felt that there’s one code of conduct for his “mothers and sisters and wives, and quite another standard for the other kind of women.” He reflects that it’s not only in India, but in England, too. In a sense, this way, Indra is a man of modern sensibilities. Unlike his father, he’s attracted to Kanaka because of “her beauty and accomplishments, quick wit and playful, passionate nature,” which he thought were “natural and appropriate for a devadasi.”
But were these qualities good enough for becoming his wife? He was willing to reject such thoughts out of love for her.
With each turn of the page, this enthralling literary fiction keeps you on the edge. You’re constantly asking, ‘Who’s that person that the hunter on the first page found dead? How far did the romance of Indra and Kanaka go? Did Kanaka actually get transformed into a golden statue, the “dancing girl”?’
These are baffling question, which Kolanad reveals one by one, in a rich prose, keeping readers engrossed by using all storytelling devices: ‘river’s flow,’ ‘lion’s glance,’ ‘frog’s hop’ and ‘flower garland.’ And as a brilliant narrator, toward the end, she also comes “swiftly and precisely to the point, like a raptor sighting its prey, ‘flacon’s dive’.” And so do I. I hope that this book reaches many of us, and is widely read. It’s certainly the most important book interrogating a variety of desires, in a nuanced way, without taking any side; but telling a story, a narrative, in a hope that the “actions produce the results intended.”
September 26, 2020
It is a story by #GitanjaliKolanad of a charming devadasi Kanaka who goes missing and during the same time a #girlmadeofgold statue appears in her dedicated temple. The story brings into life the lives of devadasis, the caste hypocrisy and hierarchies, the role of priests and zamindars in the 1920's Thanjavur , Tamil Nadu.
The most interesting part of the book is that a full chapter is dedicated to each character from which we can dive into everyone's perspective and their parts in the story which in return ties to the main plot. The book seems to be well-researched as it makes us re-live and feel the lives of devadasis; their intricacies have been very well captured. It is written in a non-linear format which kind of made it a difficult read as a few times I had to go back and forth to clearly understand the sequence of the story. It was like a jigsaw puzzle and it was fun putting all the pieces together while reading it.
The usage of local language sprinkled throughout the book brought in the flavour of the region, culture, land etc, it was a nice technique to make the narrative an interesting read. The story is effectively expressed as I could fully connect with Subbu's and the various devadasi's feelings.
The book had a cliche but an intriguing start with a murder and blood spills. The language wasn't that smooth as at several points it sounded like a translation to me. As a mystery novel, in the beginning, the story had a few compelling elements but then it went flat, it only had one twist which was also loosely handled. Being a debut novel, I would give it a 3* for its research and refreshing narrative elements. It was a nice brain exercise connecting all the dots.
The most interesting part of the book is that a full chapter is dedicated to each character from which we can dive into everyone's perspective and their parts in the story which in return ties to the main plot. The book seems to be well-researched as it makes us re-live and feel the lives of devadasis; their intricacies have been very well captured. It is written in a non-linear format which kind of made it a difficult read as a few times I had to go back and forth to clearly understand the sequence of the story. It was like a jigsaw puzzle and it was fun putting all the pieces together while reading it.
The usage of local language sprinkled throughout the book brought in the flavour of the region, culture, land etc, it was a nice technique to make the narrative an interesting read. The story is effectively expressed as I could fully connect with Subbu's and the various devadasi's feelings.
The book had a cliche but an intriguing start with a murder and blood spills. The language wasn't that smooth as at several points it sounded like a translation to me. As a mystery novel, in the beginning, the story had a few compelling elements but then it went flat, it only had one twist which was also loosely handled. Being a debut novel, I would give it a 3* for its research and refreshing narrative elements. It was a nice brain exercise connecting all the dots.
March 23, 2021
First of all, a huge thanks to my friend who suggested this book to me. If not for her, I would have missed out on this gem.
I always had a complaint towards most Indian writers writing in English that their stories leave a lot to be desired. After reading this book, I know I was looking at the wrong places. What a treat it was!
Set in 1920's Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, this book is about a devadasi named Kanaka, who disappears right before her sixteenth birthday. At the same time, a mysterious gold statue appears near the deity of the temple, convincing almost everyone that Kanaka has transformed herself into a gold statue. An apprentice of the temple, Subbu, who's also in love with Kanaka and friendzoned, refuses to belive so. Whatever happens next is for you to find out.
Written in first person and third person omniscient POVs, this book looks at the story from multiple different angles. The author has done a fantastic job in making each character distinct. Personally, I fell in love with the POV of the Priest. His soothing and calm narration, the way he described mythological events and folk lores, were a balm to the soul.
The book has done complete justice in being both a thriller and a historical fiction. It is a saga of lust, love, thrill, desire, and the deplorable condition of women. I actually hated the protagonist (not as a character but as a person) until right before climax, which managed to change some of my ideas about her.
To put it in a nutshell, this is a book that talks about the primal nature of human beings, lust, and how it can throw not one, but many lives into a frenzy, if not handled correctly.
I always had a complaint towards most Indian writers writing in English that their stories leave a lot to be desired. After reading this book, I know I was looking at the wrong places. What a treat it was!
Set in 1920's Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, this book is about a devadasi named Kanaka, who disappears right before her sixteenth birthday. At the same time, a mysterious gold statue appears near the deity of the temple, convincing almost everyone that Kanaka has transformed herself into a gold statue. An apprentice of the temple, Subbu, who's also in love with Kanaka and friendzoned, refuses to belive so. Whatever happens next is for you to find out.
Written in first person and third person omniscient POVs, this book looks at the story from multiple different angles. The author has done a fantastic job in making each character distinct. Personally, I fell in love with the POV of the Priest. His soothing and calm narration, the way he described mythological events and folk lores, were a balm to the soul.
The book has done complete justice in being both a thriller and a historical fiction. It is a saga of lust, love, thrill, desire, and the deplorable condition of women. I actually hated the protagonist (not as a character but as a person) until right before climax, which managed to change some of my ideas about her.
To put it in a nutshell, this is a book that talks about the primal nature of human beings, lust, and how it can throw not one, but many lives into a frenzy, if not handled correctly.
January 20, 2021
Girl Made of Gold, the debut novel of Gitanjali Kolanad is an intricately crafted piece of literature. The story is set in the 1920s in Thanjavur, in an era of devadasis, zamindars and priests. The book is written in the third person narrative and the point of view switches between various characters. As the point of view switches from one character to other, we get a deeper insight into the narrative and all this combines into a wonderous plot.
The narrative follows the story of a young girl Kannak, who one day, went mysteriously missing from the village. That day Kanaka didn't appear at the temple for the morning prayer and offerings. At first, her reluctance and negligence were considered possible reasons for her absence at the temple. Things begin to complicate when a statue, alike Kanaka, appeared in the sanctum sanctorum of the Shiva temple. While most people were convinced that it was a miracle of God that Kanaka turned into the statue of Gold, some were of the opinion that Kanaka's disappearance had nothing to do with the statue. As the plot unfolds, we get to know, through the voice of various characters, what course of exactly happened and led to Kanaka's vanishment.
The writing style of the novel is completely fascinating. The descriptions are extremely detailed and create clear visons in readers' minds. For all those looking to read an Indian author and have insight into the period of devadasis and priests, Girl Made of Gold is highly recommended.
Besides reading as hardback, you can also read Girl Made of Gold as an e-book on the Juggernaut app.
The narrative follows the story of a young girl Kannak, who one day, went mysteriously missing from the village. That day Kanaka didn't appear at the temple for the morning prayer and offerings. At first, her reluctance and negligence were considered possible reasons for her absence at the temple. Things begin to complicate when a statue, alike Kanaka, appeared in the sanctum sanctorum of the Shiva temple. While most people were convinced that it was a miracle of God that Kanaka turned into the statue of Gold, some were of the opinion that Kanaka's disappearance had nothing to do with the statue. As the plot unfolds, we get to know, through the voice of various characters, what course of exactly happened and led to Kanaka's vanishment.
The writing style of the novel is completely fascinating. The descriptions are extremely detailed and create clear visons in readers' minds. For all those looking to read an Indian author and have insight into the period of devadasis and priests, Girl Made of Gold is highly recommended.
Besides reading as hardback, you can also read Girl Made of Gold as an e-book on the Juggernaut app.
August 4, 2022
In the 1920s, in the village of Thanjavur, a girl mysteriously disappeared overnight and within a day, a girl statue of gold (which everyone assumed is of the disappeared girl) appeared in the sanctum of the village temple. The mystery from here just started crawling up and it wouldn’t stop until the very end of this book.
Devadasi were women who were dedicated to serving God for the rest of their lives. The ceremony called “pottukattu” takes place for the dedication, and this ceremony is so much similar to marriage. The devadasi system was prominent in southern parts of India, although now completely banned (in 1988), the system is still practiced in some parts of the country. The pre-colonial era had devadasis who danced, sang, and practiced celibacy, but during colonial times when kings lost their properties & with it the temple administrations as well, devadasi became vulnerable before the circumstances and got into prostitution, that’s why lately they were known as Temple Prostitutes.
Through this book, the author brilliantly represented the culture of devadasi, zamindars, priests, desires, and lust. It is a thrilling book that will sometimes make you uncomfortable, and it would be even horrible to learn about the truth in it. The mystery will keep you hooked until the end, and you couldn’t help but gasp when it unfolds.
Devadasi were women who were dedicated to serving God for the rest of their lives. The ceremony called “pottukattu” takes place for the dedication, and this ceremony is so much similar to marriage. The devadasi system was prominent in southern parts of India, although now completely banned (in 1988), the system is still practiced in some parts of the country. The pre-colonial era had devadasis who danced, sang, and practiced celibacy, but during colonial times when kings lost their properties & with it the temple administrations as well, devadasi became vulnerable before the circumstances and got into prostitution, that’s why lately they were known as Temple Prostitutes.
Through this book, the author brilliantly represented the culture of devadasi, zamindars, priests, desires, and lust. It is a thrilling book that will sometimes make you uncomfortable, and it would be even horrible to learn about the truth in it. The mystery will keep you hooked until the end, and you couldn’t help but gasp when it unfolds.
July 29, 2022
Fascinating and beautiful
I was quite sceptical at first to pick a book based on Devadasi's and their culture but my interest in the subject forced me to make a decision.
I'm glad I made the decision because the book didn't disappoint. Told in a fictional narrative mixed with literary way of writing, the book captures the world of Pre Independent India that is struggling to come to terms with modernization as well as traditional way of living.
What's also fascinating is the Acknowledgement section where the author goes into the details of the effort she took to find out more about the story and the culture that's the base for this story.
I have never met a Devadasi and if I have, I might not have known about them. I have heard about them and was always interested to know their story. This book introduces us to their life and culture and now, I can't wait to read more about them.
Kudos to Gitanjali for bringing life to a mysterious sect.
I was quite sceptical at first to pick a book based on Devadasi's and their culture but my interest in the subject forced me to make a decision.
I'm glad I made the decision because the book didn't disappoint. Told in a fictional narrative mixed with literary way of writing, the book captures the world of Pre Independent India that is struggling to come to terms with modernization as well as traditional way of living.
What's also fascinating is the Acknowledgement section where the author goes into the details of the effort she took to find out more about the story and the culture that's the base for this story.
I have never met a Devadasi and if I have, I might not have known about them. I have heard about them and was always interested to know their story. This book introduces us to their life and culture and now, I can't wait to read more about them.
Kudos to Gitanjali for bringing life to a mysterious sect.
November 15, 2025
🖤 Summary
Set in the 1920s Thanjavur, Girl Made of Gold opens with a mysterious disappearance. A young devadasi vanishes and soon after a gold statue of her appears in the temple she was once dedicated to. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, from priests and devadasis to ordinary village folks, each adding a piece to this intricate puzzle.
The novel explores faith, desire, and power, how devotion can be exploited and how societal systems entrap both men and women in invisible chains. It’s a powerful reflection on the feudal and caste hierarchies that defined early 20th century South India.
❤️ What I liked
Gitanjali Kolanad’s storytelling is immersive, transporting readers into the rhythm of temple life and the intricate social order of that era. The multiple POVs make the narrative dynamic, showing how every character holds a fragment of truth. I loved how the author portrays the devadasi system with empathy and honesty exploring its spiritual roots as well as its exploitation. The writing beautifully captures the social divide between upper caste privileges and the silenced struggles of the lower castes, especially women whose fates were dictated by others.
💔 What I disliked
The shifting points of view, while interesting, occasionally makes the narrative feel scattered.
✅ Would I recommend it?
Yes. Girl Made of Gold is slow paced but richly layered read for those who love historical fiction with mystery and moral complexity.
Set in the 1920s Thanjavur, Girl Made of Gold opens with a mysterious disappearance. A young devadasi vanishes and soon after a gold statue of her appears in the temple she was once dedicated to. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, from priests and devadasis to ordinary village folks, each adding a piece to this intricate puzzle.
The novel explores faith, desire, and power, how devotion can be exploited and how societal systems entrap both men and women in invisible chains. It’s a powerful reflection on the feudal and caste hierarchies that defined early 20th century South India.
❤️ What I liked
Gitanjali Kolanad’s storytelling is immersive, transporting readers into the rhythm of temple life and the intricate social order of that era. The multiple POVs make the narrative dynamic, showing how every character holds a fragment of truth. I loved how the author portrays the devadasi system with empathy and honesty exploring its spiritual roots as well as its exploitation. The writing beautifully captures the social divide between upper caste privileges and the silenced struggles of the lower castes, especially women whose fates were dictated by others.
💔 What I disliked
The shifting points of view, while interesting, occasionally makes the narrative feel scattered.
✅ Would I recommend it?
Yes. Girl Made of Gold is slow paced but richly layered read for those who love historical fiction with mystery and moral complexity.
October 31, 2022
A devadasi disappeared one day and in her place stood a golden statue. This statue was found in a temple premise where she was supposed to do her rituals and everyone even the priest believed that the devadasi girl Kanaka herself had turned into a statue. Though the plot seems to be a mystery by itself the story holds much more from crime to art and dance to love and lust.
This is my second read about the lives of devadasis who lives to please the desires of men and the zamindars and others who exploit them. The devadasi girls are trained to impress men: "How do you keep a man wanting more? You make him wait. You say no and then yes, yes, and then no. Love is a science like any other, and we have studied long to discover the rules" They are portrayed as free-spirited lovers of men whereas the wives are the responsible family caretakers who sometimes don't get time to please their men.
The book is simple yet a gripping read. The book quickly takes us to the temple town of Tanjavur in the 1920s and the lives there. The book goes through narrations of the priest, Kanakas childhood best friend Subbu, her mother and her sister who is the mistress of a landlord.
This is my second read about the lives of devadasis who lives to please the desires of men and the zamindars and others who exploit them. The devadasi girls are trained to impress men: "How do you keep a man wanting more? You make him wait. You say no and then yes, yes, and then no. Love is a science like any other, and we have studied long to discover the rules" They are portrayed as free-spirited lovers of men whereas the wives are the responsible family caretakers who sometimes don't get time to please their men.
The book is simple yet a gripping read. The book quickly takes us to the temple town of Tanjavur in the 1920s and the lives there. The book goes through narrations of the priest, Kanakas childhood best friend Subbu, her mother and her sister who is the mistress of a landlord.
February 19, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! I completely binge read this mystery in two sittings which is huge for me. Girl Made of Gold is about a young, attractive devadasi who disappears and a statue of her is found in its place. I loved how the reader inches closer to solving the mystery as they read each person's perspective per chapter. The dynamics captured between the characters is authentic and accurate. There is so much going on in the plot that you really have to focus and keep track of who said what and why because the truth of various deceptions is revealed at a later point. This mystery of a disappearing girl is a must read!!
January 12, 2024
The first chapter made me think this was going to be something like an old south Indian movie, but that was thankfully not the case. A rather well written and well woven story set in the 1920s (although the time is never actually mentioned in the book) that gives us a glimpse of devdasi culture. Each chapter is written in the perspective of a different character thus weaving the story while exploring some depth and furthering the plot. A quick read that's also well edited, the story flows nicely and doesn't hit any dull point. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into that time period and it made for a good afternoon read, not too heavy at any point either.
June 2, 2020
Started reading it a couple of days ago and a day of sick leave from work helped me finish it yesterday. It is a nice mystery, considering it's a debut novel makes it better. It creates the ambience of a pre-independence South Indian town with its temple and rituals and rajah and devdasis quite well. Still, it left a few loose ends which isn't what I'm looking for when turning the last page of a mystery. Maybe this is what the author hoped for, for us to keep wondering like Subbu, where his childhood friend vanished.
January 30, 2021
The book revolves around a set of devadasis in a village near Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The richest man had lived with the elder devadasi and now is living with her elder daughter. He sets his eyes on the younger one even though there is a suspicion that she maybe his daughter. The younger one helps out with the pooja at the temple.
One fine day she doesn’t appear and instead there is a exquisite golden statue in the sanctum sanctorum. The story jumps around through various timelines through eyes of various characters to unveil the disappearance.
An ok read.
One fine day she doesn’t appear and instead there is a exquisite golden statue in the sanctum sanctorum. The story jumps around through various timelines through eyes of various characters to unveil the disappearance.
An ok read.
September 14, 2020
Girl Made of Gold is a very well written and stylistically unique novel. It invokes an India of a century ago: where villagers live beside the jungle, where humans, gods, and animals interract, where lovers of all persuasions meet furtively in the moonlight, and where danger is never far away. Is anything really a secret in this world? I give it five stars for each of the five senses it has aroused in me.
December 17, 2020
A fantastic literary murder mystery. The historical details are fascinating and the multiple narratives provide a level of immersion that heightens the excitement, even as the story approaches an unexpected conclusion.
The author’s dance background also provides a level of insight and perspective that means you’ll learn something as you read the book. Well worth a read, and you’ll probably finish it in one go.
The author’s dance background also provides a level of insight and perspective that means you’ll learn something as you read the book. Well worth a read, and you’ll probably finish it in one go.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews