What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bandit Queens
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Debut Novel (2023)A young Indian woman finds the false rumors that she killed her husband surprisingly useful--until other women in the village start asking for her help getting rid of their own husbands--in this razor-sharp debut.
"Shroff captures the complexity of female friendship with acuity, wit, and a certain kind of magic irreverence. . . . The Bandit Queens is tender, unpredictable, and brimming with laugh-out-loud moments."--T�a Obreht, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger's Wife
Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in, she actually lost him--he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it's a rumor that just won't die.
It turns out that being known as a "self-made" widow comes with some perks. No one messes with her, harasses her, or tries to control (ahem, marry) her. It's even been good for business; no one dares to not buy her jewelry.
Freedom must look good on Geeta, because now other women are asking for her "expertise," making her an unwitting consultant for husband disposal.
And not all of them are asking nicely.
With Geeta's dangerous reputation becoming a double-edged sword, she has to find a way to protect the life she's built--but even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry. What happens next sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything, not just for Geeta, but for all the women in their village.
Filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, Parini Shroff's The Bandit Queens is a razor-sharp debut of humor and heart that readers won't soon forget.
"Shroff captures the complexity of female friendship with acuity, wit, and a certain kind of magic irreverence. . . . The Bandit Queens is tender, unpredictable, and brimming with laugh-out-loud moments."--T�a Obreht, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger's Wife
Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in, she actually lost him--he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it's a rumor that just won't die.
It turns out that being known as a "self-made" widow comes with some perks. No one messes with her, harasses her, or tries to control (ahem, marry) her. It's even been good for business; no one dares to not buy her jewelry.
Freedom must look good on Geeta, because now other women are asking for her "expertise," making her an unwitting consultant for husband disposal.
And not all of them are asking nicely.
With Geeta's dangerous reputation becoming a double-edged sword, she has to find a way to protect the life she's built--but even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry. What happens next sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything, not just for Geeta, but for all the women in their village.
Filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, Parini Shroff's The Bandit Queens is a razor-sharp debut of humor and heart that readers won't soon forget.
335 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2023
2871 people are currently reading
109749 people want to read
About the author
Parini Shroff
5 books756 followersParini Shroff received her MFA from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied under Elizabeth McCracken, Alexander Chee, and Cristina García. She is a practicing attorney and currently lives in the Bay Area. The Bandit Queens is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,623 reviews
May 5, 2023
this book fucking SLAPS
November 2, 2022
From the description, I expected The Bandit Queens to be a mostly humorous novel about an outcast Indian woman. Geeta’s abusive husband ran off five years ago. She didn’t kill him, but everyone thinks she did. The village mostly steers clear of her, given her reputation as an evil woman, a witch. This same reputation leads other women to come to her looking to get rid of their own no good husbands.
What surprised me was the depth of the story. Yes, there is humor, mostly dark, but it’s so much more. It tackles the issues of childlessness, love, abuse of all kinds, and most importantly, women’s rights. Even now, women in India have very little independence, especially in the lower classes.
The Bandit Queen, Phoolan Devi, who lived in the late 20th century, was a woman who took revenge on her male abusers before becoming a women’s activist and member of Parliament. She is Geeta’s role model.
I loved watching Geeta’s confidence build as she sought to improve not just her own lot in life, but that of other women. This was a wonderful, character rich story - the women are fully fleshed out. Shroff does an excellent job of placing the reader in this small Indian village, with a mix of language, caste delineation, customs and folklore.
My favorite line “shooting people makes me a don; killing a dog just makes me a psychopath.”
Shroff expresses herself further in The Author’s Note, which I hope readers will take the time to read.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House -Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
What surprised me was the depth of the story. Yes, there is humor, mostly dark, but it’s so much more. It tackles the issues of childlessness, love, abuse of all kinds, and most importantly, women’s rights. Even now, women in India have very little independence, especially in the lower classes.
The Bandit Queen, Phoolan Devi, who lived in the late 20th century, was a woman who took revenge on her male abusers before becoming a women’s activist and member of Parliament. She is Geeta’s role model.
I loved watching Geeta’s confidence build as she sought to improve not just her own lot in life, but that of other women. This was a wonderful, character rich story - the women are fully fleshed out. Shroff does an excellent job of placing the reader in this small Indian village, with a mix of language, caste delineation, customs and folklore.
My favorite line “shooting people makes me a don; killing a dog just makes me a psychopath.”
Shroff expresses herself further in The Author’s Note, which I hope readers will take the time to read.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House -Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
May 7, 2023
Publication Date: 03rd Jan 2023
ETA (07 May 2023): This is the fourth time (patterns are easy to figure out) I've been labeled and judged after my review got a fresh bout of likes (all from strangers). The comments tend to come from accounts with less than 5 reviews and follow the standard template before labeling me a right-wing nationalist or a Hindutva follower. Interesting that the target audience wants everyone else to 'feel' the same way as they do and anyone who doesn't has to be labeled.
Well, continue to take pride in attacking a woman from a global minority community for stating her opinions of the book. Never mind that this place is exactly for people to review a book based on their opinions. And no, my review is not a book club or a debate forum. Share your opinions as your reviews. I don't think it's hard.
So anyone who wants to go down the same road, consider it done, pat yourself on your back, and move on. Or at least, try. It's easier than you think.
*****
2.7 Stars
One Liner: I like it and hate it in equal measure
Geeta's abusive husband disappeared five years ago, making her an outcast in the village. People have decided she did something to get rid of him. Of course, it comes with perks, and Geeta is content to be left alone.
However, when other women from the village start asking for her help to off their husbands, things start to spiral out of control. Geeta may be inspired by Phoolan Devi, but can she handle the worst that comes with it?
***
How do you identify a progressive author of Indian origin? Their book has the following topics:
• Poor India, slums, unclean villages
• Hindu Vs. Muslim (beginning to feel bad for Indian Christians)
• Upper Castes Vs. Lower Castes (upper caste are villains, lower castes are victims)
• A patriarchal society with loads of women abuse
• Targeting Hindu symbols, customs, and rituals
• Abuse, misery, and anything that’ll make readers consider India the worst place in the world
The Bandit Queen is no exception. It satisfies each element on the checklist and makes it a perfect choice for intellectual book club reads. However, the book has certain elements I like and enjoy.
What I Like:
The cover is fab. Love those eyes on the black background. So, so good!
The kids are a treat to read. I wish the book had more of them instead of social activism. Be it Raees, Arhaan, or Irem, each has a distinct personality and is just as adorable (and funny). Irem deserved more space, given that she is the most likely candidate to take over when the time comes.
The women, Geeta, Saloni, Farah, Priya, and Preity, are layered and flawed. They are much more than the first impressions, and knowing them through the course of the book makes them real (despite a few hiccups). ASP Sinha is another underexplored character. The author could have done so much for the plot with better priorities.
The book has many references to CID (it is a popular crime show on Sony TV and one of my favorites). As someone who watched 1000+ episodes, it’s a treat to see it inspire women (let’s ignore that the inspiration is not something the makers intended).
The story picks up pace in the second half. It is not fast but maintains a steady momentum. The climax is Bollywoodish but entertaining. Well, I can visualize the scenes playing out, so that’s a plus.
The book has a good dose of dark and morbid humor. Some may find it strange, but I like it. The interactions are coarse, crude, and crass, which is exactly how it should be in such a setting. You have to listen to them speak to realize it. Some women use cusswords as a part of their speech, just like men do. And women from rural areas are more likely to have a colorful vocab with native cusswords.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The first half is slow, like really slooow. Imagine reading so much only to notice that you’ve completed just a quarter of the novel. This isn’t the kind of book I could speed-read. Sigh!
The dialogues! Yeah, I know it is hard to balance authentic Indian dialogues and their readability for a global audience. It will always be too desi or too western. This book tries hard to get the balance right and manages to a certain extent. But as a desi (#OwnVoice) reader, I could see how it is a weird blend of both. It was hard to sustain the image of Geeta when she sounds like an American in some places (yo, F*ck ya bitch*s) and a proper desi woman (I earn my own salt) the other time.
The translated proverbs were just as strange. There’s only so much of ‘something black in the lentils’ I can tolerate before screaming. It doesn’t help that this appears around half a dozen times in the book. Please, don’t translate native proverbs into English. I endured the same in The Island of Missing Trees very recently. *sob*
I don’t mind frustrated characters. They can be wonderful to read. Take one jab at something, and I’ll see it as a part of the plot and character arc. Do it repeatedly, and I’ll pick patterns. Wanna attack unfair societal rules? Go ahead. I’ll cheer for you. Want to use it as a ruse to target one religion, sorry, but no.
• Attack mangalsutra as a sign of oppression (coz wedding rings and nikah contracts don’t affect women at all!)
• Karva Chauth is a symbol of oppression (whatever happened to a woman's choice, I wonder.)
• Karva Chauth again- why add one more fasting to the list? (nevermind that the character wishes another character Eid Mubarak in the next scene. Muslims fast for a month during the Holy Ramadan period.)
• Temples blare, screech, & blast bhajans (I wonder which temples have such schedules; we don’t pray multiple times a day. Trivia: Ko(h)ra is located in Jambusar in Gujarat.)
• No caste in Islam (theoretically no; practically yes. But it’s the same with Hinduism. Varna is not caste or jati and is flexible. A person’s varna is determined by the character and not birth. Why use theoretical data for one religion and societal data for another? This analysis sums up the issue in the best possible manner. )
Trivia: Qureshi Vs. Saifi case and what happened to Danish Ansari
• From what I know Yadavs are OBC (cattle rearers/ milkmen).
• Dhobi (washer men) would be OBC or SC depending on the state (they are considered auspicious and invited to happy celebrations in Andhra)
I could tell myself to ignore this in the name of creative freedom. But this (read below) is ridiculous.
We have a three-page crash course on Ramayana because a book set in India is not complete with invoking Ramayana or Mahabharata. It adds nothing to the plot. Like zero.
So what does this version of Ramayana say? It says Raavan was madly in love with Sita, and hence he kidnapped her. I literally choked on my glass of water when I read this.
You write a book about perverted men abusing, raping, and controlling women and say that Raavan was in love with Sita. Irony downed itself in Bubble Tea.
How is it that the difference between lust, dominance, and love is still not clear? Raavan was a rapist who abused countless women. (He was upper caste too, and the author could have used this to drive her point for the nth time. But no, he has to be in lovey-dovey love with Sita.)
Oh, by the way, Raavan did not touch Sita because he was cursed that he would die (his head would be blown into a thousand pieces) if he ever touched a woman without her consent. The curse was given by Nala Kuber when Raavan raped Ramba, Nala Kuber’s fiancé. So, darlings, his lack of action had nothing to do with love or respect but everything to do with the curse. End of the crash course.
A Few Other Hiccups:
• Indians use the word postmortem more than 'autopsy'.
• Not sure why Farah wears a bindi (she is a Muslim).
• Some terms used by the characters contradict the setting and characterization. There is less probability of them knowing such information.
To summarize, The Bandit Queens is a book I like and hate in equal measure. I love the layered characters and compelling plotline. But I cannot ignore the attempts at presenting a poor, pathetic, ugly, dirty India with Indians who can’t think beyond caste and religion. This has been an image the developed countries love and expect from third-world countries. I’m tired of authors catering to such needs and playing an earnest brown sepoy.
I won’t deny the existence of ugly in my country. But we have so much good too. We have people working for equality, balance, and overall growth of the country. Presenting a more balanced view wouldn’t make one any less of an activist.
I came across a couple of reviews mentioning they have a much lower opinion of Indian society after reading the book. Well, I have a perfect reply for this, I’ll share this instead. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk on the danger of a single story. Listen to it from minutes 10 to 12. That is my answer.
The saddest part is that such stereotypes are encouraged and cemented by authors of Indian origin, which adds a false layer of credibility to the narrative and makes them ‘more authentic’. This view doesn’t consider that the author’s personal perceptions and ideology are the foundation of the plot. Hetero, we have a bundle of stereotypes presented as an entire country.
To quote Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, ‘show a people as one thing, as an only thing over and over again, and that is what they become’.
Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Ballantine Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#TheBanditQueens #NetGalley
*****
P.S: The author mentions in her note that she was worried about milking Phoolan Devi’s name and past for the book and that it wasn’t her intention. She doesn’t have to worry about it. She doesn’t commercialize Phoolan Devi. She commercializes and sells dirty India instead; something that’ll bring more fame and accolades.
I say this because the author has enough talent to create characters that carry a story without relying on a checklist.
ETA (07 May 2023): This is the fourth time (patterns are easy to figure out) I've been labeled and judged after my review got a fresh bout of likes (all from strangers). The comments tend to come from accounts with less than 5 reviews and follow the standard template before labeling me a right-wing nationalist or a Hindutva follower. Interesting that the target audience wants everyone else to 'feel' the same way as they do and anyone who doesn't has to be labeled.
Well, continue to take pride in attacking a woman from a global minority community for stating her opinions of the book. Never mind that this place is exactly for people to review a book based on their opinions. And no, my review is not a book club or a debate forum. Share your opinions as your reviews. I don't think it's hard.
So anyone who wants to go down the same road, consider it done, pat yourself on your back, and move on. Or at least, try. It's easier than you think.
*****
2.7 Stars
One Liner: I like it and hate it in equal measure
Geeta's abusive husband disappeared five years ago, making her an outcast in the village. People have decided she did something to get rid of him. Of course, it comes with perks, and Geeta is content to be left alone.
However, when other women from the village start asking for her help to off their husbands, things start to spiral out of control. Geeta may be inspired by Phoolan Devi, but can she handle the worst that comes with it?
***
How do you identify a progressive author of Indian origin? Their book has the following topics:
• Poor India, slums, unclean villages
• Hindu Vs. Muslim (beginning to feel bad for Indian Christians)
• Upper Castes Vs. Lower Castes (upper caste are villains, lower castes are victims)
• A patriarchal society with loads of women abuse
• Targeting Hindu symbols, customs, and rituals
• Abuse, misery, and anything that’ll make readers consider India the worst place in the world
The Bandit Queen is no exception. It satisfies each element on the checklist and makes it a perfect choice for intellectual book club reads. However, the book has certain elements I like and enjoy.
What I Like:
The cover is fab. Love those eyes on the black background. So, so good!
The kids are a treat to read. I wish the book had more of them instead of social activism. Be it Raees, Arhaan, or Irem, each has a distinct personality and is just as adorable (and funny). Irem deserved more space, given that she is the most likely candidate to take over when the time comes.
The women, Geeta, Saloni, Farah, Priya, and Preity, are layered and flawed. They are much more than the first impressions, and knowing them through the course of the book makes them real (despite a few hiccups). ASP Sinha is another underexplored character. The author could have done so much for the plot with better priorities.
The book has many references to CID (it is a popular crime show on Sony TV and one of my favorites). As someone who watched 1000+ episodes, it’s a treat to see it inspire women (let’s ignore that the inspiration is not something the makers intended).
The story picks up pace in the second half. It is not fast but maintains a steady momentum. The climax is Bollywoodish but entertaining. Well, I can visualize the scenes playing out, so that’s a plus.
The book has a good dose of dark and morbid humor. Some may find it strange, but I like it. The interactions are coarse, crude, and crass, which is exactly how it should be in such a setting. You have to listen to them speak to realize it. Some women use cusswords as a part of their speech, just like men do. And women from rural areas are more likely to have a colorful vocab with native cusswords.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The first half is slow, like really slooow. Imagine reading so much only to notice that you’ve completed just a quarter of the novel. This isn’t the kind of book I could speed-read. Sigh!
The dialogues! Yeah, I know it is hard to balance authentic Indian dialogues and their readability for a global audience. It will always be too desi or too western. This book tries hard to get the balance right and manages to a certain extent. But as a desi (#OwnVoice) reader, I could see how it is a weird blend of both. It was hard to sustain the image of Geeta when she sounds like an American in some places (yo, F*ck ya bitch*s) and a proper desi woman (I earn my own salt) the other time.
The translated proverbs were just as strange. There’s only so much of ‘something black in the lentils’ I can tolerate before screaming. It doesn’t help that this appears around half a dozen times in the book. Please, don’t translate native proverbs into English. I endured the same in The Island of Missing Trees very recently. *sob*
I don’t mind frustrated characters. They can be wonderful to read. Take one jab at something, and I’ll see it as a part of the plot and character arc. Do it repeatedly, and I’ll pick patterns. Wanna attack unfair societal rules? Go ahead. I’ll cheer for you. Want to use it as a ruse to target one religion, sorry, but no.
• Attack mangalsutra as a sign of oppression (coz wedding rings and nikah contracts don’t affect women at all!)
• Karva Chauth is a symbol of oppression (whatever happened to a woman's choice, I wonder.)
• Karva Chauth again- why add one more fasting to the list? (nevermind that the character wishes another character Eid Mubarak in the next scene. Muslims fast for a month during the Holy Ramadan period.)
• Temples blare, screech, & blast bhajans (I wonder which temples have such schedules; we don’t pray multiple times a day. Trivia: Ko(h)ra is located in Jambusar in Gujarat.)
• No caste in Islam (theoretically no; practically yes. But it’s the same with Hinduism. Varna is not caste or jati and is flexible. A person’s varna is determined by the character and not birth. Why use theoretical data for one religion and societal data for another? This analysis sums up the issue in the best possible manner. )
Trivia: Qureshi Vs. Saifi case and what happened to Danish Ansari
• From what I know Yadavs are OBC (cattle rearers/ milkmen).
• Dhobi (washer men) would be OBC or SC depending on the state (they are considered auspicious and invited to happy celebrations in Andhra)
I could tell myself to ignore this in the name of creative freedom. But this (read below) is ridiculous.
We have a three-page crash course on Ramayana because a book set in India is not complete with invoking Ramayana or Mahabharata. It adds nothing to the plot. Like zero.
So what does this version of Ramayana say? It says Raavan was madly in love with Sita, and hence he kidnapped her. I literally choked on my glass of water when I read this.
You write a book about perverted men abusing, raping, and controlling women and say that Raavan was in love with Sita. Irony downed itself in Bubble Tea.
How is it that the difference between lust, dominance, and love is still not clear? Raavan was a rapist who abused countless women. (He was upper caste too, and the author could have used this to drive her point for the nth time. But no, he has to be in lovey-dovey love with Sita.)
Oh, by the way, Raavan did not touch Sita because he was cursed that he would die (his head would be blown into a thousand pieces) if he ever touched a woman without her consent. The curse was given by Nala Kuber when Raavan raped Ramba, Nala Kuber’s fiancé. So, darlings, his lack of action had nothing to do with love or respect but everything to do with the curse. End of the crash course.
A Few Other Hiccups:
• Indians use the word postmortem more than 'autopsy'.
• Not sure why Farah wears a bindi (she is a Muslim).
• Some terms used by the characters contradict the setting and characterization. There is less probability of them knowing such information.
To summarize, The Bandit Queens is a book I like and hate in equal measure. I love the layered characters and compelling plotline. But I cannot ignore the attempts at presenting a poor, pathetic, ugly, dirty India with Indians who can’t think beyond caste and religion. This has been an image the developed countries love and expect from third-world countries. I’m tired of authors catering to such needs and playing an earnest brown sepoy.
I won’t deny the existence of ugly in my country. But we have so much good too. We have people working for equality, balance, and overall growth of the country. Presenting a more balanced view wouldn’t make one any less of an activist.
I came across a couple of reviews mentioning they have a much lower opinion of Indian society after reading the book. Well, I have a perfect reply for this, I’ll share this instead. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk on the danger of a single story. Listen to it from minutes 10 to 12. That is my answer.
The saddest part is that such stereotypes are encouraged and cemented by authors of Indian origin, which adds a false layer of credibility to the narrative and makes them ‘more authentic’. This view doesn’t consider that the author’s personal perceptions and ideology are the foundation of the plot. Hetero, we have a bundle of stereotypes presented as an entire country.
To quote Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, ‘show a people as one thing, as an only thing over and over again, and that is what they become’.
Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Ballantine Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#TheBanditQueens #NetGalley
*****
P.S: The author mentions in her note that she was worried about milking Phoolan Devi’s name and past for the book and that it wasn’t her intention. She doesn’t have to worry about it. She doesn’t commercialize Phoolan Devi. She commercializes and sells dirty India instead; something that’ll bring more fame and accolades.
I say this because the author has enough talent to create characters that carry a story without relying on a checklist.
October 20, 2022
I rate this literary fiction book an easy 4 stars. It is both funny and sad at the same time. The book is about Geeta, a widow in a small village in India. She is rumored to have killed her no good husband, but she knows that he just abandoned her. However, she finally gives up protesting her innocence and decides to let her nebulous reputation work for her. People that are afraid of her patronize her jewelry business.
But then women come to her for help in getting rid of their no good husbands. The husbands targeted are rapists and child abusers among other things. The casual cruelty inflicted on women is stomach turning--beatings, locking them out during a monsoon and more.
How the women in the village band together to overcome the obstacles of patriarchy and gender/ race/caste discrimination makes for an enjoyable book.
The author explained that she used this book to explore various elements present in Indian society: domestic abuse/gender/religious/castes ostracization, and patriarchy. The author is an attorney in California.
Quote from Geeta: "Contrary to neighborhood chatter, "she did not remove her own nose ring' by killing Ramesh. She never had any desire to destroy him, just parts of him. The part that drowned himself in drink, the part that was quick to fury but slow to forgive, the part that blamed her for their childlessness, though it could've just as easily been him."
Thanks to Jordan Forney at Ballantine Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheBanditQueens #NetGalley
But then women come to her for help in getting rid of their no good husbands. The husbands targeted are rapists and child abusers among other things. The casual cruelty inflicted on women is stomach turning--beatings, locking them out during a monsoon and more.
How the women in the village band together to overcome the obstacles of patriarchy and gender/ race/caste discrimination makes for an enjoyable book.
The author explained that she used this book to explore various elements present in Indian society: domestic abuse/gender/religious/castes ostracization, and patriarchy. The author is an attorney in California.
Quote from Geeta: "Contrary to neighborhood chatter, "she did not remove her own nose ring' by killing Ramesh. She never had any desire to destroy him, just parts of him. The part that drowned himself in drink, the part that was quick to fury but slow to forgive, the part that blamed her for their childlessness, though it could've just as easily been him."
Thanks to Jordan Forney at Ballantine Books for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheBanditQueens #NetGalley
December 24, 2022
In a small Indian village, Geeta has garnered a reputation as a “self-made widow” after her husband, Ramesh, disappeared five years ago. When a woman in her micro-loan group approaches her to help get rid of her husband, many unintended actions occur, including more women who want their husbands disposed of in a non-suspicious manner. The real-life Bandit Queen, Phoolan Devi, is Geeta’s inspiration for getting revenge on men who do women wrong.
What I expected from this novel: A version of Finlay Donovan set in India with madcap humor. What I got from this novel: Very dark humor that failed to limit my shock at the depiction of life in India. If this is to be taken as a true portrait of modern-day life in India, then my regard for Indian society just dropped several notches.
In this novel, women are frustrated over their constant demoralization by the patriarchal system but seem powerless to do much about it. Ramesh physically and mentally abuses Geeta. There is a vivid scene of attempted rape. There are child molesters, crooked police, thugs, caste ostracization, animal abuse, an acceptance of domestic abuse, and gender inequality. One of the characters casually makes the comment “Try naming a village that hadn’t seen a new bride burned alive when retroactive dowry demands weren’t met.” Geeta comments “But from the get-go, they trained boys not to apologize and women to not expect it of them, to instead mutate pain into an art form.”
On the positive side, the novel is well-written, well-researched, and is an impressive debut for Parini Shroff. The storyline involving the sisterhood of the women was realistic and interesting. I certainly won’t forget this story for a long time.
3-stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced reader copy. This novel will be published on January 3, 2023.
What I expected from this novel: A version of Finlay Donovan set in India with madcap humor. What I got from this novel: Very dark humor that failed to limit my shock at the depiction of life in India. If this is to be taken as a true portrait of modern-day life in India, then my regard for Indian society just dropped several notches.
In this novel, women are frustrated over their constant demoralization by the patriarchal system but seem powerless to do much about it. Ramesh physically and mentally abuses Geeta. There is a vivid scene of attempted rape. There are child molesters, crooked police, thugs, caste ostracization, animal abuse, an acceptance of domestic abuse, and gender inequality. One of the characters casually makes the comment “Try naming a village that hadn’t seen a new bride burned alive when retroactive dowry demands weren’t met.” Geeta comments “But from the get-go, they trained boys not to apologize and women to not expect it of them, to instead mutate pain into an art form.”
On the positive side, the novel is well-written, well-researched, and is an impressive debut for Parini Shroff. The storyline involving the sisterhood of the women was realistic and interesting. I certainly won’t forget this story for a long time.
3-stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced reader copy. This novel will be published on January 3, 2023.
November 10, 2022
Geeta lives a life of solitude since her husband, Ramesh, walked out on her five years ago never to be seen again. She's okay with that because he was an abusive drunk but what she isn't okay with is the fact that her village have all turned on her claiming she killed him. Now labeled a churel she's become an outcast in the community.
She is a member of a loan group in order to run her jewelry business but the other woman in the group mostly ignore her until one day when another member asks for her assistance. Assistance in killing her husband, that is. Because as the saying goes "If she's done it once she can do it again." It doesn't matter how many times she tries to convince them all that she didn't kill her husband because it seems to fall on deaf ears.
From here we follow the misadventures of Geeta and her fellow loan group members and let me tell you it's a rollicking good time. These ladies had me cracking up. Especially Geeta and her ex-best friend now best friend again, Saloni. I loved the feminist message this book sent. I loved how it's all about women sticking together and working together to support and uplift one another. While this did have an abundance of humor don't be fooled into thinking there aren't dark threads entwined in the narrative. Mostly of the abuse Indian women face at the hands of their husbands and men in general. Another theme was that of motherhood. Geeta is childless and this is often looked down upon in society but do children really make a woman a woman? I think not.
Speaking of children, there are some cute ones in this book that really stole the scenes they were in.
My most favorite part of this book is when Geeta rescues an abused dog she later names Bandit. To watch their relationship grow from one of uncertainty to full blown adoration and love was amazing. Oh my heart. 💖🐶
This is a phenomenal debut to be sure! Amazing characters that came to life on the page and ones that I won't soon forget are what made this book such a rewarding experience. Bravo to you, Parini Shroff! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.
She is a member of a loan group in order to run her jewelry business but the other woman in the group mostly ignore her until one day when another member asks for her assistance. Assistance in killing her husband, that is. Because as the saying goes "If she's done it once she can do it again." It doesn't matter how many times she tries to convince them all that she didn't kill her husband because it seems to fall on deaf ears.
From here we follow the misadventures of Geeta and her fellow loan group members and let me tell you it's a rollicking good time. These ladies had me cracking up. Especially Geeta and her ex-best friend now best friend again, Saloni. I loved the feminist message this book sent. I loved how it's all about women sticking together and working together to support and uplift one another. While this did have an abundance of humor don't be fooled into thinking there aren't dark threads entwined in the narrative. Mostly of the abuse Indian women face at the hands of their husbands and men in general. Another theme was that of motherhood. Geeta is childless and this is often looked down upon in society but do children really make a woman a woman? I think not.
Speaking of children, there are some cute ones in this book that really stole the scenes they were in.
My most favorite part of this book is when Geeta rescues an abused dog she later names Bandit. To watch their relationship grow from one of uncertainty to full blown adoration and love was amazing. Oh my heart. 💖🐶
This is a phenomenal debut to be sure! Amazing characters that came to life on the page and ones that I won't soon forget are what made this book such a rewarding experience. Bravo to you, Parini Shroff! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my complimentary copy.
March 14, 2024
Easily my favorite book of the year so far. This was SO GOOD
January 13, 2023
This book transported me to a small village in India, where women are oppressed, and divisions exist in the political, religious, and caste system. Lower-class women, especially, lack independence and opportunities to improve their situations. The story is told with dark humour but also addresses unpleasant social aspects of being female. It focuses on caste, class, patriarchy, unfavourable attitudes toward childless women, arranged marriage, abusive and cruel husbands, and lack of women's rights amidst entrenched customs and superstition.
The Bandit Queens is a character-driven story centring on a small group of women struggling to improve their lives and livelihoods through their combined efforts. They have formed a loan group to support one another aimed at investing in small business endeavours to gain more rights within society.
The story is told from the perspective of a woman named Geeta. The other women in the loan group tend to ignore her and treat her like an outcast. She is regarded as a widow and as a childless woman, a failure. Her drunken, abusive husband deserted her five years ago, but according to gossip, people believe she murdered him. She is content with living alone. Unable to convince the others that she did not kill him and dispose of his body, she seizes on their suspicions.
She relishes the role unfairly assigned to her. Her reputation is that of an evil woman, a witch, who can cast spells on people who cross her. She is feared, and her jewellery business picks up as customers want to be on the good side of her powerful sorcery. Geeta rescues (steals) an abused dog that gives her pleasure. She is content to live alone with no close relationships or abusive man to make life miserable. However, trouble is brewing.
Women start coming to her for advice and help in killing their no-good husbands, believing Geeta has experience in such a murder despite her protests. She regards the historic Phoolan Devi, known as the Bandit Queen, as her heroine. There was also a movie called the Bandit Queen. I remember reading about the terrible abuse Phoolan endured. Married at age 11, she ran away and was kidnapped and gang-raped. She eventually led a gang of outlaws, robbing trains and giving proceeds to the poor, and was tried for killing at least 22 of her abusers. She became a Member of Parliament and was assassinated in 2001. She was regarded as fighting for the rights of women.
Recommended for readers interested in social issues in India, with divisions in class, caste, religion, and gender. There is dark humour to relieve some of the grim details of oppressed women's difficulties and how they must endure abuse from cruel men folk without means to escape.
The Bandit Queens is a character-driven story centring on a small group of women struggling to improve their lives and livelihoods through their combined efforts. They have formed a loan group to support one another aimed at investing in small business endeavours to gain more rights within society.
The story is told from the perspective of a woman named Geeta. The other women in the loan group tend to ignore her and treat her like an outcast. She is regarded as a widow and as a childless woman, a failure. Her drunken, abusive husband deserted her five years ago, but according to gossip, people believe she murdered him. She is content with living alone. Unable to convince the others that she did not kill him and dispose of his body, she seizes on their suspicions.
She relishes the role unfairly assigned to her. Her reputation is that of an evil woman, a witch, who can cast spells on people who cross her. She is feared, and her jewellery business picks up as customers want to be on the good side of her powerful sorcery. Geeta rescues (steals) an abused dog that gives her pleasure. She is content to live alone with no close relationships or abusive man to make life miserable. However, trouble is brewing.
Women start coming to her for advice and help in killing their no-good husbands, believing Geeta has experience in such a murder despite her protests. She regards the historic Phoolan Devi, known as the Bandit Queen, as her heroine. There was also a movie called the Bandit Queen. I remember reading about the terrible abuse Phoolan endured. Married at age 11, she ran away and was kidnapped and gang-raped. She eventually led a gang of outlaws, robbing trains and giving proceeds to the poor, and was tried for killing at least 22 of her abusers. She became a Member of Parliament and was assassinated in 2001. She was regarded as fighting for the rights of women.
Recommended for readers interested in social issues in India, with divisions in class, caste, religion, and gender. There is dark humour to relieve some of the grim details of oppressed women's difficulties and how they must endure abuse from cruel men folk without means to escape.
January 7, 2023
"We can't just knock off everyone we don't like. This isn't Indian Idol"
Geeta's husband just up and disappeared a few years ago. Though many times she felt like killing him, she didn't . . . but everyone seems to think she did.
Now she's got a line of women outside her door hoping that she'll put an end to their suffering by getting rid of the one thing that's making them miserable . . . their husbands.
"The life of a widow is more peaceful than the life of a married woman."
In her debut novel, Shroff tackles some pretty serious subject matter - abuse, rape, and murder - but uses a light touch, dousing liberally with dark humor, laugh-out-loud funny dialogue, and likable characters to tell an unforgettable tale of women who are mad as hell, and aren't gonna take it any more.
My favorite book of the year so far.
(Yeah, yeah - I know the year is only a few days old . . .)
A big thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sharing this one.
Geeta's husband just up and disappeared a few years ago. Though many times she felt like killing him, she didn't . . . but everyone seems to think she did.
Now she's got a line of women outside her door hoping that she'll put an end to their suffering by getting rid of the one thing that's making them miserable . . . their husbands.
"The life of a widow is more peaceful than the life of a married woman."
In her debut novel, Shroff tackles some pretty serious subject matter - abuse, rape, and murder - but uses a light touch, dousing liberally with dark humor, laugh-out-loud funny dialogue, and likable characters to tell an unforgettable tale of women who are mad as hell, and aren't gonna take it any more.
My favorite book of the year so far.
(Yeah, yeah - I know the year is only a few days old . . .)
A big thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sharing this one.
Read
October 19, 2023I enjoyed this enormously. Geeta is an isolated woman because her abusive husband walked out five years ago and she hasn't spoken to her once-best friend properly in years. Really, it's a classic women's fiction story of a woman realising that women's solidarity and friendship is crucial, finding her own self-respect, and even finding a decent reliable guy. It's just, the path we take to get here is multiple murder.
There's a lot here that's pretty bleak--horrendous misogyny and everyday abuse of women and girls, caste, colourism, poverty. It's kept from being incredibly depressing by the female solidarity (which is shonky beyond belief in a realistic way) and by the super-dark humour that pervades the book (the ongoing gag about motherhood being so rewarding is hysterical). And also by the regular injections of horrible men getting theirs. Plus, a wonderfully exuberant ending. I think if you enjoyed Jane Doe or Killers of a Certain Age or Now You See Us, this will float your boat: it's pure revenge fantasy at points.
It's not without issues (Geeta's initial fatphobia is part of her resentment of Saloni but there's a fair amount of it throughout) but the anger at injustice is bracing, the portrait of heftily flawed women relatable and clearsighted, and the ultimate effect cathartic. Vivid writing and a well paced plot makes it whip along.
There's a lot here that's pretty bleak--horrendous misogyny and everyday abuse of women and girls, caste, colourism, poverty. It's kept from being incredibly depressing by the female solidarity (which is shonky beyond belief in a realistic way) and by the super-dark humour that pervades the book (the ongoing gag about motherhood being so rewarding is hysterical). And also by the regular injections of horrible men getting theirs. Plus, a wonderfully exuberant ending. I think if you enjoyed Jane Doe or Killers of a Certain Age or Now You See Us, this will float your boat: it's pure revenge fantasy at points.
It's not without issues (Geeta's initial fatphobia is part of her resentment of Saloni but there's a fair amount of it throughout) but the anger at injustice is bracing, the portrait of heftily flawed women relatable and clearsighted, and the ultimate effect cathartic. Vivid writing and a well paced plot makes it whip along.
September 20, 2022
A twisting and turning ride of black humor, intersectional feminism, and murdering wives set in a rural village in India.
For some reason, books set in India are pitched to readers in the US as serious and beautiful and deep, there is often a whiff of exoticism. THE BANDIT QUEENS, however, is murderous, raucous fun that also has a keen eye for social commentary. The setting gives us a situation where everyone knows everyone, where every action has a social consequence, where it can be impossible to keep a secret for long. It's perfect for a crime novel.
Geeta, our protagonist, is an outcast since the disappearance of her husband five years earlier. Her only social outlet is her women's loan group, where she and a few other local women receive and gradually pay back microloans to help their small business ventures. There is no place in the social order for a woman without a husband, the rumor is that Geeta murdered her husband, and she has long since given up trying to convince them otherwise. And it is one of these women that asks Geeta for help murdering her own abusive husband.
From here the book goes in so many different directions, it is heavy on plot without ever feeling manipulative. It just keeps raising the stakes and introducing more characters into the antics. And somehow, amazingly, it also gives us a fuller and broader picture of the social problems women face in a patriarchal, caste-driven society. With murder just as with their loan group, with every step the women take towards independence, they find five more obstacles in their way.
It could all be pretty heavy, but somehow Shroff manages to balance the overwhelming weight of patriarchy (domestic abuse is a regular subject) with humor and hilarity. There are antics, there are jokes, there is a lot of coarse language. I suspect some readers will find all of this unrealistic when applied to women of color from a developing region, but if you are finding yourself having those responses I would recommend you sit with that for a while.
The title is a reference to Geeta's personal hero, Phoolan Devi, the real Bandit Queen of India. Her story is harrowing (with several of the references to sexual assault in the novel, though we get no on page scenes of it) but she responds with her own form of murderous justice and eventually rose to political power. Likewise Geeta starts with wanting nothing more than a refrigerator, but eventually she wants to make bigger and bigger changes in her own life and the lives of the other women in the village.
A lot of stories of the last few years have tried to balance this kind of violence with feminism, many of them have failed. The ones that try to be funny often fail even harder. But this is a smashing success, a rollicking ride that never feels preachy or that it takes things too lightly. It is just right.
For some reason, books set in India are pitched to readers in the US as serious and beautiful and deep, there is often a whiff of exoticism. THE BANDIT QUEENS, however, is murderous, raucous fun that also has a keen eye for social commentary. The setting gives us a situation where everyone knows everyone, where every action has a social consequence, where it can be impossible to keep a secret for long. It's perfect for a crime novel.
Geeta, our protagonist, is an outcast since the disappearance of her husband five years earlier. Her only social outlet is her women's loan group, where she and a few other local women receive and gradually pay back microloans to help their small business ventures. There is no place in the social order for a woman without a husband, the rumor is that Geeta murdered her husband, and she has long since given up trying to convince them otherwise. And it is one of these women that asks Geeta for help murdering her own abusive husband.
From here the book goes in so many different directions, it is heavy on plot without ever feeling manipulative. It just keeps raising the stakes and introducing more characters into the antics. And somehow, amazingly, it also gives us a fuller and broader picture of the social problems women face in a patriarchal, caste-driven society. With murder just as with their loan group, with every step the women take towards independence, they find five more obstacles in their way.
It could all be pretty heavy, but somehow Shroff manages to balance the overwhelming weight of patriarchy (domestic abuse is a regular subject) with humor and hilarity. There are antics, there are jokes, there is a lot of coarse language. I suspect some readers will find all of this unrealistic when applied to women of color from a developing region, but if you are finding yourself having those responses I would recommend you sit with that for a while.
The title is a reference to Geeta's personal hero, Phoolan Devi, the real Bandit Queen of India. Her story is harrowing (with several of the references to sexual assault in the novel, though we get no on page scenes of it) but she responds with her own form of murderous justice and eventually rose to political power. Likewise Geeta starts with wanting nothing more than a refrigerator, but eventually she wants to make bigger and bigger changes in her own life and the lives of the other women in the village.
A lot of stories of the last few years have tried to balance this kind of violence with feminism, many of them have failed. The ones that try to be funny often fail even harder. But this is a smashing success, a rollicking ride that never feels preachy or that it takes things too lightly. It is just right.
April 11, 2024
Want to see my
Top Reads of 2023
on BookTube? Come find me at
Hello, Bookworm
.📚🐛
The Bandit Queens is a propulsive, darkly comedic feminist thriller about a woman named Geeta whose abusive husband walked out on her five years ago, yet everyone in her remote village in India believes she killed him. Because it benefits her as a woman living alone, Geeta leans into this terrific rumor and keeps the truth to herself. And that decision serves her well until other women in the village start consulting her as an expert on “husband disposal”; meaning, they want Geeta’s help with killing their own no-good husbands.
Absolutely remarkable that this tense, tender, arresting book was a debut! It examines friendship, dark sisterhood, and tackling misogyny in a patriarchal world, and it does it in surprising, comedic, unexpected ways. I could not put this book down, and the ending was so satisfying. I can't wait to pre-order whatever novel Parini Shroff writes next.
The Bandit Queens is a propulsive, darkly comedic feminist thriller about a woman named Geeta whose abusive husband walked out on her five years ago, yet everyone in her remote village in India believes she killed him. Because it benefits her as a woman living alone, Geeta leans into this terrific rumor and keeps the truth to herself. And that decision serves her well until other women in the village start consulting her as an expert on “husband disposal”; meaning, they want Geeta’s help with killing their own no-good husbands.
Absolutely remarkable that this tense, tender, arresting book was a debut! It examines friendship, dark sisterhood, and tackling misogyny in a patriarchal world, and it does it in surprising, comedic, unexpected ways. I could not put this book down, and the ending was so satisfying. I can't wait to pre-order whatever novel Parini Shroff writes next.
March 8, 2023
2.5 stars. *Let me start by saying I definitely do not think this is a bad book and if it piques your interest, give it a try! Just not a book for me. Y’all, I am so sad to say I really struggled with this one! I tried the audiobook about a month ago and DNFed it, but the synopsis of this book was so intriguing that I wanted to try it in print just to make sure😅 and while I did end up finishing it, it’s honestly my fault for not just DNFing it when I had those slogging feelings🫣
*I just never got to that happy place in reading where I was excited to pick it up when I had the time.
*I think ultimately the thing that didn’t work for me was that I either wanted this book to go fully into the ridiculous humorous side of the story like a DIAL A FOR AUNTIES or fully go towards the serious side of what the story tried to discuss as far as the caste system in India, and how differently genders are looked at/treated differently in India etc. Does that make sense? I feel like it tried to do both and got 50% with each.
*I just never got to that happy place in reading where I was excited to pick it up when I had the time.
*I think ultimately the thing that didn’t work for me was that I either wanted this book to go fully into the ridiculous humorous side of the story like a DIAL A FOR AUNTIES or fully go towards the serious side of what the story tried to discuss as far as the caste system in India, and how differently genders are looked at/treated differently in India etc. Does that make sense? I feel like it tried to do both and got 50% with each.
February 17, 2023
I liked this book as a bumbling murder book. The ending changed gears and got more calculated and vengeful. I would have been much happier if it hadn’t done this. It was still a nice easy read. Something I consider a palate cleanser to read in between the heavy emotional books that I tend to prefer.
November 1, 2023
This book is fascinating from a tonal POV - it sort of reminds me of Dial A for Aunties, but slightly less wacky and a lot darker. This touches on a range of issues from the Indian caste system to the casual violent patriarchy that Indian women accept in their daily lives, all via the lens of a murder plot
December 4, 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: General Fiction + Cultural
Geeta is a young Indian lady who finds the false allegations that she killed her husband surprisingly helpful. In this village, gossip spreads quickly, so when the other women in the village seek Geeta's help to get rid of their own husbands, Geeta is taken aback by her dangerous reputation. She is fully aware that, despite the perks, there are some dire consequences as well.
This was an interesting debut novel. I had no idea that this was along the same lines as Phoolan Devi’s life. When I read the synopsis, I thought this would be like an article that I read a long time ago about a women's gang called the Gulabi Gang. That is a gang that women in one of India’s villages have formed in order to stop domestic abuse against women. The Bandit Queens almost works on the same lines and with the same tone as those two inspirations.
The nice thing about the book is that it is heavy on the cultural aspect of India, which makes you as a reader feel like you are living with the characters and feeling their fears and worries. Yes, in the beginning, I was not a fan of the author dumping several female characters at the same time. This made it difficult to immediately say who was who. But as you progress in the reading, you will get a grasp of all the female characters.
The main character Geeta is a strong and confident woman from the start. I appreciate the author making these women different, be it in their background, shape, or religion. This has helped me draw a clear picture of each in my mind. There are many trigger warnings in this book due to its subject, so be warned before deciding to read it. Overall, this was an enticing read. I liked it.
Thanks to the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.
Genre: General Fiction + Cultural
Geeta is a young Indian lady who finds the false allegations that she killed her husband surprisingly helpful. In this village, gossip spreads quickly, so when the other women in the village seek Geeta's help to get rid of their own husbands, Geeta is taken aback by her dangerous reputation. She is fully aware that, despite the perks, there are some dire consequences as well.
This was an interesting debut novel. I had no idea that this was along the same lines as Phoolan Devi’s life. When I read the synopsis, I thought this would be like an article that I read a long time ago about a women's gang called the Gulabi Gang. That is a gang that women in one of India’s villages have formed in order to stop domestic abuse against women. The Bandit Queens almost works on the same lines and with the same tone as those two inspirations.
The nice thing about the book is that it is heavy on the cultural aspect of India, which makes you as a reader feel like you are living with the characters and feeling their fears and worries. Yes, in the beginning, I was not a fan of the author dumping several female characters at the same time. This made it difficult to immediately say who was who. But as you progress in the reading, you will get a grasp of all the female characters.
The main character Geeta is a strong and confident woman from the start. I appreciate the author making these women different, be it in their background, shape, or religion. This has helped me draw a clear picture of each in my mind. There are many trigger warnings in this book due to its subject, so be warned before deciding to read it. Overall, this was an enticing read. I liked it.
Thanks to the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.
February 8, 2024
Dark comedy of errors.......
I loved this. Funny, dark, plenty of food for thought woven in. Shroff takes on the cause of women and lays down the battle lines and her jabs are intelligent, thoughtful and true. Superbly told. She turned them into bonobos. And please do go and read the book to see what in the hell that means.
I loved this. Funny, dark, plenty of food for thought woven in. Shroff takes on the cause of women and lays down the battle lines and her jabs are intelligent, thoughtful and true. Superbly told. She turned them into bonobos. And please do go and read the book to see what in the hell that means.
January 24, 2023
DNF at 70%.
I couldn’t get myself to finish this book. It was disturbingly bad. I am amazed that it’s even been published. Apparently the book is well researched but honestly, all I could see was a bunch of caricatured and unrealistic ideas about life in India. It read like a book written by someone who watched some YouTube videos about Phoolan Devi and made a cursory visit to “the Indian village” and decided to express whatever angst she felt in some random ass book. Everything felt so wrong and stilted. Please save your time and avoid this book.
I couldn’t get myself to finish this book. It was disturbingly bad. I am amazed that it’s even been published. Apparently the book is well researched but honestly, all I could see was a bunch of caricatured and unrealistic ideas about life in India. It read like a book written by someone who watched some YouTube videos about Phoolan Devi and made a cursory visit to “the Indian village” and decided to express whatever angst she felt in some random ass book. Everything felt so wrong and stilted. Please save your time and avoid this book.
January 3, 2023
Wow, what an incredible debut novel! I am beyond impressed with the author's ability to explore serious subjects while maintaining a humorous tone throughout. That's not easy to pull off. Humor is a coping mechanism for many of us and that's just one reason why I think this book is going to strike a chord with readers.
Geeta lives in a small Indian village. Her husband disappeared five years ago and just about everyone thinks she killed him. She didn't, but you know how people love to gossip. Having a rep as a husband killer has it's perks and disadvantages. On one hand, most people don't mess with her, afraid they will get on her bad side. But it also leads to Geeta having an interesting dilemma on her hands as now other women in the village would like her to eliminate their no-good husbands. Her life might be in jeopardy if she doesn't agree.
The premise sounds off the wall but have faith, the story works well. Geeta is a strong character that guides you thru everything. The author does a terrific job setting the stage so to speak in showing what life is like for people in this village and how gender, religion, class, etc. play roles in the treatment one receives from others. It's a novel full of substance, heart, and humor and I highly recommend checking it out!
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Geeta lives in a small Indian village. Her husband disappeared five years ago and just about everyone thinks she killed him. She didn't, but you know how people love to gossip. Having a rep as a husband killer has it's perks and disadvantages. On one hand, most people don't mess with her, afraid they will get on her bad side. But it also leads to Geeta having an interesting dilemma on her hands as now other women in the village would like her to eliminate their no-good husbands. Her life might be in jeopardy if she doesn't agree.
The premise sounds off the wall but have faith, the story works well. Geeta is a strong character that guides you thru everything. The author does a terrific job setting the stage so to speak in showing what life is like for people in this village and how gender, religion, class, etc. play roles in the treatment one receives from others. It's a novel full of substance, heart, and humor and I highly recommend checking it out!
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
January 18, 2023
A very original debut novel about murder, mayhem and blackmail in a small Indian village. Everyone thinks Geeta, a middle-aged housewife, did away with her no-good husband when he disappeared five years ago. Now she is being approached by a member of her micro-loan group for a favor--to help the woman get rid of her own abusive husband. 'They do a million things worse than murder to us every day all over the world, and no one blinks.'
Shroff deals with some serious issues in Indian society, such as caste ostracization and domestic abuse, with dark humor. 'For Indians, superstitions were so embedded within blessings and religion, it was difficult to divorce silliness from tradition.' I enjoyed meeting these crazy characters as they bonded together to deal with their marital problems.
I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Shroff deals with some serious issues in Indian society, such as caste ostracization and domestic abuse, with dark humor. 'For Indians, superstitions were so embedded within blessings and religion, it was difficult to divorce silliness from tradition.' I enjoyed meeting these crazy characters as they bonded together to deal with their marital problems.
I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
April 16, 2023
What happens when everyone thinks you are a husband killer? Well they come to you to ask you to kill their husband….
In Bandit Queens we meet Geeta who everyone thinks killed her husband, when in reality he was a no-good man who beat her, gambled, drank and got in debt and left her. Geeta wish she had the courage to kill him, but everyone thinks she did. With no other choice left, Geeta is shunned from her community, she lives alone and tries to find tiny pockets of joy. Of these is being a part of a group of entrepreneurial women- her business is going good and things are looking up.
This is until one day, one of the women in the group came to Geeta to ask for help in killing her no-good husband. Geeta tries to let her know the truth but no one believes her, she starts getting blackmailed and threatened into committing murder, what will Geeta do?
This was a very easy read for me and I love how the topic was covered. I love reading books set in India and this one was very enjoyable. I did wish it didn’t drag so much in the middle but overall I loved getting pulled in the world of these husband killing women!
In Bandit Queens we meet Geeta who everyone thinks killed her husband, when in reality he was a no-good man who beat her, gambled, drank and got in debt and left her. Geeta wish she had the courage to kill him, but everyone thinks she did. With no other choice left, Geeta is shunned from her community, she lives alone and tries to find tiny pockets of joy. Of these is being a part of a group of entrepreneurial women- her business is going good and things are looking up.
This is until one day, one of the women in the group came to Geeta to ask for help in killing her no-good husband. Geeta tries to let her know the truth but no one believes her, she starts getting blackmailed and threatened into committing murder, what will Geeta do?
This was a very easy read for me and I love how the topic was covered. I love reading books set in India and this one was very enjoyable. I did wish it didn’t drag so much in the middle but overall I loved getting pulled in the world of these husband killing women!
December 30, 2022
The Bandit Queens, by Parini Shroff, is a sort of present-day, Indian (as in India), gender- and caste-based, novel-length version of Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal." The premise here is straightforward: Geeta, a woman who was abandoned by her abusive husband five years ago and made a pariah as village gossip spread that she had killed him, is now working in a micro-loan collective with four other women, and being asked for tips on how they can kill their abusive husbands. Sounds sobering, and it is.
It's also hilarious. I want to emphasize this point even while I deny you examples to illustrate it because I want the hilarity to stay in the context of the novel where it plays out alongside much more serious matters.
This narrative focuses on gender inequity, but it also considers issues of caste, economic status, and faith. It effectively weaves together multiple plot threads, providing example after example of structural power imbalances without becoming polemical. That's a blessing. By allowing readers to laugh, Shroff keeps them reading, balancing the bleak with quick, barbed exchanges and embracing of the improbable. Readers see systematic violence, but they also build relationships with the novel's characters ad they build relationships of one another.
If you like "serious" novels, but need a break from time to time without going full-on cozy mystery fluffy, The Bandit Queens is exactly the novel you need. It will feed you rage *and* you sense of hope.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.
It's also hilarious. I want to emphasize this point even while I deny you examples to illustrate it because I want the hilarity to stay in the context of the novel where it plays out alongside much more serious matters.
This narrative focuses on gender inequity, but it also considers issues of caste, economic status, and faith. It effectively weaves together multiple plot threads, providing example after example of structural power imbalances without becoming polemical. That's a blessing. By allowing readers to laugh, Shroff keeps them reading, balancing the bleak with quick, barbed exchanges and embracing of the improbable. Readers see systematic violence, but they also build relationships with the novel's characters ad they build relationships of one another.
If you like "serious" novels, but need a break from time to time without going full-on cozy mystery fluffy, The Bandit Queens is exactly the novel you need. It will feed you rage *and* you sense of hope.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.
December 13, 2022
Parini Shroff's debut women's fiction novel, THE BANDIT QUEENS, is based on a real story depiction in India (I will not say more on what story that actually is), but delivers a bird's eye view on the cultural aspects of Indian society, including domestic abuse, gender, the caste system, and patriarchy. Focusing on Geeta, a widow from a small village rumored to have killed her husband, she has to defend herself from those who are defaming her to all the townsfolk. Geeta finally gives up defending herself and uses her new reputation to grow her business. However, now that she has created this personality for herself, women are coming forward for help in ridding their husbands. These women come from marriages with rapists, abusers, and cheaters. THE BANDIT QUEENS shows readers how powerful it is when women come together to fight injustice. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time—it left me speechless!
May 17, 2023
This witty and fast-paced feminist thriller is a wild ride of friendship, survival, and revenge. The Bandit Queens is a compelling look into female friendship and the ways in which the women around us shape our lives; the ways in which we ourselves can uplift and encourage the women around us. Funny, twisty, and cinematically crafted, Parini Shroff delivers a deliciously complex cast of women who are imperfectly endearing. This is a story that contains discussions of serious issues of class and misogyny, but with the bold voice of a protagonist who can still fight for the little joys in life. Both dark and alarmingly funny, this is an explosive debut that reads like a hero origin story.
January 9, 2024
REREAD REVIEW: December 2023
PHENOMENAL 🤌✨️👏👏👏👏👏 everything I remembered it being and more.
If there is one thing I have learned about rereading all of my 'best-of-2023', it is that they are, without a doubt, all 5 star best of the year books. I have no doubt now in my mind that these all are worth the top spots.
*favorite of the year
Original review: 04/26/2023
ICONIC. One of the best "good for her" stories I've ever read.
"The Bandit Queens" is everything I love in fiction. It's surprising. It's radical. And it's filled with important commentary on social issues. I feel like it's one that should be read widely and loudly.
The story follows a group of women in India who are in abusive marriages. They band together to help one another free themselves of their situations. There's a really funny joke throughout the book poking fun at "the joys of motherhood" where women always must be grateful for their children and never show any apathy or discontent or complain. The book is so funny and sweet but also sad.
I adored Gita as the a main character. I loved seeing her character growth and arc throughout the book. In the beginning she is very apathetic. She wants no part of what these other women have (children...homemaker duties...abusive husbands). I loved seeing hard, independent, fierce Gita warming up to the other women and seeing them learn from each other. At the heart of this book it is about the power of female friendships.
Definitely trigger warnings in this book for sexism, SA, and animal cruelty. There are a lot of really disturbing and frustrating stories around these issues and the way women are treated in India. It was truly upsetting reading about the cruelty of men and some of the horrible things men do to women and girls. The caste system represented I also found infuriating and really saddened by.
One small critique I had was that I felt the climax scene towards the end went on way too long. It just felt kind of meandering and I would've liked to see it edited down a little.
Overall, I thought this book was really well written and had a fantastic audio narrator (she made it so fun to me!). There were also so many funny moments as well and I did not expect to actually laugh out loud while reading this! The whole running bit with the bonobos had me cracking up (the "tapioca balls" moment and "these monkeys she's obsessed with" lolol).
"The Bandit Queens" is one I will be raving about and recommending to everyone and anyone who will listen.
QUOTES I loved:
"They're women they're not murderers!!!..."
"Actually we are. It's become a bit of a side business. Wives you'd prefer to be widows"
ICONIC
"She'd spent so much time vying for a broken seat at an uneven table" LOVE ."The resilience and the power of sisterhood"
PHENOMENAL 🤌✨️👏👏👏👏👏 everything I remembered it being and more.
If there is one thing I have learned about rereading all of my 'best-of-2023', it is that they are, without a doubt, all 5 star best of the year books. I have no doubt now in my mind that these all are worth the top spots.
*favorite of the year
Original review: 04/26/2023
ICONIC. One of the best "good for her" stories I've ever read.
"The Bandit Queens" is everything I love in fiction. It's surprising. It's radical. And it's filled with important commentary on social issues. I feel like it's one that should be read widely and loudly.
The story follows a group of women in India who are in abusive marriages. They band together to help one another free themselves of their situations. There's a really funny joke throughout the book poking fun at "the joys of motherhood" where women always must be grateful for their children and never show any apathy or discontent or complain. The book is so funny and sweet but also sad.
I adored Gita as the a main character. I loved seeing her character growth and arc throughout the book. In the beginning she is very apathetic. She wants no part of what these other women have (children...homemaker duties...abusive husbands). I loved seeing hard, independent, fierce Gita warming up to the other women and seeing them learn from each other. At the heart of this book it is about the power of female friendships.
Definitely trigger warnings in this book for sexism, SA, and animal cruelty. There are a lot of really disturbing and frustrating stories around these issues and the way women are treated in India. It was truly upsetting reading about the cruelty of men and some of the horrible things men do to women and girls. The caste system represented I also found infuriating and really saddened by.
One small critique I had was that I felt the climax scene towards the end went on way too long. It just felt kind of meandering and I would've liked to see it edited down a little.
Overall, I thought this book was really well written and had a fantastic audio narrator (she made it so fun to me!). There were also so many funny moments as well and I did not expect to actually laugh out loud while reading this! The whole running bit with the bonobos had me cracking up (the "tapioca balls" moment and "these monkeys she's obsessed with" lolol).
"The Bandit Queens" is one I will be raving about and recommending to everyone and anyone who will listen.
QUOTES I loved:
"They're women they're not murderers!!!..."
"Actually we are. It's become a bit of a side business. Wives you'd prefer to be widows"
ICONIC
"She'd spent so much time vying for a broken seat at an uneven table" LOVE ."The resilience and the power of sisterhood"
January 26, 2023
Finished this today. This was just mehhhh. I felt like I was reading this for 973839 years. It just NEVER ended. Some parts felt silly. Some were boring and unnecessary. Some dragged. Then it got dramatic and serious again. Then it got silly. I don’t know. It was a whole lotta whateverrrrr. 😬
January 5, 2023
DNF @ 70%
Alas, I was really looking forward to reading this one, but it was disappointing.
The bones of the plot are good, but the book is more sad than funny despite how it’s advertised. The revenge aspect of it is really more about blackmail, and it’s mostly nasty rather than funny. It’s also just the same plot point over and over, leaving the book feeling tedious and overlong. There are also a LOT of mentions of rape and attempted rape, so fair warning.
I also felt a little misled by the idea of this being a friendship novel. It’s certainly intended to be, but the nastiness that goes on between these women is exhausting and unpleasant, and I can’t imagine wanting to form or resuscitate a friendship with people who had treated me this way. Books that lean heavily on women sniping at each other and spreading rumors behind each other’s backs are deeply unappealing to me even if most of the characters improve in the end. Can’t unsay it, as the saying goes, and I’d rather have friends who didn’t have to go through a phase where they were cruel to me first before realizing the error of their ways.
This issue with tone undermines what could have been a funny book (and the author clearly has the ability to be funny, even if the way it’s used here is a shame).
I did like the subplot with the puppy, and there are certainly some humorous moments that don’t feel unnecessarily cruel.
There is probably an audience for this book, as I wouldn’t say it’s badly written, but that audience was definitely not me.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Alas, I was really looking forward to reading this one, but it was disappointing.
The bones of the plot are good, but the book is more sad than funny despite how it’s advertised. The revenge aspect of it is really more about blackmail, and it’s mostly nasty rather than funny. It’s also just the same plot point over and over, leaving the book feeling tedious and overlong. There are also a LOT of mentions of rape and attempted rape, so fair warning.
I also felt a little misled by the idea of this being a friendship novel. It’s certainly intended to be, but the nastiness that goes on between these women is exhausting and unpleasant, and I can’t imagine wanting to form or resuscitate a friendship with people who had treated me this way. Books that lean heavily on women sniping at each other and spreading rumors behind each other’s backs are deeply unappealing to me even if most of the characters improve in the end. Can’t unsay it, as the saying goes, and I’d rather have friends who didn’t have to go through a phase where they were cruel to me first before realizing the error of their ways.
This issue with tone undermines what could have been a funny book (and the author clearly has the ability to be funny, even if the way it’s used here is a shame).
I did like the subplot with the puppy, and there are certainly some humorous moments that don’t feel unnecessarily cruel.
There is probably an audience for this book, as I wouldn’t say it’s badly written, but that audience was definitely not me.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 28, 2024
Women were built to endure the rules men make.
…
“Exactly, we’re a bunch of housewives. We make your food, we watch your children, we hear your business. We know your lives well enough to ruin them. So I’d be careful.”
Five years ago, Geeta’s husband disappeared from their rural Indian village. He was a drunk who sometimes beat her, so Geeta doesn’t miss him. And maybe because he was a drunk who sometimes beat her, everyone in the village believes Geeta murdered him and got away with it, even though she—truthfully—denied having anything to do with his disappearance. But now, other women in her micro loan group are asking Geeta for help killing their abusive husbands, and Geeta’s life will never be the same.
The Bandit Queens has a lot to say about Indian culture. Through the various characters and storylines, there’s an examination of the caste system and the tension between the Hindu and Muslim populations. And there’s a strong focus on weddings and dowries, marriage and child-reading, and the acceptance of physical domestic violence. But it’s not as heavy as it sounds, largely because of Geeta, the outsider dragged back into the fold, whose prickly, sarcastic personality is used very well to either lighten or increase the dramatic tension of each scene. An entertaining story of female friendship and well-earned vengeance. Recommended.
March 28, 2023
Fiction is when research meets compassion; I believe this is often why facts don't change people's minds, but stories do. - Parini Shroff
‘The Bandit Queens’ is easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
We follow Geeta, a young Indian woman, who has been labeled a murderer after her husband's sudden disappearance 5 years ago. Everyone in her town is convinced she killed him even though she didn’t and has no idea what happened to him. Therefore, creating a life of isolation and newfound freedom from her abusive husband which Geeta surprisingly enjoys since she can now be independent and self-sufficient without fear and her husband’s judgment. However, things take a turn when other women in the town ask for Geeta’s help to get rid of their abusive husbands as well…
This story was so much fun! It is filled with dark humor (my favorite), mystery, and meaningful points and thoughts about domestic abuse, the caste systems in India, poverty, religious divides, gender disparities, and the value and complexities of female friendships.
The plot was entertaining and the perfect match to explore very serious topics in a way that won’t leave you drained. We all have intrusive thoughts about what if we just got rid of those that caused us harm, but unfortunately we can’t. But this was a fun journey to see what it would be like if we could challenge the systems that hold back women and marginalized groups.
Overall, a fantastic debut! I loved the ending and how everything came together 💜
It made the Longlist for Women’s Prize for Fiction and it is so well deserved.
If you loved ‘Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows” you will love this story!
‘The Bandit Queens’ is easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
We follow Geeta, a young Indian woman, who has been labeled a murderer after her husband's sudden disappearance 5 years ago. Everyone in her town is convinced she killed him even though she didn’t and has no idea what happened to him. Therefore, creating a life of isolation and newfound freedom from her abusive husband which Geeta surprisingly enjoys since she can now be independent and self-sufficient without fear and her husband’s judgment. However, things take a turn when other women in the town ask for Geeta’s help to get rid of their abusive husbands as well…
This story was so much fun! It is filled with dark humor (my favorite), mystery, and meaningful points and thoughts about domestic abuse, the caste systems in India, poverty, religious divides, gender disparities, and the value and complexities of female friendships.
The plot was entertaining and the perfect match to explore very serious topics in a way that won’t leave you drained. We all have intrusive thoughts about what if we just got rid of those that caused us harm, but unfortunately we can’t. But this was a fun journey to see what it would be like if we could challenge the systems that hold back women and marginalized groups.
Overall, a fantastic debut! I loved the ending and how everything came together 💜
It made the Longlist for Women’s Prize for Fiction and it is so well deserved.
If you loved ‘Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows” you will love this story!
January 19, 2023
The Bandit Queens had a strong premise but there were a few things that kept me from fully becoming invested in the story.
1. The book is set in India but all the characters spoke like millennial Americans. It was very unbelievable and constantly took me out of the story.
2. Even though I have a potty mouth myself, there was so much unnecessary cursing in this book that constantly interrupted the flow of dialogue.
3. A lot of cultural words/traditions are featured in the text with no explanation, also interrupting the flow of the story for me (someone who isn’t Indian). I understand not wanting to explain every single thing to a non-Indian audience but when there are so many instances when these words are used and aren’t explained it will eventually start to compromise your story bc it leaves a lot of readers confused.
4. All the female characters are unlikeable, immature, and incredibly callous to each other. All these women are supposed to be in in their 30s and mothers (except our MC) so why did everyone behave like high school mean girls?
5. Dark humor + physical/sexual abuse just simply do not work for me in books. You need to choose a different tone and/or different subject matter. There were multiple instances in this book where physical/sexual assault would be mentioned and the very next line would be a joke. I know some people find this combination cathartic but for me personally, it just makes me uncomfortable.
1. The book is set in India but all the characters spoke like millennial Americans. It was very unbelievable and constantly took me out of the story.
2. Even though I have a potty mouth myself, there was so much unnecessary cursing in this book that constantly interrupted the flow of dialogue.
3. A lot of cultural words/traditions are featured in the text with no explanation, also interrupting the flow of the story for me (someone who isn’t Indian). I understand not wanting to explain every single thing to a non-Indian audience but when there are so many instances when these words are used and aren’t explained it will eventually start to compromise your story bc it leaves a lot of readers confused.
4. All the female characters are unlikeable, immature, and incredibly callous to each other. All these women are supposed to be in in their 30s and mothers (except our MC) so why did everyone behave like high school mean girls?
5. Dark humor + physical/sexual abuse just simply do not work for me in books. You need to choose a different tone and/or different subject matter. There were multiple instances in this book where physical/sexual assault would be mentioned and the very next line would be a joke. I know some people find this combination cathartic but for me personally, it just makes me uncomfortable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,623 reviews