Rani and Sukh

by Bali Rai

An Asian Romeo and Juliet from the author of (Un)Arranged Marriage .

1950s Punjab : a secret affair goes terribly wrong and the bride commits suicide after her lover is attacked by her family. The two families part in violence and conflict.

2004 Leicester : Rani and Sukh fall in love, unaware of the terrible legacy of the past and the conflict between their two families. Can tragedy be averted or will the two young people be able to escape the cycle of violence and draw the families together for the future?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fiction, India, Indian Literature, British Literature, Contemporary

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2004

About the author

Bali Rai was born in 1971 and grew up in Leicester. As a child, Bali wanted to be a footballer or to write stories. Always an avid reader, he hails Sue Townsend, Douglas Adams and Robert Swindells as his writing heroes. Bali grew up reading Dr Seuss and Meg and Mog and his first book purchase was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. He realised he wasn't good enough to play for Liverpool F.C. and after gaining a politics degree in London he returned to his home city and combined a variety of jobs in pubs and clubs with completing his first novel. Bali set about writing a story he had been thinking about for many years. He wanted to write accessible material for children of all ages and backgrounds and realising there were no British Asian authors writing for children, he saw a gap. Bali hopes his novels capture the unique ethnic mix of the UK, of which he is proud to be a part.

Bali writes stories inspired by his working class Punjabi/Sikh background, but his aim was always that his writing should be enjoyed by readers everywhere, irrespective of class or culture. His has the ability to tackle the harsh realities of growing up in the UK and blend this with humour and often a overriding optimism. Bali visits schools and libraries in every major UK city, averaging 70 school and library events a year.

His first book, (un)arranged marriage, created a huge amount of interest and won many awards, including the Angus Book Award and the Leicester Book of the Year. It was also shortlisted for the prestigious Branford Boase first novel award. Rani and Sukh and The Whisper were both shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize.

All of Bali’s teen titles have been short-listed for awards across the UK, including twice making the Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist. His third novel Rani and Sukh has represented the UK at the International IBBY awards and this title has its own Facebook tribute group set up by fans. Bali’s first three novels appear in The Ultimate Teenage Book Guide. Bali also writes shorter novels for Barrington Stoke, his first book, Dream On, was selected for the Booktrust’s inaugural Booked Up list. He also writes the hugely popular Soccer Squad series for younger readers.

Reviews

[Nishita Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great book! I absolutely enjoyed this book as it looked at a stereotypical asian relationship. The contrast of the past and present Punjab is very interesting, and keeps it very exciting. It's about two lovers, and shows how their relationship grows. I'd say this book is suitable for upper KS2 and would highly recommend it for a good read, and to build on current issues that children face.

[Harjeet Dhillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read this book I did not want to put it down. I fell in love with the characters and understood the culture. It is the first fiction that has made me cry. When an author can elicit real feelings from a reader then I know I will be reading more of their work. I would definitely recommend it for those who like love stories and fighting against the odds.

[Spuzmai Achickzay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dramatic .. Straight out of a Bollywood Movie..

[Mark Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read, in that you feel comfortable in the plot line with it being an age-old tale told without any attempt at subterfuge or unnecessary twists. The author even quite deliberately cites Romeo & Juliet partway into the story just to be sure.

The real beauty in this book is just how simply it is written, using a mix of first and third person and contrasting viewpoints to try to wring the characters’ emotions out of every scene.

Somehow this book holds your interest and draws you in without the need for bold plot devices. It is a lovely read dealing with some harsh issues.

I enjoyed it.

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hit WAYY too close to home. I tried dragging out finishing this as much as possible because I knew the ending would make me bawl my eyes out. And it did. Rani and Sukh were just two teenagers in love, but with an unforgiving past, and an uncertain future it was a lot more than that. It showed the cruelty and reality of culture sometimes, and this emphasis of “honour” in Asian culture, and the different roles and expectations of men and women. “Who’s going to be there?” “If I see you out with a boy that’s it” “If you’re late then you can’t go out again” - it may be “normal” parent behaviour but the consequences of it when it is lost can be very cruel - even from those that you thought you would never hurt you. It’s a really scary and stark reality and it just leads to sadness and resentment building up. The regular teenager behaviour, and the restrictions that came with it were really relatable, and honestly sad. You can’t ship off your family to an entirely different country with a different set of norms and values, and expect them to not change according those societal standards. It’s just not fair. But surnames hold a lot of weight at the end of the day, even if it’s just words in the long term.

[Myopic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hypnotic but thats the only good thing I can really say about it...

In a world where everyone is already prejudiced against other cultures, the last thing we need is someone writing abook like Rani and Sukh. It practically promotes teenage sex and is full of stereotypical characters (The bossy dad, the timid mum, the dominating brothers) and Indians just aren't like that. If anyone wanted an idea of what modern Indian people were like I'd recomment anything by Chetan Bhagat, especially 2 States.

I swear... if Bali Rai mentions the word izzat (honour) once more, it'll be the last thing he says. No one cares about honour that much that they'd kill/banish/lock up their children! I can imagine this story being possible in our great grandparents' generation but it just isn't the case anymore and it just increases prejudice against a culture that has enough on its hands already.

I have to admit, Bali Rai's poetic and gripping use of language maes it a very easy and, as I mentioned, hypnotic read. Worth it if you can read this book without judging the culture.

[🎀 Mona 🎀 · Rating 2 out of 5]

idk if I should give this book three stars or two. it was really good, dramatic, and funny at times but it was really repetitive sometimes. and also it felt a bit rushed at the end, with so many things happening at once. and the characters were alright; they weren't too annoying but overall I think it deserves 2.5⭐ cuz it was actually quite fun/entertaining to read.

[Geneva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, it's like a modern version of Romeo and Juliet set in today's society I would recomend you to read this :)

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing is the only way I can think to describe this book. It came 3rd in NETBA.

[Kevin Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was sad! Unlike most films I watch, I kinda wanted a happy ending or some closure with this book but the tragic cycle repeated itself. I suppose it is better finished that way.

First novel I have read by Bali Rai and I have ‘Unarranged marriage’ on my reading pile as well. Interesting mirrored structure between 60s Punjab and more modern Leicester - I enjoyed some of the window into a different cultural world, but it did not have the zip and fizz of the clash of cultures in ‘Anita and me’ for example. Clearly the subject matter here was much darker.

Probably not the right choice for the SOW I am developing for school - I think the themes of teenage pregnancy and violent feud are not exactly what we are looking for - plus also I wonder how people would react to the rather stereotypical presentation of cultural norms. There is nothing very nuanced here.

That said, as a youth fiction story coming from a different cultural background - I enjoyed the read. Almost into the guilty pleasure territory.

[Emma Sjökvist · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good. I loved the storyline and the characters. It got a bit boring in the middle when they went back in time kinda but it was very important to the story and you would not get it otherwise. I really loved the book and I would’ve loved it even more without the middle part🙈 The ending was not what I expected and I was so shocked when I read it. I cried for like two hours not gonna lie. I really recommend the book though. The description of everything and everyone was incredible and I will probably read this again.

I do think that the words that are not in English should be explained cause it was a bit hard to understand what they meant. You kinda understood it from the context but i do think that it should’ve been explained in some way. It would’ve been easier to understand.

Even though it has a sad ending I would say that i think you should read it, awesome🤩

[Rania T · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Bali Rai's earlier novels, so glad that I managed to track it down via eBay, as it was not available in any library here in Melbourne for some reason. Great story line with early noughties Britain and parallels to life in a Village in India's Punjab region in the 1960's. Tragic, but romantic as well. The novel could have benefited from a glossary for those that are unfamiliar with the Punjabi language. Did notice the "rose" motif that also appeared in Bali Rai's City of Ghosts made an appearance in this novel also.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rani and Sukh are two Leicester teenagers who fall in love. But their Sikh families are locked in a feud that dates back to the previous generation in India.

A modern Romeo and Juliet story of star-crossed lovers set in the British Indian population, this perhaps has a few too many stereotypes but was based on the experiences of people the author knew. It was published in 2004, and I think things have changed somewhat in the UK with a new generation, but there can still be a cultural gulf between a girl like Rani and her white best friend who tries to help but doesn't really understand Rani's position.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would read this again right now to be fair, I just adored this world, felt so of its time and as someone who has lived in Leicester I really appreciated that setting. I'm a bit of a sucker for Romeo+Juliet so I really just ate this up. Thought it was quite romantic and passionate and I just loved being immersed in the 2000s whilst reading

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Läste denna under gymnasiet och 2009 besökte Bali Rai Litteralund-en litteraturfestival för barn och unga. En dröm! Minns detta författarmöte som inspirerade! Det var häftigt att möta en internationell författare minns jag att jag tyckte.

[Olivia Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book in year 9 2012/13, and never clicked that it was set in Leicester - now in 2024 I live in Leicester and I'm able to place all of the streets and imagine it so clearly! An absolutely beautiful book, a great holiday or commuting read.

[BindedByBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Language was a bit cringe
Basically a repeat of what happened in Punjabi
Ending did shock me, not 1 son but 2
Why New York? What happened after with divy ? What happened with the sons? What was the aftermath
So many unanswered questions

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Chloe Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A GCSE read that I ended up falling in love with.

Very much a Modern day Romeo and Juliet!

[Patrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good and yet, so sad! I was rooting for them to be OK and I'm gutted with the ending!

[Mil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't expecting to fw this. Ending killed me.

[Sumi Chocc · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skit, men inte lika skit som lexbok

[Louisa x · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely one of the best books I’ve ever read

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t find this book as enjoyable as Bali’s other books, I thought that the characters were one dimension and not brought out as much as they could have done. However saying that it was a gripping story and sadly the end was a bit predictable as much as I wanted it not to be! It also highlighted what must be a problem to second generation immigrants their parents came here for a better life and make a success and their children are brought up in a western culture, schools and friends but yet at home and in front of parent are expected to retain the old tradition (which are not theirs!) and behave as if they are still in their original country, it also highlights the diffent way males and females are treated by the families. The story is basically a love story about star crossed lovers who fall in love even though Rani’s family are very protective and she is not supposed to meet or be seen with boys, as it will ruin her honour and the family’s name. Things take a turn for the worse when the couple discover that both families, who came from the same village in the Punjab in the sixties had a terrible feud. This has continued to this day and has been brought to England. Then when it is discovered that the two are in love and have been seeing each other all hell breaks loose.

[Zoe Koerber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rani and Sukh was quite interesting a way that the story was approached in two different time periods. Even though they were two different stories, upon finishing the book and looking back they were so similar it was like reading it again just 60 years later, when society has developed and traditions have eased a little. I thought that some writing techniques were used well but sometimes content was maybe irrelevant to the story or just boring, which was a little annoying. The ending was very unexpected due to the time period and how I interpreted the text, I thought it would be very much different to the ending that occurred back in the Punjab(other time period) but it turned out to be very much the same to my dismay as I thought that it didn't improve the book, just let the readers down a little as things were finally looking good for Rani and Sukh and then the murder comes very suddenly and unexpected which is then really shocking. We also don't get any justification to it and how the characters felt after it happened which might have been nice. Overall I thought the book was Okay but not some thing I would pick out to read in my spare time.

[Hannah Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful Romeo and Juliet-esque love story, written in tight prose and stream-of-consciousness style. I found this novel illuminating in several ways: the shifting cultural insights of 1960s rural Punjab elucidates the importance of tradition, and provides the context needed to understand how certain values are carried on by generations, despite their geographical gap; and furthermore, how these values pervade and juxtapose second and third generations' lifestyles in contemporary Leicester.

The narrative poignantly emphasises a British-Asian family's alienation from each other, through their differing cultural experiences. It is particularly interesting that we get to see, and to some extent, sympathise with all members of the family if we open our minds to each persons' point of view.

[Moira · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning the book was quite boring, it didn't catch my attention until a few chapters in but the prologue type thing in the beginning was very interesting and it makes more sense once you continue to read until the "Punjab" bit which was also very interesting because it was a story in a story and it was telling us more about the background of the story.
I think that once you read past the Punjab bit it again because quite uninteresting until you reach near the end when you find out that she's pregnant and then I lost my interest until after that when Rani's brother Divi finds out about Rani and Suhk, and I personally think after that bit was probably the most interesting bit of the book.
Personally, if the author wrote the beginning to make it more interesting then I would have liked the story better.

[Ilonita50 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to imagine traditional farmer Punjabi, who have emigrated to Europe, but will still keep strictly to their imagined traditions. The book is telling of Indian teenage love where in between stands strict Punjabi parenting and a more relaxed, more nowadays parenting. Its about topic where two generations have a gap, how English teenager with Indian roots have to lie to survive with their likes, loves, who they are - having an absolutely another world in front of their parents, who are ruling strict views of their culture at home. Its also about vengeance and how someone is ready to kill as much as he interprets being Punjabi.
I was very surprised by the ending of the book, i thought of everything, but this one surprised me, which is good.

[Simran Johal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been recommended this book over the years by many different people telling me that it was a really good book. I started to read it and thought it was good but not really amazing. At first, I a bit disappointed at the story but the ending just changed my opinion completely! You really have to stick it out till the end. I found that I got really involved with the characters and although I read it for a day I felt as if I was in the same time frame as it is within the book. Overall, I thought the book was defiantly worth the read and would recommend it to any teenage girl that loves a typical romance with a twist! I loved it!

[Masuma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found that my opinion of this book is literally split in two. I enjoyed reading the portions of the books which were set in the punjab in the 1960's. However, i didn't enjoy the leicester portions. I found Rani to be an insufferable and annoying character who i couldn't care less about. I only became remotely interested in Rani and Sukh's story when her elder brother found out about them.
Another reason i didn't enjoy this book was that right from the beginning, there was no hope at all. I knew the novel would have a tragic ending, but that aspect of possibility wasn't there, so i was rather glum while reading from. Beginning to end.