SOLVED. Book set in India during occupation by the Japanese, following one family from when the mother was a young woman having an arranged marriage, to an old woman. [s]

[Molly]

Read this around 2015ish - my mum gave it to me and I read it very quickly but now am not sure what it was and googling hasn’t helped.

As in the topic, it follows a family in India - begins with a young woman having an arranged marriage. It then follows what happens to the daughters of that marriage, including occupation by the Japanese. I remember there being scenes where one of the daughters is so beautiful they hide her whenever the Japanese soldiers are in town. It goes through to the end of the mother’s life.

[Molly]

Oops said 2015 in the original post - meant to say 2005. Not sure how long it had been out, it was in paperback I think.

[Ayshe]

The Rice Mother maybe?

[Molly]

Yes that’s it! Obviously had completely misremembered it being set in India rather than Malaysia. Thank you!