The Tree Bride: A Novel - Discussion

[Odette]

The Tree Bride by Bharati Mukherjee is the Endicott book for August - who's reading?

[Reem]

I am reading. I'll try to keep up with everyone :).

[Mary]

I started it and am ashamed to admit, especially since it was my choice for the month, that it's boring me.

So far it has been one digression into backstory after another and I have yet to find a character I care about enough to stick with it.

I am really looking forward to hearing what other folks enjoy in the hopes that it will enable me to do the same.

[Reem]

Mary wrote: "I started it and am ashamed to admit, especially since it was my choice for the month, that it's boring me.

So far it has been one digression into backstory after another and I have yet to find ..."


.....to be perfectly honest, I am a little in the same boat, but I am finding the bit about the folk beliefs in India interesting. I am having a bit of trouble understanding terms and aspects of their culture, on the other hand. I mean, the part where she is in the Dr. office and the doctor is talking to her about marriages that take place within families and stuff and why she has so many possibilities of the diseases mentioned.

[Reem]

Am I making any sense?

[Mary]

Reem, I agree with you that the Indian folk beliefs is pretty interesting.

I think that the disease issue comes up because Mrs. Chatterjee's caste, the brahmins, were so successful at in-breeding over so many years that they weakened their genetic pool. This lack of genetic diversity means that the children are more prone to disease.

[Reem]

Mary wrote: "Reem, I agree with you that the Indian folk beliefs is pretty interesting.

I think that the disease issue comes up because Mrs. Chatterjee's caste, the brahmins, were so successful at in-breeding ..."

Oh, I see! thanks for clearing that bit up. As I got more into the book, i found it much easier to understand because the protagonist explains more about her culture, family, and Indian history. It is becoming much more interesting.

Here is a question that I am asking by looking at the protagonist: being brought up in what is considered a "religious" and traditional family I suppose, but at the same time being exposed to the western cultures like British and American as well as living in the US and experiencing the freedom most people have over there, do you think she will remain true to her traditions in the end? I know she will remain true to her faith, but do you think she may adopt some traditions in the US while abandoning some from her own country? She has already divorced her husband, which i am sure is frowned upon where she is from.