Rating: 
Summary: A Powerful, Beautifully Written Novel Of Two Women & India
Review: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's powerful and beautifully written novel of an "outrageous" Anglo-Indian romance in 1920s Khatm and Satipur won the Booker Prize in 1983. The author has crafted parallel tales of two young women, distantly related and separated by two generations. Anne, the story's narrator, travels to India to discover more about the mystery surrounding her grandfather's first wife, Olivia. Douglas Rivers, an upper echelon English civil servant, married and brought his adored wife, Olivia, with him to India in 1923, during the British Raj. She was a beautiful, spoiled and spirited young woman, who found it difficult to adjust to life in the British colonial community of Satipur. Feeling suffocated by the inbred group she was forced to socialize with, Olivia longed for independence, intellectual stimulation and a more passionate life. She hoped that a baby would solve her problems but found it more difficult to become pregnant than she had thought. Shortly after their arrivel in India, Douglas, Olivia and some of the more important members of the community were invited to the palace of the Nawab of Khatm and she was immediately intrigued by the handsome, charismatic prince. He courted her friendship aggressively and then the friendship turned passionate. When faced with a crisis Olivia was forced to make life altering decisions which would have far reaching effects and cause scandal throughout British India and England that would last for generations. Anne stays in the town where her grandfather and Olivia lived fifty years before. Trying to piece together the puzzle that was Olivia and discover what motivated her to change her life so drastically, Anne visits the places her "step-grandmother" frequented and interviews people who knew her or knew of her. She also reads the letters and journals that Olivia wrote so long ago, and oddly enough, Anne ventures into experiences similar to Olivia's adventures, but more acceptable in our modern time. Anne's spiritual and sensual journey in the 1970s parallels Olivia's as the color, heat, exotic landscapes, and people of India penetrate her western upbringing. Anne writes in her own diary: "Fortunately, during my first few months here, I kept a journal, so I have some record of my early impressions. If I were to try and recollect them now, I might not be able to do so. They are no longer the same because I myself am no longer the same. India always changes people, and I have been no exception." This short and delicately written novel packs a powerful punch and paints an extraordinary portrait of British colonials in India, with their sense of cultural and moral superiority over the local population. However, even more compelling and unusual, is the story of two women, generations apart, who follow similar paths under the spell of India.
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: This book won the Booker in 1975, NOT 1983
Review: The Amazon synopsis is in error--I couldn't figure out why a book that came out in 1975 had won in 1983, then I checked some lists, including Amazon's Awards list and found '83 was wrong. Interesting book, but not on my all time greats list.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Enjoyable
Review: The best novel I have ever read depicting an Indian Story Line. Though the author is not considered an Indian, she displays her thoughts in a classical but respectful way....
Rating:
Summary: Sensually Tantalizing
Review: The cover of this book is a little deceptive. The cover artist has painted a colorful picture of an Indian market place, complete with lots of nice green grass. This is definitely a romanticized and wishful picture of India while the real picture of India lies in the name of the book: HEAT AND DUST. If you're planning a trip to India, expect heat and dust. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala has written this book with the most beautiful prose. She doesn't just tell a story; she becomes a part of her story and brings the reader along with her. This short novel takes place mainly in British imperialist India. Olivia is an English wife which is wooed and seduced by a very charasmatic Indian prince during the boring heat of the day while her husband is away at work. The Indian prince, Nawab, seems to cast a spell on everyone around him. People shirk their responsibilities and forsake the ones they love in order to bask in his adoration. When Olivia's step-granddaughter learns of Olivia's romantic adventures in India through old letters, she is determined to go to India and find out all she can about Prince Nawab and the whirlwind affair he had with Olivia. The novel is written from the viewpoint of the step- granddaughter during her time in modern India. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala tempts when she writes. She sets the reader up with a hint of sensual suspense that drives the novel to the end. The reader finishes the novel, satisfied.
Rating:
Summary: pleasant, though a bit too lightweight for my tastes
Review: This is a very engaging story with enough romance, political intrigue, history, drama, scandal, etc. to satisfy most
readers. Olivia was a bit annoying and air-headed, but overall,
the characters and dialogue were realistic and fascinating. It's a bit on the short side, but perhaps this is because
Ms. Jhabvala doesn't use filler.
Rating:
Summary: THE HEAT OF THE ROMANCE...THE DUST OF ITS ASHES...
Review: This is a well written book that explores Anglo-Indian relations through the power of romance. Set in two distinct eras, colonial India of the nineteen twenties, during the time of the Raj, and the independent, freewheeling India of the seventies, during the time when India was a mecca for disenfranchised youth, it tells the story of two women. One story is that of Olivia, the wife of a minor district official in colonial India, who in 1923 caused great scandal by running off with the Nawab, a local Indian prince. Divorced by her husband, Douglas, for this scandalous transgression, Olivia remains in India, while Douglas remarries. The second story is that of the narrator, a descendant of Douglas and his second wife. During the nineteen seventies, fascinated by the story of the now deceased Olivia, she goes to India, visiting those locations where Olivia had lived and those which would have been a part of her existence at the time. As did Olivia, she falls under India's spell. As did Olivia, she, too, has an Anglo-Indian love affair, and picks up where Olivia left off, giving the reader a powerful sense of de-ja vu. The book is a beguiling story of two women from two different generations who come under the spell of India. The book is evocative of British colonial India, as well as of India of the nineteen seventies. During both eras, Anglo-Indian relations are pivotal to the budding romances. The book is evocative of the rythyms of Indian life in all its richness and tumultuousness, as well as its lingering poverty and superstitions. It is redolent of a time gone by and hopeful of what is to come. It is also an interesting dichotomy of the good and bad in both cultures, Anglo and Indian, and the influence that both cultures have on these two women, who are so different, yet so alike. This is a book that whets the appetite, leaving the reader wanting more than the author is prepared to give. It is, nonetheless, a book well worth reading. The book was also made into a Merchant Ivory film starring Julie Christie and Greta Scacchi.
Rating:
Summary: touching
Review: This is an enjoyable novel that can be read in a few hours. Olivia, the Nawab, Harry and everyone else were believable. The picnic scene w/ musical chairs (lots of unresolved tension) was delicious. I loved it & highly recommend all of Ms. Jhabvala's other novels :)
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, quick read
Review: This is an enjoyable, quick read. It is a well-constructed story on two levels... one in the past, one in the present. It intimates, rather than describes India... which, I imagine, is the way it should be. I would not call this great literature, but it is certainly interesting, entertaining, and well put together.
Rating:
Summary: terrific descriptions, a pleasant read!
Review: this is one of my favorite books by jhabvala (or any other author for that matter)! all the characters are believable & the ending very poignant. one of the few books that i've actually reread :)
| 
