Rating: 
Summary: I loved this book
Review: I read Sister of My Heart because amazon.com's computer said that people who enjoyed Rohinton Mistry's work would also enjoy this book. IT was right. I enjoyed reading every moment of the story of two cousins growing up in Calcutta, India under somewhat unusual circumstances. Their fathers both were killed in an accident just before they were born. Their mothers, unrelated, go into labor upon hearing the news of the accident. The story takes them through their arranged marriages, and their falling in love. The novel is somewhat autobiographical but definitely totally genuine and authentic throughout. Divakaruni writes beautifully and her story will hold your interest. AND, even better, there is a sequel so you can follow the two cousins' lives in America in the second book. Divakaruni is also a wonderful poet.
Rating:
Summary: THE MOST WONDERFUL BOOK
Review: This novel is one of the best I've ever read. I love the way it's written.....very personal and detailed. The reader feels as if they actually know the main characters, Basudha and Anjali Chatterjee. The story unfolds beautifully. It was definitely a masterpiece and truly a pleasure to read.
Rating:
Summary: What a pleasure!
Review: This story of two "sisters" growing up in a crumbling, traditional Indian household, sheltered from the modern world around them, is a real page turner. Divakaruni creates a world of 5 women, the three older ones widowed, the two younger about to embark on marriage, in tiny detail--we experience the food they eat, the lushness of the overgrown garden, the delicate saris, the dust of the streets, the giddy passion of first love and strength of real love. The plot, concerning several dark family secrets, is riveting in its many twists and turns. The relationship of the sisters is beautifully drawn. From a cultural standpoint, the picture of a world where women's lives are so totally dictated by their relationship to a man is fascinating. We all know of arranged marriages, but equally important is the power a mother-in-law wields over her new daughter, not to mention her son. No aspect of the newly married couple's lives are beyond her influence, from dress to family visits to travel to childbearing. And even in modern India among middle class people, the weight of tradition in valuing sons over daughters is enough to ruin lives. The plot may be a bit fanciful in spots and one can quarrel with the choices some of the characters make, as well as the feminist sentiments that suddenly start to drive the sisters' actions. But the story is wonderful--the scene where Sudha wakes her sister from the depths of despair and depression with a story, reminiscent of their childhood, moved me to tears. This one is well worth your while!
Rating:
Summary: Rapturous
Review: Lovely story of two girls in India who grew up as sisters and the twists and turns thier lives take as they grow into adulthood. The author weaves this tale with golden threads of lyrical and melodic descriptives. The story clasps on to your senses and you cannot let go until you find out what life holds for these two women. All this and a surprize ending to boot...cannot recommend enough! Bravo! I'm now anxious to begin the follow to this book which carries on where this left off...The Vine of Desire.
Rating: 
Summary: Spellbinding and poignant, if a tad sudsy.
Review: Divakaruni has composed a beautiful tale about two women whose lives are intertwined. Their loves and fates, and struggles as women make for a wonderful novel. The only drawback for me was a dose of "magical realism," or Bollywood: there are some fairy tale-like aspects of the story. The result isn't great literature, but it is a great read: enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book
Review: This is a wonderful book and a moving testimony to the power of friendship and soul sisterhood.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book!
Review: Recently, I have read many books that did not, for one reason or another, capture my interest. For me, "Sister of My Heart" was a page-turner. I found myself sneaking away from my everyday chores to just read a few more pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Review: I believe intriguing best describes both the writing style and characters of this novel. Often, I found myself thinking about the characters and their lives after finishing Sister of My Heart, at times as if I had actually known them. I was all too excited to see them reappear in Vine of Desire, and to rediscover them in Arranged Marriage.
Rating:
Summary: Story-telling.
Review: The plot revolves around the different stories that people
tell about their lives, and how as different stories are told
about the same events, so reactions to them evolve.
This raises it above the usual novel.
Rating:
Summary: This is a Must Read
Review: I just finished this book and would highly recommend it to anyone. I found the writing to be lyrical and the characters unforgettable. I didn't want the book to end and yet I couldn't put it down. This would make a great book club book.
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