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Summary: Pure Reading Pleasure!
Review: This book is an absolute pleasure to read...the writing is so lyrical you are transported to India, wearing a sari of gossamer cloth, hearing the tinkling of ankle bracelets, feeling the heat, smelling the spices, taking part in the day to day life of the five women who live in the Chatterjee household.Even tho' the scenario about the ruby mine was rather hokie, I loved the story of the two girls/women, Anju and Sudha and the close, unbreakable bond they share, unbroken by time, distance, and marriage. I especially liked that there were surprises...I was delighted to find them. Some books are like appetizers, some are like main courses, this one is dessert...savor it with a nice cup of tea and cake. It's scrumptious. Then recommend it to all your friends. Jesse
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Summary: A book to be treasured always.
Review: I am an avid reader and I must say that this book has taken over the number one spot of all times. It is the life story of two young girls born to the same household on the same day. Anju and Sudha are cousins growing up in a house full of women in the city of Calcutta, India. Their personalities, like night and day, bring us a blend of rich and exotic culture wrapped up in the ideas that society imposes upon them. The author entwines this richness with the silent sorrows and heavy heart of the unknown. A secret so dreadful that one of the girls can never shed light upon it without fear of losing everything that she holds dear. There were several unexpected surprises in this book. The author is a fantastic storyteller and I found such astonishing insight into the human heart I was moved to reread the book just to spend time writing down quotes which I found to be words one could live by. I have yet to meet the person who was disappointed by this book. 3/17/01
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Summary: An enriching tale of Indian culture and sisterhood
Review: I read this with my bookclub, and after reading seventeen books together, we all agree Sister of My Heart was our favorite. Sudha and Anju are cousins living with their widowed mothers and aunt in Calcutta, India. The mothers (as they are all known) raise the two cousins in a somewhat sheltered life, being prepared for college and then arranged marriages. Anju, in her own way, defies the mold, and is determined to finish college and work in her mother's bookstore. Sudha, the beautiful one, dreams of designing clothes and finding happiness in her future family. But all changes in an instant when Anju's mother takes ill. Both Anju and Sudha are thrown full-force into arranged marriages but little goes as expected. More than just a linear tale of these two women, the novel explores the backgrounds of the mothers and their adventuring husbands. You learn about Indian culture in a way no tourist could experience. And you are given just a taste of the women's future in America, when Sudha and her daughter move in with Anju and her husband. I thought this novel ended too soon and hope there will be a sequel. In the meantime, I am running to the nearest bookstore for Divakaruni's other works!
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Summary: Lyrical, evocative, provocative
Review: Though it may not be the most remarkably compelling book you will ever read, you will enjoy the lushness of Divakaruni's writing. And do not rush to judgment about the characters. After you have finished the book, savor them a bit and let the qualities of each of them emerge. You may find that your initial conclusions of each of the characters changes a bit. Though there are some contrivances in the text, there are not many. My college students were most unhappy that several loose ends were not resolved, but they loved being able to comtemplate what happens after the end of the story. The book gives you some wonderful insight into the relationships and situations of somewhat contempoary Indian women, and may encourage you to read other such novels to compare the India Divakaruni presents to that of other Indian women writers.
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Summary: Well crafted story
Review: I have just finished this book and found that I could not put it down. Divakaruni has written a wonderful story that compells you to keep reading to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy the interactions between people and being able to empathise and appreciate others lives.
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Summary: It reeled me right in!
Review: Not since "Memoirs of a Geisha" have I loved a book as much as I love "Sister of My Heart"! I was reading it on the commuter train into work - I didn't realize that the train had stoppped, the doors had opened and almost everyone else was already off the train. It is not a book I would have likely picked up. If not for my bookclub, I would never have found this book! Everyone in my bookclub that has read it also loves it. It's been a long time since I've seen such a unanimous opinion about a book. But the opinion about this one is that it's a hit! Divakaruni has done a wonderful job of describing the setting and the characters that I felt as if I was part of the story. The characters are all so realistic. Divakaruni shares with the readers the story of two girsl growing up together, like sisters. She paints a clear picture of the Indian culture and beliefs, and how that affects these girls. I laughed at points during the story, I cried during other parts... but I couldn't put it down! Definitely a must for your home library! I know that I will read it again!
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Summary: Straight to the Heart
Review: Chitra Divakaruni writes of an unbreakable bond between two women, Anju and Sudha, cousins born on the same day. Set in both India and America the old ways meet the new when both women learn just how much a heart can endure. Not only is this a love story but a mystery as well, as each woman rediscovers the truth about their past. A beautifully written book that I did not want to end.
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Summary: Mixed feelings-some bad-many good
Review: Alas, the story comes to the same thing...sisters, marriages...wing dings-whoops I meant weddings...pleated and braided hair...etc etc. Still, it was a great read and despite Chitra's wonderfully evocative language, I found it really easy to read. The transition from them being young to them becoming old and mature is amazingly fluid and it's wonderful how Chitra can manage to tell a normal day to day story in such a wonderful manner. That's the real beauty behind this book. Simple story, wonderfully told. Chitra's language is yummy but it's hard to believe that a youngster could think so maturely. It seems Chitra's language skills are a bit too good for her own sake. The real cheesy bit at which I yelled, "how could you spoil it all" was when Sudha finds out that the driver is...naaah you can find out yourself...but be prepared for the cheese factor...more cheesy than Doritos.
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Summary: A Great Book...........
Review: This is my first book by C.B.D. and I loved it. Coming from the same state back in India, I could totally relate to the mannerisms and behaviour of a typical Bengali family described by the author.
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Summary: The Meanings of Life
Review: This is probably the best book i've ever read, not only becuase of the equisite display of emotion and detail, but because the book grabbed me in from the start. This beautiful story is about two inseparable cousins, who are determined to go through life together, to share their happy and sad moments. Having been brought up by three mothers and no fathers, they are wretched out of the simple and wonderful lives when they are forced to marry. Anju, the determined and brilliant one moves to AMerica with her new husband while the other one lives with her tough new family. Travel with them as they go through the hardships of life while the author brilliantly describes each event. When you finish the book, you are left with a feeling of gratitude, happiness, and a few tears.
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