Motherland

Rating:
Summary: Simple but moving
Review: A very good novel! The character of the protagonist is sketched out well, making the reader sympathetic to all the feelings of this teenager. And the transformation in the girl's feelings towards her grandmother is handled with care, so that the reader understands the motivations for the change as well. Looking forward to more from this author.

Rating:
Summary: Simple but moving
Review: An American never feels more American than when he or she is in a foreign country. In my experience, this is even more true when one "is from" that foreign country. After years of living in the US as a minority, one expects to return to the motherland with a sense of homecoming, a sense of immediate belonging. However, while family and ethnic ties do give you that, there is also, inevitably, a prickly feeling of distinction. Sometimes it's felt in small things, such as in an increased sensitivity to mosquitos or lower dietary tolerances. Other times, it's experienced in a clash of worldviews--over issues such as class, gender roles, or international politics. "Motherland" captures this tension beautifully, in a simple, but moving story about an American teenager who spends a summer in southern India.

I was surprised by how much I loved this novel. This is not a book of unexpected plot twists or particularly perilous situations. The characters are intriguing, but not unusual. The setting is exotic, but rather limited. However, the author's honest depiction of relationships, conversations and observations seduce you into the story and refuse to let you go. I find myself still thinking about this novel in random moments throughout my day.

Rating:
Summary: good on so many levels
Review: Maya is a 15-year-old Indian-American in New York when she is sent for a summer to her grandmother in India after a minor mishap with her American boyfriend Steve. Maya spent the first 3 years of her life with her grandmother (and not her parents) in India and, in several ways, she is returning to her roots. She remembers that time and loves her grandmother and young cousin, and looks forward to her time with them, especially since she is a bit confused about her life in the world she is leaving behind.

Maya's reintroduction to India is complicated by the political upheaval around her at the time of the visit, including a witch hunt for the infamous suicide bombing group, the Tamil Tigers. Furthermore, she has never understood why her parents simply left her with her grandmother so long ago, before coming back for her. Her grandmother also wants Maya to meet a suitable young man and start a long engagement while there.

This is a great little book, sad at times, as all well-written stories about families will be. But it is also exciting, well-researched and does a great job of bringing the reader into the story and seeing Maya's confusion, compounded by being only partially in 2 different cultures with her own personal history unclear to her.

Rating:
Summary: Good Indian feel...
Review: Maya returns to India, her homeland, after her parents find an excuse to send her there for the summer. It's been three years since 15 year old Maya has been to India, the land where she lived as a child for several years with her grandmother. The book is descriptive, and makes you feel like you are transported there. Details are explained when the reader encounters something that may be hard for a non-Indian to understand. There are two main storylines, one dealing with the government that I didn't really care for, and one dealing with the larger story of Maya's connecting to her Indian self. The book got slighly more boring as it went on however.

Rating:
Summary: Can't wait to see more by this author!
Review: Motherland is a wonderful first novel by Vineeta Vijayaraghavan. A story told in the first person of a 15 year old girl visiting with her relatives in India. The story depicts Maya's struggles with mixing Indian culture and American culture. Told in a very respectful and vivid manner this book gave me new understanding of Indian life. The most poignant part of Motherland is the relationship between Maya and her grandmother (Ammamma) who raised her for the first four years of her life. Adolescence can strain any and all family relationships at times. This story shows how special the relationships between grandmothers and granddaughters can be. Being very close to my own grandmother and losing her at age 16, Motherland brought back a lot of fond memories of my own relationship with my Ammamma.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books this year
Review: Yes, this is the year I finally read (and fell in love with) the Harry Potter series, but this book beats it out!

This is a wonderfully written story from the perspective of a South Indian girl whose childhood was split between her grandmother's house in India and her mother's in the United States. It follows her over the course of her first visit to India after a long time, and through a journey to a more adult understanding of her mother and grandmother. What I liked the best about this book is its genuine feel. Not many authors can recreate the thoughts and interests of a teenage girl on paper as Vijayaraghavan has been able to do. I am astounded that it is this author's first published book and eagerly look forward to her future writings.