Another book review, I am afraid. I can’t even promise that this is the last. So all of you who will groan or ask me if Smita’s ghost has entered me – I can’t help it 🙂 Just had to review this.
By Anne Cherian
This is another book that I picked on a whim. I end up picking up books by authors of South Asian origin these days. To add to that Anne Cherian was brought in Jamshedpur. So being my compatriot – I just had to read her.
Funnily, I read two books with set in Tamilian Brahmin environments and I would whole-heartedly agree with OG in his comment on my previous post about stereotypes. This book was full of it. An orthodox family, where girls are not even allowed to talk to boys. Brought up in secluded environment where all the girls do is get ready to get married. Mother who is constantly worried about the dowry and funnily fathers that are hardly ever mentioned. The obsession with the white skin color.
Suneel(Neel) is an NRI who is in a great big hurry to merge into the American society. He intends to make up for his skin colour by marrying a bonafide American woman who can help speed up his entry into American society. Unfortunately for him, that just does not seem to be happening. On a visit to his hometown, he is manipulated to get married to Leila, a 30 year old woman, who was on the verge of being confined to the shelf, thanks to her height.
The story is quite predictable, though well written. The location of their hometown, in India, was quite confusing, not that it matters, really. From the initial pages, it sounds like it is a total Tamilian environment, then there is a mention that it is 5 hours away from Bombay, and then again about it being a steel town. So till the end I was not quite sure where it was located. Despite all the clichés and the totally expected ending, it still managed to keep it’s tempo and kept my interest till the end.
I would not call it a great read, but it is still a decent read, if you can ignore all the stereotypes and clichés . Not too great , not too bad.
Next Review – The Italian Wedding.
Any Excuse To Read 
At what speed are you reading and reviewing these days Smitha??? How long does it take you to finish one book?
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GM, I read too much. Almost a book a day 🙂 I actually don’t review all the books I read 🙂
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there you go… ! 😀 😀
Sorry Hitchy 😦
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For the last line, I’m not reading this book. By the way, Smitha, I don’t judge the book by its cover or it back cover. I feel the impression instinct the books have on my brain when I pick them up. It works perfect.
I don’t either – judge by cover. Instinct does not work always for me 😦
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Awesome Smithu … I must start dng reviews too … Hitchu will run away from all of us 😛 😛
You should Swar! Hitchy will boycott all of us 🙂
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These days anybody and everybody is writing…if not books then long blogs atleast. Sadly very few match up
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Hmm… hadn’t heard of this book before…
Will think about picking it up! 🙂
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Smitha, you really are on a ROLL!! Where do u find the time, Super Woman? He he 🙂 The next time I visit a library I am going to first check your Blog, to pick out ‘recommended reading’ 🙂
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Smikutty, I have read this one and liked it then.
It was a decent read – if I could ignore all the stereotypes and cliches.
My thoughts about some books change when re-reading (which I do a lot – not entire book but just some parts) and with age. 🙂
That does happen with me too. Some books I really liked earlier, when I read after a while, I notice a lot of stuff that I might even dislike, and vice versa 🙂 You re-read too? I love to re-read. I re-read most of the books that I really like.
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That’s why I wrote ‘liked it then’. 😀 I don’t enjoy such books anymore. Though I try to pick some new ones from time to time and then end up disappointed at the stereotypes.
Oh! I re-read a lot. In fact mentioned it here too. http://mesoliloquy.wordpress.com/revue-des-livres/
Will hop over.
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I will definitely keep an eye for this one. I love reading culturally mixed books.
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One more review? hehe
Get a life smi. Go fishing. or hunting or trekking or something. Isn’t poohi messing your sofas anymore? or don’t you have to run down to the nursery and get overtaken by miss high-heels ? 😉 where do you find the time?
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looks like i cud give this book a miss.. Smita’s ghost entered me too .. i only do book reviews these days !!
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You certainly are on a roll here! Now you’re even warning us of your next book review ,huh 😆
I’ll add this too to my list of books-to-be-bought while in Delhi. The rate at which you’re reading I’m sure I’ll have a huge list by the time I reach Delhi 🙂
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Hey the cover too looks nice along with the review 🙂 I’m glad that you are doing the reviews of the books which don not belong to my library..so that I get to know more new books 🙂
And hey your display pic looks sassy 🙂 Liked it 🙂
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Lovely reviews, Smitha, keep going!
What you mentioned about stereotypes is so true. Looks like everyone is on the same path, these days – Life in IIT, IIM, NRI bride / groom etc. But Indian authors never had it so good.
Went to Crossword sale today – got some serious books – aftereffects of a work shop in office, I guess 🙂 I am really looking forward to one of them – “The Leaders in Me” by Stephen Covey. It is about how parents and schools are inspiring greatness in children. The reviews are really good.
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I haven’t read this.. but after reading your review, I didn’t understand why the book is titled ‘A Good Indian Wife’. Maybe I missed something!!:-)
Waiting for the next review. Keep ’em coming.
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I just picked up this book..I am going to wait reading ur review..read mine,write the review n then come back and read it..:D
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hahaha 😛 I told you so smithus 😉 ROFL!!!
hmmm, I never knew this book existed 😛 need to read this and increase my knowledge of the stereotypes 😛
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I will make a library of book marks of the books you have read, Smitha! Your reviews ask me to get the book immediately and read, but I have become very lazy nowadays …think 100 times before opening the first page of a book to read!
Enjoy!
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So many books !!! U r quite fast !!! 🙂
ANd I don’t post reviews on all the books I read 🙂 I do read fast – too fast acc to husband and parents 🙂
BTW, hv to mention that ur DP is just fantastic !!!! 🙂
Thank you!
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Suneel(Neel)…..this name reminded me about Kal Penn
I have no idea who is Kal Penn – so you have to explain 😦
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Ohh yeah, he is a Hollywood actor(Indian origin) 😀
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalpen_Modi
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You are helping me make a brand new reading list 🙂 I intend to read each one of the reviews where you say ‘Not too great, not too bad’… and I enjoy anything by Indian authors 🙂
🙂 I hope you like it -as I said, the stereotypes were bad.. but otherwise it was a good read.
Love the colours on the cover page here!
Yes, the cover is lovely, isn’t it?
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I will give a miss to this book…. already I am reading slowly and lot of books to read…. 😐 😐
I would say the same 🙂 Not worth it if you have good stuff to read 🙂
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🙂 I read this book too and liked it! It was a nice read!
You did 🙂 It was a decent read – the stereotypes just spoilt it a bit for me.
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Even I need to know the place where a book is based! Dunno how it helps me but it gives me something to connect to!!!
Soemhow, it all felt disjointed in some ways. They live 5 hours from Bombay and yet she does not know much Hindi – only Tamil and English. As I said, it might not matter – but I was not happy – for some reason.
Such stories are usually very cliched! Might not pick this up!
It was cliched – and it is fine if you are picking it up from a library – I’m not sure if I would buy it, you know.
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Added to my wishlist 🙂
Me: 🙂
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so this one goes in my list
i also have 4 unfinished reviews in my drafts will post them as soon as the neck gets better or i get too bored to lie down 🙂
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Hello Smita, Are you from Jamshedpur then? Did you go to Sacred Heart? Which years? I am from Jamshedpur too! Anita Mathias
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