Play Book Tag discussion

This book is a hard one for me to rate. Umrigar is a gifted writer. I love the creativity in her beautiful prose descriptions; but, on the other hand, I guess I can only take so much description of pure despair. She describes an AIDS ward in a government hospital, the stinking filth in the alleyways and slums of Mumbai, and beaches used as communal toilets. I’ve seen these places and worked in some of them, and I simply do not want to revisit the experiences. The ugly injustice of the deeply embedded caste system is less physically nauseating, but repellant in its own way. The misogyny across all classes is loathsome. I nearly quit the book several times because it was depressing, but went back for the prose — and I wanted to see what happened too. The story is about Bhima, an impoverished lower-class servant, who works for an upper class Parsi family. Bhima is the sole guardian for her 17-year-old granddaughter, whose parents died of AIDS. Early in the book we learn that granddaughter is pregnant. Bhima’s employer is Sera, who is kinder than most to her servant, and makes a big deal out of treating her “fairly.” Both women have suffered in abusive marriages, so there is some sympathy between them, but it’s still an offensive relationship. When they take tea together, Sera sits at the table and Bhima squats on the ground. My experience is that this is not unusual. So, beautiful writing about depressing lives. I’m glad I’ve seen enough of India to realize that this picture is only one piece of a vast and varied country. I guess I’ll give the book a 3, based on how it made me feel. I don’t mind having my heart broken by a book, but relentless despair isn’t what I want — at least not at the moment.

I rated it 1 star higher, even though the reasons you gave were always in my mind. After reading, I had to think long and hard about a star rating. This is the first book I read by her and I raised it to 4 stars simply because she brought out all those ugly things, and the emotion that goes with them, that you mention. This is not my normal reading, in fact I only read it because I was committed to a buddy read. I will read her again, just not soon.

A decade ago I read and enjoyed two of her books: If Today Be Sweet and First Darling of the Morning. I liked them both but didn't rate or write reviews. Any way, they inspired me to read this newer one. (Maybe I should go back to her old ones - there are many!)

I love Umrigar's writing. I recently read her The Weight of Heaven and had previously read both this book and The Story Hour

There is a sequel to this book - The Secrets Between Us in which Bhima picks up the pieces of her life following the end of the first book.