When I started reading Trouble in the Tea Gardens by Mitali Perkins, I was struck by how similar several elements were to Tiger Boy. An intelligent small-town child capable of winning a scholarship to get a better education, a teacher with the child’s best interests at heart, a power-hungry, avaricious person in authority … I wondered if I was going to enjoy another story that followed the same lines. But soon enough, I realised that the similarities end there. The mystery in Trouble in the Tea Gardens is gripping, and I love how everything ties up as the story goes on. A pacy read, I was soon thoroughly invested in the characters, eager to know how the story would play out.Set in Darjeeling, Trouble in the Tea Gardens is a slim book weaves together a range of serious themes with subtlety and nuance. The protagonist Sona is the daughter of a Nepali tea plantation worker. … [Read more...]
Tiger Boy
Sometimes, it takes a while to get to a book, even though you come across it everywhere. Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins was like that for me. I knew it was set in the Sunderbans, and that it has sold over a lakh copies. I bought a copy, and yet, it sat unread on my shelf for months. I finally read it, and I'm looking forward to introducing it to my book clubbers! It's a story about being true to yourself, making difficult decisions, and persevering even when it feels like the world is against you. Another book that reminded me of Red Eyes, I loved venturing with the protagonist Neel deep into the forest, as he struggles to balance what he wants with what he must do. Imagery As someone who loves visiting jungles, a book set in a forest opens up all kinds of possibilities. As we read Tiger Boy, we will work on bringing all five senses alive through … [Read more...]
You Bring the Distant Near
You Bring the Distant Near has been on my TBR for a few years now. Yet, I never got around to reading it because I often don't enjoy sagas that span generations. The cover says, 'Five girls. Three generations. One great American love story.' I wondered if I wanted to read a book spanning generations. Plus, the cover made me wonder if I would be reading yet another American immigration story.I suppose the answer is 'yes and no'. It is an immigration story, yes, but it is both simpler and more nuanced than many others that I've read.You Bring the Distant Near is about finding your place in the world, whether or not your identity spans continents. In some ways, it's simplistic because it feels like finding your "happily ever after" is a straightforward, uncomplicated journey. Yet, the very simplicity of it was a breath of fresh air. I liked that it was not charged and … [Read more...]