I couldn't have read That Year at Manikoil on a better day if I'd planned it. I don't even remember how long ago I bought my copy, but it was today, Independence Day, that I sat down with it. And it was only when I was close to finishing it that I realised what an apt day it was to have read a book from the Songs of Freedom series.That Year at Manikoil is a rich, beautifully told story. Like The Chowpatty Cooking Club, it traces the story of young girls in the 1940s. World War II continues to rage on, and the protagonist Raji is confused. Why does her Thatha entertain British guests? Is he a coward? Why is her brother Gopu Anna fighting a war for the British? And a question that bothers her right through: what is her part in the struggle for independence? I love how authentic Raji's voice is. She wants to do something meaningful, but it is all too easy to get tempted by more … [Read more...]