It is very ironic that the Tiger is currently held at the V&A museum (now after reading is definitely on my list to go and see). The author set this dIt is very ironic that the Tiger is currently held at the V&A museum (now after reading is definitely on my list to go and see). The author set this during the eighteenth century when 'Tipu's tiger' was first commissioned by Tipu Sultan himself in the late eighteenth century.
I love historical fiction but especially South Asian historical fiction featuring epic rulers. This book just really grips you because of the storytelling but it felt a bit disjointed as if the author wrote chapters separately and she put them together. I did really enjoy reading this book and how much effort she put into researching real life events and correlating them into her retelling. In the The author's note she writes the book is 'imagining these makers and the journey of the automaton itself.'
And it is interesting reading her take on that. I loved the importance she gave to Abbas and Du Leze, the imagery of their workshop and commitment to it. What it means for both of them and their developing relationship but also highlighting a young man's dream to make his mark on the world. It allows him to follow his dream to Paris and eventually England and through that (and perhaps my favourite thing about the book) it allows the reader to see the legacy of colonialism, classicism and racism across the world. Not to mention Tipu and his legacy and his time ruling.
This book was more than artistry and adventure and I loved the setting's the story telling the imagery and amount of detail that went into this book.
Quotes/
'Were an artist to choose me for his model - How could he draw the form of a sigh?'...more
You know you really love and connected with a book when you do further research about the book. For me it was the indirect references to and the politYou know you really love and connected with a book when you do further research about the book. For me it was the indirect references to and the political history that this book was set around. Such a bold and emotional book that carries the complexities of adulthood and how past traumas shape us.
The writing has a timeless quality to it (almost Dickensian) a book of modern India that portrays violence, prejudice, community and tradition. It is also heavily political in that it deals with the story of nationalism and the influence, power and interference of the state. It is a story of family and the weight of parental (and to an extent generational) expectation. As a South Asian myself I have experienced this 'do better' than your parents and their parents before them. And education is highly valued. In this story Shabby and Chintoo experience this but they use it as escapism to also build a life away from India. I have never read a book that doesn't shy away from how politics especially in India and the government has so much growth and has hope and is inspiring yet it is underpinned and still stuck in the same Colonial rule.
The mob mentality, the ostracized Muslims, pitting the Hindus and Muslims against each other. It touch upon the cult-like groups that mask their hate and prejudice through worship and race/caste. But then comes the One Small Voice. It is a story of hope, love and understanding. The ending with the death and the family and friends coming together really touched me. It is so humorous in places but so deep and makes you question a lot. Like what if Ma had asked Shubby about the accident? Or what if Shubby had come clean earlier had took this weight of his shoulder? Or even why did they not confront Suresh-mausa earlier?
I also LOVED the references to the Indian culture as I could relate to it as it is similar to my Pakistani background. It makes reading it that much more enjoyable as it makes you feel seen and represented. The author writes beautifully about friendships and the devastating consequences about secrecy and shame. The characters are written exceptionally and feel so real that it makes me feel as if I have met them before. This was written as a debut... wow... I can't wait to read what he writes next.
Quotes/
'Urdu was born in the barracks a few hundred years ago, and was spoken by soldiers. It gets its grammar from Hindi, and vocabulary from Persian.'
'But he knows now that this is how human beings are. All we want is to move up the ladder, but once we've gone up, we look back and yearn, those markers of the past time now quaint, retro. In Germany, they have a word for it - the memories of the East that have endured, even though back then people were scaling walls and crawling through tunnels to cross over to the West - ostalgie, born out of the need to hold on to something familiar when everything around has change beyond recognition.'
'We women, if we don't look after ourselves, no one else will, and then we end up alone and sick when we're old.'
'How easy it is for people to come and go, enter our lives, like, life is a play in acts, and every act has a different cast of characters, with the protagonist having little choice in who they are surrounded by, the power completely vested in the playwright.'
'This is what happens when people can't tell their own stories. Other people tell them on their behalf, spinning what they wished for them, wished upon them. And they, the voiceless, lie silent, witnessing their lives being reincarnated on other people's tongues.'
'Migration is the oldest truth of humankind.'...more
Anyone who is a fan of short stories this is a great collection of stories that explores the heart of family life and the immigrant experience. SimilaAnyone who is a fan of short stories this is a great collection of stories that explores the heart of family life and the immigrant experience. Similar to Rooney, Lahiri focuses on characterization and human interactions. Every story has emotion behind it, every story shows how much heritage and culture matters. These stories give an insight into the immigration experience, an intimate exploration that makes it authentic and relatable. This is a great collection of stories that have not only moved but has made me reflect and question too. Highly recommend with novel to those who love short stories. ...more
Popsugar reading challenge- a book with a tiger on the cover or 'tiger' in the title. Popsugar reading challenge- a book with a tiger on the cover or 'tiger' in the title. ...more
As E.M Forster said, 'Untouchable could only have been written by an Indian, and by an Indian who observed from the outside. No European, however sympaAs E.M Forster said, 'Untouchable could only have been written by an Indian, and by an Indian who observed from the outside. No European, however sympathetic, could have created the character of Bakha, because he would not have known enough about his troubles.' A must-read for those who want to educate themself on India's caste system!...more
“Success was ephemeral- and fluid- as I’d found out the hard way. It came. It went. It changed you from the outside, but not the inside. Inside, I was“Success was ephemeral- and fluid- as I’d found out the hard way. It came. It went. It changed you from the outside, but not the inside. Inside, I was still the same girl who dreamed of a destiny greater then she was allowed.”
We are transported to 1955 where the MC- Lakshmi has escaped her abusive marriage. She moves to the pink city of Jaipur and takes up work as a Henna artist. There is a twist of her finding out that she has a sister called Radha which she never knew about, and this threatens all Lakshmi has worked towards.
I loved this book so much. This is one of those books that you learn so much from. I remember learning about the Hindu Caste system during my Religious Education lessons however this book gives you an insight of how it affected (and still affects) people living it. I just loved everything about Lakshmi’s character, she influenced me so much and it’s nice to see a strong female character. Lakshmi has been through everything, an abusive marriage, people’s judgement yet when she leaves all she knows- her parents, and her country- to start over in Jaipur she doesn’t give up. Through her passion of art and her help of her mother-in-law she takes up a position as a Henna artist. Winning over the trust of Jaipur’s elitist, Lakshmi quickly is in demand for her work. Lakshmi is not seen as a threat to the women because of her status so is easily entrusted with secrets of the women’s life. The Henna also takes on a magical role because some of the women believe it helps with their marriage and/or childbearing. I also love the use of herbal remedies (with my mother who swears by it) compared to normal Western medicine. I love it highlights Lakshmi’s intelligence and how her career also develops from the use of it. The characters were everything in this book, from Parvati being the main catalyst in Lakshmi’s career progression to being the destruction, Radha her sister who’s existence she didn’t know of, takes her in and teaches her everything. I really like the development of between these two and really liked where they were at the ending. I loved Malik’s role in the novel. Malik is Lakshmi’s help however Lakshmi treated him more like a friend with so much trust, loyalty, love, banter. (I can’t wait to see his story in the next book) also his love of desserts was so cute and how we really looked out for Lakshmi.
With the themes of sexism, social class, miscarriages, love, hate and betrayal, and loads of henna with family ties and an insight into women’s role in society during 1950’s India this is a must read. I loved the authors note at the end it just made the novel that much more meaningful....more
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indian-lit
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