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tasni's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
solachi's review
3.0
"When the foundation of trust cracks, how can a marriage remain the same?"
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Mridula, a government teacher brought up in a small village named Aladahalli, North Karnataka is intelligent, simple and economically conserving. Sanjay is a government doctor with a hand deformation; a loyal, hard working, thriving middle class man. When they meet, and Sanjay falls head over heels for Mridula, they get married. Slowly, Sudha Murty develops the characters of calculative, shrewd in-laws, grandeur of Indian weddings despite living on a monthly salary, political corruption in professional fields. An important aspect of this novel is, the patriarchal society and its impact on women. After 25 years of marriage, Mridula has been deceived by Sanjay. What will Mridula do? Can an Indian woman survive alone, if she desired for it?
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I appreciate the concept of infidelity not just constricted to extra marital affairs but also other matters as well. Sudha Murty is keen on the facets of Indian marriages, a couple's relationship, and the trust between the two.
.
What altered my views? Sudha Murty crudely puts forth the patriarchal system with reality fact check. And in the dedication page, she did mentioned, "To all the Mridulas who suffer silently." which for some reason tore my soul.
.
This book is not for every Tom, Dick and Harry. At certain points, this will bore you to death. At the very end, it'll make you feel like reading this was worth your while. As this clearly replicates a bollywood script or close to Indian soap opera, you can imagine how it's going to be.
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Rating: 3/5
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(GR - 12/24)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CELtFAlHUBj/?igshid=1o4hyb0qakebm
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Mridula, a government teacher brought up in a small village named Aladahalli, North Karnataka is intelligent, simple and economically conserving. Sanjay is a government doctor with a hand deformation; a loyal, hard working, thriving middle class man. When they meet, and Sanjay falls head over heels for Mridula, they get married. Slowly, Sudha Murty develops the characters of calculative, shrewd in-laws, grandeur of Indian weddings despite living on a monthly salary, political corruption in professional fields. An important aspect of this novel is, the patriarchal society and its impact on women. After 25 years of marriage, Mridula has been deceived by Sanjay. What will Mridula do? Can an Indian woman survive alone, if she desired for it?
.
I appreciate the concept of infidelity not just constricted to extra marital affairs but also other matters as well. Sudha Murty is keen on the facets of Indian marriages, a couple's relationship, and the trust between the two.
.
What altered my views? Sudha Murty crudely puts forth the patriarchal system with reality fact check. And in the dedication page, she did mentioned, "To all the Mridulas who suffer silently." which for some reason tore my soul.
.
This book is not for every Tom, Dick and Harry. At certain points, this will bore you to death. At the very end, it'll make you feel like reading this was worth your while. As this clearly replicates a bollywood script or close to Indian soap opera, you can imagine how it's going to be.
.
Rating: 3/5
.
(GR - 12/24)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CELtFAlHUBj/?igshid=1o4hyb0qakebm
darshana's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
meenalgarg's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
josee_hg's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
viveknshah's review
3.0
My first foray into Sudha Murty's world. I like her simple writing style, reminds me a bit of Malgudi Day feel as she tries to recreate rustic India feel in her book. Emphasizing on small town values of relationships over money , she poignantly captures the transition of emotions that play through the main protagonists as they first hand feel the transformation. This is a transition society is seeing as a whole so very relevant. I felt the book slowed down at stages where I felt like flipping pages over to see if it picked up later though she does end it with a high. The character development was good for a lot of the main characters which I felt was a strong point.
The verdict on Sudha Murty is still out for me and will probably read another of her books to make a better call.
The verdict on Sudha Murty is still out for me and will probably read another of her books to make a better call.
hanee's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
simranpradhan's review
3.0
Mridula is a young, talented girl from a small town in Karnataka, who meets a doctor Sanjan by the luck of chance. They fall in love, Sanjay starts his own hospital with the help of a friend after facing severe corruption in government hospitals while Mridula's teaching career flourishes. Yet, there are holes in the marriages she doesn't realise. House of Cards, as the name suggests, is a tale of just how fragile our support systems can be.
Sudha Murthy probably is my favourite Indian author. She doesn't analyse, neither does she underrepresent something. There are metaphors and juxtapositions that will melt your heart, there are tragic tales that will make you weep. House of Cards, especially, tells the ordeal of an Indian woman. While Mridula isn't an ideal woman in the modern world, one can still understand where she comes from, and in the end, she is the epitome of being a good person, teacher, mother, daughter and wife. Yet, she fails to provide for herself- and by the end of it you will be glad she starts doing it. I also love the concept of flawed characters- no character is perfect here, yet there are aspects you will agree on. If you want a white person to understand just how complex the dynamics of brown society are, just make them read a Sudha Murthy book.
Sudha Murthy probably is my favourite Indian author. She doesn't analyse, neither does she underrepresent something. There are metaphors and juxtapositions that will melt your heart, there are tragic tales that will make you weep. House of Cards, especially, tells the ordeal of an Indian woman. While Mridula isn't an ideal woman in the modern world, one can still understand where she comes from, and in the end, she is the epitome of being a good person, teacher, mother, daughter and wife. Yet, she fails to provide for herself- and by the end of it you will be glad she starts doing it. I also love the concept of flawed characters- no character is perfect here, yet there are aspects you will agree on. If you want a white person to understand just how complex the dynamics of brown society are, just make them read a Sudha Murthy book.
paperback_reader's review
4.0
Sudha Murthy as always portrays a serious issue in a simple yet impactful story. House of cards is the journey of Mridula, from being a happy young girl hailing from a small village to a married woman grappling with the ways of life in a metropolitan city. Stories like these are not uncommon in Indian society. The author has rightly hit the nail on how a woman’s sacrifice for her husband and family is considered a moral obligation, as if she lives her life for everyone but herself.
All of Sudha Murthy’s books teach you a lesson not like a self help book but by living it through her characters experiences like Mridula.
Simple writing style and a gripping story makes it a breeze to read her books.
All of Sudha Murthy’s books teach you a lesson not like a self help book but by living it through her characters experiences like Mridula.
Simple writing style and a gripping story makes it a breeze to read her books.