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bookluver1's review against another edition
4.0
My book group chose this book as a club read. It is beautifully written, about a time and culture I have not experienced (India in the mid-1900s.) The author based the characters on her own family. As a first-time novelist she has done a beautiful job. The writing is beautiful and is great world-building. However for me, the story moved too slow for me to finish. Everyone else in my club loved it. I give it four stars for that reason.
tpanik's review against another edition
3.0
It's interesting to see how Layla's fated bad luck changes over the course of the book, and the details about the Assam Tea Trade are fascinating.
mkturner9's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the writing and subject, particularly the first half. It seemed a bit rushed and disjointed towards the end. But, overall, a good and interesting read!
john_bizzell's review against another edition
5.0
The Islington Libraries copy of The Far Pavilions, which I was labouring through on a train somewhere between Reading and Karidkote, is as thick as a Dundee cake and has a soft-focus cover featuring its heroine (she's not a heroine, but that's a different review) wistfully posing in a windswept sari on a dilapidated palace balcony. Even through the protective plastic wrapping, it gave the lady opposite me enough information to lean over and say: "if you enjoy a Raj romance, you should read Teatime for the Firefly." I was not particularly enjoying it, but I do enjoy an unexpected book recommendation. Also, the Kindle version was only £1.49. However, the dubious aftertaste left by those Far Pavilions, the term 'Raj romance' and - to be honest - the price, gave me an entirely false expectation of what THIS book would be.
It is a romance, but one that feels as if it grows from such an authentic place that it really does sweep you away. And if you're looking for a heroine, you won't find a better one than Layla. She is drawn so convincingly, when I reached the end I felt like I had genuinely met someone. In her closing note, the author confesses that some elements of the story were drawn from her parents' lives, but that she could not hope to create characters who lived with as much 'courage and integrity' as her mum and dad did. I'm sure that's true, but her characters truly do live that way. The world of the Assam tea plantations in the 1940s is so fully realised in her clean, clear writing that I dreamt about it like I'd been there.
This is a wonderful book. I loved it.
It is a romance, but one that feels as if it grows from such an authentic place that it really does sweep you away. And if you're looking for a heroine, you won't find a better one than Layla. She is drawn so convincingly, when I reached the end I felt like I had genuinely met someone. In her closing note, the author confesses that some elements of the story were drawn from her parents' lives, but that she could not hope to create characters who lived with as much 'courage and integrity' as her mum and dad did. I'm sure that's true, but her characters truly do live that way. The world of the Assam tea plantations in the 1940s is so fully realised in her clean, clear writing that I dreamt about it like I'd been there.
This is a wonderful book. I loved it.
simran_silva's review against another edition
5.0
What a page-turner! I could not put it down! Started reading it at 9 PM and finished at 2 AM!! Colorful, fanciful, detailed, informative, and beautifully written love story. Looking forward to reading more of Ms. Patel's novels. Absolutely love the title as well!
letitiaharmon's review against another edition
3.0
This book had some absolutely riveting moments and draws from experience in a world that few understand, but I had just as many, if not more, problems with it as I did lovely moments.
For one thing, it fails to do the one thing it had true potential to do: be a moving story of persevering and sacrificing love between a husband and wife. It's not that. We're supposed to think it's that, but the only times we get insight into Layla's heart, it's to describe how put out she is with her husband, or worried about his character. The part where she falls madly in love with him and their passion becomes more than physical just is not there.
It's also not a riveting look at the transition from colonial to post-colonial India, although that is the context and the reality is drily narrated for us by various characters (there is an enormous cast) who show up I suppose to illustrate different aspects of British Indian culture. Those who have an interest in Partition and the neocolonial world of tea plantations will be disappointed, as these areas are mentioned, but never thoroughly contemplated or dealt with.
The most riveting thing, in fact, happens in the last two chapters. I have found a trend among my books recently, where it's boring going for sooooo long and then the very end demonstrates extremely refined writing skill and an ability to arrest the reader's interest, but I'm left wondering "why didn't you do that for the past 400 pages?" This book has the same issue. There is simply not much to awaken the reader until the end, which is, I must admit, exciting and satisfying.
Patel can turn a phrase beautifully, but her dialogue is stilted and artificial. Ultimately the discerning reader is left a bit confused by everything, because there are moments of thoughtfulness and brilliance, but the novel simply does not come together as a cohesive whole, with any clear reason for existing. So I ended up giving it a moderate rating mostly for the lovely "slice of life" narration and the end, but still keeping in mind my frustration that I simply did not have a strong feeling about any of the characters nor a good sense of what this book is FOR.
For one thing, it fails to do the one thing it had true potential to do: be a moving story of persevering and sacrificing love between a husband and wife. It's not that. We're supposed to think it's that, but the only times we get insight into Layla's heart, it's to describe how put out she is with her husband, or worried about his character. The part where she falls madly in love with him and their passion becomes more than physical just is not there.
It's also not a riveting look at the transition from colonial to post-colonial India, although that is the context and the reality is drily narrated for us by various characters (there is an enormous cast) who show up I suppose to illustrate different aspects of British Indian culture. Those who have an interest in Partition and the neocolonial world of tea plantations will be disappointed, as these areas are mentioned, but never thoroughly contemplated or dealt with.
The most riveting thing, in fact, happens in the last two chapters. I have found a trend among my books recently, where it's boring going for sooooo long and then the very end demonstrates extremely refined writing skill and an ability to arrest the reader's interest, but I'm left wondering "why didn't you do that for the past 400 pages?" This book has the same issue. There is simply not much to awaken the reader until the end, which is, I must admit, exciting and satisfying.
Patel can turn a phrase beautifully, but her dialogue is stilted and artificial. Ultimately the discerning reader is left a bit confused by everything, because there are moments of thoughtfulness and brilliance, but the novel simply does not come together as a cohesive whole, with any clear reason for existing. So I ended up giving it a moderate rating mostly for the lovely "slice of life" narration and the end, but still keeping in mind my frustration that I simply did not have a strong feeling about any of the characters nor a good sense of what this book is FOR.
maddiekp's review against another edition
4.0
This review can be found on my blog:
http://wordingmythoughts.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/book-review-teatime-for-the-firefly/
Title: Teatime for the Firefly
Author: Shona Patel
ISBN: 9780778315476
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Source: Advance copy via NetGalley
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
From Shona Patel’s blog:
"My name is Layla and I was born under an unlucky star. The time and place of my birth makes me a Manglik. For a young girl growing up in India in the 1940’s, this is bad news. The planet Mars is predominant in my Hindu horoscope and this angry, red planet makes people rebellious and militant by nature. Everyone knows I am astrologically doomed and fated never to marry. Marriages in our society are arranged by astrology and nobody wants a warlike bride. Women are meant to be the needle that stitches families together, not the scissor that cuts.
But every thing began to change for me on April 7th, 1943.
Three things happened that day: Boris Ivanov, the famous Russian novelist, slipped on a tuberose at the grand opening ceremony of a new school, fell, and broke his leg; a baby crow fell out of its nest in the mango tree; and I, Layla Roy, aged fifteen years and three days, fell in love with Manik Deb.
The incidents may have remained unconnected, like three tiny droplets on a lily leaf. But the leaf tipped and the drops rolled into one. It was a tiny shift in the cosmos, I believe, that tipped us together—Boris Ivanov, the baby crow, Manik Deb, and me."
I loved this book! It is such a beautifully written book that I couldn’t put it down but somehow I made myself stop to just let the words wash over me and to feel the characters and live with them for some more time. Shona Patel’s storytelling and writing ability is so powerful that it transports you and you can’t get out of that magical place. While reading the book, I felt nostalgic for an era I didn’t even live in. Is it even possible?
In Teatime, we follow Layla’s journey from her laid back life with her grandfather, Dadamoshai to the turbulent times she faces during India’s independence and thereafter. Layla is born under an unlucky start and is orphaned at a very young age. Yet, she is brought up by her wise and forward thinking grandfather to be a smart, educated and independent thinking girl. After marrying Manik Deb, Layla moves to the borders of Assam to live in the tea plantations where her husband works. Overnight she finds out that she is a now a memsahib with a fully staffed bungalow at her disposal and has to look and act accordingly. Soon we see that her relaxed life with her grandfather is over and she has to face many issues arising out of the changing economic situations at that time. Set against the spectacular backdrop of tea plantations, Shona Patel remarkably portrays the contrasts of an idyllic exotic location and it’s flawed society. Through Layla we see the life and times of the local plantation workers as they face racism, poverty, superstition and even politics.
I fell in love with Layla first and with her grandfather a little later – but these are not the only people who are delightful to read. The other motley of characters that Patel weaves in this story are equally captivating and touching – from Layla’s extended family to her servant staff, her husband’s colleagues and their wives and mistresses – every character is a joy to read – they are real, believable and you can easily picture them in your head with their nuances.
Shona Patel’s prose is lush and lyrical. It transports you to the India in the 1940′s and completely immerses you in that time and place . Layla’s story is funny, adventurous, dangerous and courageous. You would at times wish to stop and savour the moments yet find yourself distraught at the thought of staying away from the beautiful place and characters of this book. A coffee addict myself, after reading this book, I craved for a cup of tea…
Highly recommended! Can’t wait for her next book!
http://wordingmythoughts.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/book-review-teatime-for-the-firefly/
Title: Teatime for the Firefly
Author: Shona Patel
ISBN: 9780778315476
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Source: Advance copy via NetGalley
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
From Shona Patel’s blog:
"My name is Layla and I was born under an unlucky star. The time and place of my birth makes me a Manglik. For a young girl growing up in India in the 1940’s, this is bad news. The planet Mars is predominant in my Hindu horoscope and this angry, red planet makes people rebellious and militant by nature. Everyone knows I am astrologically doomed and fated never to marry. Marriages in our society are arranged by astrology and nobody wants a warlike bride. Women are meant to be the needle that stitches families together, not the scissor that cuts.
But every thing began to change for me on April 7th, 1943.
Three things happened that day: Boris Ivanov, the famous Russian novelist, slipped on a tuberose at the grand opening ceremony of a new school, fell, and broke his leg; a baby crow fell out of its nest in the mango tree; and I, Layla Roy, aged fifteen years and three days, fell in love with Manik Deb.
The incidents may have remained unconnected, like three tiny droplets on a lily leaf. But the leaf tipped and the drops rolled into one. It was a tiny shift in the cosmos, I believe, that tipped us together—Boris Ivanov, the baby crow, Manik Deb, and me."
I loved this book! It is such a beautifully written book that I couldn’t put it down but somehow I made myself stop to just let the words wash over me and to feel the characters and live with them for some more time. Shona Patel’s storytelling and writing ability is so powerful that it transports you and you can’t get out of that magical place. While reading the book, I felt nostalgic for an era I didn’t even live in. Is it even possible?
In Teatime, we follow Layla’s journey from her laid back life with her grandfather, Dadamoshai to the turbulent times she faces during India’s independence and thereafter. Layla is born under an unlucky start and is orphaned at a very young age. Yet, she is brought up by her wise and forward thinking grandfather to be a smart, educated and independent thinking girl. After marrying Manik Deb, Layla moves to the borders of Assam to live in the tea plantations where her husband works. Overnight she finds out that she is a now a memsahib with a fully staffed bungalow at her disposal and has to look and act accordingly. Soon we see that her relaxed life with her grandfather is over and she has to face many issues arising out of the changing economic situations at that time. Set against the spectacular backdrop of tea plantations, Shona Patel remarkably portrays the contrasts of an idyllic exotic location and it’s flawed society. Through Layla we see the life and times of the local plantation workers as they face racism, poverty, superstition and even politics.
I fell in love with Layla first and with her grandfather a little later – but these are not the only people who are delightful to read. The other motley of characters that Patel weaves in this story are equally captivating and touching – from Layla’s extended family to her servant staff, her husband’s colleagues and their wives and mistresses – every character is a joy to read – they are real, believable and you can easily picture them in your head with their nuances.
Shona Patel’s prose is lush and lyrical. It transports you to the India in the 1940′s and completely immerses you in that time and place . Layla’s story is funny, adventurous, dangerous and courageous. You would at times wish to stop and savour the moments yet find yourself distraught at the thought of staying away from the beautiful place and characters of this book. A coffee addict myself, after reading this book, I craved for a cup of tea…
Highly recommended! Can’t wait for her next book!
shayebear's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not generally a fan of period pieces, this one set around the time of world war 2. I did enjoy the interesting setting of Assam in a tea plantation, definitely an unusual setting drawing much intrigue to the way of life. however this book reads just like the way of life, there's no real climax, more of just a steady timeline of the main characters life. no big problems to be solved, or big ending, just a meandering of a life. still interesting for its insights into some aspects of Indian culture at the time, and the life on a tea plantation but doesn't offer too much beyond that.
thespinedown's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
krismcd59's review against another edition
3.0
A simple, straightforward story enriched by lushly detailed descriptions of a landscape and culture little known to Western readers. The incredible diversity of Indian culture enriches Layla's fairly charmed life as the besotted bride of an Anglo-Indian tea planter in Assam. Patel's style is breezy and captures the rhythms of Anglicized Indian English, although a few anachronisms of phrase do creep in here and there, and you sometimes wish for a point of view less focused on gardens and linens than Layla's, especially when waves of religious and political unrest disrupt her world. Kudos to Patel, however, for being the first author I've ever encountered to eroticize a hornet sting.