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sandra1447's review
3.0
First off, I would like to thank the author for writing a story about Indian culture and history. I did not know much about it but the author explained a lot of things to me that I wouldn’t have understood if she had not explained it so beautifully and well. I enjoyed reading about a couple that was separated by race, ethnicity, and culture. The author showed the struggles that both Margaret and her love interest endured due to coming from different cultures and restrictions felt in their own cultures based on a social hierarchy. I found Margaret’s story more interesting than Emma’s and wish there had been more of Emma’s story so that I would feel as attached to her as I did for Margaret. I cared more for what had happened in Margaret’s life than what was presently happening in Emma’s.
The first half of the book was slower and I had to push through it a bit until I could not put it down. There were a lot of beautiful descriptions, but I felt that some of them were too long and did not contribute much to the story. I felt that there was a lot of repetitive paragraphs that had just been said a couple of pages prior so they were still in my mind and not forgotten. I would say that this book could be condensed a bit while not taking away from the actual story. I would recommend this book if you want a unique ending while also learning about Indian culture.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of the book was slower and I had to push through it a bit until I could not put it down. There were a lot of beautiful descriptions, but I felt that some of them were too long and did not contribute much to the story. I felt that there was a lot of repetitive paragraphs that had just been said a couple of pages prior so they were still in my mind and not forgotten. I would say that this book could be condensed a bit while not taking away from the actual story. I would recommend this book if you want a unique ending while also learning about Indian culture.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
robinlovesreading's review
5.0
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Emma is a loving granddaughter who follows through to check out her dying grandmother’s house in India. It is year 2000, and this beautiful saga shifts and becomes a story of past and present when Emma promises to give a mysterious painting to someone called Archana.
Leaving England to head to India could not have come at a better time for Emma as her relationship is greatly suffering. As a mother to eight-year-old Sophie, Emma is forced to make difficult choices.
The story shifts back to the early 1900’s, during and after World War I, and tells of the difficult and tragic life of Margaret, Emma’s grandmother. It also tells of Archana, someone who played a pivotal role in Margaret’s life, who Emma struggles to locate. Both Margaret’s and Archana’s stories are tragic and their lives are expertly chronicled.
Reading this stunningly amazing book by Renita D’Silva was very much like watching a captivating mini-series. There were many stories told, with much sadness, yet this book managed also to deliver hope and joy. The storytelling by this talented author was done with exquisite perfection.
Some of the things I enjoyed during this read were the intense drama, romance, family and learning of Indian culture. Times were hard after the war, so there were some difficult passages, such as tragic experiences. This compelling read was very difficult to put down and I felt for all three women, Emma, but especially Margaret and Archana. Their lives held such drama, and it felt so very real.
This wonderful read is definitely highly recommended. I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I will definitely look for both previous and future works.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Emma is a loving granddaughter who follows through to check out her dying grandmother’s house in India. It is year 2000, and this beautiful saga shifts and becomes a story of past and present when Emma promises to give a mysterious painting to someone called Archana.
Leaving England to head to India could not have come at a better time for Emma as her relationship is greatly suffering. As a mother to eight-year-old Sophie, Emma is forced to make difficult choices.
The story shifts back to the early 1900’s, during and after World War I, and tells of the difficult and tragic life of Margaret, Emma’s grandmother. It also tells of Archana, someone who played a pivotal role in Margaret’s life, who Emma struggles to locate. Both Margaret’s and Archana’s stories are tragic and their lives are expertly chronicled.
Reading this stunningly amazing book by Renita D’Silva was very much like watching a captivating mini-series. There were many stories told, with much sadness, yet this book managed also to deliver hope and joy. The storytelling by this talented author was done with exquisite perfection.
Some of the things I enjoyed during this read were the intense drama, romance, family and learning of Indian culture. Times were hard after the war, so there were some difficult passages, such as tragic experiences. This compelling read was very difficult to put down and I felt for all three women, Emma, but especially Margaret and Archana. Their lives held such drama, and it felt so very real.
This wonderful read is definitely highly recommended. I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I will definitely look for both previous and future works.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
rbharath's review
2.0
This is the second book of Renita D’Silva that I read after ‘Beneath an Indian Sky’ which I really liked. It had strong characters you would remember the book by, and this is true for ‘The Girl in the Painting’ as well. Margaret and Archana will stay with you, well after you have finished reading the book.
The book shuffles between two separate timelines – one in the early 20th century and the other in the early 21st century. Margaret, is old and ill, now in hospice care. She asks her grand-daughter Emma to visit a property she owns in India and meet with Archana. She is to deliver a message to her saying she understands why she did what she did and has forgiven her, and also has regrets for what she did long back as well.
In the early 20th century, Radha and Archana are sisters who grow up in poverty. Their difficulties increase even more when Radha chooses to marry a person of a lower caste, and their father passes away suddenly. Their family is ostracised, and Radha’s choice does not work out either as her husband is completely irresponsible. Archana gets married to a person many years older than her. This is a community where Sati (the practice of a wife ending her life when her husband dies, as part of the funeral pyre) is practiced, and this fear preys on Archana’s mind.
At around the same time in England, Margaret and Winnie lose their family including their sister Evie to a fire. They have to move in with their uncle, aunt and cousins. The story centers around Margaret, and how she tries to move on with life, taking solace in pursuing arts. She falls in love with Suraj who wants to move back to India, as he finds the racism prevalent to be exhausting. In India, Margaret now runs into Archana who is one of her maids. The two of them bond instantly and Archana reminds Margaret of her sister Evie.
The two social ills – casteism/untouchability and Sati find key mentions but feel forced fitted into the story. The untouchability and Radha’s life have no background feeding to it and is also largely left off after the initial focus (and Sati which is surmised to have started during invasions of the country, was not prominent during the early 20th century, and was probably never a widespread practice). Some elements of how the story is told is most likely to give readers who do not have a cultural familiarity, a very incomplete & incorrect picture.
In stories with a background like this, the impact would have been stronger if the experiences of the characters lead to their evolving development & growth, that of the community, and as a result this would have made the story grow too. However, much of that reflection is left entirely to the end.
I love Renita’s writing and the strong characters her stories feature. I hope to read more of her work soon. I would recommend this book for the characters - Margaret & Archana.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a free ecopy for providing an honest review.
The book shuffles between two separate timelines – one in the early 20th century and the other in the early 21st century. Margaret, is old and ill, now in hospice care. She asks her grand-daughter Emma to visit a property she owns in India and meet with Archana. She is to deliver a message to her saying she understands why she did what she did and has forgiven her, and also has regrets for what she did long back as well.
In the early 20th century, Radha and Archana are sisters who grow up in poverty. Their difficulties increase even more when Radha chooses to marry a person of a lower caste, and their father passes away suddenly. Their family is ostracised, and Radha’s choice does not work out either as her husband is completely irresponsible. Archana gets married to a person many years older than her. This is a community where Sati (the practice of a wife ending her life when her husband dies, as part of the funeral pyre) is practiced, and this fear preys on Archana’s mind.
At around the same time in England, Margaret and Winnie lose their family including their sister Evie to a fire. They have to move in with their uncle, aunt and cousins. The story centers around Margaret, and how she tries to move on with life, taking solace in pursuing arts. She falls in love with Suraj who wants to move back to India, as he finds the racism prevalent to be exhausting. In India, Margaret now runs into Archana who is one of her maids. The two of them bond instantly and Archana reminds Margaret of her sister Evie.
The two social ills – casteism/untouchability and Sati find key mentions but feel forced fitted into the story. The untouchability and Radha’s life have no background feeding to it and is also largely left off after the initial focus (and Sati which is surmised to have started during invasions of the country, was not prominent during the early 20th century, and was probably never a widespread practice). Some elements of how the story is told is most likely to give readers who do not have a cultural familiarity, a very incomplete & incorrect picture.
In stories with a background like this, the impact would have been stronger if the experiences of the characters lead to their evolving development & growth, that of the community, and as a result this would have made the story grow too. However, much of that reflection is left entirely to the end.
I love Renita’s writing and the strong characters her stories feature. I hope to read more of her work soon. I would recommend this book for the characters - Margaret & Archana.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a free ecopy for providing an honest review.
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