Reviews

A very interesting look into a culture I knew little about. A spectacular story focused on women, inequality, sexism, and cultural imbalances. My favorite parts were the embracing of women supporting each other through the craziest of moments and sticking together. I loved the ability of the characters to find the power within themselves and challenge the horrible, misogynistic world in which they live.

cheerbrarian's review against another edition

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5.0

I would think it a real challenge to make a story about women suffering under abusive husbands and the difficulties of living in the caste system in India incredibly funny, but this book managed to do that. The humor is dark, but the characters (mostly women) are authentic, interesting and very relatable as they try to navigate the world of men while finding ways to advocate for themselves in a world that doesn't want them to do much at all.

Geeta's awful husband disappeared 5 years ago and when the people of her village think she killed him, well, she decides to let that rumor ride. She is using her newfound freedom to increase her meager savings and through micro-loans and a community of women is forging ahead with her own business. But when another woman in the village with an abusive husband wants help getting rid of her problem, Geeta has to decide how and if to get involved. She also must navigate the watchful eye of her childhood friend Saloni as they have spent their adult lives avoiding each other, having been torn apart by Geeta's marriage. This book also has some comedy of errors and general shenanigans that give it authenticity in that people pushed out of their comfort zones often bumble and make mistakes: these aren't assassins, but normal women trying to find peace.

Reading this book gave me a deeper exposure to Indian culture and the caste system. Also, because I was fascinated to discover that The Bandit Queen Geeta refers to is a real historical figure, I include some information about her, Phoolan Devi.

Phoolan Devi (10 August 1963 – 25 July 2001), popularly known as the Bandit Queen, was an Indian dacoit (bandit) who became a politician, serving as a member of parliament until her assassination.

Umed Singh commented "No one likes it when someone, especially a woman, from the lower classes rises and makes a name for herself" and her lawyer Kamini Jaiswal stated "This murder is the result of caste conflict. Rana (her murderer) claims he was motivated to take revenge upon her for her actions as a leader of a bandit gang that acted primarily against the higher castes in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

All in all, this is an interesting book that broadened my knowledge about a culture that I am not very familiar with. I'm recommending it to lots of people to read because it has great female characters, humor, and is a unique story. Still, I'm cautious to take a fiction book and ascribe it to reality: some critics of this book have said she presents the "dirty India" rather than painting a holistic portrayal. As someone from a place that people tend to have narrow exposure and understanding of (Louisiana, which is more than just New Orleans) I can appreciate that take.

sam_lecksell's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

dorissander's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

larafrances's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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