Reviews

Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya

candyland's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

ebethinri's review

4.0

Yet another book from Rob's college class on Indian literature. I am finding that all of these books highlight the people's absence of self-determination during this time in history.

Depressing, yet fascinating to see the different responses to the same historical situation.

the_orange's review

emotional reflective sad 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? No

3.0

myarelli's review

5.0

I read this book in high school (13 years ago now) and it has always stuck with me as one of my favorites. It is such a humbling tale to read as you watch the main characters family seemingly never catch a break but keep pressing through their hardships.

It was difficult at first as I can remember feeling like it was "boring" but I am SO glad my teacher at the time urged me to keep pushing through. By mid-way I didn't want to put it down and I could feel myself rooting and rooting that things would look up for the main character soon.

This will forever be one of my favorite reads.

alanffm's review

2.0

Nectar in a Sieve is a story about poverty and struggle in a rapidly modernizing pre-state India. The novel follows the struggles of Irawaddy a mother and wife who, despite incredible odds, manages to barely survive poverty for years. She is unfairly ostracized by her community and forced to watch her children either die or enter prostitution as the consequence of bad fortune. Nevertheless, she continues to look forward and persist and does all she can to hold her broken family together.

The novel is depressing and bleak with moments of optimism sprinkled in. It simply does not resonate with me in the same way that other books have. Whatever lessons on poverty, gender, social roles, and post-colonialism, are nested inside this book are largely lost on me and are unclear.

evspekkie's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

2.0

lucyc3274's review

the book is sad and the narrator a kind of doe-eyed pragmatist, and there’s a lot to be said about early neocolonialism. but, you know. the title is from a poem written by a British romanticist, which kind of makes you think that Markandaya really drank the kool aid, in a way.

showell's review

5.0

May be the most beautiful piece of prose I've read.

krobart's review

4.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/04/23/review-1842-1954-club-nectar-in-a-sieve/

alexs_book_hoard's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0

 Rukmani is the daughter of her village’s chief and knows privilege–until she marries Nathan, a farmer. Follow her life’s story as she, Nathan, and her family survive in a developing post-colonial India. I thought the narrative of this book was eye-opening. I don’t have a lot of exposure to Indian culture, so seeing how the life of the lower-class happens, and how changes that seem beneficial to us are harmful to others, was an enlightening read. There were a few places where the story dragged a little and I felt like Markandaya spent too long on elements that required less. This became a longer problem particularly toward the end of the novel. However, definitely worth the read and I’m glad I had the chance to read it!