heyitschzva's review
4.0
Anosh Irani happened to be the writer-in-residence at my university this past winter, which is what spurred me to pick up this book. Hearing him talk about his work gave great insight to the story itself, however I don't think that there is any need for prior knowledge about the Zorastrian faith before reading.
Anosh is a very engaging writer, the narrative drawing you in immediately. The story alternates between the narrative of Zairos, the young grandson of Sharur Irani, a wealthy Indian landowner, and his grandfather. Zairos is faced with the trial of discovering the body of one of his workers hanging from one of his mango trees, and informing the man's daughter of her father's death. The real trial emerges when Zairos finds that he is falling in love with the young woman, who is of a much lower caste than Zairos (in fact she is a tribal slave). It is far from a traditional love story, and the incorporation of details about the history and the characters makes you feel as though you really know the characters, and understand the choices that Zairos made by story-end.
Anosh is a very engaging writer, the narrative drawing you in immediately. The story alternates between the narrative of Zairos, the young grandson of Sharur Irani, a wealthy Indian landowner, and his grandfather. Zairos is faced with the trial of discovering the body of one of his workers hanging from one of his mango trees, and informing the man's daughter of her father's death. The real trial emerges when Zairos finds that he is falling in love with the young woman, who is of a much lower caste than Zairos (in fact she is a tribal slave). It is far from a traditional love story, and the incorporation of details about the history and the characters makes you feel as though you really know the characters, and understand the choices that Zairos made by story-end.
canadianbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very sensual novel, appealing to the senses. Zairos Irani is a young man, close to his grandfather Shapur. As he spends time with the old man, he is told stories of the past. He is also the one to find a worker's body in the orchard, and he finds himself drawn to the man's daughter. Kusum also finds herself drawn to Zairos and at the basis of this is a memory from her childhood. Zairos has lived a life of idleness and his first moves are hesitant. As the both find themselves defying taboos with their relationship, it is Kusum who has the strength. Their story also leads back to the story of Shapur and Banu, Zairos' grandparents.
We see the age-old conflict between the landowning Iranis, and the local tribal Warlis who work for them. Zairos discovers this history is part of his family story as well. This book has humour and sadness, but it is the evocative nature of the writing that makes it come alive.
This book is one of the ten finalists for the 2011 OLA Evergreen Award.
We see the age-old conflict between the landowning Iranis, and the local tribal Warlis who work for them. Zairos discovers this history is part of his family story as well. This book has humour and sadness, but it is the evocative nature of the writing that makes it come alive.
This book is one of the ten finalists for the 2011 OLA Evergreen Award.
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