A review by regardsrachel
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

dark emotional funny reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I am a white person living in the United States reading this book and engaging with the material therefore  I am engaging with the story from my particular perspective and perception.  I knew through religion and social studies classes, readings and so on that caste is a complicated and nuanced system and can be even more specific when it comes to where it's happening and how it's practiced. Also, I think I had a better experience or was able to at least couch this story in a complicated multi-faceted context because I had listened to a podcast episode about Phoolan Devi.  I already knew her story and the aspects that show just how dark patriarchal violence and misogyny can get. I feel that I was coming into the story with a bit of a leg up or in a helpful mindset because I had already had that for knowledge.  I think I gained more from the story with that for knowledge and therefore I could more immerse myself in the journey that Geeta was having in regards to her actions and her emulation of Phoolan Devi but also where she still had concerns or was wrestling with how to be herself but also protect herself in the way Phoolan Devi did. I am not critiquing accuracy in the story, I am explaining my engagement with the book due to the knowledge I had before reading.

 Frankly, I thought the societal norms and rules were done well in the fact that yes there are these rules or yes these are the societal norms in which these characters are living however individuals will have their own relationship with those societal norms and communities will have their own unique relationship within these societal norms. I felt that the story captured that instead of making it a widespread condemnation of society in the book. 

The women felt like different types of women with their own distinctive motives and then also were complicated entities that were not villains but still monstrous.

The conflict made sense and was never in doubt.  I enjoyed the story and the end landed for me.  Which was quite a few considering all the pieces that had to be put together in the end.If anything the story displayed the layers and nuances of the conflicts really well.  rape murder Justice in society are hard topics attack to tackle while keeping the plots/story nimble and moving forward. Also, I felt dread throughout reading it almost like a wait for it or a strain on my chest.  I think I knew something was amiss throughout the book in regards to various aspects of the plot and the way that the stakes were explained in the story also added to the constant tension in the book.

 If there were aspects of the story that seemed illogical or at least their descriptions were surface level I did not care because I was having a good time.  I thought travel and the homes being the key settings make sense.  This is a village that is cut off from urban areas by distance. However the way technology reduces that distance be a TV television and radio was also included in the text which helped bring depth and uniqueness to the setting. I also thought The considerations that the characters had also added to the setting in that this is an area where it seemed public bathrooms were not readily available.   

 The dialogue with other characters brought a comedy to the story.  The dialogue in the book and how big of a difference it is in regards to phrases and conversation styles I felt was on purpose. She wanted this contrast of language and dialogue to be part of the story. I'm not exactly sure of the reason, at least for me what I think it did is it did not bother the characters in a way that I think sometimes these types of stories and when told make it sound like this story and these characters are on another planet instead of on planet Earth. The change in language pulled me in as a reader emotionally that I did not expect. 

I'm a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.  I wasn't sure about the premise as the dark themes can sometimes way down the story and in a way can use the triggering nature of them to hold together the story.  But Bandit Queens didn't do that.  The relationships of the women are the focal point and they're struggles relating to Phoolan Devi.  The relationship or the comparison that's supposed to be made between Gita and Saloni and the others in regards to the story and myth of Phoolan Devi is navigated and discussed throughout the story without a final answer but at least an answer that these characters could continue to live in. 

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