tomesandtextiles's reviews
407 reviews
The Bandit Queens, by Parini Shroff
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Geeta's husband disappeared (literally), but the perception of the events in her small village is that she's a "self-made widow." Geeta is somewhat ostracized after his disappearance, but one-by-one, wives start appearing at her door asking for her "services." Geeta is exasperated and doesn't know what to do with her new-found popularity and community. Chaos ensues. SUPER feminist and the banter is sublime. This book had me smiling and laughing, even through its dark premise.
The events of this story could almost be categorized as madcap because every turn is wilder than the last. I found myself laughing with incredulity with each passing escalating event, but was never pulled from the story. This was in, large part, due to Shroff's ability to balance the full humanity of her characters with the otherwise practically unbelievable action of the story. You were given the motivation for each new character whether they were enemy, friend, or criminal in a manner that revealed their imperfections and flaws. These descriptions never felt forced or too verbose. Also, in building these character histories, Shroff let you in further into the community of the small village.
The Bandit Queens did a fantastic job of flipping a criminal plot into a focus on community--not the toxically positive "community" we think of online, but the messy, cohesive gel that forms life-long bonds. We are not meant to be islands, whether we are isolated by abusive toxic relationships or think we have the strength to go at life alone. Time and again, The Bandit Queens demonstrates that community and togetherness may not always be ideal in the moment, but, in the right hands, it builds you up and, by default, you build each other up. This was a criminal story, but it was also one of surviving with each other, even if you get on each other's nerves.
From the tale of the original Bandit Queen (which inspires this story!) to the plight of wives struggling against patriarchal societal norms, this book is tremendously feminist through and through and will have you cheering for our protagonist(s) even if what they may be doing isn't all the way legal (or ethical). A delightful romp.
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The events of this story could almost be categorized as madcap because every turn is wilder than the last. I found myself laughing with incredulity with each passing escalating event, but was never pulled from the story. This was in, large part, due to Shroff's ability to balance the full humanity of her characters with the otherwise practically unbelievable action of the story. You were given the motivation for each new character whether they were enemy, friend, or criminal in a manner that revealed their imperfections and flaws. These descriptions never felt forced or too verbose. Also, in building these character histories, Shroff let you in further into the community of the small village.
The Bandit Queens did a fantastic job of flipping a criminal plot into a focus on community--not the toxically positive "community" we think of online, but the messy, cohesive gel that forms life-long bonds. We are not meant to be islands, whether we are isolated by abusive toxic relationships or think we have the strength to go at life alone. Time and again, The Bandit Queens demonstrates that community and togetherness may not always be ideal in the moment, but, in the right hands, it builds you up and, by default, you build each other up. This was a criminal story, but it was also one of surviving with each other, even if you get on each other's nerves.
From the tale of the original Bandit Queen (which inspires this story!) to the plight of wives struggling against patriarchal societal norms, this book is tremendously feminist through and through and will have you cheering for our protagonist(s) even if what they may be doing isn't all the way legal (or ethical). A delightful romp.
Follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tomesandtextiles/">INSTAGRAM</a> and
<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@tomesandtextiles?lang=en">TIK TOK</a>.
Shop my <a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/tomesandtextiles">BOOKSHOP BOOKSHELVES</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/tomes.and.textiles">AMAZON LISTS</a>.