Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

46 reviews

mckeelyshannon's review against another edition

funny inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

One of my favorite lines from this book is “Why be with someone who’s making the journey? You could be with someone who has already arrived.”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Death, and Racism

mraddd's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Child death, Suicide, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Sexism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Stalking

turophile's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

Though not without flaws, I really enjoyed and highly recommend this book. Our heroine, Nikki, is the oldest daughter in a Sikh family living in London. She’s disappointed her family by dropping out of law school and working at a bar. She’s even convinced that disappointment caused her father’s heart attack.  Nikki’s disappointed with her sister Mindi who was an arranged marriage, or at least a marriage with someone closely tied to their culture and religion. With some reluctance, Nikki agrees to go pin Mindi’s personal add up in Southall, a part of London where a large population of Indian Sikh live and maintain their culture. 

 

There she meets a man and spots a want add that both catch her eye. The ad seeks a teacher for a literary course. She’s hired but soon discovers the Punjabi widows who have signed up for her course were really looking for a literacy course, not literary.  Most can not read, but boy do they have stories to tell. 

 

They all start creating erotic romantic tales based on their lived experiences, or what they wish they had experienced.  One of the class members, a younger widow, agrees to help transcribe the stories. 

 

This journey alone would have been enough for a book, but there’s much more in a tale that really explores a woman’s role in the Punjabi diaspora. There’s a few mysteries, som nastiness, cultural sexism, and so beautifully crafted stories within the stories. 

 

I really enjoyed the book, BUT I thought it was trying to do much, especially at the end. It’s hard to describe without spoiling, but a couple of the storylines just went crazy sauce.  I think the book would have been a little better if the author would have stayed a little more focused. 

 

Still loved it however and highly recommend. 4.25/5 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Religious bigotry

litbrett's review against another edition

funny hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Xenophobia, Murder, and Violence

sooficiente's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

corriejn's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Racism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Death of parent

Minor: Stalking, Infidelity, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Murder, and Chronic illness

loelam's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Religious bigotry

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Xenophobia

chronicallyplotting's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was a genre I usually wouldn’t choose but I am glad I did. It was a great story but also had three storylines running together. A mystery, meets erotica,meets culture clash. I enjoyed learning about another culture and how that culture has changed its norms over time. Or some have. I enjoyed the humor throughout and seeing women rise above their “roles” and start making changes for themselves and their futures. Excellent story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual content, Suicide, and Xenophobia

patti_cake08's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

It's a fast-read, suprisingly insightful, and a really good book that is both easy to read on your way to somewhere and still pull you into the hearts and truths of others often dismissed by their communities. With the occasional extreme perspective on Punjabi traditions that seemed a bit too critical rather than objective, the story still grips you with the gossips, desire and closeted fears that tight-nit communities may have in the face of injustices and close-mindedness, surviving against a very foreign surrounding. A grip into tradition while still balancing the choice of a better life somewhere else, you hold true to your home, but learn not to deny your wishes. At least, these wonderful widows did. 
Oh, and the erotic stories? True sensual artistry.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny

hannah2186's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative lighthearted relaxing fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Sexism