Scan barcode
afi_whatafireads's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Parini Shroff wrote a story that is not only entertaining, but depicts the harshness of a society that is still present until today. From the cultures of patriarchy, to the cruelties and abuse in marriages and to the predators that lived in the society.
It took me awhile to really engage with the story, and I honestly had mixed feelings with it, but I feel that the second half of the book saved the story; hence why I'm rating it 4🌟 . For a debut novel, I feel that Shroff did a good job in the sense of relaying the message to the world. Writing-wise, there were a few parts where transitions to each dialogues felt messy; which was one of the problems that I had with the book in the first place. But, I'd learnt to just accept it like reading a Bollywood Soap Opera where the women in the stories are not only extremely flawed, they are also relatable in ways that make you'll laugh at their antiques but also ; its one that felt realistic.
It took me awhile to really engage with the story, and I honestly had mixed feelings with it, but I feel that the second half of the book saved the story; hence why I'm rating it 4🌟 . For a debut novel, I feel that Shroff did a good job in the sense of relaying the message to the world. Writing-wise, there were a few parts where transitions to each dialogues felt messy; which was one of the problems that I had with the book in the first place. But, I'd learnt to just accept it like reading a Bollywood Soap Opera where the women in the stories are not only extremely flawed, they are also relatable in ways that make you'll laugh at their antiques but also ; its one that felt realistic.
"Despite his words, a question, a request, a demand bloomed in the space between them. She felt certain about the words that fell, but as an automaton, blank and mechanical. She was performing a memorized task, one born of survival, buried upon freedom, resurrected now: "You're right. I'm wrong. I'm sorry.
The Bandit Queens is actually inspired from a real person - Phoolan Devi, in which she was called the Bandit Queen herself. The author took inspirations in which the main character Geeta, looked up to Phoolan Devi, and will always ask herself - What would Phoolan Devi do in this situation . Phoolan Devi is one amongst many that represents the cruel truths of patriarchy and misogyny in India. Its not only saddening, but heartbreaking to know how she had been raped multiple times in her lifetime and beaten at every place that she ended up with.
I feel that in some ways, whilst murder cannot be justified as moral - the desperation of oneself ; in which to endure the abuse, extreme gaslighting and constant demoralisation ; had led to the extreme measures that the characters in the book had taken. Whilst the author had written the book in a way that it was witty and hilarious; the fact that they had to do what they did in the first place was just infuriating. The irony in which the author had shown in the characters - were in their ability to manipulate the situation to their benefit. Not gonna lie, most of the characters in here are pretty insufferable to say the least, but they were also endearing in a sense. I feel that each of the women in this book had a character growth and the kind of camaraderie that had been built by the same source of misery.
Another topic that the author had brought upon was the hardships of motherhood and the obsession for women to mould to society's standards to take the role only to procreate. Its not only saddening that women who didn't have the children were judged and frowned upon, its also sad that the worth of a woman is based on her ability to mother their children. Its one that reflects the world that we live in ; and how this pressure to be 'perfect' in the eyes of society that it can make women to lose their sense of worth. It was heartbreaking to read and it hurts more that its an issue that is still ongoing all around the world.
“Men like him would always look at her and see the things they were glad they weren’t: weak, small, timid, powerless. Let the”
Overall, whilst it took me a bit of time to warm up with the story; and I had mixed feelings for it at some parts, I'd have to say, I enjoyed the forward tone that the author wrote the story. Its entertaining at best, but the issues are forwardly written that it can't be missed. It might put some stereotype to the country itself, as the story is set in India, but I feel that, where each part of women who can relates to the story, no matter where you are, I hope that it can serve as something that can make you be stronger. For ones who relate to Geetha, I pray for your well-being and my happiness comes your way.
Def a solid read as a longlist for the 2023's Women Prize.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Addiction, Abandonment, Child abuse, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Murder
More...