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rainbowarpaint's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
tangy_t33's review
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for me
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Death, and Physical abuse
angela005's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Alcoholism, Sexism, Misogyny, Classism, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Infertility, Gaslighting, Violence, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Pedophilia, Miscarriage, and Gun violence
plaingirl21's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Racism, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
just_one_more_paige's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexism, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Gun violence, Fatphobia, and Infidelity
Minor: Police brutality
oliviantoinette's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Classism, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Fatphobia
boxofcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
4.75 ⭐ as I feel the narration lacked a bit of enthusiasm at times but would still recommend it. Looking forward to future work from Parini Shroff!
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
jtpgdavey's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Grief, Addiction, and Gun violence
rashmig's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Now, let’s talk about the women in this story and their independent working lives. The book beautifully portrays the way they navigate their careers, sharing experiences and providing support. What’s even more striking is how it delves into the shared traumatic experiences these women endure. The author’s writing truly hits home when it showcases these experiences as an unfortunate reality, highlighting societal issues like acid attacks, domestic abuse, and gender power imbalances.
I also want to mention the heartwarming snippets of the bond between Geeta and Bandit, her dog. Their relationship adds depth and warmth to the story, with Geeta being fiercely protective of her furry companion.
Throughout the novel, we see these women striving to live their lives on their own terms, but they face numerous challenges imposed by society or their circumstances. Geeta’s experience as a single woman with a complicated marital past and Saloni’s juggling act between family, work, and a seat in the village’s senate are just a few examples. The way they support each other through these struggles is a testament to the strength of female bonds.
Now, let’s touch on the theme of male entitlement and the prevalence of abusive behavior. The book doesn’t shy away from portraying the harsh reality that many women face, where most men are perpetrators of emotional, physical, mental, and sexual abuse. However, the story also highlights a few exceptions like Kareem and Sarah, who treat women with respect and empathy.
The novel briefly delves into the issue of caste, which might feel a bit tangential at first, but it soon merges seamlessly with the broader theme of women’s issues, offering a layered perspective on societal challenges.
Despite the heavy themes, Parini Shroff manages to infuse humor into her storytelling, making the book a breeze to read. I found myself chuckling in various places, and the climax of the novel even features some dark comedy at its finest.
In conclusion, “Bandit Queens” is a thought-provoking and brilliantly written book that seamlessly weaves together themes of female friendship, independent working women, vulnerability, shared trauma, humor, and societal challenges. It’s an impressive debut work from Parini Shroff that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a compelling and impactful read. So, add it to your reading list—you won’t be disappointed!
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Alcohol, and Blood
kirstinlwx's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, Racism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Gun violence, Infertility, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Classism, Body shaming, and Cursing