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matmatmatty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
This story focuses on a Sikh community in Southall, London where a young "modern" woman is hired to teach a literacy class (although she thinks it's a creative writing class) and while giving her students (who are, of course, the titular Punjabi widows) the confidence to express themselves properly, she starts to uncover the truth about some of the community's secrets.
I really liked the dynamic between the m in characters- coming from a religious immigrant community myself, I could completely understand Nikki's thinking and the way she acts, but could also see some of my family in Kulwinder and some of the widows.
This book gave me a lot to think about - from how our safe communities can become toxic, to how it's important to stand up to our ideals even if the world is against us.
I know what happened to Maya does happen - there was a lot of talk of "honour killings" in the UK a few years ago, but it sometimes feel like things are out of our hands with things like this, and this story helped me realise that it doesn't have to be.
Really loved this book and looking forward to reading more from this author!
I really liked the dynamic between the m in characters- coming from a religious immigrant community myself, I could completely understand Nikki's thinking and the way she acts, but could also see some of my family in Kulwinder and some of the widows.
This book gave me a lot to think about - from how our safe communities can become toxic, to how it's important to stand up to our ideals even if the world is against us.
Really loved this book and looking forward to reading more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Xenophobia and Sexism
tsegareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
ricefun's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.75
I truly loved this novel, particularly listening in audiobook format. I loved the creativity and the writing in this story. I watch and read a lot of British English materials, and this one offered a glimpse into a completely different British community. Some of the "stories" that are shared are pretty racy, so probably not for young readers, or those of a puritan bent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexism
Minor: Racism
mshiley's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Stalking
felishacb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A really lovely tale that features Nikki, a young Indian woman, who is trying to find her place in the world and in her own community. Teaching writing to a group of Indian women, mostly widows, presents a way for her to make the money she needs, do something she loves, and help her community.
Kulwinder, the woman who hires Nikki, doesn't share the complete story. Many of these women do not read or write in English; their goal is to learn in the class.
And the students have their own ideas! After finding a book Nikki checked out as a joke, they start sharing erotic stories. They all end up having more fun than expected.
In the center of this story is a mystery of Kulwinder's daughter, a young woman who died under mysterious circumstances. Nikki commences sleuthing!
This was a fun read, and I would recommend to most.
CN: sex, suicide, violence, murder, discussion of honor killings
Kulwinder, the woman who hires Nikki, doesn't share the complete story. Many of these women do not read or write in English; their goal is to learn in the class.
And the students have their own ideas! After finding a book Nikki checked out as a joke, they start sharing erotic stories. They all end up having more fun than expected.
In the center of this story is a mystery of Kulwinder's daughter, a young woman who died under mysterious circumstances. Nikki commences sleuthing!
This was a fun read, and I would recommend to most.
CN: sex, suicide, violence, murder, discussion of honor killings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Suicide
shrayirene_fourhousesreview's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Suicide
inlaraland's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started listening to the “Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows”, but I can happily say I was pleasantly surprise. This funny, lighthearted and emotional novel highlights the strength of community and friendship, while also emphasizing the challenges of balancing desire and duty. The story follows our main protagonist Nikki, who is the daughter of immigrant parents and raised in London. She spent most of her life struggling to balance the cultural, traditional expectations of her eastern upbringing with her deep desire to live a modern, independent life.
When her father’s death leaves her family in a financial bind, Nikki decides to make extra cash outside of her job working at a pub to teach creative writing classes at a local Punjabi community center. However, due to miscommunication, Nikki didn’t know that the women attending her class only joined under the pretense that they were going to learn how to read and write basic english. Not willing to back down from a challenge, Nikki decides to continue with her lessons only to soon learn that the stories these reserved widows were sharing were far wilder than she could ever expect.
An unlikely bond forms between Nikki and her students, but they have to keep the classes a secret from the “Brotherhood”, a group of conservative men who have appointed themselves as the moral police of the community. But the deeper Nikki gets involved with the people around her , the more she starts learning about the dark secrets that the community themselves have been hiding - including the unsolved murder of a young woman.
The narration of the audiobook was fantastic, and at one point I was so hooked that I couldn’t stop listening because I was on the edge of my seat. The writing is tender and thoughtful, and I really enjoyed the heart-warming development between Nikki and her students, and each of the characters have their own unique voices and stories to share. I felt like I lost myself into the drama of this world and community, and it’s such a bittersweet moment to part away once it was all over. I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a fun and captivating contemporary fiction story!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Misogyny
linnielou's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Suicide
baileyes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Stalking, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Infidelity, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse
manisitdas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
A beautiful story about South Asian diaspora societies in a foreign and often unkind land, where shame and honor often triumph over choice and plague women's lives. But this is also a story of women finding themselves, discovering a community, being able to openly discuss their desires, and, in the process, learning to fight for their rights and support one another. So wonderfully portrayed, while at the same time quite fair and balanced about the diaspora experiences!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Violence