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sweiswei13's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
byronic_reader's review against another edition
3.0
I am just overwhelmed. I never guessed that this book will be poignant and melancholic with the first few chapters. I expected a bit of drama, but I got more than what I signed up for.
A Married Woman is unapologetically sensual and political. I thought it is about a woman exploring her sexuality but it also explores what is to be a woman of "modern India". Set in the backdrops of Babar Masjid Demolition, it also talks about the hypocrisy of Indians and the Indian Household. Kapur's writing is unapologetically desi and I totally enjoyed it. So much love, loss, hope, helplessness, and more love.
Mood: dramatic, melancholic and poignant
A Married Woman is unapologetically sensual and political. I thought it is about a woman exploring her sexuality but it also explores what is to be a woman of "modern India". Set in the backdrops of Babar Masjid Demolition, it also talks about the hypocrisy of Indians and the Indian Household. Kapur's writing is unapologetically desi and I totally enjoyed it. So much love, loss, hope, helplessness, and more love.
Mood: dramatic, melancholic and poignant
mrswythe89's review against another edition
4.0
Oyo! /o\ I took a relatively long time to finish this because I got so stressed about Astha's awful marriage. It was like the beginning of [b:The Blue Castle|95693|The Blue Castle |L.M. Montgomery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1214964817s/95693.jpg|1298683] where Valancy is having a hell of a time and you hate her family's guts because they are so horrible. At least Kapur had the kindness to end her book at the same time as Astha's relationship with Pip, rather than forcing us to live out Astha's long miserable life. I hope it gets better later. I hope she earns sufficient money from her painting and eventually when her children have grown up she and her husband can kind of quietly drift apart and she can have a better life.
Anyway, I thought it was good!
Anyway, I thought it was good!
shriti_sunshine's review against another edition
4.0
Recently, a new web series showed up that was based off this, and I remembered that I had indeed read this book during my graduation.
I was a naive girl back then. More or less resigned to follow the 'graduate, get married & settle down with family (kids)' path as I had seen my seniors around me do. This book opened my eyes to what I'd suspected: a lot of people engage in the charade of a happy married life, without taking the time to develop their individualistic self... Choosing to be one half of a jigsaw puzzle than being a complete human being in their own right.
I won't say the author changed my life, but if I look back today, her work, this book in particular, encouraged me then, to find what made me ME rather than trying to fit into someone else's life & chase that elusive happily ever after. (11 years later and it seems easier to just give in and lead life as per society's dictum, but resist I must!)
P.S.: Bonus points for writing Astha and Peeplika’s relationship so tenderly, sprinkled heavily with both courage & grace! This book came out in 2002; realistic LGBTQ representation in that day & age is nothing short of a commendable job and definitely beehoves an additional star IMO.
I was a naive girl back then. More or less resigned to follow the 'graduate, get married & settle down with family (kids)' path as I had seen my seniors around me do. This book opened my eyes to what I'd suspected: a lot of people engage in the charade of a happy married life, without taking the time to develop their individualistic self... Choosing to be one half of a jigsaw puzzle than being a complete human being in their own right.
I won't say the author changed my life, but if I look back today, her work, this book in particular, encouraged me then, to find what made me ME rather than trying to fit into someone else's life & chase that elusive happily ever after. (11 years later and it seems easier to just give in and lead life as per society's dictum, but resist I must!)
P.S.: Bonus points for writing Astha and Peeplika’s relationship so tenderly, sprinkled heavily with both courage & grace! This book came out in 2002; realistic LGBTQ representation in that day & age is nothing short of a commendable job and definitely beehoves an additional star IMO.
devii_03's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
fossilreads's review against another edition
I couldn't get into the story right now, but I'm trying again later! I think I'll like it when I can focus on it better.
naiu_cs's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Can't believe I'm saying this but I definitely prefer the show based on this novel. The narrative seemed disconnected at times, and irrelevant. The portrait relationships that were portrayed were thoroughly toxic and even if that was intended, it was simply and unwelcome surprise from my expectations starting this novel.
However it still had its moments, showing realistic moments of different kinds of relationships that felt real and true to the character.
However it still had its moments, showing realistic moments of different kinds of relationships that felt real and true to the character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Islamophobia, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Homophobia
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘Astha was brought up properly, as befits a woman, with large supplements of fear.’
Astha is an obedient middle-class girl growing up in Delhi during the 1970s. Her father wants her educated; her mother wants her to be settled into a safe, arranged marriage. While Astha’s family is not wealthy, they have hopes for the future. While Astha meets some males herself, and has a little more experience that her mother realises, she eventually agrees to an arranged marriage. Hemant seems kind enough.
‘She was a bride, and her grip of Hemant’s hand grew more certain, and the blush on her face more conscious.’
Astha has two children, and a job at a primary school, and for a while seems perfectly happy. She also paints. If the physical nature of her marriage has changed, this is not initially of great concern. Both Astha and Hemant are busy.
‘Life was shaping up nicely, with her mind and heart gainfully employed.’
But then Astha becomes involved in a theatre troupe run by Aijaz, a politically active man. This leads Astha to become more politically and socially aware, and she also begins to see her painting as something more than a genteel hobby.
‘Somewhere along the way Hemant’s attitude to Astha changed.’
As a consequence of growing community unrest, Aijaz and his theatre troupe are burned alive in their van one night. Astha joins the crowds in protest. Some months later she meets Aijaz’s widow Pipee, and they are drawn together. Fondness becomes love, friendship becomes complicated.
‘Why was it, thought Astha wearily, that love always had to be balanced by its opposite?’
Astha’s story unfolds slowly throughout this novel, details of her daily life serve to add depth to her development as a woman, to her frustrations and choices. By the end of the novel, Astha is a complex and complicated character, neither free of convention nor entirely entrapped within it. By trying to put the needs of others first, by being unable to celebrate her own achievements, Astha seems unable to completely take control of her own destiny.
‘She wanted to say yes, I have done it, I have sold my first painting, I have achieved something, let us celebrate, but the number of ‘I’s’ involved ensured that the words refused to leave her mind.’
This novel has stayed with me. Ms Kapur has managed to incorporate the stresses and tensions between the ties of tradition and the possibilities afforded by a more progressive life. The choices are not oversimplified: a progressive western education does not make it easy to move beyond the traditional, nor does visiting America. Life is more than culture, geography and history. Life is full of compromises. A thought provoking novel: well worth reading.
‘A trip abroad would be nice, no matter whom one loved and whom one left behind.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Astha is an obedient middle-class girl growing up in Delhi during the 1970s. Her father wants her educated; her mother wants her to be settled into a safe, arranged marriage. While Astha’s family is not wealthy, they have hopes for the future. While Astha meets some males herself, and has a little more experience that her mother realises, she eventually agrees to an arranged marriage. Hemant seems kind enough.
‘She was a bride, and her grip of Hemant’s hand grew more certain, and the blush on her face more conscious.’
Astha has two children, and a job at a primary school, and for a while seems perfectly happy. She also paints. If the physical nature of her marriage has changed, this is not initially of great concern. Both Astha and Hemant are busy.
‘Life was shaping up nicely, with her mind and heart gainfully employed.’
But then Astha becomes involved in a theatre troupe run by Aijaz, a politically active man. This leads Astha to become more politically and socially aware, and she also begins to see her painting as something more than a genteel hobby.
‘Somewhere along the way Hemant’s attitude to Astha changed.’
As a consequence of growing community unrest, Aijaz and his theatre troupe are burned alive in their van one night. Astha joins the crowds in protest. Some months later she meets Aijaz’s widow Pipee, and they are drawn together. Fondness becomes love, friendship becomes complicated.
‘Why was it, thought Astha wearily, that love always had to be balanced by its opposite?’
Astha’s story unfolds slowly throughout this novel, details of her daily life serve to add depth to her development as a woman, to her frustrations and choices. By the end of the novel, Astha is a complex and complicated character, neither free of convention nor entirely entrapped within it. By trying to put the needs of others first, by being unable to celebrate her own achievements, Astha seems unable to completely take control of her own destiny.
‘She wanted to say yes, I have done it, I have sold my first painting, I have achieved something, let us celebrate, but the number of ‘I’s’ involved ensured that the words refused to leave her mind.’
This novel has stayed with me. Ms Kapur has managed to incorporate the stresses and tensions between the ties of tradition and the possibilities afforded by a more progressive life. The choices are not oversimplified: a progressive western education does not make it easy to move beyond the traditional, nor does visiting America. Life is more than culture, geography and history. Life is full of compromises. A thought provoking novel: well worth reading.
‘A trip abroad would be nice, no matter whom one loved and whom one left behind.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith