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A review by cheshta
A Married Woman by Manju Kapur
4.0
Set during 1980-90's India (mainly Delhi ) the story follows Astha through almost 20 years, from high-school, college, to married life. She has lived a life of an average Indian woman- studying till she can, having a couple of love interests during those years and then marrying a total stranger on the recommendation of her parents. Her husband and his family are renowned people, have plenty of money & property and her husband loves her (or makes love to her frequently). Astha thinks she has achieved the pinnacle of happiness. But as her children grow up and the husband grows distant and disrespectful, she realises that she is not satisfied. She has devoted all her life being a good daughter, wife, and now mother but she realises that she is missing something...and this something comes to her in the form of Pipeelika (Sanskrit for 'Ant').
Going into the book, I didn't expect too much, specially from Astha and Pipeelika's relationship and I was proven right. It does a wonderful job of portraying various emotions an average Indian women trapped in a bad marriage goes through, but the relationship between the 2 women was not explored fully and I was not satisfied.
That being said, if you choose to leave that side of the story, it has a lot to offer. Astha grows as a character, from being an extremely submissive wife to being able to voice and stand for her opinions sometimes. A complete reversal would have been highly artificial. I loved how the author made the reader relate to Astha, everyone will find some or the other aspect of themselves being displayed by her. The husband is a typical Indian one with all the bad qualities so its easy to hate him.
There is also a great deal of plot happening in Ayodhya and Babri Masjid demolition event has been used by the author to both, sensitise the reader and move the story. Perhaps this made the book more memorable for me as we just witnessed the building of the Ram Mandir. I shouldn't have been and yet I was surprised by the arguments and counter-arguments given for the building of the Ram Mandir.
Overall, it was a good read, something I usually don't read but will like to in the future. Definitely recommended
Going into the book, I didn't expect too much, specially from Astha and Pipeelika's relationship and I was proven right. It does a wonderful job of portraying various emotions an average Indian women trapped in a bad marriage goes through, but the relationship between the 2 women was not explored fully and I was not satisfied.
That being said, if you choose to leave that side of the story, it has a lot to offer. Astha grows as a character, from being an extremely submissive wife to being able to voice and stand for her opinions sometimes. A complete reversal would have been highly artificial. I loved how the author made the reader relate to Astha, everyone will find some or the other aspect of themselves being displayed by her. The husband is a typical Indian one with all the bad qualities so its easy to hate him.
There is also a great deal of plot happening in Ayodhya and Babri Masjid demolition event has been used by the author to both, sensitise the reader and move the story. Perhaps this made the book more memorable for me as we just witnessed the building of the Ram Mandir. I shouldn't have been and yet I was surprised by the arguments and counter-arguments given for the building of the Ram Mandir.
Overall, it was a good read, something I usually don't read but will like to in the future. Definitely recommended