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A review by emilyisoverbooked
China Room by Sunjeev Sahota
5.0
In 1929, amidst the beginning of the Indian independence movement, Mehar is a 15-year-old bride in rural Punjab. She is one of three girls married to three brothers in a single ceremony, and with their veils and averted eye contact, the girls aren’t sure which of the brothers they’re married to. They work hard during the day in the family’s “china room” and only come into contact with the men when they are summoned in a separate dark room at night in an attempt to create male heirs. Mehar can’t help but want to know who she’s married to, and after studying their voices and hands behind her veil, she believes she knows who her husband is. But how can she be sure?
In 1999, a nameless young man arrives at his uncle’s house in Punjab to try to shake his drug addiction. As an Indian growing up in England, he has experienced racism, but is also estranged from Indian culture. He decides to move into the family’s abandoned farm, which has a mysterious locked china room, to better himself and reconnect with his culture.
China Room is inspired by Sunjeev Sahota’s personal family history, and is an unputdownable story. While I was more invested in the 1929 timeline, I loved the contrast between the two timelines, learning about Indian culture and listening to the narratives about women’s place in society and the Indian diaspora. I finished this book last week and am still thinking about it! Highly recommend picking this up - and it’s a BOTM add on if you subscribe!
Many thanks to Viking Books for this incredible advanced copy!
In 1999, a nameless young man arrives at his uncle’s house in Punjab to try to shake his drug addiction. As an Indian growing up in England, he has experienced racism, but is also estranged from Indian culture. He decides to move into the family’s abandoned farm, which has a mysterious locked china room, to better himself and reconnect with his culture.
China Room is inspired by Sunjeev Sahota’s personal family history, and is an unputdownable story. While I was more invested in the 1929 timeline, I loved the contrast between the two timelines, learning about Indian culture and listening to the narratives about women’s place in society and the Indian diaspora. I finished this book last week and am still thinking about it! Highly recommend picking this up - and it’s a BOTM add on if you subscribe!
Many thanks to Viking Books for this incredible advanced copy!