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A review by bill_wehrmacher
Oleander Girl by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
5.0
I loved Oleander Girl. I didn't think I was going to when I began the book. I was afraid that the author, like too many I have read recently, would bury a story in artful descriptions. In fact, I sent a text to a friend commenting on the first paragraph of chapter two. It is indeed beautiful.
I was very pleasantly surprised that, while Ms Divakaruni continued to paint beautiful scenes for her story, they support the story line instead of burying it. I did have to look up quite a few Indian words she used for various articles of clothing etc. but I was happy to do that as it filled some voids in my education. (While you are reading, just google 'Indian wedding dress'. Absolutely gorgeous.)
I also got a view into Indian culture, the battles between religions, the rigid cast system in which and by which the characters are bound.
It is a love story. It is a story of changing financial fortunes. It is a search for one's history. It is full secrets that leak out, as they always do, and the price to pay for that. The last 50 pages or so of this book has has all the tension you might associate with murder mystery.
All in all, it is an excellent book. I am so glad I read it. When I began this review, I gave Oleander Girl four stars, and began to write an explanation why I didn't give it five. I couldn't think of a reason, so... I can highly recommend it to anyone.
I was very pleasantly surprised that, while Ms Divakaruni continued to paint beautiful scenes for her story, they support the story line instead of burying it. I did have to look up quite a few Indian words she used for various articles of clothing etc. but I was happy to do that as it filled some voids in my education. (While you are reading, just google 'Indian wedding dress'. Absolutely gorgeous.)
I also got a view into Indian culture, the battles between religions, the rigid cast system in which and by which the characters are bound.
It is a love story. It is a story of changing financial fortunes. It is a search for one's history. It is full secrets that leak out, as they always do, and the price to pay for that. The last 50 pages or so of this book has has all the tension you might associate with murder mystery.
All in all, it is an excellent book. I am so glad I read it. When I began this review, I gave Oleander Girl four stars, and began to write an explanation why I didn't give it five. I couldn't think of a reason, so... I can highly recommend it to anyone.