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A review by uz_kostlivec
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm so happy to come across this book and to have read it. I've never read anything quite like it, especially in this cultural setting. I really enjoyed learning more about the Indian and Hindu culture. I loved the plot and appreciated all the topics and themes. Female power, the power of (female) friendship... Beautiful. I can't wait to read up more on the real life Phoolan Devi, especially her autobiography. Please take time to read the author's note.
As a committed dog lover who passionately advocates for #adoptdontshop I adored the whole Bandit subplot. What a wonderful surprise that I didn't expect.
The reason why I don't give it more stars is that the humour oftentimes didn't work for me actually, I found it even cringey and forces sometimes. Also, while I liked the plot a lot, I didn't like the way several of the important passages in the story developed - they were either too fast, too slow or not as well though through. Also, to me it seemes like the author's writing style wasn't consistently good - there were parts where I was actually even annoyed by it and found it hard to pay attention, but then, at the same time, there were many beautifully witten quotable parts that made up for it for me.
As a committed dog lover who passionately advocates for #adoptdontshop I adored the whole Bandit subplot. What a wonderful surprise that I didn't expect.
The reason why I don't give it more stars is that the humour oftentimes didn't work for me actually, I found it even cringey and forces sometimes. Also, while I liked the plot a lot, I didn't like the way several of the important passages in the story developed - they were either too fast, too slow or not as well though through. Also, to me it seemes like the author's writing style wasn't consistently good - there were parts where I was actually even annoyed by it and found it hard to pay attention, but then, at the same time, there were many beautifully witten quotable parts that made up for it for me.
Sita was addmitedly a top-notch lady: levelheaded, bright, kind and loyal. But in idealizing her suffering, people justified Ram's punitiveness. An apology, for fuck's sake, would have gone a long way. But from the get-go, they trained boys not to apologize and women not to expect it of them, to instead mutate pain into an art form.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting