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A review by veereads
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this novel because it really gives a glimpse into the Punjabi Sikh community and offers a very wholesome set of characters that challenge the stereotypical view of widows prevalent in society, particularly the South Asian community. There are so many topics covered like the clash of cultures, the role of women in the household, and the concept of "honor" and how maintaining it can justify violence towards women.
But that's the main issue here: the book tries to do too much. It's very difficult to keep a story lighthearted when there are such serious themes. And I don't think the author succeeded. Subplots are brought up just to be abandoned, a whole murder mystery is very easily solved, and the protagonist, who is stubborn to the point of being annoying, just lets go of arguments and ideologies on a whim.
Although I liked the reading experience, the half-baked feel of major plot points and themes affected the success of the storytelling and I can't justify giving a higher rating than 3 stars.
But that's the main issue here: the book tries to do too much. It's very difficult to keep a story lighthearted when there are such serious themes. And I don't think the author succeeded. Subplots are brought up just to be abandoned, a whole murder mystery is very easily solved, and the protagonist, who is stubborn to the point of being annoying, just lets go of arguments and ideologies on a whim.
Although I liked the reading experience, the half-baked feel of major plot points and themes affected the success of the storytelling and I can't justify giving a higher rating than 3 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide