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A review by angeliariveira
The Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott
5.0
This book and this series are, quite possibly, my favorite and most comforting of reads. It is hard to say because there are so many books that I could categorize as my "favorite." But I find that this is a book I constantly come back to. I've read the series at least six or seven times, but I still love coming back to it when I am at a loss for what to read next (and I read a lot of books!). I first read this when I was 17 and living in India as an exchange student. I'd never heard of it before, but found it in a stack of books in my family's house. I immediately fell in love with the writing and the story. It also gave me a perspective on Indian history that I didn't have as a 17 year old who knew nothing about the country I was living in. (I was 17....don't judge me! :) )
Some of the language in the book is dated, but I think that there are also a lot of ideas that are ahead of its time. Scott clearly outlines the problems of racism and white supremacy and privilege that created turmoil in relationships between Indians and British people. His sympathy is clearly with Indians while also showing that there were racial divides that made even the most sympathetic characters uncomfortable with their cross racial relationships.
I have seen some reviewers comment that they didn't like the writing style and the fact that the story is told from a number of perspectives. Because of this, they stopped reading after about a hundred pages. We all have different tastes, so I can respect that it isn't for everyone. However, I think that if people stop at 100 pages, they will really miss so much of the beauty and sadness in the story. The different perspectives help to understand how different people and communities would have viewed the situation at that time and the struggles different people had in terms of identifying a sense of justice. Every time I read the last chapter I cry because even though I am frequently frustrated with Daphne's decisions (and Harry/Hari's), if you read the whole book, you can see why she thinks these decisions are correct. It is heartbreaking, particularly if you read the entire series. Perhaps not for everyone, but this is one of the books I always come back to. There is definitely, for me, a sense of nostalgia that comes along with it (because it takes me back to my own memories of first living in India, the relationships I developed, and challenges and amazing experiences I encountered). But I also find the writing to be very beautiful and expressive. Highly recommended.
Some of the language in the book is dated, but I think that there are also a lot of ideas that are ahead of its time. Scott clearly outlines the problems of racism and white supremacy and privilege that created turmoil in relationships between Indians and British people. His sympathy is clearly with Indians while also showing that there were racial divides that made even the most sympathetic characters uncomfortable with their cross racial relationships.
I have seen some reviewers comment that they didn't like the writing style and the fact that the story is told from a number of perspectives. Because of this, they stopped reading after about a hundred pages. We all have different tastes, so I can respect that it isn't for everyone. However, I think that if people stop at 100 pages, they will really miss so much of the beauty and sadness in the story. The different perspectives help to understand how different people and communities would have viewed the situation at that time and the struggles different people had in terms of identifying a sense of justice. Every time I read the last chapter I cry because even though I am frequently frustrated with Daphne's decisions (and Harry/Hari's), if you read the whole book, you can see why she thinks these decisions are correct. It is heartbreaking, particularly if you read the entire series. Perhaps not for everyone, but this is one of the books I always come back to. There is definitely, for me, a sense of nostalgia that comes along with it (because it takes me back to my own memories of first living in India, the relationships I developed, and challenges and amazing experiences I encountered). But I also find the writing to be very beautiful and expressive. Highly recommended.