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A review by apoorvasr
The Aunt Who Wouldn't Die by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
5.0
The novel beings with Somalatha's marriage into an aristocratic family who are close to being bankrupt. Somalatha is quiet, submissive but full of strength and drives this book as she witnesses the death of Pishima. Alas! Pishima's ghost remains and is only visible and talks to her. The ghost has ulterior motives and wants to protect the gold she got in her dowry and quickly directs her to hide it with her. This ghost has a funny slapstick humor which is rib tickling. Pishima's ghost has gone through a lot of prejudice in her life as a young widow and continously voices her lamentations which is true for all womankind. Mostly, she's bold and talks about the gender divide between men and women.
The members of the family were lazy who lived off on feudal lands and dowries and they had rigud, conventional norms to Somlatha's ideas .
"Family gold is sacred, family land too. I've heard its not right to sell off either of these'.
Fast forward, we hear Somalatha's daughter Boshon's poin of view who is just like Pishima. She's the apple of eye of her family menbers and her personality is light years ahead of the old generation. 'I simply cannot undertand Ma and Baroma. So old fashioned. Obsessed with nothing but gold and ornamnents. Do they ever try to find out how beautiful the world is.''
Keeping in mind the time period this book was written in - It throws light on women empowerment, bold characters, human greed and the crumbling patriarchy of the society.
Pishima's littany of curses is everything to look forward to in this short but savoury read.
Please go and read Twenties girl by Sophie Kinsella after this!.
The members of the family were lazy who lived off on feudal lands and dowries and they had rigud, conventional norms to Somlatha's ideas .
"Family gold is sacred, family land too. I've heard its not right to sell off either of these'.
Fast forward, we hear Somalatha's daughter Boshon's poin of view who is just like Pishima. She's the apple of eye of her family menbers and her personality is light years ahead of the old generation. 'I simply cannot undertand Ma and Baroma. So old fashioned. Obsessed with nothing but gold and ornamnents. Do they ever try to find out how beautiful the world is.''
Keeping in mind the time period this book was written in - It throws light on women empowerment, bold characters, human greed and the crumbling patriarchy of the society.
Pishima's littany of curses is everything to look forward to in this short but savoury read.
Please go and read Twenties girl by Sophie Kinsella after this!.