A review by nenaveenstra
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I didn't annotate this book, and I deeply regret it. There is something in this book for everyone: if you are looking for a light mystery or romance, it's there; if you're looking for Indian representation, it's there; if you're looking for deep connections between women, it's there. And yes, that means it's a bit all over the place sometimes, and there's a lot of names to remember, and sometimes, when you think you know what's going to happen, things take an unexpected turn. 

I had a lot of fun reading this book, and raced through it in roughly two sittings. It's the relationship dynamics I mentioned, mixed in with some erotic stories (they're not a large part of the book, but they are there!) that made this book so entertaining. But it was also really touching seeing these women from a very guarded culture come together and find community and confidence. 

This book taught me things about Punjabi culture that I did not know, and they were often shocking and sad. Though this book also made the point that Western culture isn't always better, either. Maybe it's when we step outside our comfort zone and mingle with people that differ from us that we flourish. 
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