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_askthebookbug's Reviews (1.34k)
I went on a thriller reading binge last week and finished two books in two days. And both of them were by Freida McFadden. The Inmate is a fast paced psychological thriller that can easily be finished in a few sittings. The Locked Door worked well for me but her other book, The Housemaid was a miss and so I wasn’t sure how well I’d enjoy The Inmate. Now, The Inmate isn’t a flawless psychological thriller because I guessed the killer before the protagonist could do it but it has all the makings for a gripping mystery.
Brooke Sullivan returns to her childhood town with her son after her parent’s death and finds a job in a prison as their new nurse practitioner. Coming back to her hometown stirs up mixed emotions within her because of an unfortunate incident that happened back in high school. But bumping into her ex boyfriend, Shane and present inmate in the prison throws her off. The fact that she was the one who put him in prison all those years ago, is a dangerous truth that lurks between them.
The timeline keeps jumping between the past and present where we see all the things that eventually led up to Brooke’s ex being sent to prison. While she deals with this adjustment, she also finds a romantic interest in her long best friend. But there’s something off about her past, a missing link that she just can’t make sense of. Does Brooke really has the facts about her past life correctly or was Shane actually innocent all these years? While we watch her struggle to put things together, we see pieces things starting to make sense.
The story is breezy and is almost unputdownable. It certainly has a dramatic end, which at times felt over the top. But it did keep me engaged throughout the day. If you’re looking for something to get you out of a slump or to keep you cosy on a rainy day, this one’s for you.
Thank you for the copy @penguinindia ✨
Brooke Sullivan returns to her childhood town with her son after her parent’s death and finds a job in a prison as their new nurse practitioner. Coming back to her hometown stirs up mixed emotions within her because of an unfortunate incident that happened back in high school. But bumping into her ex boyfriend, Shane and present inmate in the prison throws her off. The fact that she was the one who put him in prison all those years ago, is a dangerous truth that lurks between them.
The timeline keeps jumping between the past and present where we see all the things that eventually led up to Brooke’s ex being sent to prison. While she deals with this adjustment, she also finds a romantic interest in her long best friend. But there’s something off about her past, a missing link that she just can’t make sense of. Does Brooke really has the facts about her past life correctly or was Shane actually innocent all these years? While we watch her struggle to put things together, we see pieces things starting to make sense.
The story is breezy and is almost unputdownable. It certainly has a dramatic end, which at times felt over the top. But it did keep me engaged throughout the day. If you’re looking for something to get you out of a slump or to keep you cosy on a rainy day, this one’s for you.
Thank you for the copy @penguinindia ✨
Old God’s Time isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but if you ever decide to take a chance on this book, I’d urge you to be patient with it because it does take a while to warm up to Sebastian Barry’s writing style. Reading this book was like plunging into an abyss of sadness where you’re hit with waves of grief and trauma. You see a 66 year old protagonist, Tom Kettle, who lives more inside his head than in the real world. A retired policeman and a widower who even after a decade mourns the death of his incredible wife. Nine months into his retirement, two colleagues turn up at his doorstep one night. And their arrival brings back all the dreadful memories that Tom has spent many years trying to forget.
Tom Kettle has had a difficult past what with his wife’s death followed by a couple more tragedies and now he is being investigated for a case that he handled a decade ago. The police officers are sympathetic to him, after all everyone knew Tom Kettle and his capability as an officer. As it so happens with age, Tom is struggling to understand the faint line between past and present, fantasy and reality but there’s still a big chunk of the man that remains intact.
When Chief Jack Fleming seeks out Tom’s help in a decade old case of murder, he is thrown right back to the days when he along with his partner tried to hold the Catholic Church responsible for thousands of child molestation allegations. But as it so happens with powerful institutions, it was all swept under the carpet. This unexpected visit has shaken Tom and his memory starts playing games. He’s an unreliable narrator, haunted by the dead, wracked with grief, anger and a sense of helplessness.
Old God’s Time is a devastatingly powerful book, where narration takes the centre stage. Everything else is just weaved around Barry’s wonderful voice. It’s a slow book, and not much happens until 40% of the story but you can sense a constant hum of something urgent that’s waiting to be unfurled.
I highly recommend this for the fantastic storytelling, the characters that add a lot of depth to the story but most importantly to witness the kind of love that Tom shared with his wife, June.
Tom Kettle has had a difficult past what with his wife’s death followed by a couple more tragedies and now he is being investigated for a case that he handled a decade ago. The police officers are sympathetic to him, after all everyone knew Tom Kettle and his capability as an officer. As it so happens with age, Tom is struggling to understand the faint line between past and present, fantasy and reality but there’s still a big chunk of the man that remains intact.
When Chief Jack Fleming seeks out Tom’s help in a decade old case of murder, he is thrown right back to the days when he along with his partner tried to hold the Catholic Church responsible for thousands of child molestation allegations. But as it so happens with powerful institutions, it was all swept under the carpet. This unexpected visit has shaken Tom and his memory starts playing games. He’s an unreliable narrator, haunted by the dead, wracked with grief, anger and a sense of helplessness.
Old God’s Time is a devastatingly powerful book, where narration takes the centre stage. Everything else is just weaved around Barry’s wonderful voice. It’s a slow book, and not much happens until 40% of the story but you can sense a constant hum of something urgent that’s waiting to be unfurled.
I highly recommend this for the fantastic storytelling, the characters that add a lot of depth to the story but most importantly to witness the kind of love that Tom shared with his wife, June.
The Bee Sting is a layered 650 paged novel that explores a single family in a small Irish town. This mammoth of a book reads easily, pulling us to be a witness of everything that happens to the characters. And as you stand and watch this once prosperous family being reduced to nothing, your heart goes out to them. To each flawed and difficult character and the painful pasts that they have been tugging along for a while now. Paul is an exceptional writer as he shifts from the past to the present, brining forth two timelines never once making a mess of it. It all seems like an inevitable train collision that is bound to happen but you can’t look away all the same.
Dickie runs a car dealership taken over by his father but it’s instantly clear that he doesn’t have a natural head for business. His wife Imelda is a beauty Queen and together they make an odd couple. When the economy is hit, the business faces a loss and the fancy life that the family has built comes crumbling down. Their marriage which was never perfect to begin with starts to collapse and the immediate aftermath of this is their kids’ taking a hit. Cass, a teenage girl is hell bent on impressing her toxic friend while 12 year old PJ is depraved of affection so tries to seek it somewhere else.
These characters have built walls around themselves and Paul carefully tries to dissect them for us. There are no good or bad people as he makes it abundantly clear, just a few flawed ones. There are interesting revelations, those that define why these people do what they do and as you start watching the world from their perspective, you find yourself completely immersed in their lives. The narration is fantastic, it keeps you engaged from the very first page and it doesn’t let you go until the last one. And as we jump between the timelines, the entire story fits together like perfect puzzle.
What happens when you combine a great story with incredible narrative? The result is something like The Bee Sting. There’s tragedy written all over it but you just can’t look away. And that’s the beauty of it.
I couldn’t be happier that this novel has now been shortlisted for @thebookerprizes
Dickie runs a car dealership taken over by his father but it’s instantly clear that he doesn’t have a natural head for business. His wife Imelda is a beauty Queen and together they make an odd couple. When the economy is hit, the business faces a loss and the fancy life that the family has built comes crumbling down. Their marriage which was never perfect to begin with starts to collapse and the immediate aftermath of this is their kids’ taking a hit. Cass, a teenage girl is hell bent on impressing her toxic friend while 12 year old PJ is depraved of affection so tries to seek it somewhere else.
These characters have built walls around themselves and Paul carefully tries to dissect them for us. There are no good or bad people as he makes it abundantly clear, just a few flawed ones. There are interesting revelations, those that define why these people do what they do and as you start watching the world from their perspective, you find yourself completely immersed in their lives. The narration is fantastic, it keeps you engaged from the very first page and it doesn’t let you go until the last one. And as we jump between the timelines, the entire story fits together like perfect puzzle.
What happens when you combine a great story with incredible narrative? The result is something like The Bee Sting. There’s tragedy written all over it but you just can’t look away. And that’s the beauty of it.
I couldn’t be happier that this novel has now been shortlisted for @thebookerprizes
| Book Review | A Nation of Idiots.
•
One word. Delightful. It's not often that I get this intense feeling of letting out a laugh while reading but this book did it for me. I can't remember the last time I read something that's refreshing and brutally honest so this book is already a winner in my eyes. The author has done a terrific job in writing his heart out and it's quite visible that he enjoyed doing so. You can almost picture him writting down an instance with a smirk playing on his lips. In spite of being candid and extremely at ease, this book in no sense insults or even hurts anybody's sentiments. And for this reason, Daksh deserves an ovation.
•
It's hard to sum up such a brilliant book due to word constraint but I'll try to do my best. The author narrates true incidents along with few examples in trying to put forth his point of how our country / society works. He begins with the drama that demonetisation brought to our country and the way in which people reacted to this sudden change. The long queues in front of banks and ATM, the plight of men who tried their luck in cheating the government but got the taste of their own medicine, all this was hilarious to read. And mind you, quite relatable too. I loved the fact that he tried to touch most of the topics that Indians seem to be obsessed with. Though it's hard to choose which one I liked the best, I'd probably vote for the chapter 'Indian Man' in which he addresses how people blindly follow the words of various Godmen. Considering how inquisitive he was as a kid, I can only imagine the scene unfurling in my mind, all the while trying to choke back giggles.
•
It's not easy to pen down a book in which serious issues are addressed with a tinge of humour. Take for example, his chapter on State of Women in which he sees and understands how the roles of men and women are often kept separate even in this century. Or one can even consider the chapter of Homosexuality where he goes to show how families and society feels about sex and LGBTQ. This book is important and I don't say this casually, but with conviction. It's important for young adults and children to question their elders about why they have to follow certain rules without any reason to support their ideas. His take on raising children the right away or addressing even the smallest issues wittily is truly commendable. I finished this book in one sitting and I did not realise how fast time went by. I'd urge you to read this and let me know what you think about it. A book as raw as this deserves the good kind of attention and more often than not, you might find agreeing with points that he manages to present. A breezy read which ticks all the boxes for being worthy and reliable.
•
Rating - 4.5/5
Merged review:
| Book Review | A Nation of Idiots.
•
One word. Delightful. It's not often that I get this intense feeling of letting out a laugh while reading but this book did it for me. I can't remember the last time I read something that's refreshing and brutally honest so this book is already a winner in my eyes. The author has done a terrific job in writing his heart out and it's quite visible that he enjoyed doing so. You can almost picture him writting down an instance with a smirk playing on his lips. In spite of being candid and extremely at ease, this book in no sense insults or even hurts anybody's sentiments. And for this reason, Daksh deserves an ovation.
•
It's hard to sum up such a brilliant book due to word constraint but I'll try to do my best. The author narrates true incidents along with few examples in trying to put forth his point of how our country / society works. He begins with the drama that demonetisation brought to our country and the way in which people reacted to this sudden change. The long queues in front of banks and ATM, the plight of men who tried their luck in cheating the government but got the taste of their own medicine, all this was hilarious to read. And mind you, quite relatable too. I loved the fact that he tried to touch most of the topics that Indians seem to be obsessed with. Though it's hard to choose which one I liked the best, I'd probably vote for the chapter 'Indian Man' in which he addresses how people blindly follow the words of various Godmen. Considering how inquisitive he was as a kid, I can only imagine the scene unfurling in my mind, all the while trying to choke back giggles.
•
It's not easy to pen down a book in which serious issues are addressed with a tinge of humour. Take for example, his chapter on State of Women in which he sees and understands how the roles of men and women are often kept separate even in this century. Or one can even consider the chapter of Homosexuality where he goes to show how families and society feels about sex and LGBTQ. This book is important and I don't say this casually, but with conviction. It's important for young adults and children to question their elders about why they have to follow certain rules without any reason to support their ideas. His take on raising children the right away or addressing even the smallest issues wittily is truly commendable. I finished this book in one sitting and I did not realise how fast time went by. I'd urge you to read this and let me know what you think about it. A book as raw as this deserves the good kind of attention and more often than not, you might find agreeing with points that he manages to present. A breezy read which ticks all the boxes for being worthy and reliable.
•
Rating - 4.5/5
•
One word. Delightful. It's not often that I get this intense feeling of letting out a laugh while reading but this book did it for me. I can't remember the last time I read something that's refreshing and brutally honest so this book is already a winner in my eyes. The author has done a terrific job in writing his heart out and it's quite visible that he enjoyed doing so. You can almost picture him writting down an instance with a smirk playing on his lips. In spite of being candid and extremely at ease, this book in no sense insults or even hurts anybody's sentiments. And for this reason, Daksh deserves an ovation.
•
It's hard to sum up such a brilliant book due to word constraint but I'll try to do my best. The author narrates true incidents along with few examples in trying to put forth his point of how our country / society works. He begins with the drama that demonetisation brought to our country and the way in which people reacted to this sudden change. The long queues in front of banks and ATM, the plight of men who tried their luck in cheating the government but got the taste of their own medicine, all this was hilarious to read. And mind you, quite relatable too. I loved the fact that he tried to touch most of the topics that Indians seem to be obsessed with. Though it's hard to choose which one I liked the best, I'd probably vote for the chapter 'Indian Man' in which he addresses how people blindly follow the words of various Godmen. Considering how inquisitive he was as a kid, I can only imagine the scene unfurling in my mind, all the while trying to choke back giggles.
•
It's not easy to pen down a book in which serious issues are addressed with a tinge of humour. Take for example, his chapter on State of Women in which he sees and understands how the roles of men and women are often kept separate even in this century. Or one can even consider the chapter of Homosexuality where he goes to show how families and society feels about sex and LGBTQ. This book is important and I don't say this casually, but with conviction. It's important for young adults and children to question their elders about why they have to follow certain rules without any reason to support their ideas. His take on raising children the right away or addressing even the smallest issues wittily is truly commendable. I finished this book in one sitting and I did not realise how fast time went by. I'd urge you to read this and let me know what you think about it. A book as raw as this deserves the good kind of attention and more often than not, you might find agreeing with points that he manages to present. A breezy read which ticks all the boxes for being worthy and reliable.
•
Rating - 4.5/5
Merged review:
| Book Review | A Nation of Idiots.
•
One word. Delightful. It's not often that I get this intense feeling of letting out a laugh while reading but this book did it for me. I can't remember the last time I read something that's refreshing and brutally honest so this book is already a winner in my eyes. The author has done a terrific job in writing his heart out and it's quite visible that he enjoyed doing so. You can almost picture him writting down an instance with a smirk playing on his lips. In spite of being candid and extremely at ease, this book in no sense insults or even hurts anybody's sentiments. And for this reason, Daksh deserves an ovation.
•
It's hard to sum up such a brilliant book due to word constraint but I'll try to do my best. The author narrates true incidents along with few examples in trying to put forth his point of how our country / society works. He begins with the drama that demonetisation brought to our country and the way in which people reacted to this sudden change. The long queues in front of banks and ATM, the plight of men who tried their luck in cheating the government but got the taste of their own medicine, all this was hilarious to read. And mind you, quite relatable too. I loved the fact that he tried to touch most of the topics that Indians seem to be obsessed with. Though it's hard to choose which one I liked the best, I'd probably vote for the chapter 'Indian Man' in which he addresses how people blindly follow the words of various Godmen. Considering how inquisitive he was as a kid, I can only imagine the scene unfurling in my mind, all the while trying to choke back giggles.
•
It's not easy to pen down a book in which serious issues are addressed with a tinge of humour. Take for example, his chapter on State of Women in which he sees and understands how the roles of men and women are often kept separate even in this century. Or one can even consider the chapter of Homosexuality where he goes to show how families and society feels about sex and LGBTQ. This book is important and I don't say this casually, but with conviction. It's important for young adults and children to question their elders about why they have to follow certain rules without any reason to support their ideas. His take on raising children the right away or addressing even the smallest issues wittily is truly commendable. I finished this book in one sitting and I did not realise how fast time went by. I'd urge you to read this and let me know what you think about it. A book as raw as this deserves the good kind of attention and more often than not, you might find agreeing with points that he manages to present. A breezy read which ticks all the boxes for being worthy and reliable.
•
Rating - 4.5/5
Sugar, Baby as a title is pretty self explanatory so I did know what to expect from the book before I dived into it. We have a group of young adult women, our protagonist at the very centre of it living in London and living the sugar baby life. Agnes is a young black woman of 22 who grew up in a religious household. Her mother loves church and bible study and strictly prohibits her daughters from indulging in anything that she considers satanic. That means no partying or putting on makeup. Premarital sex is as good as the girls getting a direct entry to hell. So Agnes automatically lives a double life.
Having dropped out of school, Agnes is happy taking up a cleaner job. It is there that she meets Emily, daughter of a rich family who is also a sugar baby. Agnes is quick to involve herself in this glamorous world where she’s showered with expensive bags, being able to eat at fancy restaurants and getting beauty treatments to look like a model. This book is smutty, there’s no doubt about that but as we see Agnes venturing into this whirlwind of a world, it all turns messy very quickly.
It becomes clear early on that Agnes is not one to make wise decisions. As she makes friendly acquaintances with men of all kinds, she suddenly remembers her passion for photography. But just as quickly, she dismisses the idea. It’s hard to know what goes on inside her head and this really put me off. There are also a lot of cliched moments contrary to a refreshing change that I had hoped for. And the men were so typical of what to expect in such stories. Lawyers, mafia looking guys. After a point it got too much.
You know it’s hard to stay with a book when you can’t connect with the protagonist and that’s exactly why it didn’t work for me. Sugar, Baby is everything the name suggests but that’s precisely why it gets a bit boring after a while.
Thank you for the copy @penguinindia ✨
Having dropped out of school, Agnes is happy taking up a cleaner job. It is there that she meets Emily, daughter of a rich family who is also a sugar baby. Agnes is quick to involve herself in this glamorous world where she’s showered with expensive bags, being able to eat at fancy restaurants and getting beauty treatments to look like a model. This book is smutty, there’s no doubt about that but as we see Agnes venturing into this whirlwind of a world, it all turns messy very quickly.
It becomes clear early on that Agnes is not one to make wise decisions. As she makes friendly acquaintances with men of all kinds, she suddenly remembers her passion for photography. But just as quickly, she dismisses the idea. It’s hard to know what goes on inside her head and this really put me off. There are also a lot of cliched moments contrary to a refreshing change that I had hoped for. And the men were so typical of what to expect in such stories. Lawyers, mafia looking guys. After a point it got too much.
You know it’s hard to stay with a book when you can’t connect with the protagonist and that’s exactly why it didn’t work for me. Sugar, Baby is everything the name suggests but that’s precisely why it gets a bit boring after a while.
Thank you for the copy @penguinindia ✨
The Less You Preach, the More You Learn : Aphorisms for Our Age
Joseph Zacharias, Shashi Tharoor, Shashi Tharoor
I have always loved a good aphorism. Growing up, my grandfather always had one at the tip of his tongue and I would try to memorise each of them religiously. When I learnt that a book of aphorisms is being released by @alephbookco featuring some by Dr Shashi Tharoor and Joseph Zacharias, I knew I had to read it. Everything about this delightful little book is refreshing. Be it the witty statements or the clever illustrations by Priya Kurian to go with them, it is all neatly done.
Although Dr Tharoor chanced upon Joseph for a work meeting, it is their friendship that has evolved over the years. It’s no secret that Dr Tharoor is well known for his sharp wit but it is the combined aphorisms by the two men that makes this little book such a hit. I also loved the idea that these aphorisms are written so diversely be it about relationships, life, work life, society and god. It encapsulates human nature and offers a refreshing take on how we behave as a community.
This is a book that you can revisit time and again because the aphorisms never get old. Extra points for this gorgeous cover.
Although Dr Tharoor chanced upon Joseph for a work meeting, it is their friendship that has evolved over the years. It’s no secret that Dr Tharoor is well known for his sharp wit but it is the combined aphorisms by the two men that makes this little book such a hit. I also loved the idea that these aphorisms are written so diversely be it about relationships, life, work life, society and god. It encapsulates human nature and offers a refreshing take on how we behave as a community.
This is a book that you can revisit time and again because the aphorisms never get old. Extra points for this gorgeous cover.
When I first read The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, I wasn’t too impressed. The story had a lot of loopholes and I disliked the protagonist. But many weeks later, I had the chance to read two more books by her (The Inmate & The Locked Door), which to my surprise were quite good. Freida’s writing style is simple and keeps you hooked. There are no extravagant references and she makes it almost impossible to put the book down. So when @penguinindia asked me if I’d be interested in reading The Housemaid’s Secret, I gladly agreed. And I was not disappointed.
Millie has had a tough life. She has a criminal record and a terrible experience while working as a cleaner in her past job. No wonder she’s careful about whom she trusts and relies strongly on her gut feeling. She’s always strapped for cash and when she finds a lucratively paying job of a cleaner/cook for a rich couple, she happily takes it. The Garricks are filthy rich and live in a penthouse. Everything seems normal except for the fact that Mrs Wendy Garrick never gets out of her room. It doesn’t take long for Millie to notice some oddities in the couple and she decides to find out the secret behind their strange marriage.
As it so happens with any psychological thriller, there are lots of secrets, suspense and finally the grand reveal. The pace of this story is incredible, and I say this because I finished reading it in a day. This book seemed like a much more polished version of The Housemaid, even nailing the execution. It has all the makings of a great domestic thriller and one doesn’t even have to read the previous book to understand this one.
My only problem was with Mille and her inability to make wise decisions. It’s like watching a horror movie lead making terrible choices. But if you can overlook this, there’s a good chance that you may enjoy this book.
Thank you for the copy @penguinindia ✨
Millie has had a tough life. She has a criminal record and a terrible experience while working as a cleaner in her past job. No wonder she’s careful about whom she trusts and relies strongly on her gut feeling. She’s always strapped for cash and when she finds a lucratively paying job of a cleaner/cook for a rich couple, she happily takes it. The Garricks are filthy rich and live in a penthouse. Everything seems normal except for the fact that Mrs Wendy Garrick never gets out of her room. It doesn’t take long for Millie to notice some oddities in the couple and she decides to find out the secret behind their strange marriage.
As it so happens with any psychological thriller, there are lots of secrets, suspense and finally the grand reveal. The pace of this story is incredible, and I say this because I finished reading it in a day. This book seemed like a much more polished version of The Housemaid, even nailing the execution. It has all the makings of a great domestic thriller and one doesn’t even have to read the previous book to understand this one.
My only problem was with Mille and her inability to make wise decisions. It’s like watching a horror movie lead making terrible choices. But if you can overlook this, there’s a good chance that you may enjoy this book.
Thank you for the copy @penguinindia ✨
I read Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy back in 2020 and I was instantly taken by his empathetic way of writing. I experienced the same quality still in his latest novel, Mansions of the Moon. In this book that reads gently and deeply, Selvadurai has managed to connect with the readers in a way that is quite hard to explain. This fictionalised tale of Yasodhara’s (Siddhartha Gotama’s wife) journey of becoming a Buddhist nun herself, felt like it was written by a woman because of the compassion and pain that it carries. Yasodhara’s life is a lesser told story and it was hard for me to make sense of why Siddhartha did what he did. How is it fair that right after Yasodhara gave birth to their son, Siddhartha left everything behind in search of enlightenment? This sad tale of love found and then lost stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within me.
Yasodhara and Siddharatha were cousins before they got married at the age of 16. Their sweet friendship and affection blossomed into love as time passed by but the melancholy which always resided within Siddharatha, a quality that at one point of time Yasodhara admired only increased with time. He was restless & desired something more than the usual pleasure of being a family man. Siddharatha and his father, Suddhodana never got along well but old age softened the old man to be a little kinder to his son. But even amidst his family and friends, Siddharatha was always looking for contentment which was found only after he met ascetics. It didn’t take long for everyone to realise that Siddharatha would eventually forsake everything and choose the life of spiritualism.
But this book is more about the wife and mother who was abandoned by her husband. We see Yasodhara’s anguish and fury and her strength to carry on alone when everything else seemed to crumble. This woman, brought up in a royal household even lived a peasant life without complaining about it, forged friendships and companionship with other women who kept her going. It was surprising to see women having more freedom back in 6BCE than they have now. This was a refreshing historical fiction that put things into perspective.
Can’t recommend this enough.
Yasodhara and Siddharatha were cousins before they got married at the age of 16. Their sweet friendship and affection blossomed into love as time passed by but the melancholy which always resided within Siddharatha, a quality that at one point of time Yasodhara admired only increased with time. He was restless & desired something more than the usual pleasure of being a family man. Siddharatha and his father, Suddhodana never got along well but old age softened the old man to be a little kinder to his son. But even amidst his family and friends, Siddharatha was always looking for contentment which was found only after he met ascetics. It didn’t take long for everyone to realise that Siddharatha would eventually forsake everything and choose the life of spiritualism.
But this book is more about the wife and mother who was abandoned by her husband. We see Yasodhara’s anguish and fury and her strength to carry on alone when everything else seemed to crumble. This woman, brought up in a royal household even lived a peasant life without complaining about it, forged friendships and companionship with other women who kept her going. It was surprising to see women having more freedom back in 6BCE than they have now. This was a refreshing historical fiction that put things into perspective.
Can’t recommend this enough.
