This novel is simply magnificent. The marvelous story of three generations of women in a family from India.
It is an incredible love story: the love of family, the love of heritage, the love of friendship, and the love of a soulmate.
It addresses the turmoil caused by the desire to keep tradition and make your family proud by doing what is expected of you, while also harboring the desire to be true to ones own self, and to follow the path of your heart.
Jaya grew up in New York, the daughter of Indian immigrants, who is now a journalist and in the process of separating from her husband after several agonizing miscarriages.
When Jaya's mother, Lena, receives a letter from India about her fathers failing health, she refuses to ever return to India, for any reason. Much to Lena's distress, Jaya decides to go in her place, as she knows very little about her mothers family and hopes to learn about her roots.
Once in India, she goes to the home of her late grandmother, Amisha, an extraordinary woman. There she meets Ravi, her mothers former "servant" and dear friend and confidant. Ravi tells Jaya the remarkable story of her grandmother, the storyteller.
While living in her grandmothers house within her grandmother village and listening to the long story of her grandmothers exceptional life, Jaya learns of her grandmothers impact on her family and community. Jaya ultimately finds the connection that she feels that she has been lacking all along and her life is changed forever.
I give this lovely novel five stars, if not more, and highly recommend it to all.
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