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The Aunt Who Wouldn't Die: A Novel (1993)

by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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807336,237 (3.28)4
"A laugh-out-loud, tug-at-your-heartstrings tale of love, family, and freedom centered around three generations of Bengali women. Somlata has just married into the dynastic but declining Mitra family. At eighteen, she expects to settle into her role as a devout wife in this traditional, multi-generational family. But then Somlata, wandering the halls of the grand, decaying Mitra mansion, stumbles upon the body of her great aunt-in-law, Pishima. A child bride widowed at twelve, Pishima has finally passed away at the ripe old age of seventy. But she isn't letting go just yet. Pishima has long harbored a grudge against the Mitras for keeping her in perpetual widowhood, never allowed to fall in love.. Now, her ghost intends to meddle in their lives, making as much mischief as possible. Pishima gives Somlata the keys to her mysterious box of gold to keep it out of the Mitras' hands. However, the selfless Somlata, witnessing her new family waste away their wealth to the brink of bankruptcy, has her own ideas. Boshon is a book-loving, scooter-riding, rebellious teenager who wants nothing to do with the many suitors that ask for her hand. She yearns for freedom and wants to go to college. But when her poor neighbor returns from America she finds herself falling in love. Perhaps Pishima's yearning spirit lives on in her own her heart? The Aunt Who Wouldn't Die is a frenetic, funny, and fresh novel about three generations of Mitra women who are surprising at every turn and defy all expectations. They may be guarding a box of gold, but they are the true treasures in this gem of a novel"--… (more)
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» See also 4 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)
The story of Somlata a poor bride in a once rich household and her daughter Boshon, indulged as the only child of the household, and how the not-death of Boshon's (great)great-aunt has shaped both their lives. It is a bit heavy on the "influence of a good woman" but at least shows that that neither the influence nor the good is straightforward. ( )
  quondame | Jan 30, 2024 |
Quick and odd book with an even ofder ending. ( )
  kakadoo202 | Oct 19, 2023 |
I really enjoyed this little book from a Bengali writer. The narrators were excellent and gave all the spice to the book. Through this little story I learnt a lot about the cultural context and the great emancipation of women just in three generations. ( )
  dacejav | May 16, 2022 |
Two good narrators for this audiobook. I'm afraid I was a little lost in the telling. Not quite my cup of tea. I did read to the end though. I just didn't really understand it. My bad. ( )
  njcur | Oct 13, 2021 |
A short and beautifully told traditional Bengal tale about a woman haunted by the ghost of her great-aunt-in-law and her daughter, who is haunted by the possibility of love with an equal. It has drama from caste issues, especially the indolence of the formerly wealthy, and a well-drawn contrast between the harsh yet improving fate of women in the India over two generations. There's also a helpful note from the translator - who, to readers in other languages - IS the author. ( )
  froxgirl | Aug 31, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (4 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Shirshendu Mukhopadhyayprimary authorall editionscalculated
Deni FrancisNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gupta, DeeptiNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Jay, AvitaNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Sinha, ArunavaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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My husband's name is Chakor Mitra Chowdhury.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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"A laugh-out-loud, tug-at-your-heartstrings tale of love, family, and freedom centered around three generations of Bengali women. Somlata has just married into the dynastic but declining Mitra family. At eighteen, she expects to settle into her role as a devout wife in this traditional, multi-generational family. But then Somlata, wandering the halls of the grand, decaying Mitra mansion, stumbles upon the body of her great aunt-in-law, Pishima. A child bride widowed at twelve, Pishima has finally passed away at the ripe old age of seventy. But she isn't letting go just yet. Pishima has long harbored a grudge against the Mitras for keeping her in perpetual widowhood, never allowed to fall in love.. Now, her ghost intends to meddle in their lives, making as much mischief as possible. Pishima gives Somlata the keys to her mysterious box of gold to keep it out of the Mitras' hands. However, the selfless Somlata, witnessing her new family waste away their wealth to the brink of bankruptcy, has her own ideas. Boshon is a book-loving, scooter-riding, rebellious teenager who wants nothing to do with the many suitors that ask for her hand. She yearns for freedom and wants to go to college. But when her poor neighbor returns from America she finds herself falling in love. Perhaps Pishima's yearning spirit lives on in her own her heart? The Aunt Who Wouldn't Die is a frenetic, funny, and fresh novel about three generations of Mitra women who are surprising at every turn and defy all expectations. They may be guarding a box of gold, but they are the true treasures in this gem of a novel"--

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