This was a lovely book about two cousins, both forced to put aside their dreams and enter into arranged marriages. And it was the story of family secrets. While reading you can imagine the spices in the food, the scent of the flowers and the warmth of the Indian climate. ( )

Engaging story about two sisters/cousins being raised by their mothers and an aunt. Lots of interesting Indian culture. ( )

This is the story of two distant cousins, Basudha & Anjli referred to as Sudha & Anju in the novel. They stay with their widow Mom’s and a bua. Sudha & Anju have lost their respective fathers who had gone in search of rubies…how they actually died is a mystery for everyone but yes this news send their mothers into premature labor and the girls are born. The girls are inseparable and they form a bond which no one can understand or match. Sudha is the beautiful one and the Anju the headstrong. Sudha & her mother are the ones who are dependent on Anju’s family. Then there is Singhji their loyal & unpaid chauffeur. Sudha is concerned with the histories of their families. She ponders the misadventure that claimed the lives of their fathers Sudha forces her bua to tell the real story of the escapade of her father & uncle the truth she learns is the backbone of the story. Throughout the story, there is the sense that the choices these fathers made will always affect the fate of their daughters, and that the daughters’ own choices will always bring unforeseen consequences.Sudha falls in love but what she choses ultimately  bound by the guilt factor...their marriages take the sisters apart while Sudha moves to a small town as a dutiful housewife Anju moves to US of A with dreams that she is going with her dream man who loves her as she loves him.From this point onwards the book deals with the respective lives of the two sisters. The choices they are forced to make. I won’t go into the details herein because it will kill the suspense of the book. The best part about the book is the bond between the sisters…the way the author has depicted their closeness, their dependency and hold on each other is not only touching but to some extent very real…the way both of them are each others support system…they are ready to forego their dreams for each other so that the other can be happy…Sudha leaves India with her baby leaving behind her mother and Ashok the only man she has ever loved in her life …she leaves because she has promised Anju that she will be there with her.. And when you think that the novel is about to end the author gives a blow to you….She discloses the secret and when the passage starts you’ll be dumbfounded….that’s the beauty of this novel…it leaves you dumbstruck for sometime… Read this book for the beautiful writing…there are some short stories which are the staple diets of these sisters, the stories which used to just story for them but become their source of inspiration in times of needs....The author has a way with words her writing is to some extent lyrical but very real...sometimes we might feel its drem like...but may be thats the reason its called fiction :-) ( )

To peek into the world of arranged marriages gives me a good perspective of what it may be like to be married to someone you don't really know and perhaps don't really like.

I wonder if I could be as strong as some of the women Ms Davakaruni writes about if I were in their situation. ( )

This book was poetic, rich with exotic descriptions and beautiful metaphors. Divakaruni weaves a delicate, intricate web of complex problem after complex problem. Just when you believe something good will happen for one of the characters, another problem presents itself and your heart breaks for the harsh reality of Indian culture on the women. This book is about how strong the tree of sisterly love grows and how deep the roots go. It is also about unfulfilled desire and sacrificial love. The book had pages which re-ignited my passion for my true love. There were pages that were irresistible to capture quotes from and write them down so I can save them forever. ( )