Secret Daughter: A Novel (original 2010; edition 2010)

Secret Daughter is wonderfully written and very powerful. I was completely drawn into the story and absorbed into the lives of these characters. The further I got into the story the more impossible it was to put the book down. I kept on wondering if Ms. Gowda was influenced by the writing of Jhumpa Lahiri, and not just because of the setting or the cultural background of the story and characters but because of the style and feel of the narrative. There was such insight into the psychology of human nature and the traps our own minds set for us; the struggle to control and plan our destiny and the limitations of our ability to do so. This was inextricably entwined with a very powerful and absorbing story and a deep examination of the influences of culture and the mixing of cultures. Immediately upon finishing this it went onto my to-buy list. I need to own this and intend to share it. ( )

This novel alternates between two storylines.
1984 India- Kavita (husband Jasu)
Jasu had disposed of their first baby girl, so Kavita walked to the orphanage to ensure this baby girl would live.
1984 San Francisco - Somer (husband Krishna), both doctors, had had several miscarriages.
It appears that the story will be predictable- yes Somer and Krishna do adopt Kavita's baby girl Asha. But Somer goes to India to meet her father's relatives. This is very interesting. As she is interviewing for her work, she realizes how fortunate she has been and begins to appreciate her mother.
Kavita continues in extreme poverty. She has a son who becomes a drug dealer.
I was interested in the stresses and strains in each of the marriages. Somer moved out on her own at one point to find herself.
I enjoyed the character development. Chapters were short and language was easy. Interesting read. I enjoyed this novel. ( )

On the same shelf as [b:My Daughter's Keeper|96723|My Daughter's Keeper|Christopher Scott Durant|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|93224] and other drivel. I got a couple of chapters in, predicted the ending, detested the writing, decided I didn't want to waste my time. There are better books to read.
(You were right, Rachel!) ( )

Wonderful book! If this is the author's first novel, I can't wait to read her second! I won the book through the First Reads giveaway here at Goodreads, and as soon as I did, I went to the authors website and read the first few pages in the preview! After just the first chapter, I was hooked!
The story is centered around the 'secret daughter' Asha/Usha. She is born the 2nd daughter of Kavita, an Indian woman who lost her 1st daughter immediately after birth to infanticide. She is determined the 2nd daughter will live and travels many miles to an orphanage.
In the meantime, Somar, an American woman married to an Indian man, suffers 2 miscarriages and learns she will never have a biological child. They adopt Asha, and the story proceeds from there. Somar has troubles with the cultural differences between India and the United States, and constantly worries that she will lose Asha to her biological mother. Asha wonders about her birth parents and who she really is. Krishnan, Somar's husband, balances missing his family and India with adopting American culture. There are unspoken fears, resentments and questions. Read the book! It's a good read. ( )

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I had difficulty putting the book down. I was completely caught up in the lives of the main characters. How well written, full of understandable emotions without being boring or exaggerating.
I nearly cried at the end, since the outcome was unexpected form one side, from another however not. That hasn't happened to me in a long time.

A woman (Kavita) gives birth to a daughter, who's taken away from her: her husband and his family want a boy, to take care of them when they are old and help on the land.
Kavita gives birth to another child. Another daughter. This time she's determined to avoid the terrible thing that happened to her first daughter and gives her up for adoption.
The third child is a boy. And the husbands' family act as if the first two babies did not exist and is celebrating the birth of the so much desired boy.

Time passes and when we leave Kavita, we see a couple at the other side of the world that cannot have children of their own. Kavita's daughter ends up in that family.

How the story continues I will not tell: I'd be giving away all. Just saying that this book, depicting the (imaginary) lives of these people deeply touched mine.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Recommend it strongly! ( )