Leaving Yuba City: Poems
by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Like Divakaruni's much-loved and bestselling short story collection Arranged Marriage, this collection of poetry deals with India and the Indian experience in America, from the adventures of going to a convent school in India run by Irish nuns (Growing up in Darjeeling) to the history of the earliest Indian immigrants in the U.S. (Yuba City Poems). Groups of interlinked poems divided into six sections are peopled by many of the same characters and explore varying themes. Here, Divakaruni is show more particularly interested in how different art forms can influence and inspire each other. One section, entitled Indian Miniatures, is based on and named after a series of paintings by Francesco Clemente. Another, called Moving Pictures, is based on Indian films, including Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay" and Satyajit Ray's "Ghare Baire." Photographs by Raghubir Singh inspired the section entitled Rajasthani. The trials and tribulations of growing up and immigration are also considered here and, as with all of Divakaruni's writing, these poems deal with the experience of women and their struggle to find identities for themselves. This collection is touched with the same magic and universal appeal that excited readers of Arranged Marriage. In Leaving Yuba City, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni proves once again her remarkable literary talents. show lessTags
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In the final section, she dramatizes the circumscribed lives of persecuted Punjab farmers who immigrated early in this century to Yuba City, California. Strongly narrative, shimmeringly detailed, and emotionally acute, these poems will stay with you.
This collection published about ten years is by the author of Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, Arranged Marriage...etc. It contains poems about India, about the Indian experience in America, poems about women, and poems based on paintings, photographs and Indian films.
No matter what the subject matter, these poems have a quiet or subdued voice which has an effect like someone coming put a blanket around your shoulders while you are reading. Divakaruni's images often flow effortlessly into a narrative - clearly she has things to show and tell you.
No matter what the subject matter, these poems have a quiet or subdued voice which has an effect like someone coming put a blanket around your shoulders while you are reading. Divakaruni's images often flow effortlessly into a narrative - clearly she has things to show and tell you.
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33+ Works 11,016 Members
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni was born in India and later moved to the United States to attend college. She earned a M. A. at Wright State University and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. Divakaruni held many odd jobs until she was able to become an accomplished writer. She was the president of MAITRI, a crisis hotline for female show more South Asian victims of domestic abuse, and is currently a professor at Foothill College in California. Her works have been recognized in more than 50 magazines and 30 anthologies. She also has been awarded two PEN Syndicated Fiction Project Awards, a Pushcart Prize, and the Allen Ginsberg Poerty Prize. Divakaruni's books include Arranged Marriage and The Mistress of Spices. Her Title One Amazing Thing made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) Chitra Divakaruni is the author of the bestselling novels "The Mistress of Spices" & "Sister of My Heart", the story collection "Arranged Marriage", which won several awards, including the American Book Award, & four collections of poetry. Her work has appeared in "The New Yorker", "The Atlantic Monthly", "Ms.", & other publications. Born in India, she lives in the San Francisco area. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
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- Original publication date
- 1997
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- Members
- 77
- Popularity
- 409,507
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.20)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 1
