Shruti Swamy

Superb, thoughtful, eloquent stories. I never knew where this gifted artist was going to take me but I knew it was going to be thrilling each time. A woman and her sick daughter are forced to leave their house in the California Hills as a fire approaches, a battered wife tries to connect with her neighbor she imagines suffers from a similar situation, a painter hooks up with Krishna.

Thanks to the Library Thing Early Reviewers program for the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.… (mehr)

When Vidya glimpses a group of girls learning kathak, an Indian dance, she is instantly drawn to the art form. Given permission to begin taking lessons, she struggles with the discipline and focus the dance requires. The book continues following Vidya through her life, and she goes to college, moves on to a more advanced teacher, and finally marries.

I felt like this book was all over the place. It was written in a lyrical style, that does not really appeal to me. I am sure that many will love this book, it just wasn't for me.… (mehr)

Although the story is about a traditional girl from India, Vidya, it echoes the emotions of women of all nationalities. Vidya, whose mother died while Vidya was very young, is raised by her father in a poor neighborhood of Mumbai. When her brother comes to live with them, she not only has all the household duties, but becomes the mother figure to her brother. What she yearns for is the traditional dance of kathak. Becoming a kathak dancer is all-consuming, meaning hours of practice and the giving up of a traditional life. Vidya is determined, continuing her study of the dance through college and refuses to give it up when she marries. She believes her husband understands her passion to be a professional dancer. When she finds herself pregnant, she discovers her husband is thrilled and expects them to move in with his wealthy parents. At times the story is almost poetic, the emotion in Sneha Mathan’s narration provides voice to Vidya’s needs. Manthan ablely conveys Vidya’s devotion and dedication to her art despite society’s attempt to mold her into a dutiful wife, mother and daughter-in-law.… (mehr)