There's something rather intriguing about a group of women who know they need something, but have trouble realizing what it is. From Rose, who is pretty and sweet and pretty much an empty-headed doll to her best friend for ages Tor, the opposite of Rose in everything from looks to personality, but equally uncertain how to map out her future. Then of course there's Viva, who lies about her age, her experience, her purpose for wanting to go to India. With all the bad karma these three ladies are toting its no wonder things begin to unravel.

There's a lot to be said here for absentee parenting. Rose's mom had the most involvement (but that's not saying much) and Guy's parents were just...it should be criminal. Then again Viva really was too eager and didn't ask the right questions at her interviews at all. In that she showed her naivety and I think in some ways that's why she was chosen to 'chaperon' Guy to India. She didn't ask so they had deniability after all if anything went wrong.

For anyone not overly familiar with British occupied India of the late 1920's you will learn quite a bit. What we learn of India is seen through British eyes of course--Viva possibly being the most sympathetic of the three (having lived there during her childhood), but is still fascinating. My experiences with colonial India have been limited to one young adult novel and a bollywood movie called Lagaan, but neither gave me a real feeling of what it was like. Especially not for an officer's wife and family. Rose is perhaps lucky in that she makes the best of things, it doesn't seem like her life will be as thrilling as her mother believed.

Throughout the book I wondered if Guy could have been easily written out, if the novel would have suffered or not. He was rather repugnant and only serves to become worse and worse as the novel goes on. I think he was important however to round out the quartet--because of his actions decisions are made that would have otherwise not been and developments are forced upon Viva in particular that help her get past the ghosts of her past. ( )

In 1928, Viva is hired as a chaperone to accompany 2 young women, Rose and Tor, to India for Rose's wedding. They are part of the "Fishing Fleet", English women who traveled to India to find a husband. In order to make more money to pay for her passage, Viva also accompanies a troubled young man, Gus. While on the ship, they meet Frank, a doctor. Rose is due to marry Jack, who she has only met a few times. Rose is very naive, but Tor is ready to meet a man and never return to England. Viva is troubled because both her parents and sister died, and she wishes to return to India to find some answers.
Some of this book is interesting, but in other parts, it just dragged, and had info that I don't think was needed, and other parts seemed abrupt and without explanation.
587 pages! It should have been about 300 in my opinion! ( )

A bit romancy, but an engaging story about the plight of British women in colonial India in the 1920's. They all end up marrying, some happier than others. The relations between the Indians and the British was very interesting as the Indians were beginning to be inspired by Gandhi at this point. ( )

An utterly captivating story of three young British women in search of freedom and love in 1920s India Autumn 1928. Three young women are on their way to India, each with a new life in mind. Rose, a beautiful but naive bride-to-be, is anxious about leaving her family and marrying a man she hardly knows. Victoria, her bridesmaid couldn't be happier to get away from her overbearing mother, and is determined to find herself a husband. And Viva, their inexperienced chaperone, is in search of the India of her childhood, ghosts from the past and freedom. Each of them has their own reason for leaving their homeland but the hopes and secrets they carry can do little to prepare them for what lies ahead in India. From the parties of the wealthy Bombay socialites, to the ragged orphans on Tamarind Street, EAST OF THE SUN is an utterly engaging novel that will captivate readers everywhere.

It's a hefty book, 587 pages in this edition. I thought it would take some time to get through, and I probably had it on my shelf for a long time, waiting for the moment nothing else looked at all interesting.

However I came by it, I'm glad I did. I was expecting some kind of story about India that would fill in some blanks, would tell me more about India. That would have been fine. But instead it is a rather fast-moving novel that uses India as a base.

We meet Viva Holloway first, and she is the main character. Down on funds and prospects, she answers an ad for a chaperone to accompany two young women to India: Rose, who is to be married, and Victoria, who is to be her bridesmaid. It is 1928. Viva is young and resourceful. She knows very little about India, yet she manages to sell herself to the parents of Victoria and Rose. Viva has another motive, in addition to surviving: she recently learned of a trunk left in India by her parents, now deceased. She wanted to see the trunk.

To supplement her meager earnings, Viva accepts an additional chaperone job; this time it is a young boy who is going to India.

The three set off on a ship to India. On board it turns out that Viva's male charge, Guy Glover, is a bit of a trouble maker. Managing him takes more skill than Viva has.

When the three make it to India, worse for wear but with some tentative friendships happening, things get more and more complicated. Fortunately for us, we get to ride the whirlwind tour around Bombay and beyond without getting out of our seats.

I am not a fan of historical fiction, as a rule. This is one exception. It feels right, it isn't overblown, it's a good story. ( )