Book Reviews
The Sari Shop Widow Review By Swapna Krishna I’ve really enjoyed Shobhan Bantwal’s books. Her novels “The Dowry Bride” and “The Forbidden Daughter” both dealt with controversial subjects in Indian society. They were engaging novels that I enjoyed reading, so when I heard she had another novel coming out, I couldn’t resist it. “The Sari Shop Widow” is llighter in tone than Bantwal’s previous books, but it’s as captivating. Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul Review by Hena Sharma Many people make New Year’s Resolutions to help motivate them into making positive changes in their lives. Sometimes all that is needed is a changed point-of-view to see a situation in a different light. Other times a breakthrough is needed in order to get out of a negative thought pattern and move forward. Bestselling author and motivational speaker Deepak Chopra’s books often challenge the reader to experience breakthroughs in thinking in order to improve quality of life. His latest book is no different in this regard. Chopra presents the concept that the human physical body is a constantly changing collection of cells, and that only by adding the element of our awareness, energy, or soul do we truly exist. Chopra has received numerous accolades as a motivational, spiritual speaker, but sometimes deciphering his message from his books can prove to be difficult, and sometimes confusing. Hena Sharma is a software developer living in Cary, who enjoys blogging about the books she’s reading on her website “www.henasgoodbooks.com” NurtureShock Shanghai Girls Review by Hena Sharma Lisa See is an author that can portray the sights, smells, and sounds of a story with such compelling detail that the reader is pulled instantly into the scenes she paints with her words. Her latest novel, “Shanghai Girls,” follows the story of two sisters from China whose lives take them on a journey from an upper-class, comfortable life prior to the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 China, to interrogations at the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco, then to living in Chinatown in the Hollywood area. Have a Little Faith The Second Opinion The Marriage Bureau for Rich People The Weight of Heaven By Hena Sharma “The Weight of Heaven,” by Thrity Umrigar is a gripping story about Frank and Ellie, an American couple trying to come to terms with the loss of their young son. The reader is immediately pulled into the couple’s pain of losing a child, but the story is not only about a family overcoming grief. The characters’ personal struggle, their relationship as a couple, and the impact on the community around them are the complex ideas that Umrigar weaves into a compelling story. India Review by Samir Shukla The New Vegetarian Grill The New Vegetarian Grill is an updated version of Andrea Chesman’s much-loved book on grilling vegetarian meals. There are no photos of finished dishes, some may find that as a shortcoming of the book, but the lack of photos also leaves more room for recipes. And recipes galore, from kabobs to grilled deserts. The book features 250 recipes “flame-kissed” as the author puts it. There are many unusual combinations and grilling techniques presented here including quesadillas, grilled Portobello salad with Roquefort dressing, lentil-stuffed pita pockets with grilled onions, veggie fajitas with chipotle sour cream, white pizza with leeks and peppers, Tandoori-style vegetable kabobs, and grilled nectarines with Mascarpone Cream. You get the picture. This book is not only for vegetarians. Even meat grillers will find tasty ideas and recipes that can enhance their meals with numerous veggie options next time they fire up their grills. There are chapters on sandwiches, pizzas and flatbreads, appetizers, soups and kebabs as well as marinades, glazes, sauces, and desserts. It’s filled with a variety of easy dishes for gas grills, charcoal grills, or a simple campfire grill sizzling under an open sky. The expanded introductory chapter features helpful information on current equipment options such as pellet grills, grill pans, built-in grills, and indoor grilling machines. This new collection adds 50 new recipes along with improved techniques and equipment to the original edition. It’s simple. Open the book, find something you like, and fire up the grill.
Author Shobhan Bantwal
(Kensington Publishing)
I absolutely loved the character of Anjali. She was smart and savvy, a real role model for younger women, especially Indian girls. Though she had a breakdown after her husband died, she rebuilt her life, pouring her energy into something productive. It was great to see her declare that her life was not over, even though her husband had died. Her vulnerability also intrigued me. I could feel her anguish at the prospect of losing her shop and her anger at the thought that outsiders might be coming in and taking it over. Bantwal did a fine job of developing Anjali and making her seem like a real person.
I also appreciated how modern the novel is. A lot of stories about Indians set in America tend to be fantasy stories in some ways – Indians residing in the United States, but living exactly as they would have if they had stayed in India. When you live in a foreign country, that culture will rub off on you. I liked that Bantwal incorporated both the traditional and the modern in this novel. For example, Anjali lives with her parents even though she is a thirty-seven year old widow, though there are also some practical reasons for that. Anjali also has a life of her own, however, one that she keeps secret from her parents. It’s a delicate balance that takes a deft hand to achieve, and Bantwal does it well.
The story of “The Sari Shop Widow” is a bit of a fairy tale, but in a good way. I loved how Rishi came in as a knight in shining armor in order to save the shop, but Anjali wasn’t having any of it. It really reinforced the idea that she is a modern woman and wanted to be saved through her own hard work, not rescued by some guy she doesn’t know. Though the story focuses much more on Anjali’s development rather than saving the store, I enjoyed reading about how they turned the shop around. More details of that would have been nice.
The Sari Shop Widow is a wonderful book for a lot of different audiences because it incorporates so many different genres. I highly recommend it.
Swapna Krishna writes a book reviews blog. Read her reviews at skrishnasbooks.com
Author Deepak Chopra
(Harmony)
In his latest book, “Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul,” Chopra tries to simplify his message. The first section of the book tries to get the reader to accept a different way of viewing the physical body and the physical world itself. He suggests that the real purpose of the human body is to join the visible and invisible realms by expressing intelligence, creativity, truth, love, and beauty. By the visible realm he means the physical world, and by invisible realm he refers to that energy or higher power, or the concept of our soul that we cannot physically see or touch.
One fascinating idea that he presents is that our genes respond to our fears, relationships, habits, and environment. He shows that research is being done to show how positive lifestyle changes have been shown to alter genes associated with heart disease, inflammation, and even cancer. Practices such as Hatha Yoga, meditation, and social support of friends and family have already been seen as good preventative steps to take for good health. Now, Chopra shows that adopting these measures may stop or even reverse serious illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol, on a genetic level.
Chopra presents a new view for our physical world around us as well. He contends that a major complaint of most people of the modern world is a lack of time when that is really not the true problem. He suggests the real problem is that chaos and unpredictability throw your timing or rhythm off, and cause stress, disorder, confusion, accidents, sickness, and chaos in your life. The simple solution he suggests is to “make time your ally” by keeping regular hours, avoiding drastic changes in diet and activity, reducing distractions, and basically simplifying your life using his many suggestions. Each suggestion is very simply stated but could be difficult to implement, and therein lies the challenge. For example, he suggests that we should not multitask, but rather pay attention to one thing at a time, and focus on the moment. We are told to “put our house and finances in order, avoid high-risk situations, stay within your comfort zone, and become emotionally resilient.” Each one of those tasks can be a huge challenge but ultimately will lead to a less-hurried, more peaceful flow of energy in your life. Eventually, the goal is to “live your life as if you have all the time in the world.”
The second half of the book is the actual ‘self-help’ section that includes many practical ideas for a more fulfilling life. Chopra illustrates many of his points through people’s life stories. The major idea to ‘resurrect’ the soul seems to be to lead a life that is more in harmony with the world around you so that you are more at peace, and ultimately more happy. Some of the suggestions include getting out of bad habits, letting go of the notion of being ‘right’ all the time, being merciful, available, and generous so that your soul will evolve through you.
The book wraps up by presenting the ten steps to wholeness that connect your mind, body, and soul. The ideas are presented with great insight and encourage the reader to commit to a deeper awareness, focus on relationships instead of consumption, and to embrace every day as a new world. Many of Deepak Chopra’s books are meant to give advice on how to have a more peaceful and rewarding life. In this book his ideas are presented in a simple format.
Authors: Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman
(Twelve Publishing)
Review by Hena Sharma
Could praising your child, and telling him he’s smart, actually hurt his self-esteem in a challenging situation instead of giving him confidence? According to the new book “NurtureShock,” the answer is yes, if you offer the wrong kind of praise. In their new book, Bronson and Merryman have composed a collection of mind-opening and thought-provoking ideas regarding child rearing, and presented psychological studies behind the new discoveries that are sure to grab your attention.
The authors present evidence to support the idea that over-praised kids could actually turn out to struggle with self-image when faced with difficult problems, and are more likely to consider cheating their way to maintain their “smart” label. Another interesting study regarding praise showed how mothers in Illinois interacted with their kids after a failure and how they starkly contrasted with the way mothers in Hong Kong dealt with the same situation. The remarkable difference in the two sets of kids’ performance after the interaction with their mothers was striking. The book offers advice on how and what to praise if you want a positive impact on your child.
The book provides research evidence on many other topics such as: how a difference of only one hour less sleep in a teenager can increase cases of depression, car accidents, obesity, and negatively impact their SAT scores. Other eye-opening ideas explored by the authors included: sibling rivalry, teaching kids about color and race, self-control, and how to play with others. All topics and research studies were very intriguing and make the reader think twice about inadvertently affecting children in a negative way without knowing it.
The authors show research suggesting that testing for “gifted” programs in kindergarten selects the wrong kids in 73 percent of the cases. Intelligence tests have always sparked controversy, especially when it comes to testing children. According to research, testing kids at such an early age in order to grant them admission to elite schools, or into limited enrollment “gifted and talented” programs, seems to be based on unreliable testing. The authors show that IQ testing in third grade or middle school produces a more accurate prediction regarding success in high school or beyond. It was a very interesting chapter and reflection on our current school programs and processes.
Another chapter dealt with research regarding babies and very young children who were exposed to “educational” videos and TV shows in hopes of increasing their intelligence. The parental motivation to do so seemed harmless enough. The videos, backed by educational experts, claimed to enhance the child’s experience, and therefore intellectual development, by including music, international languages, and colorful images. However, as indicated by the research conducted, reality seemed to contradict the claims of increase in language development, and in fact showed evidence of delaying development instead! The ideas behind this finding are fascinating, and full of surprising factual data.
One of the most compelling headlines in the book claimed that a teenager who argues with his parents is actually showing a sign of respect. Any parent of a teenager will surely want to read the studies behind this assertion. The topics challenge the obvious and traditional way of thinking. Parents generally try to do their best to navigate child rearing with what they know at the time. This book presents startling evidence to challenge many standard beliefs in our society. The topics presented and the supporting research studies are difficult to ignore, making this bestseller a worthwhile read.
Author: Lisa See
(Random House)
See writes the historical novel through the eyes of Pearl, the college-educated, multilingual older sister. The story describes Chinese cultural values and customs from Pearl’s perspective as the daughter of a seemingly wealthy businessman, and later as an immigrant to America. In Shanghai, the sisters live in a household complete with servants, a cook, a gardener, and a father with a tragic problem. The belief in Chinese astrology, herbal medicines, honoring ancestors, living as an extended family, and respecting the elders in the house were some of the cultural details that See utilized to show Chinese family life throughout the entire story, regardless of the continent on which Pearl lived. Pearl’s world shatters when the Japanese attack Shanghai and she witnesses the atrocities of war first-hand. The brutality of war, its aftermath, and the events leading to their escape portray the depth of Pearl’s pain in unforgettable detail, yet is without melodrama.
Throughout the story the relationship between the sisters and their lives after marriage in an extended family with their in-laws, is interesting to read and will be familiar to those from Eastern cultures, such as Indian, as both cultures share many similarities. The circumstances that lead them to America and the secrets that the sisters share will keep the reader engaged until the end of the story. The sibling rivalry with concurrent intense loyalty and love that the sisters have towards each other is very moving, and adds layers to the depth of the story.
See focuses on the feelings and experiences of both of the sisters, and other Chinese immigrants, legal and illegal, that try to adjust into a very different America that existed prior to World War II, and immediately after. The sacrifices that were made by Pearl and others to survive in America by adapting and trying to find their place in society, while still not being able to deny the pull of wanting to return someday to settle in China, even after spending decades in another country are feelings to which many immigrants can relate. See uses historical events unfolding in China and America after World War II to illustrate the conflicts between the views of the first and second generation immigrants. These universal feelings of generational discord, rebellion, and the development of social causes will be familiar to many readers. Pearl and her family lived in an America that feared communism, and everyone was suspicious of anyone with Asian features because it was difficult to distinguish between Chinese allies and Japanese enemies. See details the unrest and fear in the Chinese community during the time that Japanese internment camps were set up and arsonists set fires to Chinese shops.
Within the historical events taking place, the story of Pearl, her sister May, and their extended family is a very absorbing read. Readers and fans of See’s previous novel, “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” will not be disappointed. With “Shanghai Girls” See has delivered another beautifully written epic story that begs to be continued in a sequel.
Author: Mitch Albom
(Hyperion)
Review by Hena Sharma
Does the belief in a higher power fit into our modern world of technology, emails, and DNA mapping? Spirituality is a personal issue, rarely discussed among friends and co-workers, and a subject we are warned to avoid in order to keep the peace in mixed company. How ironic, that we avoid discussions regarding religion to keep the peace. Given all the controversy in the world today, I suppose we are afraid to approach this subject with those outside of our own religion, or to assume that a person has a spiritual belief at all.
Mitch Albom’s Have a Little Faith story does not preach a particular way of life, he simply describes his own journey, from being raised in a traditional Jewish congregation, walking away to a very successful writing career, marrying outside his religion (a Christian Arab), and then coming back to reconnect with the rabbi he has known from childhood. The story itself is an easy to read true story of his renewed relationship with his rabbi and a new relationship with an African American pastor, with the events unfolding during the current chaotic economic conditions. It is a book that encourages looking at ourselves as children of the world, and highlights the commonality of world religions, rather than the differences.
The book has Albom’s style and wit. I really enjoyed all of Albom’s previous books, especially the fictional bestseller For One More Day. Albom’s touching true story of his professor’s battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease in Tuesdays With Morrie was also a very gripping account of his own spiritual journey.
Albom’s books never preach in any single way and I did not believe that Have a Little Faith would be any different. It was a beautiful story, tenderly written, about Albom’s discovery that while he, “thought he was being asked a favor, instead was being given one.”
Albom is asked by his rabbi to deliver his eulogy, and Albom is stunned, however he accepts. The story starts with Albom’s journey into learning more personal details about his rabbi, whom he’s only known as a “Man of God,” a go-between to the higher power, and has somewhat been intimidated by his importance. Albom simultaneously describes a story of another clergy from New York, one with a very different past life and present in a crumbling church in Detroit. There are many moments in the book that make the reader pause, and reflect on the enormity of a simple sentence.
Albom has the gift of writing truly inspirational and moving words, in an easy to read real-life account that does not feel like a typical spiritual read. For example, what is the purpose, especially in our modern world, for ancient religious rituals? Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and most other major religions all partake in rituals. Do these rituals make sense? Albom gets a simple, yet profoundly meaningful, answer from his rabbi that will speak to all of us. Also, is it easier not to believe in a higher power at all? Albom’s writing does not claim to have the answer, yet describes one account of someone dealing with loss and not having faith to help them through their pain. Another gem of advice is the answer Albom receives when he asks his rabbi the secret to happiness. Again, a simple answer is given: be satisfied, be grateful. It’s wonderfully simple, yet many of us spend a lifetime without ever being satisfied or grateful.
The choice is ours; we can choose to live our lives the way we want. We may follow the path we were shown as children, or one that we discovered ourselves as adults, or are yet trying to find in our future. Albom’s book affirms that whatever path we do choose, a little faith can’t hurt. This was another quick read, and spiritually uplifting book by one of my favorite authors.
Author: Michael Palmer
(St. Martin’s Press)
Review by Hena Sharma
“The Second Opinion,” is a thrilling, medical mystery-drama, written by a doctor who is obviously a gifted writer. I had not read any of Palmer’s other novels and was not expecting the story to be as satisfying as it was. The story is about a famous internal medicine specialist, Petros Sperelakis, and his four highly intelligent children. Dimitri, the eldest, has an IQ of 180, yet is lost in his own world of computer games and software hacking. The twins, Niko and Selene, are both Harvard educated doctors. Thea, the youngest, also an internal medicine specialist, works with “Doctors Without Borders” in underprivileged countries.
The story describes the events after an accident leaves Petros in a comatose condition in the Boston hospital that he founded. Thea returns from an assignment in Africa and finds the situation surrounding her father’s condition a bit suspicious, and is determined to find out why. Events start to happen and the action filled story takes the reader on a ride filled with unexpected twists, suspense, medical explanations, neurological abnormalities, and family relationships.
Palmer describes Asperger’s syndrome, a type of autism, and how Thea is able to live and function despite being diagnosed with it. The insight into the thoughts of a person who has Asperger’s is expertly written and explored. The story contains a great deal of medical details and activities in and around a hospital. Every expert description was entirely believable and yet not tedious. I was reminded of a non-fiction book called “Complications” by Atul Gawande, whose account of being a doctor and his very real human feelings among all the technicalities of hospital life was similarly engrossing without the thriller aspect. Palmer’s fictional story progresses at action-film speed where you never know what to expect next. I enjoyed the switching back and forth between the different story lines and the way Palmer brings them neatly together.
The story pulls the reader in with issues of having a parent on life-support and each child’s differing opinions on how to handle it, plus the suspense involved in solving the mystery. Issues of sibling rivalry, parent-child relationships, and unspoken feelings are common among all families, regardless of age or education level. Palmer intertwines these emotions in an engrossing thriller that is difficult to put down.
Hena Sharma is a software developer living in Cary, who enjoys blogging about the books she’s reading on her website www.henasgoodbooks.com.
By Farahad Zama
(Putnam)
By Hena Sharma
“The Marriage Bureau for Rich People,” is an easy to read and an interesting story about a retired teacher, Mr. Ali, who opens a matrimonial agency to keep himself busy. It takes place in the coastal Indian city of Visakhapatnam (the author’s birth city), in the state of Andhra Pradesh. What struck me about this story was the way Zama portrayed a truly multicultural, harmonious co-existence among people of different religions. The author did not assume that the reader was familiar with local, or cultural norms and took care to explain or detail them whenever possible, such as the offering of water to guests, or the details of Muslim and Hindu wedding rituals.
It was apparent that the author drew upon his background in developing his characters, as they were very believable, and the descriptions of local temples very realistic. At first, the idea of a marriage bureau might seem very “old world,” but the individual stories illustrated universal, timeless emotions. The wealthy doctor, salesman, and divorcee were each seeking to find a life partner, and sought out Mr. Ali’s help. I enjoyed the different aspects and similarities of their stories. The idea of personal ads is not a new one, but some western readers may be surprised at the bluntness of matrimonial ads. In India, matchmaking for marriage is a huge business. There are very successful websites solely for this purpose. It was interesting to see Mr. Ali start his business without a list of clients, computer, or employees and turn it into a success.
Mrs. Ali is glad at first to finally have something that occupies Mr. Ali during the days, but then wishes there wasn’t such a disruption to her day due to her husband’s home-based operation. Mr. and Mrs. Ali’s son Rehman is an unmarried engineer who leads protests against the government in support of villagers and farmers. Zama weaves in Rehman’s story of social conscience and responsibility in the face of mass corporate growth in Indian cities. However, this is not a political book, and the story does not preach.
The story is also centered on Mr. Ali’s assistant Aruna, an unmarried Hindu Brahmin girl from a very simple, modest upbringing, who needed to abandon her Master’s degree in order to financially help her family. The story is simple, yet not overly sweet. Zama shows how communities of all faiths share the common values of love, duty, honor, and family. The most interesting, and refreshing aspect of this story is to read about regular neighbors of all different faiths, interacting and really co-existing together as a community while maintaining their culture. The story shows how caste and religion while important when selecting suitable marriage partners, become only personal qualities when looked at in terms of a larger community. This is a good, clean, funny, and uplifting story to read. It was nice to read such a novel for a change!
Author: Thrity Umrigar
(HarperCollins Publishers)
Frank and Ellie carry their grief to India when Frank accepts a job posting there, and hope that the change will help them heal. Frank is tortured by his loss, and blames his wife’s carelessness as contributing to their son’s death. After moving to India, Frank becomes obsessed with his servant’s young son Ramesh. The story describes how Frank, desperate to fill a void, uses Ramesh as a replacement for his own son.
Meanwhile, his wife Ellie allows this obsession to continue, thinking it will heal Frank somehow, and gives in to Frank’s ideas of always including Ramesh whenever possible in their own personal lives. I found this to be a bit unbelievable. Ellie is an educated therapist by profession and at some point would have stopped Frank’s unhealthy behavior and asked him to seek help!
Ramesh’s parents, Prakash and Edna, and their feelings towards their employer’s interest in their son were well explored. Prakash resented the intrusion of a strange American man taking such interest in his son, providing things he could only dream about, and slowly pulling him away. Edna welcomed the attention her son received, and saw this as a way to give Ramesh a bright future that she and Prakash could never provide. Prakash, Edna, and Ramesh were very believable characters, with very believable feelings. Just as Umrigar did in her novel “The Space Between Us,“ she made the reader connect emotionally with characters of different socioeconomic classes on a human level.
Ellie becomes involved in charity work, helping the local women and children, and is well liked by all. She also seems to adjust to India and is much better at moving forward with her grief. Frank’s character seemed to be spiraling deeper into his obsession. It was also unusual when Frank and Ellie would take the boy with them during special occasions, especially holidays, leaving Prakash and Edna behind. Wouldn’t it have been easier to take Ramesh’s family together? Here again I thought that Ellie should have convinced her delusional husband Frank to do so, and found it a bit unsettling.
Frank’s inability to cope becomes a growing snowball, and the reader can feel the tension in the story increasing. The interactions between Frank, his workers, and his wife take a backseat to his obsession with Ramesh. This was very compelling, and I found it easy to become engrossed in the storyline, despite my disagreement with some parts. The characters, their inner turmoil, and complexities were eloquently developed. I didn’t mind that some choices didn’t seem to fit because the story flowed well and kept me wanting to see what would happen next.
There were some unexpected twists in the plot when the couple deals with the locals, befriends a professional Indian couple, and Frank tries to run a business in India. Umrigar touched on topics of multinational corporations and their impact on the local people and environment, plus the corruption and abuse of power. The characters and their struggle stay with you long after you finish reading the book. This was a very well written story and I highly recommend it.
People Place Culture History
(DK Publishing)
India is booming. The ancient lands are being paved with modern highways. These roads, the new infrastructure, are yet another thread, winding around the countryside, leading the country into the global economic arena and political influence. Over a billion people populate this noisy democracy while its countless cultural inflections, languages, lifestyles, religions and ethnicities remain intact. India: People Place Culture History is a fantastic hardcover book shedding light on the vast history and cultures of India. The landscape of India ranges from the Himalayas in the north to the deserts of the west, the lush tropical forests of the south and northeast to fertile lands in between. India’s personalities are as varied. The book is loaded with wonderful photographs that give a sense of place that is India with the ancient and the new. The historical and religious primers are concise and presented in a balanced and literate manner. The editors obviously have a love of India and the book is a showcase of that admiration. Besides the photos the book also features hundreds of original full-color illustrations. The book is the result of a labor of love that has bloomed and belongs in all home libraries. There’s also a short travel section featured for contemporary explorers. The interesting aspect is that the writers and editors interview everyday Indians to get a pulse on their daily lives and sense of pace. India is an ancient and living civilization that can confound casual observers. This book helps make sense of some of the joyous madness that is India. The text and narrative are insightful and concise and thought-provoking. This book is on the spot in revealing and showcasing the melting pot that is India, a land that has absorbed so many outside influences while remaining unique. The marvelous photos alone are worth the price.
Andrea Chesman
(Harvard Common Press)
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