Rating: 
Summary: Overly didactic, but interesting
Review: The problem with these stories is that Ms. Divakaruni seems more interested in "issues" than in character or plot. The heroines are virtually interchangeable; they are all either traditional women on the verge of breaking free, or spunky, rebellious immigrants trying to acclimate themselves to American life. The conflicts seem ripped from newspaper headlines: Sex-Selective Abortion! Wife-Abuse! However, when Ms. Divakaruni steps off her sociological soapbox long enough to pay attention to just telling a story, (As in "The Maid-Servant's Story") she shines.
Rating: 
Summary: Diverse, touching and sensitive
Review: Chitra Banerjee Devakaruni can relate to South Asian women. If you are one, you MUST READ THIS BOOK!! It's an easy read and each short story feels complete. Her stories deal with things like societal pressures on South Asian women and relationships people have with each other in India.
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Summary: 'Doors' is one of the best stories i have ever read
Review: Some great stories in here. 'Doors' is absolutely fascinating. It brings out the stark differences between the cultures of the west and the east, one where privacy is the most precious and the other, where everything is there to be shared and enjoyed collectively. 'Clothes', another fascinating story from this anthology, has been wonderfully rendered as a dance drama by Ms. Aparna Sindhoor. If you ever get an opportunity to see it, don't miss it!
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Summary: Definition of love in Indian Marriages
Review: A very well written and engrossing book. I would definitely recommend it to anybody of Indian origin, specifically Indian Americans. However, what this book completely fails in is in describing love in Indian Marriages...according to Ms. Divakaruni, an Indian woman may find security, and affection in a relationship...but never love...love (which I wish she would have defined for us - the ignorant readers) is the prerogative of American (western) relationships only. She is a good storyteller neverthless.
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Summary: A Must Read!
Review: This book is well-written, easy to understand and keeps you reading page after page...It's been a long time since I've read a book this good!
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Summary: Emotionally rivetting!
Review: This collection of stories is a trip into the "real" India, into the heart of an average Indian woman, and the journey she has to undertake--all in silence. Divakaruni provides graphic details, metaphoric images, and soul-wrenching words to weave tales and tales of those sacrificial, silent women we have known all our lives as mother, daughter, wife ......
Rating: 
Summary: Not perfect but extremely readable
Review: I have just finished reading "Arranged Marriage" by Ms Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The style is oh so Indian, that I got the feeling of reading a Bengali fiction- but a readable one nevertheless.Not all stories are great. "The Bats" was very immatured and handled carelessly; so were "The Ultrasound" and "Affair". "Silver Pavement" and "A Perfect Life" failed to evoke the exact emotion that was meant to. I could only pity the heroines of these stories. And, "The Maid Servant's Story" was the worst of all making incomplete sense. But wonderfully crafted were "Clothes", "The Word Love" and "Doors". The themes were matured and realistic. But I think "Meeting Mrinal" proves the author's capability as a writer. Immensely moving, this story touches just the right chords of human emotions. But, in all this affair of imperfect lives, surely there are smiles (if only in bits and pieces) everywhere? Perhaps Ms Divakaruni's next venture will pick those pieces and join them up. I will look forward to reading more stories about achievements (both emotional and practical) of normal and responsible Indians in this coveted land. And by the way, there are Indians living outside California in this country- an information...just in case.
Rating:
Summary: ENGAGING, BUT AT TIMES ONE FEELS INCOMPLETE!
Review: The book kept me reading into the night. In parts of some stories, one felt the author was autobiographical, though one has never met or known her. The book however does not match the title ..... if only Ms Divakaruni had narrated two stories of arranged marriages .. one in which the husband is the dictator and the other where he is the mouse in the house...!
Rating:
Summary: A Collection of Adolescent Monotony
Review: A disappointing, predictable and (again) unsophisticated and almost juvenille product from Ms. Divakaruni. Negative in its tone. Self-concious and self-important in style. As in her "Mistress..", Divakaruni constantly throws out these "exotic" Indian terms, etc., as if to "wow" the gullible, pedestrian masses (her "readership"). She should start including a glossary in her books. And again, as in "Mistress...", all protagonists as it were, seem to be longing for a tall, "romantic", (caucasian) Euro-male. What I've always sensed from Ms. Divakaruni is an undercurrent of white-male-lust and longing - and an odd self-loathing. She had better stop being "cute" and embrace herself for what she is. There is also something stilted and dishonest in her work.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: The talent of Banjeree Divakaruni is astounding! These stories are exquisitely crafted. I am reminded of the works of many of the best short story writers when reading this volume. Divakruni has a talent for creating realistic dialogue, meaningful symbols, moving conflicts, true and lovable characters, and unity and cohesiveness within her stories. I was truly moved by her work and appreciated the delicacy and care she has taken with her craft. I would rank her as one of the best short story writers writing today, and indeed one of the best short story writers--period. I am looking forward to reading her poetry and novel--could she possibly excel at all genres?
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