Arranged Marriage : Stories

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Summary: Touching,harrowing stories of women caught between 2cultures
Review: An illuminating and poetic look at the fragile lives of Indian-American women, this book chronicles their search for identity, culture, and love. Much like the arduous physical journey from India to America, each of these women undergoes a harrowing journey of the soul. These stories are great examples of the confusion faced by many Indian-Americans; how can they be Westernized but still remain true to their Eastern beliefs and values? Conflict is everywhere : East vs. West , man vs. woman, old vs. new, romance vs. security. This underlying tension makes for great reading and helps paint an intricate picture of the identity crisis these women face. They courageously try to find happiness, but there are so many social, religious, and cultural hurdles they have to face. These women don't realize that they really don't belong anywhere, making their journey all the more heartbreaking. For a country that calls itself "Bharat Mata," or Mother India, the atrocities committed against Indian women over the centuries are harrowing. Most Westerners believe India to be enlightened in its status of women, fondling recalling Indira Ghandi. The reality could not be further from this opinion. Ms. Divakaruni's stories painfully shatters some of these long-held myths. A word of caution: this is definitely not lighthearted reading. Bring along at least one box of Kleenex, and be prepared to use it. The only negative aspect of the book was the broad strokes painted against men; she came very close to stereotypical male-bashing in many of these stories. All of the "good" men in these stories were either very young, very old, or dead! I can understand her frustration towards the male gender; but not all of us are so bad!!! Nevertheless, the author does show promise and I am looking forward to her next work.

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Summary: tasty...like tandoori chicken
Review: good range of stories....enjoyable and easy read. many stories are touchin

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Summary: A collection of trite and predictable stories
Review: A collection of trite and predictable stories tailored for Western consumption and feeding every Western stereotype about Indian women. This author has been away from her home country too long. The title, "Arranged Marriage" has nothing to do with the contents. All the women are passive and/or desperate to be mothers. Indian men are referred to as "Indian males" with anthropological detachment! No metaphor or memorable imagery -- and this from an author who was an erstwhile poet. Very dissappointing.

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Summary: There are some stories which are SO true.
Review: There is not one Indian male character who is shown in a positive light in this book. Well maybe one, but that's pretty much it. However there is a reason for this and I must say it is rightly so. We regularly tend to assume that times have changed for women in India and we are making progress. However, for most of us, our idea of these changing times dwells from the narrow view of the upper middle class society that we live in. For most of the small town and rural women (which is where most people still live in India), the tyranny of a life bound by the constraints placed by the males around them is real and exists.
Arranged Marriage poignantly highlights many of these situations and frustations that Indian women live through. It talks about things which are so rampant, even the most enlightend, educated Indian would call them cliches. But cliches they are not. The truth is that there are overt and subtle forms of roles cast on women as soon as they are born, that is if they are allowed to be born at all. Since the book is a collection of stories, it is definitely an easy read. There are a few stories which do not work but most tug at one's heart.
There are many which I could connect with immensely as an immigrant who has been exposed to a different, maybe more liberated kind of environment, one in which premium is given to decision made on the basis of pure choice and not necessarily necessity. Chitra Divakaruni writes with passion. There is a pain in her stories which seem to be borne out of experience. The stories are based in the San Francisco Bay Area and this makes it even more closer to my heart. The nooks and crannies of this place, the grocery stores, the parks, the apartment complexes are the stage for these episodes and I can visualize myself there, thinking similar thoughts. In particular, there were a few stories which mirrored my life to the tee and hence, provided an outlet to my internal dilemmas.
This is an easy read. I finished this in the half the flight time from Chicago to San Francisco leaving me wondering what to do with the rest of the time. However it is worth reading for every ignorant Indian man living the blubber of his self-created chauvinism. It is also a good read for every conscious Indian (man or woman) who looks around at his/her family/surroundings and thinks that things are getting better. There is a lot to be done and assuming progress is not helping.
Finally it is a book for the immigrants. Because not only are we a much maligned people, but also most misunderstood. The situations we place ourselves in and the choices we made in our lives places us in a unique situation where we are forced to contend with enormous complications. But inherent in these complications is an opportunity to grow and expand beyond mere stuckup cultural norms and live a confusing yet highly fulfilling life.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Worth Reading
Review: I read this book a while back ago and have to say it is one of the best I've read thus far...It brings the lives of people in both India and the US to life. There are many short stories in this book and each one of them will bring out your emotions of sadness, warmth, understanding, .... This book is definitely a must read.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read!!
Review: Captures the true essense of indian women living with the struggle of a culture clash. Very emotive language used which draws you in to the novel more.