Rating: 
Summary: PERFECTO!
Review: ............. This book is a good book to read. This book really helps us know the differences of our traditional and cultural ways to other people in the world. If you like amy tan's Joy Luck Club, this is an excellent book to read!
Rating: 
Summary: A well-written, very descriptive novel. Recommended.
Review: A new novel from the author of Shabanu and Haveli. Parvati is born the same day a cyclone devastates her village in Nandipuram, India, and kills her father. The beginning of the novel tells of her mother's experience as a widow with small children forced to live with a loving uncle and bitter aunt, and of watching her unusual daughter grow up. Parvati is concious of her surroundings from the day of her birth, and remembers everything. Her aunt and the villagers are suspicous and treat her as an outcast, so Parvati grows up without friends. At twelve, a traveling guru seeking students for his traditional Indian dance academy offers Parvati a scholarship. Unsure of leaving her family, she accepts because the "dowry" the academy will pay for her will afford her mother and brothers to move into their own house and land. Once at the school, Parvati does make one friend, but she is again ostracized by the other students for the unusual occurrences that accompany her. Her natural affinity for dancing accelerates her pace through the school, and after only two years of study, she is invited to perform at the birthday party of the Maharaja of Nandipuram. This allows her to visit her family for the first time since she has been away, and to spend a few days in the luxury of the Raja's palace. The contrast between palace life, her impoverished childhood, and the almost monastic existence at the dance academy are stunning, and this is one of the few books I wish was a movie instead because the descriptions of the countryside, the dancing, and opulence of the palace, complete with trained elephants, would be a sight. Staples writing is superb, as usual. Unlike Shabanu, however, the character development is not as strong. The focus of the story is the setting and culture of India, rather then Parvati, or even her mother. This does not necessarily lessen it's value, but makes it a little bit less accessible. Fans of well written novels will enjoy it greatly, but those looking for a traditional main character to empathize and connect with will be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Magical Book
Review: A very mysterious and good book. Parvati is born during the biggest storm India can remember and every one in the village blames it on her. Parvati is different. She has a 6th sense w/ animals and much more happens to her, stuff that wouldn't happen to normal people. A man comes to her house one day and offers her a place @ a dancing school where only very gifted dancers go. Parvati goes to give her mother the money she gets from being @ the school. (payed to go to school!? WOW! That would be GREAT!!) Parvati & her school mates go to Parvati's home town to perform for the Raja. (is that what it's called?) Parvati then meets the prince. An oddball, like her and if I'm remembering right, born on the same day as her. They eventually fall in love. The prince knows all the secret passage ways through the palace and can get to Parvati's room through her closet! Now, this part I didn't like much. He's came whenever he pleased at times & b-4 they really love each other, Parvati is snappy and the prince bratty. I didn't like this part @ all. This is why I give the book 4 stars and not 5. Not the best book, but good. I wouldn't choose to read it again, but it was okay. If u love India or dance, you'll like this book. But if you've got a short attention span, I wouldn't say u'd like this book.
Rating:
Summary: Vivid, Magical Book
Review: Being from India myself, I picked up this book expecting for it to be story with "fantasized" view of the country, but I was proven sorely wrong. It was a FABULOUS read! The setting and culture that the author describes are absolutely real and accurate. The details are vivid and magical, breathing life into a world that not many people have experienced. The beginning chapters provides the reader with the stark vision of an utterly devastated land. I found the contrast between the austere gurukulam and the opulent Maharaja's palace very interesting as well. Parvati's character is well drawn- you can understand how she can be so completely devoted to the art of bharat natyam dance. Her romance with the Yuvaraja (Prince) is very touching and memorable. I found SHIVA'S FIRE on the whole to be a fascinating, descriptive, and magical book- well deserving of 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Being interested in Indian culture and stories, I checked out this book from the library. As I began reading it, I wondered what the story was really about, since the beginning is a little hazy and confusing. But as I continued to read I didn't want to put the book down! It's a wonderful story about a girl named Parvati who is born with a mysterious gift...the gift of having music in her blood. As a young girl, she tries to dance, and is the believed source of several disasters and miracles. At an older age, she is found by the Guru...the head of a dance school, and invited to come on scholarship because of amazing ability to dance. I loved reading about Parvati as some of the other girls grew jealous of her abilities, as she is invited to dance before the Raja, and becomes confused about her destiny when she meets Rama, the Raja's son. I would definitely recommend this book to readers ages 11-15. :)
Rating:
Summary: Dancing magic
Review: I am a dancer, and the moment I saw started this book I was hooked.
Born in a terrible monsoon storm, Parvati has always been odd. She can walk in fire, summon fish, and dance better than anyone has seen. One day a leader of a devadasi school comes and takes Parvati away.
At the school, she is still different. She is a better dancer than anyone,and when she sees or makes fire, a chord of music comes from nowhere. She feels unwelcome and unsafe, especially when she learns that her friend has fallen in love with a terrible robber.
This story includes all my favorite story elements, and when I finished it, I almost cried. This is a book you can never forget.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read,Highly Recommended
Review: I found this book in the local library during one of my many visits to the childrens and young readers section. The story of Parvati is told in vivid language and clarity. The story focuses on Parvati and her troubled soul. She is a dancer through and through. Parvati has special talents and skills and the lore of her village and eenher uncles home is that she is unusual and maybe using witchcraft. Parvati's story is of the typical underdog but one who uses her powers for good and makes choices for her family and not herself. An uncommonly good book, full of virtue and a look into life in an Indian village.
Rating:
Summary: Very good-a great story
Review: I had seen this book at my local bookstore and purchased it for a Christmas present-one because the cover is just beautiful and two it sounded very interesting.
Actually, it was very, very good. It taught me so much more about Indain culture than I ever knew before, and Parvati is a beautifully well-rounded character.
Wonderful story, it is very complete and some parts are actually very suspenseful.
It was a little better than I thought it would be-though I thought it would be great anyway. I wish Staples would have dwelt on Parvati's extrordinary powers more-they were so interesting. (especially her powers with the animals.)
Overall, very well done-excellently written and well thought out-much study must have been behind her masterful work here. I congradulate Staples and say a Job Well Done!!
Rating:
Summary: A True Jewel!!!
Review: I happen to be in love with Indian dance and culture. This book took me to another world - A world where I could dream of dance and India. The story remains intriguing and is beautifully told! the words suzanne uses to describe certains scenses create an instant picture of indias exotic landscape, cities, villages and people. I recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 12 to adult. it is an easy read, for the younger readers, yet it is beautiful and interesting enough for the older readers as well. If you are at all intersted in the power of Lord Shiva, India and dance this is the PERFECT book for you!! :) By the end you are wishing there were hundreds of pages left! ...i wonder if she'll write a sequal!!...i really hope so!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Expected more... was sadly suprised
Review: I really enjoyed Staples other book Shabanu, and I was eager to read this one. However, I thought that it was a little slow paced, and the ending hurried. Overall, though it was pretty good. I would suggest reading it.
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