Shiva's Fire

Rating:
Summary: The Magic of Shiva's Fire
Review: The Magic of Shiva's Fire

The book Shiva's Fire by Suzanne Fisher Staples is a very bold book about a girl named Pavarti. She is born on a terribly bad day. In one day her father dies, there is a horrible hurricane, which not only wiped out half of her village, but also caused the death of her father. On this tragic day she starts a marvelous adventure whether it be good or bad, it shall be great She has many talents, which only she and the Guru (a master) seem to think great. Will she fulfill her destiny and bring great fame to her village, or will her family and village disown her? Read this book to find out.
I would give this book a good recommendation because it has a lot of Pavarti's language in it. Once you get into the book it becomes like second nature. For instance a little later on in the story after Parvati is almost a grown woman, and her brother gets married, they all sit down for coffee. Parvati takes some but doesn't drink it she simply puts it on the table and when her mother says," you're not drinking your coffee." Then Parvati said, "Devadasis don't take coffee." Now unless the Indian just happened to be the only languages known to man that word wouldn't looks unfamiliar. Other than that the fact that Devadasis means," a servant to the gods" never seemed relevant. She goes through most of the story as if you (the reader) are form her country, village or even her family. This book is also getting a high recommendation because the author describes the events as well as the characters very well. Sometimes it seems as if you are sitting or standing right next to Parvati at times. This book captures you in many ways, all of those ways being good.
One might disagree with such a high recommendation of this book, because with some of the Indian language in the story it can get kind of confusing at times. The glossary was not very well placed in this book. But even though it may seem a little awkward at first but like I said before it becomes like second nature! This book gives some of us something that we might not see every day.

Rating:
Summary: good read....
Review: the story is about a girl named parvati, who is a great dancer. as a young girl many people treat her unfairly, because of the fact that she was born on the day that her father died.she lives with her mother, two brothers and aunt and uncle. eventually there is a problem for money since there are so many people living together. her aunt and uncle are excited at the thought that, if she goes to the school of dancing they will be paid money. she gets accepted in the school of dance. there she meets many girls around her age. eventually she becomes an even better dancer. when she goes back to her village, she performs for a king. its a very interesting story about how a young girl goes through all sorts of issues in her life, and has a passion for dance.

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful
Review: This book is not the sequel to Shabanu and Haveli, but is, rather, a thought-provoking look at another culture, that of India. The young girl, Parvati, is unusual from her birth on. She has the ability to remember everything, the ability to communicate with animals, and above all she wants to dance. Since her family is devastatingly poor, there is no way she can pursue her dream, until a guru from far away comes to watch her. He offers her training, but that means giving up her family life. The training will also allow her to send money to her family to help them out of their poverty.

The author of this book is extremely good at helping you understand not only a different culture, but also the people who live in that culture. She does this not by didactic descriptions, but rather by thoughtful inclusion of the necessary indicative details.

The ultimate test of Parvati's dedication is her attraction to a boy, and the possibility of a second true friend. It is important that Staples doesn't gloss over the agony of this decision.

Overall, another good book from Staples.

Rating:
Summary: I love it
Review: This is a great book. I love it. Im realy into books about foreign countrys and my favorite is India. Ive read a few books and since Im only 13 I dont have much to compare this to but I still read alot and this is one of my two favorite all time books. I love it and would suggest to anyone to buy it. It is truley great.

Rating:
Summary: Devotion...
Review: This is a remarkable book about an Indian girl with strange powers that create a disaster and kill many people when only a newborn. She grows up to be a kind of athletic girl. She is not scared of snakes, yet almost welcomes them as if they were her own friends. She lives this way until one day she just starts dancing to some music she hears in a temple. She does this near a fire, and is found dancing in the fire. Her mother forbids her to do that again. But, she cannot prevent her passion for dancing, so she sends her to a gurukalam (a school) for dancing. She eventually graduates from there, and is soon told to perform for the king. She lives there a while, and meets the king's son. They discuss her birth, because he had something to do with the day of the disaster. The mystery unfolds, but the end is left hanging. I personally think that end is not good, for the author goes off on a tangent and it gets so confusing. That is why I gave it a four star instead of a five. However the beginning is excellent and I strongly recommend it to children. The whole book is set in India, but I think everyone including non-Indians should read it. Enjoy!! Cheers!!!! : )

Rating:
Summary: Astounding!
Review: This was the first book I read by Staples, and the first half of the book blew me away! Her descriptions of India, the people, the customs, and lifestyles transported me back in time. She shows the true nature of a "third world country" by throwing in tidbits of the present world also--jeeps and gas stoves--to remind us that though this seems to be a historical novel, the villagers are living in our time. I was disappointed with character development, though by the end of the book. She tried to wrap things up a little too neatly, and then leaves the reader hanging anyway. The true friendship Parvati finally encounters is strained and almost forced. The reader wonders which is stronger: the new friend, the need to dance, or cultural taboos? Overall I really enjoyed this book, and for anyone who has visited India and misses it, this would be a good book to read.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: When I first saw this book in a school book order that comes monthly, I said I have to get this. ...
Parvati is born on a terribly bad day, a day when a storm and flood occurs, killing her father and half her village. It was supposed to be a day of celebration, for the Maharaja of her home district. But irony took a swing and hit. But despite, she is born with an odd power to charm animals and dance magnificently. She is forbidden to dance though, be her mother Meenakashi, because it only brings scorn and punishment to her family.
Anyway, word gets out to a guru, and he asks her to come with him to his Gurukulam to learn to dance. She accepts, although it is quite painful to leave her family, her mother especially. She learns to dance at the gurukulam, much of which, where the story takes most of its place, and Parvati lives as a full time student, studying Indian dance and learning other Hindustani dialects. Her only friend, Nalini, falls in love with a terrible theif lord, and runs away with him soon after. But Parvati pursues her destiny still, and soon is asked to perform at the palace of the Maharaja in her very home town, for his birthday, the very day 15 years ago that was so terrible. She gets to see her family again, who have changed very much. She also falls for the Yuvaraja Rama. She must choose either him, or her destiny. Which? I won't tell, you have to read it! Buy it just because its a good book, and will inspire you. ;)