Independence

I've had a thing for stories set in India lately. I don't think I even looked at the plot when I made my Book of the Month selection. Even if I had I would have scooped it up immediately, but in the end, it just didn't resonate with me.

Three sisters, Priya, Deepa, and Jamini have their sheltered lives shaken by the violent death of their father. Eventually separated as they grow into their own lives, they struggle as the winds of their country have changed.

I enjoyed Priya's POV the most, though Deepa and Jamini's were also interesting. Unfortunately, that interest waned the further I read. Above all else, I enjoyed the backdrop of history and learning more about a time where my knowledge is limited. I didn't latch onto the writing style which was a big reason I wasn't getting pulled into the story.

I don't think I've read anything by Banerjee Divakurani since pre-goodreads day (2006?), but this was a pleasurable, although heart-rending, return. My bestie got me 3 months of Book of the Month for Christmas, and this was my January pick. Calling this historical fiction feels like typecasting it a bit. The title is a reference to both India's independence and that of the three sisters the plot follows, but I think the most powerful themes are really about interdependence within families: how to find ways back to relationships after deep betrayals, grieve losses, and move forward with love and integrity. This was a 3-star for me until about the middle, when everything just clicked in to place and I was enthralled for the later portion.