What do you think?
Rate this book
Independence
India, 1947. In a rural village in Bengal live three sisters, daughters of a well-respected doctor.
Priya: intelligent and idealistic, resolved to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, though society frowns on it.
Deepa: the beauty, determined to make a marriage that will bring her family joy and status.
Jamini: devout, sharp-eyed, and a talented quiltmaker, with deeper passions than she reveals.
Theirs is a home of love and safety, a refuge from the violent events taking shape in the nation. Then their father is killed during a riot, and even their neighbors turn against them, bringing the events of their country closer to home.
As Priya determinedly pursues her career goal, Deepa falls deeply in love with a Muslim, causing her to break with her family. And Jamini attempts to hold her family together, even as she secretly longs for her sister's fiancé.
When the partition of India is officially decided, a drastic--and dangerous--change is in the air. India is now for Hindus, Pakistan for Muslims. The sisters find themselves separated from one another, each on different paths. They fear for what will happen to not just themselves, but each other.
Priya: intelligent and idealistic, resolved to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, though society frowns on it.
Deepa: the beauty, determined to make a marriage that will bring her family joy and status.
Jamini: devout, sharp-eyed, and a talented quiltmaker, with deeper passions than she reveals.
Theirs is a home of love and safety, a refuge from the violent events taking shape in the nation. Then their father is killed during a riot, and even their neighbors turn against them, bringing the events of their country closer to home.
As Priya determinedly pursues her career goal, Deepa falls deeply in love with a Muslim, causing her to break with her family. And Jamini attempts to hold her family together, even as she secretly longs for her sister's fiancé.
When the partition of India is officially decided, a drastic--and dangerous--change is in the air. India is now for Hindus, Pakistan for Muslims. The sisters find themselves separated from one another, each on different paths. They fear for what will happen to not just themselves, but each other.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 17, 2023
About the author
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
64 books6,004 followersChitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet. Her themes include the Indian experience, contemporary America, women, immigration, history, myth, and the joys and challenges of living in a multicultural world. Her work is widely known, as she has been published in over 50 magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker, and her writing has been included in over 50 anthologies. Her works have been translated into 29 languages, including Dutch, Hebrew, Hindi and Japanese. Divakaruni also writes for children and young adults.Her novels One Amazing Thing, Oleander Girl, Sister of My Heart and Palace of Illusions are currently in the process of being made into movies. http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/books.... Her newest novel is Before We Visit the Goddess (about 3 generations of women-- grandmother, mother and daughter-- who each examine the question "what does it mean to be a successful woman.") Simon & Schuster.
She was born in India and lived there until 1976, at which point she left Calcutta and came to the United States. She continued her education in the field of English by receiving a Master’s degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
To earn money for her education, she held many odd jobs, including babysitting, selling merchandise in an Indian boutique, slicing bread in a bakery, and washing instruments in a science lab. At Berkeley, she lived in the International House and worked in the dining hall. She briefly lived in Illinois and Ohio, but has spent much of her life in Northern California, which she often writes about. She now lives in Texas, which has found its way into her upcoming book, Before We Visit the Goddess.
Chitra currently teaches in the nationally ranked Creative Writing program at the Univ. of Houston. She serves on the Advisory board of Maitri in the San Francisco Bay Area and Daya in Houston. Both these are organizations that help South Asian or South Asian American women who find themselves in abusive or domestic violence situations. She is also closely involved with Pratham, an organization that helps educate children (especially those living in urban slums) in India.
She has judged several prestigious awards, such as the National Book Award and the PEN Faulkner Award.
Two of her books, The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart, have been made into movies by filmmakers Gurinder Chadha and Paul Berges (an English film) and Suhasini Mani Ratnam (a Tamil TV serial) respectively. Her novels One Amazing Thing and Palace of Illusions have currently been optioned for movies. Her book Arranged Marriage has been made into a play and performed in the U.S. and (upcoming, May) in Canada. River of Light, an opera about an Indian woman in a bi-cultural marriage, for which she wrote the libretto, has been performed in Texas and California.
She lives in Houston with her husband Murthy. She has two sons, Anand and Abhay (whose names she has used in her children’s novels).
Chitra loves to connect with readers on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/chitradivakaruni, and on Twitter, @cdivakaruni.
For more information about her books, please visit http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/, where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
She was born in India and lived there until 1976, at which point she left Calcutta and came to the United States. She continued her education in the field of English by receiving a Master’s degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
To earn money for her education, she held many odd jobs, including babysitting, selling merchandise in an Indian boutique, slicing bread in a bakery, and washing instruments in a science lab. At Berkeley, she lived in the International House and worked in the dining hall. She briefly lived in Illinois and Ohio, but has spent much of her life in Northern California, which she often writes about. She now lives in Texas, which has found its way into her upcoming book, Before We Visit the Goddess.
Chitra currently teaches in the nationally ranked Creative Writing program at the Univ. of Houston. She serves on the Advisory board of Maitri in the San Francisco Bay Area and Daya in Houston. Both these are organizations that help South Asian or South Asian American women who find themselves in abusive or domestic violence situations. She is also closely involved with Pratham, an organization that helps educate children (especially those living in urban slums) in India.
She has judged several prestigious awards, such as the National Book Award and the PEN Faulkner Award.
Two of her books, The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart, have been made into movies by filmmakers Gurinder Chadha and Paul Berges (an English film) and Suhasini Mani Ratnam (a Tamil TV serial) respectively. Her novels One Amazing Thing and Palace of Illusions have currently been optioned for movies. Her book Arranged Marriage has been made into a play and performed in the U.S. and (upcoming, May) in Canada. River of Light, an opera about an Indian woman in a bi-cultural marriage, for which she wrote the libretto, has been performed in Texas and California.
She lives in Houston with her husband Murthy. She has two sons, Anand and Abhay (whose names she has used in her children’s novels).
Chitra loves to connect with readers on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/chitradivakaruni, and on Twitter, @cdivakaruni.
For more information about her books, please visit http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/, where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,257 reviews
June 5, 2024
Historical fiction has been my favourite genre and it is books like these that make me fall in love more and more with this genre, and in general, with reading!
This was my first Chitra Banerjee book, and I can joyously (and definitely as well) say that it won't be the last!
A poignantly beautiful tale of three sisters, set - up during the last 1.5 - 2 years of the British Raj in India. The books has themes of sisterhood, nationhood, love, ambition betrayal, sacrifice and above all - what it means to be in a war.
This was a magnificent tale of "women" who had the character and the capacity to hold themselves together even when everything else was falling apart, and hence beautifully portrayed it is, yet again, as so many books have done that how indefatigable a woman's spirit can be even when being constantly tormented.
The last 2 chapters and the epilogue of the novel were the best part of the book, and I so strongly wished that the book should keep on continuing, so poignant was the writing and it made me read slowly and feel every single word when it came down boiling to the last few pages!
All in all, it was pure, exquisite joy to read this book. Pure emotions, assiduously studded with seismic political events and on top of all that - the utter poignancy of the tale!
If you have the slightest penchant for modern Indian history, this is one book you should not miss reading!
5/5 without any second thought.
This was my first Chitra Banerjee book, and I can joyously (and definitely as well) say that it won't be the last!
A poignantly beautiful tale of three sisters, set - up during the last 1.5 - 2 years of the British Raj in India. The books has themes of sisterhood, nationhood, love, ambition betrayal, sacrifice and above all - what it means to be in a war.
This was a magnificent tale of "women" who had the character and the capacity to hold themselves together even when everything else was falling apart, and hence beautifully portrayed it is, yet again, as so many books have done that how indefatigable a woman's spirit can be even when being constantly tormented.
The last 2 chapters and the epilogue of the novel were the best part of the book, and I so strongly wished that the book should keep on continuing, so poignant was the writing and it made me read slowly and feel every single word when it came down boiling to the last few pages!
All in all, it was pure, exquisite joy to read this book. Pure emotions, assiduously studded with seismic political events and on top of all that - the utter poignancy of the tale!
If you have the slightest penchant for modern Indian history, this is one book you should not miss reading!
5/5 without any second thought.
April 29, 2023
Sad and yet inspiring story of three sisters in India in 1946.
March 28, 2023
3+
The year 1947 is an important date in India’s history. It is when Britain granted India its Independence, seemingly, a wonderful event. Although many leaders, such as Gandhi and Nehru, wanted a united India, Muslim leaders feared rule by the Hindu majority. Partition appeared to be the solution. And so, the country of Pakistan was formed. This is the background of Divakaruni’s novel. However, independence is almost always a struggle. This cataclysmic struggle resulted in the death of an estimated two million people and the displacement of another fourteen million.
Sisters Deepa, Priya, and Jamini lived with their family in a quiet village near Bengal. Each young woman had a dream for her future. Jamini would be happy to fulfill the role of a traditional Bengali woman; her two sisters desired more independence. But violence developed as far-right and far-left Muslim and Hindu groups clashed. Neighbors who had coexisted suddenly were enemies, forced to take a side. Dreams could not be pursued. The violence, death, and disruption of life were unimaginable. Divakaruni told this story through the alternating voices of the sisters. Throughout the unraveling of dreams and the death of loved ones, their strength and family bond prevailed.
I learned so much about this time period in India’s history and it encouraged me to delve deeper - something I love doing. However, I never felt emotionally involved with the characters. Each girl seemed like a stereotype. The writing, especially in the first half, was overly simplistic and choppy. I don’t usually do audio books, but this novel is probably enhanced by hearing the voices of the characters. I definitely will read this author again. While I do have some criticisms, I am very glad I read it and learned so much about India’s independence and its horrific aftermath.
The year 1947 is an important date in India’s history. It is when Britain granted India its Independence, seemingly, a wonderful event. Although many leaders, such as Gandhi and Nehru, wanted a united India, Muslim leaders feared rule by the Hindu majority. Partition appeared to be the solution. And so, the country of Pakistan was formed. This is the background of Divakaruni’s novel. However, independence is almost always a struggle. This cataclysmic struggle resulted in the death of an estimated two million people and the displacement of another fourteen million.
Sisters Deepa, Priya, and Jamini lived with their family in a quiet village near Bengal. Each young woman had a dream for her future. Jamini would be happy to fulfill the role of a traditional Bengali woman; her two sisters desired more independence. But violence developed as far-right and far-left Muslim and Hindu groups clashed. Neighbors who had coexisted suddenly were enemies, forced to take a side. Dreams could not be pursued. The violence, death, and disruption of life were unimaginable. Divakaruni told this story through the alternating voices of the sisters. Throughout the unraveling of dreams and the death of loved ones, their strength and family bond prevailed.
I learned so much about this time period in India’s history and it encouraged me to delve deeper - something I love doing. However, I never felt emotionally involved with the characters. Each girl seemed like a stereotype. The writing, especially in the first half, was overly simplistic and choppy. I don’t usually do audio books, but this novel is probably enhanced by hearing the voices of the characters. I definitely will read this author again. While I do have some criticisms, I am very glad I read it and learned so much about India’s independence and its horrific aftermath.
February 14, 2023
It's been a couple of hours since I finished reading this book ( read it in one sitting ) and I'm still trying to believe that Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni wrote it.
My first and biggest grouse is that my edition ( a hardcover that cost a cool Rs 700 ) was so full of punctuation ( missing commas, full-stops, random upper-casing ) and grammatical errors that it made for a very choppy reading. I find it appalling that a publishing house as big as Harper Collins India would allow a book by an author of Divakaruni's stature to be published in such an insulting fashion. Who proofread the book and okayed it for publication, I'd love to know. The language teacher in me itched to grab her red pen and mark the hell out of the book. Thanks to years and years of correcting badly punctuated assignments, I could get through the book. Hey, Harper Collins, can you give me a refund?
My second issue is the prose itself - it wildly oscillates between simplistic and wannabe lyrical. One minute I'm reading a simple sentence. The immediate next sentence is poetic - this again made for a very choppy reading.
Third issue - the characters. None of the three sisters had any personality beyond being cookie-cutters. There wasn't any perceivable character development. One of the sisters' does something so uncharacteristic and sudden, it gave me a whiplash. Also, why is it that it is always the youngest sister who is most idealistic and therefore, the most foolish? The men are nothing to write about and pretty forgettable.
Fourth issue - that ending was not just rushed but unconvincing in that everything is very neatly and conveniently tied up. There's a death that's absolutely unnecessary and did not cause me the heartbreak it was meant to ( call me jaded, but I've read one too many tragic historical fictions to develop high standards for what qualifies as a heartbreak )
The book is not all that bad. The first half is actually quite gripping and gives you a strong sense of Bengaliness. I was transported to the 1940s and listened to Amitabh Bachchan's Ekla cholo re on loop. But the second half fails to live up to the intrigue that is built. Also, the pop culture references of that era were very well done.
I am a fan of Banerjee Divakaruni ( Palace of Illusions continues to be the standard against which all revisionist feminist fiction is measured ) and have loved her other books but this one is a hard pass. Like I said, I'm having a tough time believing she wrote it. While I look forward to her next book, won't be recommending this one to anyone anytime soon.
PS: I do not know if she meant to quote him ( I did not see any credits given ) but she used part of the very famous A Tale of Two Cities monologue - "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. "
My first and biggest grouse is that my edition ( a hardcover that cost a cool Rs 700 ) was so full of punctuation ( missing commas, full-stops, random upper-casing ) and grammatical errors that it made for a very choppy reading. I find it appalling that a publishing house as big as Harper Collins India would allow a book by an author of Divakaruni's stature to be published in such an insulting fashion. Who proofread the book and okayed it for publication, I'd love to know. The language teacher in me itched to grab her red pen and mark the hell out of the book. Thanks to years and years of correcting badly punctuated assignments, I could get through the book. Hey, Harper Collins, can you give me a refund?
My second issue is the prose itself - it wildly oscillates between simplistic and wannabe lyrical. One minute I'm reading a simple sentence. The immediate next sentence is poetic - this again made for a very choppy reading.
Third issue - the characters. None of the three sisters had any personality beyond being cookie-cutters. There wasn't any perceivable character development. One of the sisters' does something so uncharacteristic and sudden, it gave me a whiplash. Also, why is it that it is always the youngest sister who is most idealistic and therefore, the most foolish? The men are nothing to write about and pretty forgettable.
Fourth issue - that ending was not just rushed but unconvincing in that everything is very neatly and conveniently tied up. There's a death that's absolutely unnecessary and did not cause me the heartbreak it was meant to ( call me jaded, but I've read one too many tragic historical fictions to develop high standards for what qualifies as a heartbreak )
The book is not all that bad. The first half is actually quite gripping and gives you a strong sense of Bengaliness. I was transported to the 1940s and listened to Amitabh Bachchan's Ekla cholo re on loop. But the second half fails to live up to the intrigue that is built. Also, the pop culture references of that era were very well done.
I am a fan of Banerjee Divakaruni ( Palace of Illusions continues to be the standard against which all revisionist feminist fiction is measured ) and have loved her other books but this one is a hard pass. Like I said, I'm having a tough time believing she wrote it. While I look forward to her next book, won't be recommending this one to anyone anytime soon.
PS: I do not know if she meant to quote him ( I did not see any credits given ) but she used part of the very famous A Tale of Two Cities monologue - "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. "
December 13, 2022
Finished reading this book , absolutely unputdownable ! This book is set in Bengal against India’s independence movement, a story of three sisters . It is written in multiple narratives and it brings forth many different facets , layer by layer , of tumultuous incidents of the partition of India and Pakistan , a cauldron of conflicting politics and unrest . It operates on multifaceted levels , viz, fictional and reality ( political, personal and the factual ) .
The partition besieged millions and Divakaruni wove the story with a mind boggling erudition , simple yet so captivating !
Through the prism of this book , I could relate to the different visions of people , interpreting the incidents of political arena , stories of indefatigable courage and perseverance.
The choices made by these sisters , turn their lives upside down , separating them from each other , but they learn from their mistakes and move on with life , accepting the harsh truth. Independence doesn’t come free and this they learn in a bitter way . I welled up so many times reading their ordeals , a moving account of loyalty , sisterhood , nationhood , repentance , love , loss , sufferings and defying the fetters of social convention . In the end I believe , bravery is standing by the consequences of one’s mistakes . I would highly recommend this book !
The partition besieged millions and Divakaruni wove the story with a mind boggling erudition , simple yet so captivating !
Through the prism of this book , I could relate to the different visions of people , interpreting the incidents of political arena , stories of indefatigable courage and perseverance.
The choices made by these sisters , turn their lives upside down , separating them from each other , but they learn from their mistakes and move on with life , accepting the harsh truth. Independence doesn’t come free and this they learn in a bitter way . I welled up so many times reading their ordeals , a moving account of loyalty , sisterhood , nationhood , repentance , love , loss , sufferings and defying the fetters of social convention . In the end I believe , bravery is standing by the consequences of one’s mistakes . I would highly recommend this book !
July 23, 2023
“The year is 1947. It is the best of times, and it is the worst of times.”
The story is set when India was going through a period of partition. It is a beautiful tale of 3 sisters born in the same home but carrying an entirely different fate. The story truly begins when Nabakumar- the girl’s father, dies in a tragic mishappening (Hindu- Muslim riots in Calcutta), and the lives of his three daughters alter entirely.
As beautiful and engaging as the story is, the narrative style of our author is commendable. She gives the narration from 3 different stances, i.e., of the sisters, of course. Initially, at the start of a few chapters, you might feel it is not much needed. Still, later when all three of them start their journey separately, you will be able to foresee the genius behind the narrative segregation.
If you go through the story, you will find yourself in a turmoil of emotions as every character has a different story. Basically, it's an amalgamation of the tales of 3 sisters, the independence of India, the partition- the formation of India and Pakistan, a love triangle, and a lot of drama.
Not even a single dull moment of reading. The story runs so fast that it will engross you, and if you are a fast reader, you can finish it within one sitting.
Being an Indian, I find myself leaning toward the subject of partition. It brings tons of emotion out of me. I believe that the topic of partition and its pain is something that will somehow stay in the hearts of both countries forever.
The story will stay with me forever, and so will the author. I can't wait to read more books by our beloved author Ms.Chitra Divakaruni Mam.
The story is set when India was going through a period of partition. It is a beautiful tale of 3 sisters born in the same home but carrying an entirely different fate. The story truly begins when Nabakumar- the girl’s father, dies in a tragic mishappening (Hindu- Muslim riots in Calcutta), and the lives of his three daughters alter entirely.
As beautiful and engaging as the story is, the narrative style of our author is commendable. She gives the narration from 3 different stances, i.e., of the sisters, of course. Initially, at the start of a few chapters, you might feel it is not much needed. Still, later when all three of them start their journey separately, you will be able to foresee the genius behind the narrative segregation.
If you go through the story, you will find yourself in a turmoil of emotions as every character has a different story. Basically, it's an amalgamation of the tales of 3 sisters, the independence of India, the partition- the formation of India and Pakistan, a love triangle, and a lot of drama.
Not even a single dull moment of reading. The story runs so fast that it will engross you, and if you are a fast reader, you can finish it within one sitting.
Being an Indian, I find myself leaning toward the subject of partition. It brings tons of emotion out of me. I believe that the topic of partition and its pain is something that will somehow stay in the hearts of both countries forever.
The story will stay with me forever, and so will the author. I can't wait to read more books by our beloved author Ms.Chitra Divakaruni Mam.
January 2, 2023
Set during the tumultuous times of Independence, this book was unputdownable. The tensions soared high, nation was on the brink of breaking into two halves and people perhaps for the first time realised how dangerous religion as a concept was. And while all this went on, Chitra zeroes in on the lives of three fictional sisters whose decisions forever changed their lives. This book was like an onion, layer upon layer of emotion, complexity and suspense that slowly came undone with each chapter.
Set in a small village called Ranipur, the story revolves mainly around three sisters, each different from the other. Deepa, whose beauty is known across the villages. Priya, who dreams of becoming a doctor like her father and Jamini, who thinks from her mind because being a cripple has taught her not to use her heart too much. The girls who are so different from each other part ways during Independence , each going after their own fate knowing little about how their decisions will alter their lives. When blood is shed during the partition, the sisters try to reach out to each other but danger runs high and several risks must be taken.
Partition is such a complicated subject to write about. I mean this in the way that we all know what went down in history but writing about it can never be easy. To relearn how our country was forced to split, how brothers turned on each other and women were left traumatised; it’s always hard to both write and read about it. And yet the author does it seamlessly. By wrapping up the story around the girls, she makes it relatively easy for anyone to read and understand how this event affected millions.
This book is so much more than just a story of three girls. It digs deep and speaks of the political turmoil, about love that comes with conditions and sometimes of a love that surpasses everything else, about familial bonds and mainly, sisterhood. It was refreshing to read this novel and I thank @harpercollinsin for sending this across ✨
Set in a small village called Ranipur, the story revolves mainly around three sisters, each different from the other. Deepa, whose beauty is known across the villages. Priya, who dreams of becoming a doctor like her father and Jamini, who thinks from her mind because being a cripple has taught her not to use her heart too much. The girls who are so different from each other part ways during Independence , each going after their own fate knowing little about how their decisions will alter their lives. When blood is shed during the partition, the sisters try to reach out to each other but danger runs high and several risks must be taken.
Partition is such a complicated subject to write about. I mean this in the way that we all know what went down in history but writing about it can never be easy. To relearn how our country was forced to split, how brothers turned on each other and women were left traumatised; it’s always hard to both write and read about it. And yet the author does it seamlessly. By wrapping up the story around the girls, she makes it relatively easy for anyone to read and understand how this event affected millions.
This book is so much more than just a story of three girls. It digs deep and speaks of the political turmoil, about love that comes with conditions and sometimes of a love that surpasses everything else, about familial bonds and mainly, sisterhood. It was refreshing to read this novel and I thank @harpercollinsin for sending this across ✨
December 9, 2022
In 1946, with the Second World War over and Indian independence finally on the horizon, Indians were beginning to dream of a country truly their own, where the racist and arbitrary dictums of British administrators would no longer apply. Where equality and fraternity would mean true freedom for all Indians; where a woman would not be looked down upon for wanting to study medicine, and a young couple would not be derided simply because they happened to be of different faiths.
But the road to Nehru’s ‘tryst with destiny’ was fraught with anguish and anger, stained with the blood and tears of millions. Thousands lost their homes, their every possession, their dignity. Even in a land like Bengal, where Nazrul Geeti and Rabindranath Sangeet, Bon Bibi and the worship of pirs had long been a reflection of the region’s syncretism, hatred and fear became the order of the day.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Independence is set in this Bengal: in a village named Ranipur, where lives a doctor, Nabakumar Ganguly, with his wife Bina and their three daughters, Deepa, Priya and Jamini. Deepa, luminously beautiful; Priya, ambitious and forward-looking, dreaming of being a doctor like her father. And Jamini, crippled by a leg that’s too short, relegated to being the ‘good girl’ who sits at home and helps Bina with the housework or with embroidering kantha quilts.
Each chapter in Independence is told from the point of view (though throughout in third person) of one of these three sisters. The narrative begins in August 1946, and continues over the next year and a half, moving between Ranipur and Calcutta, then further afield to Dhaka and far beyond, to America. The sisters find love, follow their dreams, step out of the sheltered, protected environs of their Bengal countryside home. As violence erupts in Calcutta, they try to deal as best as they can with their suddenly changed circumstances. Then, as hatred grips Bengal even more fiercely, with—a year later—the Partition, they are forced to take even more painful decisions.
Tough decisions, dilemmas: these are two of the pivotal aspects of Independence. Banerjee Divakaruni’s heroines find themselves pulled between love and duty, heart and mind, ties of blood and ties of the soul. They do not always take the best decision or the most altruistic one; often they are impulsive, often driven by selfish concerns—but invariably believable. This is one of the things that stand out most vividly about this novel: the main protagonists are three-dimensional, their thoughts and emotions understandable, their fears and hopes palpable and real.
Banerjee Divakaruni deftly draws the backdrop to the story of the Ganguly women: the Bengal of the late 1940s, its social fabric now rent by schisms. A land where prejudice and fear grip the populace, but where there is, too, the occasional hope held out by people who will still be ruled by goodwill and the idea of a universal brotherhood (or sisterhood). Interwoven with that are fleeting glimpses of a larger canvas, a wider world: newly independent East Pakistan, trying to hold its own against its larger and more dominant western counterpart; India as a whole, with Gandhi, Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel struggling to unite a scattered land; faraway America, land of hope and land of dreams, but with its own prejudices, its own problems.
Independence is a story of women struggling to hold their own in a world pitted against them. A story of anger and hate, versus forgiveness and compromise. It is both a story of individuals and of a people, an insight into one of the darkest periods in modern Indian history. It is about love, the love between sisters, between parents and offspring, between lovers. In its climax, it is tense and nail-biting adventure.
An absorbing story, and told well.
(From my review for Open: The Magazine, https://openthemagazine.com/lounge/bo...)
But the road to Nehru’s ‘tryst with destiny’ was fraught with anguish and anger, stained with the blood and tears of millions. Thousands lost their homes, their every possession, their dignity. Even in a land like Bengal, where Nazrul Geeti and Rabindranath Sangeet, Bon Bibi and the worship of pirs had long been a reflection of the region’s syncretism, hatred and fear became the order of the day.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Independence is set in this Bengal: in a village named Ranipur, where lives a doctor, Nabakumar Ganguly, with his wife Bina and their three daughters, Deepa, Priya and Jamini. Deepa, luminously beautiful; Priya, ambitious and forward-looking, dreaming of being a doctor like her father. And Jamini, crippled by a leg that’s too short, relegated to being the ‘good girl’ who sits at home and helps Bina with the housework or with embroidering kantha quilts.
Each chapter in Independence is told from the point of view (though throughout in third person) of one of these three sisters. The narrative begins in August 1946, and continues over the next year and a half, moving between Ranipur and Calcutta, then further afield to Dhaka and far beyond, to America. The sisters find love, follow their dreams, step out of the sheltered, protected environs of their Bengal countryside home. As violence erupts in Calcutta, they try to deal as best as they can with their suddenly changed circumstances. Then, as hatred grips Bengal even more fiercely, with—a year later—the Partition, they are forced to take even more painful decisions.
Tough decisions, dilemmas: these are two of the pivotal aspects of Independence. Banerjee Divakaruni’s heroines find themselves pulled between love and duty, heart and mind, ties of blood and ties of the soul. They do not always take the best decision or the most altruistic one; often they are impulsive, often driven by selfish concerns—but invariably believable. This is one of the things that stand out most vividly about this novel: the main protagonists are three-dimensional, their thoughts and emotions understandable, their fears and hopes palpable and real.
Banerjee Divakaruni deftly draws the backdrop to the story of the Ganguly women: the Bengal of the late 1940s, its social fabric now rent by schisms. A land where prejudice and fear grip the populace, but where there is, too, the occasional hope held out by people who will still be ruled by goodwill and the idea of a universal brotherhood (or sisterhood). Interwoven with that are fleeting glimpses of a larger canvas, a wider world: newly independent East Pakistan, trying to hold its own against its larger and more dominant western counterpart; India as a whole, with Gandhi, Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel struggling to unite a scattered land; faraway America, land of hope and land of dreams, but with its own prejudices, its own problems.
Independence is a story of women struggling to hold their own in a world pitted against them. A story of anger and hate, versus forgiveness and compromise. It is both a story of individuals and of a people, an insight into one of the darkest periods in modern Indian history. It is about love, the love between sisters, between parents and offspring, between lovers. In its climax, it is tense and nail-biting adventure.
An absorbing story, and told well.
(From my review for Open: The Magazine, https://openthemagazine.com/lounge/bo...)
December 13, 2022
I have read and (mostly) enjoyed every single book written by the author. So, it pains me to say this- of all the rich stories that could have emerged from 1946-54 Bengal, is this the best she could do? This soul-less, trope-filled and utterly uninspiring one?!
I despised all the characters. The situations were forced and ridiculous and the writing lacked the soul that flowed through previous books.
I am so disappointed!
I despised all the characters. The situations were forced and ridiculous and the writing lacked the soul that flowed through previous books.
I am so disappointed!
January 28, 2023
“Independence” was my very first Book of the Month purchase, and I’ll never forget this one.
The story follows three sisters—Deepa, Jamini and Priya—each brilliantly different, balancing devotion to family while carving their own path in the world. And doing so during 1947 in India as the partition is taking place.
Chitra’s writing is palpable; every word mattered, every emotion shared. I found myself reading sentences again and slowly as to not miss one intention or piece of information.
I would not say this book is “light.” There is heartache, tragedy and loss. But, there is also beauty, sacrifice and hope.
Highly recommend!
The story follows three sisters—Deepa, Jamini and Priya—each brilliantly different, balancing devotion to family while carving their own path in the world. And doing so during 1947 in India as the partition is taking place.
Chitra’s writing is palpable; every word mattered, every emotion shared. I found myself reading sentences again and slowly as to not miss one intention or piece of information.
I would not say this book is “light.” There is heartache, tragedy and loss. But, there is also beauty, sacrifice and hope.
Highly recommend!
April 1, 2023
*I love a sibling story and this was a fantastic one. The story centers on three sisters, Priya, Jamini and Deepa in English colonized India. The reader follows each sister’s journey as we watch the deep unrest between Muslim and Hindi eventually leading to the partition of India.
*I loved this book so much. I’ve mentioned it before, but one of the signs of a great historical fiction to me, is one that prompts me to go learn more about the place and the time outside of the book. In this case, 1940s and 50s India going from English colonization to the forming of India and Pakistan.
*Each sister had such a unique personality, and there were parts of each girl and each story that you couldn’t help but relate to, fall in love with and hurt for. I read this in a day (it’s under 300 pages) and I hope so many more will pick this one up!!
*I loved this book so much. I’ve mentioned it before, but one of the signs of a great historical fiction to me, is one that prompts me to go learn more about the place and the time outside of the book. In this case, 1940s and 50s India going from English colonization to the forming of India and Pakistan.
*Each sister had such a unique personality, and there were parts of each girl and each story that you couldn’t help but relate to, fall in love with and hurt for. I read this in a day (it’s under 300 pages) and I hope so many more will pick this one up!!
January 30, 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction
This is the 3rd book by this author that I've read. One was 3 stars. One was 4. This one landed in the middle of those two.
I liked the sisters. This author does the sister relationships well. I didn't get the mom at all. She was definitely relegated to background noise, which was a shame. She could have added a little more dimension to the girls. I also liked the story line. But even the cultural tide that was rising felt like it too was relegated to background noise. felt like bullet points for the current climate of that area at that time.
Now all of that brings me to this: the writing. It seemed a little too neat and too tidy for my tastes. I think I craved more detail. The sisters had plenty but the backdrop needed some as well. So 3.5 stars.
This is the 3rd book by this author that I've read. One was 3 stars. One was 4. This one landed in the middle of those two.
I liked the sisters. This author does the sister relationships well. I didn't get the mom at all. She was definitely relegated to background noise, which was a shame. She could have added a little more dimension to the girls. I also liked the story line. But even the cultural tide that was rising felt like it too was relegated to background noise. felt like bullet points for the current climate of that area at that time.
Now all of that brings me to this: the writing. It seemed a little too neat and too tidy for my tastes. I think I craved more detail. The sisters had plenty but the backdrop needed some as well. So 3.5 stars.
January 22, 2023
Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, set in Calcutta and in a rural village called Ranipur in Bengal State during the Independence times of years 1946-1948 the novel was just unputdownable for me. The story of a household with three sisters and parents.
We see unfortunate events take place in this household where their father dies in a riot which took place in Calcutta. We also get to see a lot of Hindu-Muslim history set during these times and of course the flawless writing of Chitra Banerjee made this read more enjoyable.
Deepa, Priya and Jamini are all three sisters who are different from each other and have different life goals altogether. I resonate a lot with Priya amongst the three and she has been my absolute favorite in this story. Their mother Bina, a typical Indian mother and wife who wishes to keep this family joint and happy.
Partition is something that I have always wanted to read about in books and similar themes and this one did not disappoint at all. I enjoyed every ounce of this book and definitely would want you all to pick up and read this story and see how lives were affected during the India-Pak partition and independence.
We see unfortunate events take place in this household where their father dies in a riot which took place in Calcutta. We also get to see a lot of Hindu-Muslim history set during these times and of course the flawless writing of Chitra Banerjee made this read more enjoyable.
Deepa, Priya and Jamini are all three sisters who are different from each other and have different life goals altogether. I resonate a lot with Priya amongst the three and she has been my absolute favorite in this story. Their mother Bina, a typical Indian mother and wife who wishes to keep this family joint and happy.
Partition is something that I have always wanted to read about in books and similar themes and this one did not disappoint at all. I enjoyed every ounce of this book and definitely would want you all to pick up and read this story and see how lives were affected during the India-Pak partition and independence.
September 23, 2023
Here is a river. Here is a wind rising. Here is a village. Here is the year.
The river is time, ebbing, flowing. The village is the world, and you are at its centre. The year is now.
What will you do with it? What will you do?
The river is time, ebbing, flowing. The village is the world, and you are at its centre. The year is now.
What will you do with it? What will you do?
December 16, 2022
If too many cooks spoil the broth, what does too much expectation do to a book by a favourite author?
Set in West Bengal as India readies herself for freedom against a foreign rule, Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the story of three sisters, written from their individual POVs.
The story begins with the vibe of Pride and Prejudice (or so it strikes me) though soon it melts away, letting the book's own spirit surface to the pages.
I have loved Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's works for many things - two prime factors being the easy flow of her prose and the interesting, seemingly real character arcs. Here both seem too forced. The prose, obviously intentionally devoid of comma at many places, seem too pretentious, as if styled too look high and mighty. The colon, used to narrate dialogues, is another eye sore. I understand that this is 'style' but to me they are just disappointment.
I didn't like some of the stark sentences too. They could not fit naturally. Thus the writing style was a disappointment. But I take heart that either my favourite author is exploring more or is aiming high for some awards. She deserves them.
Like lightning that flashes for a brief moment into the heart of the dark sky, sometimes I still found sentences in the prose, one here, one there that were reminiscent of her earlier style. They were a solace and they made me crave for more.
I think the novel would have been justified better if it was titled The Crazy Sisters. 😀 Throughout the novel, Priya and Deepa do whatever they want. I wanted to make them stand in a corner and drive some sense into their heads. Jamini is the only sister/character that bears the trademark complexity and arc, that I have come to expect from and love in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's character. Only she seems real.
The climax is not rushed, but given a little more time to develop, I think it would have helped the book better.
Well, I think I make it sound as if I hated the book? No, I didn't. Despite all the disappointment I point out, this was an unputdownable read for me. But as I said, my expectation from this author is high, and I think, rightly so. Though I did not feel invested in any character, and though, so many times, I found the plot movement forced, I was always eager to know what happened next. This charm, the author still manages to pull off for me and I end up reading the last fifty pages of Independence with the light of my phone torch, till 3 a.m.
I think this book will work better for non-Indians who are not well aware of our struggle for Independence. The author presents history well, but for most Indians, there is nothing new to know here. Also, how the political movements affect the lives of the three sisters is also plotted to startling effects; Priya and Deepa's feats are not impossible, but most Indians will know that these are larger than life scenarios.
There's a certain escapade scene, which though quite filmy, actually dazzles me; at that point in the novel, I find myself sitting up straight and tense. The moment came unaware to me and I loved it.
Oh, and I loved the snatches of Bengali songs with which the prose is peppered. Not too many, yet enough to stir my nostalgia.
I feel this book didn't work too much for me because it's not written for me, it's written for international audience or atleast for a reader who is not too well versed with Bengali characters and culture. What I see in Independence is glimpses, what I wanted was a life size mirror that could pull me into the spirals of images and sounds from a time gone by.
Nevertheless, it has been after a long time that I could read a physical book from start to end. The book is beautifully made, right from its cover to its layout. Despite being hardbound, it is lightweight. The mother of the three sisters stitch kaatha (kantha) spreads, something I had seen my grandma stitch. Grandma would even stitch small kaatha spreads for my dolls. Holding the beautifully designed book brought back those warm memories. From the book oozed a warmth that reminded me of my grandma and my childhood; days and memories warmed by kaatha spreads made with love.
Q: Do I recommend Independence to my fellow readers?
A: If you have not read Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni before, I would recommend Sister of my Heart by the author instead. If you have and now want to read this, I would say - go ahead, but not with too high expectations.
Rating 3.5/5
Set in West Bengal as India readies herself for freedom against a foreign rule, Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the story of three sisters, written from their individual POVs.
The story begins with the vibe of Pride and Prejudice (or so it strikes me) though soon it melts away, letting the book's own spirit surface to the pages.
I have loved Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's works for many things - two prime factors being the easy flow of her prose and the interesting, seemingly real character arcs. Here both seem too forced. The prose, obviously intentionally devoid of comma at many places, seem too pretentious, as if styled too look high and mighty. The colon, used to narrate dialogues, is another eye sore. I understand that this is 'style' but to me they are just disappointment.
I didn't like some of the stark sentences too. They could not fit naturally. Thus the writing style was a disappointment. But I take heart that either my favourite author is exploring more or is aiming high for some awards. She deserves them.
Like lightning that flashes for a brief moment into the heart of the dark sky, sometimes I still found sentences in the prose, one here, one there that were reminiscent of her earlier style. They were a solace and they made me crave for more.
I think the novel would have been justified better if it was titled The Crazy Sisters. 😀 Throughout the novel, Priya and Deepa do whatever they want. I wanted to make them stand in a corner and drive some sense into their heads. Jamini is the only sister/character that bears the trademark complexity and arc, that I have come to expect from and love in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's character. Only she seems real.
The climax is not rushed, but given a little more time to develop, I think it would have helped the book better.
Well, I think I make it sound as if I hated the book? No, I didn't. Despite all the disappointment I point out, this was an unputdownable read for me. But as I said, my expectation from this author is high, and I think, rightly so. Though I did not feel invested in any character, and though, so many times, I found the plot movement forced, I was always eager to know what happened next. This charm, the author still manages to pull off for me and I end up reading the last fifty pages of Independence with the light of my phone torch, till 3 a.m.
I think this book will work better for non-Indians who are not well aware of our struggle for Independence. The author presents history well, but for most Indians, there is nothing new to know here. Also, how the political movements affect the lives of the three sisters is also plotted to startling effects; Priya and Deepa's feats are not impossible, but most Indians will know that these are larger than life scenarios.
There's a certain escapade scene, which though quite filmy, actually dazzles me; at that point in the novel, I find myself sitting up straight and tense. The moment came unaware to me and I loved it.
Oh, and I loved the snatches of Bengali songs with which the prose is peppered. Not too many, yet enough to stir my nostalgia.
I feel this book didn't work too much for me because it's not written for me, it's written for international audience or atleast for a reader who is not too well versed with Bengali characters and culture. What I see in Independence is glimpses, what I wanted was a life size mirror that could pull me into the spirals of images and sounds from a time gone by.
Nevertheless, it has been after a long time that I could read a physical book from start to end. The book is beautifully made, right from its cover to its layout. Despite being hardbound, it is lightweight. The mother of the three sisters stitch kaatha (kantha) spreads, something I had seen my grandma stitch. Grandma would even stitch small kaatha spreads for my dolls. Holding the beautifully designed book brought back those warm memories. From the book oozed a warmth that reminded me of my grandma and my childhood; days and memories warmed by kaatha spreads made with love.
Q: Do I recommend Independence to my fellow readers?
A: If you have not read Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni before, I would recommend Sister of my Heart by the author instead. If you have and now want to read this, I would say - go ahead, but not with too high expectations.
Rating 3.5/5
January 17, 2023
This book is both beautiful and heartbreaking - set against the unrest in India during the late 1940's - we meet three sisters - Deepa, Priya, and Jamani. All three women are strong, fierce, and faced with the unimaginable as they try and survive during this time period. The choices they are forced to make - both for survival and to be able to live their true authentic selves - are both horrific and heartfelt. Women are so much stronger than they are ever given credit for. I also really liked this one as it gave me historical context - I will definitely be researching more on this time period in India and the beginnings of Pakistan.
January 19, 2023
nice book, unputdownable, but it seemed very clouded with a bunch of strong misplaced assumptions and seemed like an attempt to write a little women type of a book set around Indian independence. Probably wouldn't read again, but I think Chitra Banerjee has written better books in her lifetime than this. Not the best work.
December 7, 2022
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's latest book Independence is one of those books that you read in huge gulps at one time, the kind that make you keep turning the pages once you start reading.
Set in the turbulent time period for India, from 1946-48, when the Britishers were finally leaving but not without ensuring that the land was divided into two nations, Independence is the story of three sisters whose lives are all touched and scarred deeply by the events around them. The book mixes these two things deftly, and the interpersonal relationships of the sisters become embroiled in the political and social upheaval which they are caught in. Divakaruni has always been excellent at writing about the equations and desires of women (i can think of Vine of Desire as well as The Sister of My Heart) and she excels at it here too.
I quite enjoyed reading Independence and have to say that i liked it best of all her books that i have read so far. Recommended!
Set in the turbulent time period for India, from 1946-48, when the Britishers were finally leaving but not without ensuring that the land was divided into two nations, Independence is the story of three sisters whose lives are all touched and scarred deeply by the events around them. The book mixes these two things deftly, and the interpersonal relationships of the sisters become embroiled in the political and social upheaval which they are caught in. Divakaruni has always been excellent at writing about the equations and desires of women (i can think of Vine of Desire as well as The Sister of My Heart) and she excels at it here too.
I quite enjoyed reading Independence and have to say that i liked it best of all her books that i have read so far. Recommended!
March 1, 2023
Three unmarried sisters in a Hindu family, living in a small village outside Calcutta, in 1946. Early in the book, their doctor father, a longtime supporter of Gandhi and independence, is killed by rioters just outside his clinic. The family is emotionally and financially devastated just as the tensions of partition creates danger for everyone.
The story is told in 3rd person but chapters alternate among the 3 sisters. This worked well when the sisters were in the same household but as their lives take very unexpected turns, beginning with the oldest sister falling in love with a Muslim doctor and politician, it becomes disjointed.
I know so little about India’s history that it is hard for me to judge the novel’s accuracy but it seems to represent well what happens at that time.
The story is told in 3rd person but chapters alternate among the 3 sisters. This worked well when the sisters were in the same household but as their lives take very unexpected turns, beginning with the oldest sister falling in love with a Muslim doctor and politician, it becomes disjointed.
I know so little about India’s history that it is hard for me to judge the novel’s accuracy but it seems to represent well what happens at that time.
December 11, 2022
Like with all her books, couldn't stop reading till it was over. From simple everyday life to the events that changed the lives of so many on the Indian subcontinent, every thing means so much in this story. Loved it. Has been ages since I cried while reading a book, today I did.
May 27, 2023
Amazing. Absorbing. Atmospheric.
Heartfelt. Heart-breaking. Devastating, yet spirited and uplifting.
Youngest sister Priya is a delight and an inspiration.
A bit of a tragedy, but ends with a determined and positive view for the future.
A must read! 💕
Heartfelt. Heart-breaking. Devastating, yet spirited and uplifting.
Youngest sister Priya is a delight and an inspiration.
A bit of a tragedy, but ends with a determined and positive view for the future.
A must read! 💕
February 8, 2023
2.5! It's the 2nd book in a row in which this has happened, and both are new and written by Indian authors!
This was a conflicting book for me. It was very readable - I finished it in 2 working days flat. It had interesting characters - 3 sisters with dreams and hope and strengths of their own -independent thinkers in a country on the cusp of independence. The setting was great too! However, as the story progressed, I just couldn't get in sync with the trials and tribulations of such heavily entitled people, in 1 way or another. I mean over the years we have read heart wrenching tales of what independence meant and the price it came along with. Over the years we have also read about women's stories of triumph over every obstacle. This was none of that - while showing the flaws of every character, the story itself, or rather, the moral the story was trying to carry, became deeply shallow!
And yes, I don't know what's with Divakaruni and shallow and whiny main characters who do whatever they want at the cost of anyone and everyone and still expect readers to empathize with them. It's become a pattern with her.
What a disappointment!
This was a conflicting book for me. It was very readable - I finished it in 2 working days flat. It had interesting characters - 3 sisters with dreams and hope and strengths of their own -independent thinkers in a country on the cusp of independence. The setting was great too! However, as the story progressed, I just couldn't get in sync with the trials and tribulations of such heavily entitled people, in 1 way or another. I mean over the years we have read heart wrenching tales of what independence meant and the price it came along with. Over the years we have also read about women's stories of triumph over every obstacle. This was none of that - while showing the flaws of every character, the story itself, or rather, the moral the story was trying to carry, became deeply shallow!
And yes, I don't know what's with Divakaruni and shallow and whiny main characters who do whatever they want at the cost of anyone and everyone and still expect readers to empathize with them. It's become a pattern with her.
What a disappointment!
April 5, 2023
Probably my favorite book I’ve read so far this year. It has reignited my passion and love for historical fiction: the cultures and events they highlight, the emotions they evoke, and the heartfelt stories they weave showcasing what truly matters.
My only qualm would be the lack of necessary commas in between descriptors, but I imagine it is due to being translated—you get used to it a fourth of the way in.
Overall, this book embodies everything a historical fiction should be and had me immersed the entire time and invested in each character’s life. Definitely read this book!
My only qualm would be the lack of necessary commas in between descriptors, but I imagine it is due to being translated—you get used to it a fourth of the way in.
Overall, this book embodies everything a historical fiction should be and had me immersed the entire time and invested in each character’s life. Definitely read this book!
April 16, 2023
Independence: A Novel by historical fiction author (Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni) presents a story of a close knit, religiously devoted family, but more importantly a story of three sisters and their sisterly bond.
This novel tells a story of a country pre partition and how this historic event slowly divided not only India but from the viewpoints of three sisters, a family.
If you enjoy historical fiction, set in other countries, and lesser written historical events, I recommend “Independence: A Novel”.
🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳
This novel tells a story of a country pre partition and how this historic event slowly divided not only India but from the viewpoints of three sisters, a family.
If you enjoy historical fiction, set in other countries, and lesser written historical events, I recommend “Independence: A Novel”.
🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳 🇮🇳
July 31, 2024
Once again, I love when books teach me about things. This book spoke about the independence and subsequent partition of India through the lives of three sisters.
The first time I learnt about the partition of India was from ms marvel. Thereafter, the conflicted podcast covered it in great detail. This book was an added bonus knowledge on the topic and the everyday lives affected.
The writing was lush and narration was outstanding . It took me a minute to get into it as it required my full attention.
I think this is one of the very few books I’ve read where the most of male named characters are good people.
Each of the sisters were distinct and I was invested in their stories… except Jamini ( I’m so sorry)
The one thing I did not love was the love triangle with the Priya, Amit and Jamini.
The first time I learnt about the partition of India was from ms marvel. Thereafter, the conflicted podcast covered it in great detail. This book was an added bonus knowledge on the topic and the everyday lives affected.
The writing was lush and narration was outstanding . It took me a minute to get into it as it required my full attention.
I think this is one of the very few books I’ve read where the most of male named characters are good people.
Each of the sisters were distinct and I was invested in their stories… except Jamini ( I’m so sorry)
The one thing I did not love was the love triangle with the Priya, Amit and Jamini.
May 17, 2023
4.25⭐️! I put this down for way too long because life got busy and I didn’t have much time to read physical books, but I loved this story! I started reading this shortly after returning from my second visit to India and was instantly transported back. There was such a strong sense of place that I felt like I was there during Partition, and perhaps even stronger female characters determined to follow their dreams and hearts despite danger, heartbreak, and unrest in the newly liberated India. But what is liberation when two large segments of citizens allow their differences to breed hatred for one another?
Three sisters with three secret desires in life. Priya wants nothing more than to become a doctor like her father and still hold onto love, but her ambitions may have cost her everything. Deepa finds herself in a forbidden romance that also may cost her everything. And forgotten Jamini, ever faithful yet overlooked, jumps at the chance to secure her own fate with love. The sisters must cope with the deaths of some of their closest loved ones, political unrest, religious intolerance, and of course sexism. This book stressed me out lol. But Banerjee Divakaruni managed to create a novel that is both heart wrenching and inspiring at the same time. I’m already a fan of Indian literature, and have now found a go-to author with an extensive backlist I must dive into!
Favorite quotes:
[There are many] stories which are not written on paper, but are written on the bodies and minds of women. - Amrita Pritam
When men go off to be heroes, do they even realize what it does to the women they leave behind? - Deepa
When a couple has such deep differences, what can bridge the chasm between them? - Deepa
Can wishes bring destruction? - Jamini
Women without money are forced to make bad choices. - Priya
Perhaps it is better to be attackers than victims. - Jamini
Three sisters with three secret desires in life. Priya wants nothing more than to become a doctor like her father and still hold onto love, but her ambitions may have cost her everything. Deepa finds herself in a forbidden romance that also may cost her everything. And forgotten Jamini, ever faithful yet overlooked, jumps at the chance to secure her own fate with love. The sisters must cope with the deaths of some of their closest loved ones, political unrest, religious intolerance, and of course sexism. This book stressed me out lol. But Banerjee Divakaruni managed to create a novel that is both heart wrenching and inspiring at the same time. I’m already a fan of Indian literature, and have now found a go-to author with an extensive backlist I must dive into!
Favorite quotes:
[There are many] stories which are not written on paper, but are written on the bodies and minds of women. - Amrita Pritam
When men go off to be heroes, do they even realize what it does to the women they leave behind? - Deepa
When a couple has such deep differences, what can bridge the chasm between them? - Deepa
Can wishes bring destruction? - Jamini
Women without money are forced to make bad choices. - Priya
Perhaps it is better to be attackers than victims. - Jamini
February 7, 2023
1947 - If you are unfamiliar with what this year meant for the Indian sub-continent, this book is for you.
It was the year the British left India, but not before partitioning the country into two countries: India and West Pakistan (Now Pakistan) & East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh), based on religion resulting in millions of deaths in riots and migration. My family's two generations were involved in the independence and post-independence struggles, this book made me emotional on so many levels.
"Independence" by Chitra Banerjee Divakruni is a fair representation of India's partition and independence struggle and the stories of three sisters navigating through that time.
Having read a couple of Chitra's previous novels, I knew I had to grab this book. To write about the darkest period in Indian history and enfolding the fictional story of three sisters depicting the effect the turmoil caused on millions is a commendable job.
Her non-complex writing and storytelling make up for a seamless narrative while addressing a complicated theme. There were so many quotes that I wanted to highlight, but it was a library copy, so I just couldn't.
I highly recommend this book about patriotism, sisterhood, familial bonds and love.
It was the year the British left India, but not before partitioning the country into two countries: India and West Pakistan (Now Pakistan) & East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh), based on religion resulting in millions of deaths in riots and migration. My family's two generations were involved in the independence and post-independence struggles, this book made me emotional on so many levels.
"Independence" by Chitra Banerjee Divakruni is a fair representation of India's partition and independence struggle and the stories of three sisters navigating through that time.
Having read a couple of Chitra's previous novels, I knew I had to grab this book. To write about the darkest period in Indian history and enfolding the fictional story of three sisters depicting the effect the turmoil caused on millions is a commendable job.
Her non-complex writing and storytelling make up for a seamless narrative while addressing a complicated theme. There were so many quotes that I wanted to highlight, but it was a library copy, so I just couldn't.
I highly recommend this book about patriotism, sisterhood, familial bonds and love.
January 17, 2023
I wanted to like this book more than I did - it's about India's fight for independence and centers around the outcomes of three sisters in the region of Bengal, which dealt with significant violent conflict between Muslims and Hindus. Deepa, the eldest, is beautiful and talented, but makes the mistake of falling in love with a Muslim man. Jamini, the middle child, harbors resentment against her sisters for what she sees as their better fortune in life, while striving to maintain the appearance of being the "good child." Priya harbors the secret ambition to be a doctor like her father in a time when women were generally not allowed to do more than be wives. Together, the three of them manage to wreck themselves and everyone around them... they have few redeeming qualities, which made it hard to root for them or even feel sorry for the circumstances in which they were placed. Certainly, the backdrop of the Indian Independence movement and sectarian violence made life difficult, but the three sisters seem to make life even more difficult for themselves, all of them ending up alone and spurning the hands that offer to help.
February 19, 2023
This novel takes place during the India’s independence period, it follows there sisters and the difficulties they endured during this time. It is engaging and I finished it in a couple of days.
April 5, 2023
Wow. Just wow.
This book is so powerful and good.
Generational stories like "Independence" are highly underrated and deserve more hype. Every time I dive into a historical fiction my mind expands and it's just a wonderful experience.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's novel taught me more than just what was happening in India during the 40's but about culture, religion, family dynamics and how powerful women are.
I truly have to scream praises up to the heavens for this book. This itty-bitty two hundred and eighty eight page novel is so impactful and covers so many important details about India's history I am still trying to wrap my mind around how Divakaruni did this so well. I so impressed at how brilliantly written this is. The way the story of the three sisters is woven into this religious unrest that India experienced was beautiful and powerful.
I could talk for days about how wonderfully written this novel is but I have to touch on the way that Divakruni highlight's the strength of women. I loved reading about Priya, Deepa and Jamini's
sisterhood. How each of them display strength and independence highlight the power of women especially during this time period and culture. I was drawn to Priya and her dream of becoming a doctor. A woman in the medical field was unheard of in India during the 1940's. I always fall in love with the characters who have big goals and want to change societies ideals of specific groups. Priya was no exception, she worked hard and did everything she could to get the knowledge she needed even though her family protested her ideals.
Historical fiction truly is the best way to learn about cultures and religion. Reading "Independence" showed me how little I truly know about the world around me. The violence that Muslims and Hindus experienced during the 1940's was gruesome and terrifying. It was shocking reading a fictional books about what Jamini and her mother had to go through during an attack, I can't even imagine reading what truly happened to some people in India and Pakistan. Outside of the history, I learned that culturally India values family. The strength that these characters had as a group was beautiful. The story highlights betrayal and loss between these family members but it never severed their ties and dedication to one another. I loved reading that. The strength of family is so good. I wanted to experience more of it.
I will absolutely be checking out Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's other novels in the future! I loved everything about Independence and I can't wait to take in more of her beautiful writing.
I highly recommend this book for people who love historical fiction novels that are generational and have a heavy focus on family and culture. If you adored Pachinko like me, this should be a book you read very soon!
Thank you Book Club Girl for providing the Overbooked Rando's with copies of this book. We all loved this book and the discussions we had we very insightful. Big shout out to my book club members for always teaching me new things and being the geniuses you all are.
This book is so powerful and good.
Generational stories like "Independence" are highly underrated and deserve more hype. Every time I dive into a historical fiction my mind expands and it's just a wonderful experience.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's novel taught me more than just what was happening in India during the 40's but about culture, religion, family dynamics and how powerful women are.
I truly have to scream praises up to the heavens for this book. This itty-bitty two hundred and eighty eight page novel is so impactful and covers so many important details about India's history I am still trying to wrap my mind around how Divakaruni did this so well. I so impressed at how brilliantly written this is. The way the story of the three sisters is woven into this religious unrest that India experienced was beautiful and powerful.
I could talk for days about how wonderfully written this novel is but I have to touch on the way that Divakruni highlight's the strength of women. I loved reading about Priya, Deepa and Jamini's
sisterhood. How each of them display strength and independence highlight the power of women especially during this time period and culture. I was drawn to Priya and her dream of becoming a doctor. A woman in the medical field was unheard of in India during the 1940's. I always fall in love with the characters who have big goals and want to change societies ideals of specific groups. Priya was no exception, she worked hard and did everything she could to get the knowledge she needed even though her family protested her ideals.
Historical fiction truly is the best way to learn about cultures and religion. Reading "Independence" showed me how little I truly know about the world around me. The violence that Muslims and Hindus experienced during the 1940's was gruesome and terrifying. It was shocking reading a fictional books about what Jamini and her mother had to go through during an attack, I can't even imagine reading what truly happened to some people in India and Pakistan. Outside of the history, I learned that culturally India values family. The strength that these characters had as a group was beautiful. The story highlights betrayal and loss between these family members but it never severed their ties and dedication to one another. I loved reading that. The strength of family is so good. I wanted to experience more of it.
I will absolutely be checking out Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's other novels in the future! I loved everything about Independence and I can't wait to take in more of her beautiful writing.
I highly recommend this book for people who love historical fiction novels that are generational and have a heavy focus on family and culture. If you adored Pachinko like me, this should be a book you read very soon!
Thank you Book Club Girl for providing the Overbooked Rando's with copies of this book. We all loved this book and the discussions we had we very insightful. Big shout out to my book club members for always teaching me new things and being the geniuses you all are.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,257 reviews