Water - Bapsi Sidhwa

Bhagya sat cross-legged on the kitchen floor, grinding rice with a mortar and pestle and adding it to the flour she stored in a brass jar. Dusk had thickened into night outside the kitchen window, and the hectic twittering of the birds had given way to the muted sounds of nocturnal animals of the forest and the sudden orchestration of cicadas. Her day's choirs done, her family fed, this was Bhagya's hour of solitude. The rhythmic pounding of the pestle and her automated movements had a meditative quality, and she often chanted or hummed holy passages from the Bhagvad Gita or the Mahabharata at this time.

This is the first time I have read a book based on a movie. The book is very good, while I hear the movie is excellent. This is gut-wrenching tale that is still able to find humor and hope in unimaginable circumstances. I liked the pacing of the writing- easy to read, yet dense with emotions. This is another book that supports a world wide revolution to bring justice for the women of the world. You will find yourself saying "Oh no, this isn't really happening to this poor innocent child."

In spite of the horrible and indefensible religious oppression of the Hindu women in the book, the hope of youth keeps this book from becoming too depressing. It is fascinating reading about Indian culture and places that have not changed in a millennium. The book is quite an experience and leaves a strong impact on the reader.