My only problem with the book is...
WHY didn't I read it before!
This is one incredible book that literally makes you laugh out loud. It shows a very relatable and realistic image of an Indian household, though having five sisters, alphabetically named, isn't all that common. It is set in a contemporary age which still applies to the Indian society. The hyper, socially conscious mother, with the laid back father, their bickering, tension regarding the marriage of five daughters, arguments related to property, claiming their hissa or part, younger sisters living in the shadow of their elder nemesis. The lives of the sisters and their characters are as different as their names. The eldest and prettiest married rich but is dissatisfied being unable to conceive, second one wasn't that lucky in the money department but has twins and sued her own father for her hissa, third ran away a day before her marriage and has been disowned by the family, fourth is her father's favourite, has just started a new job and is on the marriage market and last one is graduating school, troublemaker, butt-obsessed and headstrong, she gives her parents headache. Their twisted family also has a depressed half-crazy aunt living next door, with a good-for-nothing son and a cheating husband.
Enter Dylan Singh Shekhawat, christian-rajput, tall, handsome and a journalist bent upon exposing the person behind the sikh riots. He falls for Debjani, number four.
You fall for him. I did. Possibly the only Indian fiction hero who made my heart race and made it to my Top 20 Fiction Boyfriends List.
This novel is far before its time. Hence why you can connect with it. The parents understand their daughters and don't try to restrict them. The best part is Anuja Chauhan has not tried to restrict her language by sticking entirely to English. She has used some hindi words including slang that we normally use, our dialect - hinglish, hence the essence of the novel stands. Moreover I completely relate to the youngest daughter being butt obsessed and the way these sisters gossip and communicate with each other is how we do with our siblings and friends, cussing, teasing and dripping with sarcasm.
It is a breadth of fresh air.
"The only Indian writer of popular fiction really worth buying."
I stand by this review as well.
I will recommend this book to all who haven't read. Indians read for a good laugh, non-Indians read for insight to the Indian society. Check it out on goodreads.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17340720-those-pricey-thakur-girls
Check out her other books as well especially "The House That BJ Built" which is a spinoff from this book. It is on my to-read list as well.
Till then,
Keep reading.
Keep loving.
XOXO
Pearl
Hi there! I was reading your articles about Tinder.. when is the next part coming? They're really interesting reads :)
ReplyDeleteHey there, I find your article mirrors my views on the book. This is one of the very few novels by any Indian author I enjoyed exploring. I hope you read the sequel? It is pretty amazing too. Good luck for further posts
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