When I discovered SKrishna was hosting a read-a-long for this novel, I signed up immediately.
Synopsis: As students in 1970s Bombay, Armaiti, Laleh, Kavita, and Nishta were inseparable, but the quartet has since drifted apart.
When Armaiti, now living in America, learns that she is gravely ill, she hopes to see the friends she left behind thirty years ago.
For Laleh, reunion is bittersweet, but she promises to fulfill her friend’s wish. She convinces Kavita to put aside the past, and the two search for Nishta, who has long been hiding in a bitter, oppressive marriage. In the course of their journey to reconnect, the four women must confront the truths of their lives and acknowledge long-held regrets, secrets, and desires. And they will have to decide what matters most, a choice that just may help them reclaim the extraordinary world they once found.
Type: Fiction
Quick Take: Thrity Umrigar is one of my favorite authors so you won't be surprised to learn that I enjoyed this book. It's a great book club selection, one my book club discussed earlier this month.
Armed with questions from the read-a-long, we discussed the novel for quite some time. We all enjoyed the book. While I was expecting a slightly different ending, the others were happy with how it ended. We spent most of our time discussing religion and the decisions we make. How life happens at such a gentle pace sometimes that a decade later one might wonder 'how did I get here'.
Religion, money, friendship and culture a few of the themes in this novel.
I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the challenges women still face and found myself most interested in Nishta's story. How does someone fall into her life situation?
Favorite book by this author: The Space Between Us
Rating: 4 stars
Country: India
Source: Review Copy