Amazon reviewer: “I’ve had this book on my Kindle for a while but it never seemed to make it to the top of my ‘to read’ list. I finished a couple of smaller books and was looking for a chunky read to immerse myself in a different part of the world, and spanning many years and generations, and ‘Of Marriageable Age’ ticked all those boxes.”
A “chunky read”, indeed! Of Marriageable Age spans three decades and three continents, following the disparate stories of three very diverse characters. Savitri, a servant girl growing up during the British Raj challenges the constrictions imposed on her by her orthodox Brahmin family, but, it seems, tradition will get the better of her.
Nataraj, the son of a village doctor in South India, grows up questioning his background and struggling to find his place in a rapidly changing world. Protected from modern life he has only his father as guiding light, but everything changes when he decides that he, too, will become a “Sahib doctor”.
Saroj, a headstrong girl grows up in Guyana, South America, caught up in an ongoing battle against the rigid expectations of her Hindu father. She manages to escape and finally comes of age in England; but a dark family secret challenges the future she has so carefully planned.
From the 1920s to the 1960s, the lives of these three characters that seem so separate are inexorably, intertwined, but the mystery of exactly how only becomes clear as their stories progress. The stories unfold against a background of immense cultural and political upheaval; both British Guiana and India are in the throes of their struggles for Independence from Great Britain, while World War 2 wreaks havoc on two continents. A family saga and love story to sink your soul into.
PRAISE FOR OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE
“Beautifully and cleverly written. A wondrous, spellbinding story which grips you from the first to the last page… I can’t recall when I last enjoyed a book so much.”
“A vast canvas of memorable characters across a kaleidoscope of cultures… her epic story feels like an authentic reflection of a world full of sadness, joy and surprise.”
“A big book, big themes, an exotic background and characters that will live with you forever.”
“It’s a wonderful panoramic story and conveys such vivid pictures of the countries it portrays I was immediately transported and completely captivated. A terrific writer.”