Book Review: Oleander Girl by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Oleander Girl: A Novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Paperback Release Date: March 4, 2014
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publisher’s Description:

Though she was orphaned at birth, Korobi Roy has enjoyed a privileged childhood with her adoring grandparents, spending her first seventeen years in a beautiful, crumbling old mansion in Kolkata, India. But she is troubled by the silence that surrounds her parents’ mysterious death and clings fiercely to her only inheritance from them: the love note she stumbled upon years ago, hidden in her mother’s book of poetry. Just when she believes she has found true love herself, she discovers a devastating family secret that impels her on a courageous search across post-9/11 America, transforming her in ways she cannot imagine and presenting her with the most difficult choice of her life.

If you’re a regular follower of my reviews, you know that I have a special place in my heart for India. I’m intrigued by Indian culture and jump at the chance to read most any novel set in India or with Indian characters. Oleander Girl did not disappoint.
One of the conflicts Korobi faces is the clash between her traditional family and her fiancé Rajat’s modern family. Korobi is caught in the middle, not sure where she fits in. Most of the Indian books I’ve read in the past focus on traditional Indian culture so I enjoyed learning what modern Indian culture and life is all about. I found it interesting that what is considered modern is not that modern compared to life in America. Marriage to a suitable boy or girl is still very much a part of that life. The class system is entrenched in modern life as well, although not the extent that it is with the traditionalists. And of course there is still tension between Muslims and Hindus.

The driving conflict of the story is Korobi’s desire to find her roots and her trip to America to do that. It is still considered taboo in India for an unmarried women to travel by herself, especially to somewhere so far away. This book is not a thriller but even so the author does a fantastic job of building suspense. There are several incidences of huge misunderstandings and tension between various people that could end up having devastating outcomes if not resolved. I had knots in my stomach through most of this book, hoping that these situations could be overcome. There are also a few twists that stunned me

The author’s prose was beautiful as well. Her use of metaphors was brilliant. I found myself rereading passages I as I went, amazed by the creativity of the author’s descriptions. The author weaves a couple of mystical elements in that were believable and in keeping with the story.

This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Divakaruni but she has several previous novels that I can’t wait to get my hands on. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Come back tomorrow for a Q&A with the author Chitra Banerjee Davakaruni!

(I received this book courtesy of the publisher.)