Growing up, I read fiction that was mostly set in England, and as I matured, more and more American characters seeped into my life. What was missing was fiction I could identify with, set in India. There isn’t much, even today, when it comes to Indian fiction in English that would appeal to teenagers, but now that I’ve grown up, my library has come to house dozens of books by Indian authors, about Indian characters. And while it would have been nice to come across books such as these ones ten years ago, I’m grateful that I found them now.

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Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The story, which revolves around two cousin sisters Sudha and Anju and their three mothers, is an intimate portrayal of family obligations, of rifts, of responsibilities, of sacrifices, and mostly, of love. The narrative follows the two women, as they grow up together, fall in love, and get talked into arranged marriages. They follow their husbands– one to rural India, another to America. The plot is definitely worth a mention, but what is most interesting about this book is the way it intimately portrays the relationships among these women, and the choices they make because of it. Typically, books about Indian arranged marriages fall into the trap of cliche and portray very stereotypical characters. That was certainly not the case with this book, and I recommend it highly. It’s one of the best books I’ve read all year.

Tip: Don’t start reading if you have an important deadline looming.

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The Vine of Desire by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The first hundred pages of this sequel to Sister of My Heart were a disappointment. The next hundred showed potential. In the remainder of the book, Divakaruni was back in good form. For someone who hasn’t read Sister of My Heart, this could very well be a disappointing read. In fact, for someone who has, the first half of the book is sheer agony. You know what Divakaruni is capable of– you’ve read it, and you’ve rushed to the bookstore on your first day off to get more– but you can’t see it in these pages. There’s too much backstory, too many riddles, too much time taken to get to the point. But when she does get there eventually, she does it well. This one didn’t measure up to the potential the way the first book did, but it does carry the characters through changes in their lives, to new depths and meanings, in unexpected ways and with beautiful language. Though overwritten at times, the book is again, an intimate peek into the changed lives of characters you thought you knew so well, and who often surprise you.

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The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

I never thought I’d read this book, let alone enjoy it. I am, after all, a big critic of the mango chutney and spices kind of book that ignores the real India for the illusion and the cliché of it. What can I say? Sometimes, illusion can be good too. If you can’t stand Tom Robbins, you probably won’t like this book. While the novel is set against a backdrop of immigrant Indians in America, the culture, and of course the spices, the real story is about one woman’s lifelong quest for more than what she has, and finally finding the acceptance to take what life throws her way. The book is part poetry, part fairy tale, and part storytelling. The knowledge of the various spices and what they’re used for in India will go a long way with the understanding of some of the subtleties, though that’s not to say that you can’t enjoy it otherwise (or look them up). Good book, but I still think Sister of My Heart is Divakaruni’s best work.