Stephanie Jane recenzis Last Suttee de Madhu Bazaz Wangu
A thoughtful novel
3 steloj
What most impressed me about The Last Suttee was the volume of research that the author must have done prior to writing her novel. Authenticity streams from the pages and I now feel that I have a good understanding of not just the suttee ritual itself, but its religious and historic significance. That the ritual still has even the tiniest place in the modern world seems, of course, an incredible idea, but an entirely plausible one especially in the context of this novel.
Wangu tells her story through a series of strong characters linked by their relationships to our heroine Kumud. My main criticism of The Last Suttee would be that conversations between characters do not always feel natural and people launch into extended speeches at the drop of a hat. Their actions however are always convincing and I found it depressingly easy to understand how the young widow at …
What most impressed me about The Last Suttee was the volume of research that the author must have done prior to writing her novel. Authenticity streams from the pages and I now feel that I have a good understanding of not just the suttee ritual itself, but its religious and historic significance. That the ritual still has even the tiniest place in the modern world seems, of course, an incredible idea, but an entirely plausible one especially in the context of this novel.
Wangu tells her story through a series of strong characters linked by their relationships to our heroine Kumud. My main criticism of The Last Suttee would be that conversations between characters do not always feel natural and people launch into extended speeches at the drop of a hat. Their actions however are always convincing and I found it depressingly easy to understand how the young widow at the centre of the furore had been brainwashed into believing not only that she had no choice in her fate, but that suttee really was the right action to take.
Basic women's rights are a strong theme throughout this book and Wangu puts forward her arguments for emancipation over tradition without being overly preachy. I always felt characters voiced their own opinions rather than just repeating their author's words. After a gentle start, the pace and tension both build excitingly so I would almost call this a thriller by the end! There is consistently a great sense of place too. India came alive for me and I am happy to have had the opportunity to experience this thoughtful novel.