What do you think?
Rate this book
Кашмиреният шал
В навечерието на 1941 г. младоженката Нерис Уоткинс напуска Великобритания, за да придружи съпруга си на мисионерска мисия в екзотичния индийски град Шринагар. Скоро обаче Евън решава да предприеме самостоятелно пътуване. Останала сама на непознатото място, Нерис постепенно открива един много екзотичен и вълнуващ свят. В сърцето на Кашмир танците, флиртът и клюките се оказват дори по-опасни от наближаващата война и когато Нерис отново се събира със съпруга си, тя вече е различна жена.
Години по-късно внучката на Нерис - Маир - подрежда дома на покойния си баща и сред вещите на баба си открива изключителен шал, съхранил в диплите си една детска къдрица. Импулсивно, младата жена решава да проследи историята на баба си чак до далечния Кашмир, без дори да подозира, че това пътешествие завинаги ще промени и нейния живот.
Едно опасно приятелство промени нея и живота ѝ завинаги.
„Омагьосваща история. Прекрасно написана, честна и емоционална… истинско удоволствие от началотодо края.”
Daily Express
Години по-късно внучката на Нерис - Маир - подрежда дома на покойния си баща и сред вещите на баба си открива изключителен шал, съхранил в диплите си една детска къдрица. Импулсивно, младата жена решава да проследи историята на баба си чак до далечния Кашмир, без дори да подозира, че това пътешествие завинаги ще промени и нейния живот.
Едно опасно приятелство промени нея и живота ѝ завинаги.
„Омагьосваща история. Прекрасно написана, честна и емоционална… истинско удоволствие от началотодо края.”
Daily Express
416 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2011
493 people are currently reading
5979 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Thomas
73 books317 followersJaney King, née Morris was born on 1947 in Denbigh, Wales, and also grew up in North Wales. She read English at Oxford, and after a spell in journalism and publishing began writing fiction after the birth of her first child. Published since 1982 as Rosie Thomas, she has written fourteen best-selling novels, deal with the common themes of love and loss. She is one of only a few authors to have won twice the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association, in 1985 with Sunrise, and in 2007 with Iris and Ruby.
Janey is an adventurer and once she was established as a writer and her children were grown, she discovered a love of travelling and mountaineering. She has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, spent time on a tiny Bulgarian research station in Antarctica and travelled the silk road through Asia. She currently lives in London.
Janey is an adventurer and once she was established as a writer and her children were grown, she discovered a love of travelling and mountaineering. She has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, spent time on a tiny Bulgarian research station in Antarctica and travelled the silk road through Asia. She currently lives in London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 953 reviews
December 16, 2022
This is such a classic plot: a young person finds something that belonged to a grandparent, but doesn’t understand some part of what was found and now the young person is on a search for the answers. Meanwhile, the story of a grandparent is being revealed. I was hoping for something more original.
What attracted me to this book was the Kashmir region. I was hoping to see a vivid picture of this place, known as one of the most beautiful places in the world, and of the people living there and the events leading to the conflict between India and Pakistan.
In some parts some of it comes through, but because of dual storyline, one set in present time, this book didn’t give me enough of what I was looking for. It is more appropriate for those who like to read romance stories.
What attracted me to this book was the Kashmir region. I was hoping to see a vivid picture of this place, known as one of the most beautiful places in the world, and of the people living there and the events leading to the conflict between India and Pakistan.
In some parts some of it comes through, but because of dual storyline, one set in present time, this book didn’t give me enough of what I was looking for. It is more appropriate for those who like to read romance stories.
December 8, 2019
I love a bit of trip fiction and this book certainly gives you the feeling of travelling. From Wales, India, Pakistan and Switzerland, the descriptions in this novel made these countries come alive. Through WW2 to present day this book knocks up years as well as miles, it really is a journey.
I wasnt overly keen on the plot if I'm honest, it felt flimsy that a shawl would send a woman travelling around the world and the treads that held the plot together felt frayed however I did keep turning the pages, there was enough there to keep me interested.
Not a book that has blown me away but an easy read that takes you away from your daily life.
Three stars.
I wasnt overly keen on the plot if I'm honest, it felt flimsy that a shawl would send a woman travelling around the world and the treads that held the plot together felt frayed however I did keep turning the pages, there was enough there to keep me interested.
Not a book that has blown me away but an easy read that takes you away from your daily life.
Three stars.
March 25, 2020
This was a reread for me, I loved it the first time, this time it was like I was reading it for the very first time as I’d forgotten a lot of what happened. Rosie Thomas is one of my favourite authors so it wasn’t difficult to read this again,
The descriptions of India were vivid and made you think you were there experiencing the atmosphere and smells and poverty in India in the 1930’s. This was a dual time line which I always enjoy and it delivered just what I wanted as escapism in these trying times of ours.
The descriptions of India were vivid and made you think you were there experiencing the atmosphere and smells and poverty in India in the 1930’s. This was a dual time line which I always enjoy and it delivered just what I wanted as escapism in these trying times of ours.
February 12, 2012
Rosie Thomas’ latest novel, The Kashmir Shawl, is a book I wanted and expected to like very much. The story of a woman who explores the unknown history of her late grandmother with the aid of a precious Kashmir shawl promised to be intriguing, with plenty of exotic locations and interesting characters. The locations include Wales, Ladakh and Kashmir, plus a few other places along the way.
We start out following Mair on her journey of discovery, but in fact, the lengthy flashback chapters that constitute the bulk of the book mean we are considerably ahead of Mair for much of the story. Her grandmother, Nerys Watkins and her missionary husband are in India seemingly isolated from the war raging in Europe. But when Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and Singapore and pushes deeper into Asia, life changes dramatically for the English in India.
With their men away at war, the women are left to entertain themselves as best they can in a country where their presence is becoming less and less welcome. Nerys and her friends Myrtle and Caroline could never have dreamed of the changes the war and the absence of husbands will make on their lives. Decades later, Mair attempts to find out both the public and private histories of this staunch group of friends, sitting out the war in a houseboat in Srinagar.
I wish The Kashmir Shawl had been edited of one third of its bulk, since even leaving in atmospheric descriptions of the changing locales and the detailed development of characters, there is a substantial amount of padding that is unnecessary. As it is, I was left with the impression that Ms Thomas’ contract specified that her novel was to consist of at least 450 pages, and it does, but to the detriment of the reading experience.
The Kashmir Shawl is a mildly enjoyable book that with some skillful editing could have spared this reader a bit of frustration.
Kerry Hennigan © September 2011
We start out following Mair on her journey of discovery, but in fact, the lengthy flashback chapters that constitute the bulk of the book mean we are considerably ahead of Mair for much of the story. Her grandmother, Nerys Watkins and her missionary husband are in India seemingly isolated from the war raging in Europe. But when Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and Singapore and pushes deeper into Asia, life changes dramatically for the English in India.
With their men away at war, the women are left to entertain themselves as best they can in a country where their presence is becoming less and less welcome. Nerys and her friends Myrtle and Caroline could never have dreamed of the changes the war and the absence of husbands will make on their lives. Decades later, Mair attempts to find out both the public and private histories of this staunch group of friends, sitting out the war in a houseboat in Srinagar.
I wish The Kashmir Shawl had been edited of one third of its bulk, since even leaving in atmospheric descriptions of the changing locales and the detailed development of characters, there is a substantial amount of padding that is unnecessary. As it is, I was left with the impression that Ms Thomas’ contract specified that her novel was to consist of at least 450 pages, and it does, but to the detriment of the reading experience.
The Kashmir Shawl is a mildly enjoyable book that with some skillful editing could have spared this reader a bit of frustration.
Kerry Hennigan © September 2011
December 26, 2011
I do admire authors who have researched their books well and give a true flavour of places they write about.
This book has two main storylines in it: the modern heroine Mair's adventures in India as she unravels the story of her grandmother, and that of Nerys, the grandmother, a missionary's wife who lived in Kashmir before the war and Independence.
I read the book while on holiday in Sydney visiting our daughter. On the day I finished it, my husband got talking to a lady running a stall in a shopping mall while I visited a nearby shop. The stallholder explained that she came from Kashmir. She was the fifth generation of boat people and the goods she was selling were all made by the men there. - Not Kashmir shawls as in the book, but intricately worked cushion covers, shopping bags etc. Rob was so fascinated he told me about his conversation, not even realising what my latest read was about
You can probably guess what souvenirs I brought back to the UK with me.
Though not my all-time favourite Rosie Thomas, this book is an excellent read and for me holds personal memories too.
This book has two main storylines in it: the modern heroine Mair's adventures in India as she unravels the story of her grandmother, and that of Nerys, the grandmother, a missionary's wife who lived in Kashmir before the war and Independence.
I read the book while on holiday in Sydney visiting our daughter. On the day I finished it, my husband got talking to a lady running a stall in a shopping mall while I visited a nearby shop. The stallholder explained that she came from Kashmir. She was the fifth generation of boat people and the goods she was selling were all made by the men there. - Not Kashmir shawls as in the book, but intricately worked cushion covers, shopping bags etc. Rob was so fascinated he told me about his conversation, not even realising what my latest read was about
You can probably guess what souvenirs I brought back to the UK with me.
Though not my all-time favourite Rosie Thomas, this book is an excellent read and for me holds personal memories too.
May 8, 2012
An historic saga set in Kashmir.
It took me a little while to get into this book at first. Some of the descriptions were a bit dense and the swapping of time scales caused some initial confusion. However, once I had become familiar with the characters they started to feel like friends, particularly those from the 1940's time frame.
The central 'character' is a very valuable, finely woven and intricately embroidered Kashmiri shawl, found by Mair while clearing out her parents' posessions after her father's death. Mair is between jobs, has inherited some money, and decides to journey to India with the shawl as an excuse - she wants to find out what she can about her grandmother's life as a missionary in India before and during the war.
Interspersed between chapters about Mair's current day travels, is a much more interesting journey through the same country with Nerys Watkins and her missionary husband, Evan, and her two close friends, Myrtle McMinn and Caroline Bowen. This was the section that really grabbed me and the characters that stood out.
Once Nerys reached Sringar in Kashmir in 1941, she found the days of the Raj in all their glory; houseboats, drinks at The Club and carefree parties. There was intrigue and gossip, excitement and fun, all more than a quiet missionary's wife from rural Wales had ever encountered. Although a little wary of the excesses, she becomes entwined in the life and falls in love with Sringar. A sequence of events ensues that leaves many open ends, and Mair's current day investigations reveal the answers to many unanswered questions - but should she complete the circle and tell those concerned, or keep her peace?
A little unbelievable in parts but altogether an interesting, involving read from an excellent author.
Also:
A Simple Life 5*
Every Woman Knows a Secret 4*
It took me a little while to get into this book at first. Some of the descriptions were a bit dense and the swapping of time scales caused some initial confusion. However, once I had become familiar with the characters they started to feel like friends, particularly those from the 1940's time frame.
The central 'character' is a very valuable, finely woven and intricately embroidered Kashmiri shawl, found by Mair while clearing out her parents' posessions after her father's death. Mair is between jobs, has inherited some money, and decides to journey to India with the shawl as an excuse - she wants to find out what she can about her grandmother's life as a missionary in India before and during the war.
Interspersed between chapters about Mair's current day travels, is a much more interesting journey through the same country with Nerys Watkins and her missionary husband, Evan, and her two close friends, Myrtle McMinn and Caroline Bowen. This was the section that really grabbed me and the characters that stood out.
Once Nerys reached Sringar in Kashmir in 1941, she found the days of the Raj in all their glory; houseboats, drinks at The Club and carefree parties. There was intrigue and gossip, excitement and fun, all more than a quiet missionary's wife from rural Wales had ever encountered. Although a little wary of the excesses, she becomes entwined in the life and falls in love with Sringar. A sequence of events ensues that leaves many open ends, and Mair's current day investigations reveal the answers to many unanswered questions - but should she complete the circle and tell those concerned, or keep her peace?
A little unbelievable in parts but altogether an interesting, involving read from an excellent author.
Also:
A Simple Life 5*
Every Woman Knows a Secret 4*
October 2, 2011
I think it’s only fair to declare myself as a massive fan of everything Rosie Thomas has ever written. And that my favourite stories are always those with a dual time frame. And that I have a bit of a “thing” about India at the moment. But even if none of those qualifications applied, this book was a really wonderful read. Dual time frame at its best – strong modern heroine in Mair, even better historical one in Nerys the newly-wed missionary’s wife and Mair’s grandmother. The premise of the story is strong – Mair seeking the story behind a beautiful pashmina shawl and lock of hair found after a bereavement, and the modern search and historical story are beautifully tied together. Kashmir, in modern times and at the close of the Raj, lives and breathes on the page – you really feel the privations, the extremes of temperature, the emotional turmoil in the lives of all the characters. In Nerys’ story, there’s a mesmerising supporting cast in Caroline, Myrtle and particularly the magical Rainer. The story’s quite engrossing, and the ending wholly appropriate. A book I was sorry to finish, but couldn’t wait to find out how it ended. In my view, this is her best yet.
September 11, 2015
2.5**
When her father dies, Mair discovers an exquisite shawl among her parents’ belongings. Neither Mair nor her siblings have ever seen the shawl and can’t imagine what it means. But they remember that their maternal grandparents had been missionaries in northern India and surmise it was brought back by their grandmother. Even more intriguing they find a lock of a child’s hair wrapped in the shawl. Mair decides to go to Kashmir to try to find the origins of this work and how her grandparents might have come to acquire such a valuable artifact.
Thomas weaves two stories together into a romantic epic: Mair’s search for the origins of the shawl (as well as a search for her own future), and the historical story of her grandparents, particularly her grandmother’s experiences in 1940s Kashmir. I found the historical story much more interesting, if a bit melodramatic.
I have to admit that I was intrigued by the mystery as much as Mair and her siblings were. Having cleaned out my parents’ home and found innumerable things that we have no clue as to their origins, I can easily understand how someone could get wrapped up in trying to find the story behind something so obviously valuable as the shawl Mair finds. But …. I had a hard time reconciling Mair’s just up and taking off to India – for MONTHS – to find the origins of the shawl. And I didn’t really believe the incredible coincidences that Thomas uses to end this story.
Still, I did get caught up in the story of Nerys, Rainer, Myrtle and Caroline (1940s Kashmir). And Thomas did a fine job of setting the scene, bringing to life the adventure and romanticism of the exotic locale and different culture. But I didn’t really enjoy the melodramatic elements and felt that the author was trying too hard. Did Mair have to have a background as a circus performer? Did Rainer have to be a magician? Additionally, I really disliked Caroline; she was weak and naïve, and alternately hysterical and practically catatonic.
So while portions of the historical story captured my attention, on the whole I think this is a below average novel.
When her father dies, Mair discovers an exquisite shawl among her parents’ belongings. Neither Mair nor her siblings have ever seen the shawl and can’t imagine what it means. But they remember that their maternal grandparents had been missionaries in northern India and surmise it was brought back by their grandmother. Even more intriguing they find a lock of a child’s hair wrapped in the shawl. Mair decides to go to Kashmir to try to find the origins of this work and how her grandparents might have come to acquire such a valuable artifact.
Thomas weaves two stories together into a romantic epic: Mair’s search for the origins of the shawl (as well as a search for her own future), and the historical story of her grandparents, particularly her grandmother’s experiences in 1940s Kashmir. I found the historical story much more interesting, if a bit melodramatic.
I have to admit that I was intrigued by the mystery as much as Mair and her siblings were. Having cleaned out my parents’ home and found innumerable things that we have no clue as to their origins, I can easily understand how someone could get wrapped up in trying to find the story behind something so obviously valuable as the shawl Mair finds. But …. I had a hard time reconciling Mair’s just up and taking off to India – for MONTHS – to find the origins of the shawl. And I didn’t really believe the incredible coincidences that Thomas uses to end this story.
Still, I did get caught up in the story of Nerys, Rainer, Myrtle and Caroline (1940s Kashmir). And Thomas did a fine job of setting the scene, bringing to life the adventure and romanticism of the exotic locale and different culture. But I didn’t really enjoy the melodramatic elements and felt that the author was trying too hard. Did Mair have to have a background as a circus performer? Did Rainer have to be a magician? Additionally, I really disliked Caroline; she was weak and naïve, and alternately hysterical and practically catatonic.
So while portions of the historical story captured my attention, on the whole I think this is a below average novel.
May 6, 2012
A wonderfully atmospheric book that I just couldn't put down, telling two parallel stories of a group of British women living in Kashmir during WWII, and the modern day re-tracing of their lives by one of their grand-daughters. I am not always a fan of books set in two time periods, but in this case it was done very well, with the bulk of the book set in the 1940s and long sections of the story told before each swap to the other narrative. The stunning descriptions of the landscape and the lifestyle in both present day India and at the height of the British Raj in the 1940s really brought the book to life and the characters were all easy to engage with and memorable. The 1940s sections reminded me very much of Olivia Manning's 'Balkan Trilogy' (also an excellent read). A really enjoyable book.
August 5, 2012
The first chapter is a struggle and you'll have to turn pages to get past it with a yawn but when you get to 1940s India the novel takes off.
Wonderful descriptions and upper and middle class people we can engage with - if stereotyped - and you really get a feel for life on the lake in that time. Gripping and atmospheric and something to learn.
But then you go back to the present... All we want to do is get back to the past.
You might just skim through this and read about the 1940s...
December 22, 2025
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Moving from Wales to India, and even encompassing Switzerland, this tale is a journey of two women who are connected by a beautiful, Kashmir shawl. Mair is determined to understand why her grandmother has this beautiful shawl in their Welsh cottage, and this resolve sees her travel to India on a quest to discover more about her family.
Moving from Wales to India, and even encompassing Switzerland, this tale is a journey of two women who are connected by a beautiful, Kashmir shawl. Mair is determined to understand why her grandmother has this beautiful shawl in their Welsh cottage, and this resolve sees her travel to India on a quest to discover more about her family.
January 25, 2023
Книгата е прекрасна, много различна, хареса ми много, мнооого. От началото до края непрекъснато се случваше нещо. В никакъв случай не беше скучна.
Единствената забележка беше дребния шрифт, който ме измъчи.
Препоръчвам я! 📖
Единствената забележка беше дребния шрифт, който ме измъчи.
Препоръчвам я! 📖
August 16, 2013
I loved this book. I read it as past of a Book Club read and others in my group found it a bit tedious and slow. I didn't find that at all. In fact that was one of the things I really liked about it. I felt I was on a journey to Kashmir myself and enjoyed all the little "asides" which helped me to see it all so clearly in my mind. I have always wanted to go to India and probably now will never get the opportunity so it really had a special pull for me. I also love fiction which actually also teaches me something. I knew nothing about the exquisite shawls made in Kashmir and when I finished the novel I went straight onto Youtube to search a little more and found a great video which showed just how very precious they are.
I really enjoyed the two time settings for the novel but then I always enjoy this in a book. I warmed particularly to Nerys' story and this was the best part of the novel for me although I really loved the interlinking between her story and the journey made by her granddaughter, Mair, to find out the secret of the Kashmir shawl.
The characters were drawn out beautifully and I felt able to identify with them all and Rosie Thomas writes in such a way that my entire reading experience of this book was really enjoyable.
I really enjoyed the two time settings for the novel but then I always enjoy this in a book. I warmed particularly to Nerys' story and this was the best part of the novel for me although I really loved the interlinking between her story and the journey made by her granddaughter, Mair, to find out the secret of the Kashmir shawl.
The characters were drawn out beautifully and I felt able to identify with them all and Rosie Thomas writes in such a way that my entire reading experience of this book was really enjoyable.
May 22, 2013
I absolutely loved this book. I read it last year so my memory is a little rusty, but what I remember most is the fact that it was written in two time periods. Both worked well: both were engaging, though I found the earlier period absolutely entrancing. The descriptions were fabulous, and brought the settings vividly to life, and the two stories coincided neatly at the end. An absorbing read.
April 9, 2025
Le principal atout du livre pour moi est qu’on se plonge dans la vie des Anglais vivant en Inde pendant la période coloniale britannique et qu’on en apprend pas mal sur cette période et les conflits qui commencent à y naître.
C’est intéressant et assez prenant par moments de vivre en parallèle les deux histoires (celle à l’époque coloniale, et une autre contemporaine).
La description des paysages montagneux indiens est aussi très bien faite, on s’y croirait presque.
Malgré ça, la trame manque un peu de rebondissements à mon sens et j’ai eu du mal à être vraiment absorbée par le livre.
Chouette lecture mais pas un coup de cœur, donc !
C’est intéressant et assez prenant par moments de vivre en parallèle les deux histoires (celle à l’époque coloniale, et une autre contemporaine).
La description des paysages montagneux indiens est aussi très bien faite, on s’y croirait presque.
Malgré ça, la trame manque un peu de rebondissements à mon sens et j’ai eu du mal à être vraiment absorbée par le livre.
Chouette lecture mais pas un coup de cœur, donc !
June 3, 2017
This book was well written and kept my interest even though it was a long story. The characters were well developed. I like books where I learn something new and I learned a lot about wool , dying and weaving wool and grading wool. I love textiles and did not know anything about Kashmir Shawls , their value or how they were used for dowries. Most of the cities and towns and mountains were well described and sometimes almost made me want to visit India.
May 12, 2017
Finished this book last night. I'd really been looking forward to reading this for my book club's read this month as its been nominated before and I've heard a lot of praise for it, plus it's rating on Goodreads is quite high. Sadly though, I think I might have missed something!
The first couple of chapters were really laborious. I wasn't connecting or engaging with any of the characters. It starts off in Wales, and intertwines with Kashmir. I lived in Wales for a few years and I'm of Kashmiri heritage. This book still failed to connect with me! So there's this girl called Mair who discovers her grandma's exquisite Shawl from Kashmir and it sets her off on a journey of discovery to uncover the story of her long deceased grandma, Nerys who'd lived in British occupied Kashmir as part of her and her husband's Missionary work. Around about chapter three or four, Nerys makes a proper entrance and she's about the only character I really felt intrigued by. What choices would she make? I was genuinely interested, but also woefully able to predict every single one. Boring! Then there was her friendship with Mrytle and the annoying/pathetic Caroline. That was kind of cute to read about. But here's the real stickler for me.....there are NO KASHMIRI main players to the story. Ok, maybe there's one, kind of, Ravi something or other, and even then he's a spoiled rich little tyrant. Almost an archetypal oriental bad guy. Opulent, rich, tall, dark, smooth, silver tongued, hunky, bad guy -think Jafar from Aladdin, but good looking. Not only that, trust me you will learn NOTHING about Kashmir and it's struggles from this book. You will just learn of the frivolous and criminally lavish lifestyles of British occupiers of Kashmir, while Kashmir itself remains a benign, if not sometimes tragic/backwards backdrops to the story. This is such a let down because I love historical fiction precisely because I've been enriched by so many previously.
The ending felt rushed and super predictable too. I just don't understand why so many people liked this book. I gave it 2 stars on Goodreads: one for Nerys (I liked the old girl) and one for the author's efforts to research the intricate Kashmir Shawl making process .
The first couple of chapters were really laborious. I wasn't connecting or engaging with any of the characters. It starts off in Wales, and intertwines with Kashmir. I lived in Wales for a few years and I'm of Kashmiri heritage. This book still failed to connect with me! So there's this girl called Mair who discovers her grandma's exquisite Shawl from Kashmir and it sets her off on a journey of discovery to uncover the story of her long deceased grandma, Nerys who'd lived in British occupied Kashmir as part of her and her husband's Missionary work. Around about chapter three or four, Nerys makes a proper entrance and she's about the only character I really felt intrigued by. What choices would she make? I was genuinely interested, but also woefully able to predict every single one. Boring! Then there was her friendship with Mrytle and the annoying/pathetic Caroline. That was kind of cute to read about. But here's the real stickler for me.....there are NO KASHMIRI main players to the story. Ok, maybe there's one, kind of, Ravi something or other, and even then he's a spoiled rich little tyrant. Almost an archetypal oriental bad guy. Opulent, rich, tall, dark, smooth, silver tongued, hunky, bad guy -think Jafar from Aladdin, but good looking. Not only that, trust me you will learn NOTHING about Kashmir and it's struggles from this book. You will just learn of the frivolous and criminally lavish lifestyles of British occupiers of Kashmir, while Kashmir itself remains a benign, if not sometimes tragic/backwards backdrops to the story. This is such a let down because I love historical fiction precisely because I've been enriched by so many previously.
The ending felt rushed and super predictable too. I just don't understand why so many people liked this book. I gave it 2 stars on Goodreads: one for Nerys (I liked the old girl) and one for the author's efforts to research the intricate Kashmir Shawl making process .
January 19, 2013
What a story Rosie Thomas was written, she had me walking with the Characters through the streets in India. I could almost smell the goats, as was described. We experience the life with the Raj, and the slums.
The story begins with the death of her father, Mair finds a beautiful Kashmir Shawl among the belongings. She also finds an old envelope with some hair stored in it. Thus begins her quest for answers, and her trip to India.
There are actually two stories told here, some of it we know but Mair never has all the answers. Mair's Grandmother Nerys and Grandfather Evan are missionaries to India, with WWII going on in 1941, we are about to experience life there. Nerys spends time with Myrtle, and Carolyn, you will enjoy the fun times they make out adversity.
I really recommend this as a Historical read, so very interesting. Even when Mair goes there, there is fighting between the Hindu's and the Muslims. So very sad.
Putting this combined story together is a real page turner, and even though the book is a bit long, it was a quick read.
I received this book through The Bookreporter giveaway, and was not required to give a positive review.
The story begins with the death of her father, Mair finds a beautiful Kashmir Shawl among the belongings. She also finds an old envelope with some hair stored in it. Thus begins her quest for answers, and her trip to India.
There are actually two stories told here, some of it we know but Mair never has all the answers. Mair's Grandmother Nerys and Grandfather Evan are missionaries to India, with WWII going on in 1941, we are about to experience life there. Nerys spends time with Myrtle, and Carolyn, you will enjoy the fun times they make out adversity.
I really recommend this as a Historical read, so very interesting. Even when Mair goes there, there is fighting between the Hindu's and the Muslims. So very sad.
Putting this combined story together is a real page turner, and even though the book is a bit long, it was a quick read.
I received this book through The Bookreporter giveaway, and was not required to give a positive review.
January 23, 2022
This is the second book I've read by this author and it confirmed her excellent writing skills and her ability as a good storyteller. I enjoyed it---but felt it was far too long (500 pages). Will look for shorter novels of hers in the future.
7.5/10
7.5/10
March 13, 2022
What a wonderful book , I was transported to India, a place I have always wanted to visit💖
did-not-finish
April 24, 2017So. Damn. Bored.
DNF.
DNF.
January 11, 2021
This could be arguably be one of the most beautiful books I’ve read. Evocative, powerful, moving, everything you could wish for. Two stories, 50 years apart, that intertwine and come together with a flurry of emotions. Just beautiful.
September 16, 2016
Moving, evocative and raw. Rosie Thomas has created a sweeping epic that captures the true beauty of a country that has sadly been ripped apart and disseminated by hatred and division in more recent times. In order to capture the very essence of her novel's geography Thomas actually travelled extensively throughout the area collating her research and truly experiencing the things that create the history of her story - the landscapes, the smells, the rich past and present of the Kashmiri people; particularly the incredible industry of making shawls and other clothing for an extensive market. She hasn't just written the novel, she has lived it.
I was swept away by the beautiful weaving of past and present in Thomas' rendering. Nerys from Wales sets out to find the tale behind the mystery of the exquisite Kashmir shawl she finds in her dead mothers things and in turn finds herself. Played alongside this is Nerys' grandmother's own story - also a tale of self-discovery; but also one of heartbreak, secrets and lies and the enduring power of friendship and unconditional love. The grandmother's story is much stronger and evocative and I enjoyed it much more; but Nerys narrative also has moments of intrigue and beauty too.
There were definite weaknesses in the storylines; but these were countered with powerful emotion and thrilling description which gave the novel a place in my memory which will remain for some time.
I was swept away by the beautiful weaving of past and present in Thomas' rendering. Nerys from Wales sets out to find the tale behind the mystery of the exquisite Kashmir shawl she finds in her dead mothers things and in turn finds herself. Played alongside this is Nerys' grandmother's own story - also a tale of self-discovery; but also one of heartbreak, secrets and lies and the enduring power of friendship and unconditional love. The grandmother's story is much stronger and evocative and I enjoyed it much more; but Nerys narrative also has moments of intrigue and beauty too.
There were definite weaknesses in the storylines; but these were countered with powerful emotion and thrilling description which gave the novel a place in my memory which will remain for some time.
May 9, 2012
There is an unbelievable authenticity about this book as the story and the description of the life in Kashmir in the 1940s unfolds.It might pass off as total imagination to non-Kashmiris and to someone who has not lived in the valley for a good period of time.Totally out of a picture.
The story is brilliant and captures one's curiosity.The sinusoidal pattern of Nerys' story in 1940s and Mair's quest in the present day is beautifully presented.The vivid description of the backdrop and the sounds and sights of Leh,Srinagar and folks,culture, the atmosphere and the personality of the characters are distinctly captured in words by Rosie Thomas. It is absolutely amazing how a spectrum of issues can be highlighted in the same story held by a common thread; ecological issue such as the diminishing population of vultures as a result of feeding on carcasses of animals dosed with Diclofenac and resultant increase in deaths by rabid bites by feral dogs, the alarming issue of the diminishing traditional craft of intricate hand embroidery giving way to mechanised design of shawls, the stark economic disparity in Kashmir in the past and present, the unending political turmoil and social unrest, to name some. In a nutshell what defines a lost paradise, the unparalleled natural beauty is contrasted by instability and lack of sustained progress , all very well suggested in the novel.The impact of European missionaries and the British is undeniable and permanently imprinted on Kashmir in the aspects of school education, lifestyle and social conduct. Apart from keeping the reader entertained with some light passages and the good life in Srinagar under the 'Raj' in general, this book with definitely strike a chord especially with women.
The loveliest feature of the book is the exploration of relationships and acknowledging true feelings with honesty.Friendship,love,motherhood,conscious frivolity, relationships that feel like the "oxygen of independence" as descibed by the author are explored in beautiful accounts. Frequent use of local terms dear to the kashmiris like kangri,pheran ,shikaras and kani and references to the local baker baking fresh sesame rolls, steaming mutton stew, the lake, mughal gardens and the inner alleys of the city make this a special one to me as it sure will to everyone who has lived there.
The story in itself is captivating and a page turner.
This is a brilliantly researched work and just couldn't have been written in a better way!
The story is brilliant and captures one's curiosity.The sinusoidal pattern of Nerys' story in 1940s and Mair's quest in the present day is beautifully presented.The vivid description of the backdrop and the sounds and sights of Leh,Srinagar and folks,culture, the atmosphere and the personality of the characters are distinctly captured in words by Rosie Thomas. It is absolutely amazing how a spectrum of issues can be highlighted in the same story held by a common thread; ecological issue such as the diminishing population of vultures as a result of feeding on carcasses of animals dosed with Diclofenac and resultant increase in deaths by rabid bites by feral dogs, the alarming issue of the diminishing traditional craft of intricate hand embroidery giving way to mechanised design of shawls, the stark economic disparity in Kashmir in the past and present, the unending political turmoil and social unrest, to name some. In a nutshell what defines a lost paradise, the unparalleled natural beauty is contrasted by instability and lack of sustained progress , all very well suggested in the novel.The impact of European missionaries and the British is undeniable and permanently imprinted on Kashmir in the aspects of school education, lifestyle and social conduct. Apart from keeping the reader entertained with some light passages and the good life in Srinagar under the 'Raj' in general, this book with definitely strike a chord especially with women.
The loveliest feature of the book is the exploration of relationships and acknowledging true feelings with honesty.Friendship,love,motherhood,conscious frivolity, relationships that feel like the "oxygen of independence" as descibed by the author are explored in beautiful accounts. Frequent use of local terms dear to the kashmiris like kangri,pheran ,shikaras and kani and references to the local baker baking fresh sesame rolls, steaming mutton stew, the lake, mughal gardens and the inner alleys of the city make this a special one to me as it sure will to everyone who has lived there.
The story in itself is captivating and a page turner.
This is a brilliantly researched work and just couldn't have been written in a better way!
March 22, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. I thought it would simply be an easy read, a bit of historical past-present chick-lit if you will, but it was so much more than that.
Mair's father has recently died, and in clearing out the family home with her brother and sister, she finds a beautiful hand-made Kashmir decorative pashmina shawl that belonged to her maternal grandmother, Nerys, who spent the years around WWII in Kashmir, as a missionary's wife, with the British Raj gradually disintegrating.
Feeling at a transient place in her life, Mair decides to try and trace the history of the shawl, and the lock of hair found with it.
Mair's story is interwoven with that of the newly married Nerys, her trials and tribulations as a somewhat reluctant missionary's wife in remote areas of Kashmir, and then more exciting times in lakeside Srinagar, with new friendships and relationships that come about. The portrayals of different marriages and extra-marital relationships are very effectively portrayed, with the constraints and different perspectives of the times playing their part. I found all the characters very believable.
Lots of fascinating detail about the pashmina shawl making, and very effective evocation of the landscapes.
Would thoroughly recommend!
Mair's father has recently died, and in clearing out the family home with her brother and sister, she finds a beautiful hand-made Kashmir decorative pashmina shawl that belonged to her maternal grandmother, Nerys, who spent the years around WWII in Kashmir, as a missionary's wife, with the British Raj gradually disintegrating.
Feeling at a transient place in her life, Mair decides to try and trace the history of the shawl, and the lock of hair found with it.
Mair's story is interwoven with that of the newly married Nerys, her trials and tribulations as a somewhat reluctant missionary's wife in remote areas of Kashmir, and then more exciting times in lakeside Srinagar, with new friendships and relationships that come about. The portrayals of different marriages and extra-marital relationships are very effectively portrayed, with the constraints and different perspectives of the times playing their part. I found all the characters very believable.
Lots of fascinating detail about the pashmina shawl making, and very effective evocation of the landscapes.
Would thoroughly recommend!
January 26, 2016
Read for a book club, this was a fine book with a great setting and I liked it, but didn't love it. It took a long time to get going, there was so much foreshadowing that I wasn't much surprised by any of the reveals, and there was a long winding up section at the end. That said, the premise was interesting, where a modern Welsh girl finds a mysterious shawl belonging to her long-deceased grandmother while cleaning out her recently deceased father's home. As she begins to trace the provenance of the shawl and her own family history she learns much about herself. The story goes back and forth between the modern woman's search and the grandmother's own story which was much more interesting. The historical research was impeccable, but sometimes got in the way of the narrative as the author added a lot about modern politics in Kashmir. Overall, a fine read but a little too long.
November 4, 2011
Brilliant! The Kashmir Shawl tells the story of three British women living in Srinagar, Kashmir during the second world war. The author has researched minutely both the history and the environment, yet unlike some novels, though integral, this never inhibits the characters or overwhelms the story. The characters are fully rounded and believable, the reader is seemingly effortlessly transported to the paradise that was Srinagar. But as well as the story of Nerys, Myrtle,Carline and Nerys' grand-daughter Mair, this is also the story of Kashmir and its changing fortunes, which are still unresolved over 60 years after Independence.
The Kashmir Shawl is wonderful story telling and totally engrossing, I haven't enjoyed a book so much for a long time.
The Kashmir Shawl is wonderful story telling and totally engrossing, I haven't enjoyed a book so much for a long time.
April 25, 2025
A great easy warm up book to travel with. I read this when I was in the north of India and loved the beautiful descriptions/ references to North Indian culture which I felt connected to at the time.
Also made me think a lot about generational knowledge and matriarchal lines, stories that are either passed down or lost between generations. The thread of adoption also touched my heart of course.
Also made me think a lot about generational knowledge and matriarchal lines, stories that are either passed down or lost between generations. The thread of adoption also touched my heart of course.
May 5, 2014
A laborious read. I finished it but not eagerly because I wanted to find out the connection with the shawl. Even the 'reveal' at the end seems half-hearted and not exciting at all because of the journey the reader has to take to get there is a long-winded, tedious one.
January 25, 2015
The part of the story set in the 1940s was fun. The modern-day bit impressed me less. I felt that it went on too long - could have done with some more editing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 953 reviews