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Second Thoughts
Maya is pretty, young and eager to escape her middleclass home. Ranjan is handsome, driven, well born and wealthy. Their arranged marriage seems a match made in heaven until Maya discovers that underneath her husband’s charming facade lies a cold-hearted, rigidly conservative monster. As the young woman struggles with her marriage, she meets and finds solace in Nikhil, her charming college-going neighbour. Soon the stage is set for an explosive tale of love and betrayal.
- GenresIndia
289 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
19 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Shobhaa Dé
61 books155 followersShobha Rajadhyaksha known as Shobhaa Dé is an Indian columnist and novelist. She graduated from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai with a degree in psychology. After making her name as a model, she began a career in journalism in 1970, during the course of which she founded and edited three magazines – Stardust, Society, and Celebrity.
In the 1980s, she contributed to the Sunday magazine section of the Times of India. In her columns, she used to explore the socialite life in Bombay lifestyles of the celebrities. At present, she is a freelance writer and columnist for several newspapers and magazines.
De is married to Dilip De, her second husband and they have six children from their first marriages. She lives in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.
In the 1980s, she contributed to the Sunday magazine section of the Times of India. In her columns, she used to explore the socialite life in Bombay lifestyles of the celebrities. At present, she is a freelance writer and columnist for several newspapers and magazines.
De is married to Dilip De, her second husband and they have six children from their first marriages. She lives in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 24, 2018
De is known for her 'sensational writings' and she sells. I read some of her work and sometimes I feel struck by the sort of 'naming' that is imposed on the body of her work. She is often portrayed as a frivolous writer but I guess so many times in her novels, I find very like-like portrayals of (Indian) life. 'Second Thoughts' is one such novel.
The story is of a young woman Maya, who gets married to an upper-middle-class banker from South Bombay. Since the marriage is an arranged one, she only gets to know her husband after marriage. It is an amazing story, and difficult too as the issues it deals with are not easy ones to pin down, more so when the setting is Indian. As the story unfolds, one doesn't really find much fault with her husband, he is busy and often working hard, inviting people over for dinners and wanting his wife to be a good host and so forth. Just a regular suburban guy.
Maya feels stifled in her marriage, even though there is nothing violent or alarming in it. But the marriage just drains her slowly by its mundanity, but she cannot really locate, or at least talk about her elusive, 'unnameable' problem. Besides this, she has been adamant about being a good wife. She starts her life like a regular Indian girl, all set to make a success of her married life, but she keeps failing. She cannot ignore the indifferent nature of her husband. He is there, but not really there.
Though De leaves it to our imagination the reasons for her husband's indifference. She only makes very subtle suggestions. He is not someone who is chasing other women, or who is disloyal to in any way. Since Maya cannot place the reason herself, she feels 'less' about herself. As a reader, one only thinks of two things; either her husband is gay or impotent. However, in the story De does not spell any of this out, she only hints that there is no joy in their relationship. In bed, he often turns his back on her. And this gnaws her.
This makes her lonely housewife with a lot of time at her disposal. Her neighbor's college-going son Nikhil starts flirting with her and she responds to him. At one instance, Nikhil tells her that he is always hungry. It is funny that culturally married women in India are called aunties, no matter what their ages are, by young men like Nikhil. In this case, Maya is just a few years older than him, and in no way can be his aunty. Of course, these are subtle ways to desexualize female bodies.
I guess the whole story, in a very nuanced way, tells us what is rotten with the Indian society, and how it stifles women by ignoring her (sexual) needs, and somehow imposing on her 'unspoken' restrictions not to articulate such needs at any cost. Obviously, such codes not only harm women, it infects the entire society, though, in different ways.
The story is of a young woman Maya, who gets married to an upper-middle-class banker from South Bombay. Since the marriage is an arranged one, she only gets to know her husband after marriage. It is an amazing story, and difficult too as the issues it deals with are not easy ones to pin down, more so when the setting is Indian. As the story unfolds, one doesn't really find much fault with her husband, he is busy and often working hard, inviting people over for dinners and wanting his wife to be a good host and so forth. Just a regular suburban guy.
Maya feels stifled in her marriage, even though there is nothing violent or alarming in it. But the marriage just drains her slowly by its mundanity, but she cannot really locate, or at least talk about her elusive, 'unnameable' problem. Besides this, she has been adamant about being a good wife. She starts her life like a regular Indian girl, all set to make a success of her married life, but she keeps failing. She cannot ignore the indifferent nature of her husband. He is there, but not really there.
Though De leaves it to our imagination the reasons for her husband's indifference. She only makes very subtle suggestions. He is not someone who is chasing other women, or who is disloyal to in any way. Since Maya cannot place the reason herself, she feels 'less' about herself. As a reader, one only thinks of two things; either her husband is gay or impotent. However, in the story De does not spell any of this out, she only hints that there is no joy in their relationship. In bed, he often turns his back on her. And this gnaws her.
This makes her lonely housewife with a lot of time at her disposal. Her neighbor's college-going son Nikhil starts flirting with her and she responds to him. At one instance, Nikhil tells her that he is always hungry. It is funny that culturally married women in India are called aunties, no matter what their ages are, by young men like Nikhil. In this case, Maya is just a few years older than him, and in no way can be his aunty. Of course, these are subtle ways to desexualize female bodies.
I guess the whole story, in a very nuanced way, tells us what is rotten with the Indian society, and how it stifles women by ignoring her (sexual) needs, and somehow imposing on her 'unspoken' restrictions not to articulate such needs at any cost. Obviously, such codes not only harm women, it infects the entire society, though, in different ways.
May 30, 2013
this was the first book i ever picked up without checking its reviews .
it was toooo disappointing . actually the first book i read of shobha de was 'SETH JI' . it was fascinating,thrilling and somewhat naughty .as an amateur reader it was obvious of me to compare second thoughts with seth ji .i thought other books by shabha de would be of same genre . but trust me it slow and too boring with irrelevant details pooping up at every second page, with repetition of maya's daily routine .
i expected 'maya' to be strong,fun loving , reckless and at least a little bit naughty . but she was a coward,a boring and dull character .she kept on crying all the time.
THIS BOOK IS NOT AT ALL FOR THE GUYS. ITS TOO DEPRESSING .
and i am sure an Indian housewife would enjoy it to the core.
it was toooo disappointing . actually the first book i read of shobha de was 'SETH JI' . it was fascinating,thrilling and somewhat naughty .as an amateur reader it was obvious of me to compare second thoughts with seth ji .i thought other books by shabha de would be of same genre . but trust me it slow and too boring with irrelevant details pooping up at every second page, with repetition of maya's daily routine .
i expected 'maya' to be strong,fun loving , reckless and at least a little bit naughty . but she was a coward,a boring and dull character .she kept on crying all the time.
THIS BOOK IS NOT AT ALL FOR THE GUYS. ITS TOO DEPRESSING .
and i am sure an Indian housewife would enjoy it to the core.
July 7, 2015
This book is good for a light read. If you have got a lot of spare time, then reading this book won't hurt. The language is easy to the eyes. You can flow through the book in no time.
This book is aimed at a particular set of audience. To be exact, at housewives who are having a lonely married life because of the crammed work schedule of their husband. Only this particular set of audience would find the book worth their time. They would be able to relate to it. They might even see themselves in the shoes of protagonist. Rest of the readers would be pondering how on earth would this be possible. They would be scratching their heads.
The author tries to bring out the whole set of emotions of the lady. At least for me, she failed miserably at that. She couldn't express the right emotion for the right amount of time. She keeps on bombarding the reader with barrage of emotions that, after some time, you would feel sorry for yourself for picking up this book.
The only highlight that I could find in the book was the last couple of sentences. The sentence the author used to end the story was real heart touching. It would remain with me for some time.
All in all, this book would help you to see how complex a woman is. It gives an insight into her mind. It gives you a piece of her mind. And you can get to know ladies in real life much more better(especially if you are married). And that's why I give this book a three star.
This book is aimed at a particular set of audience. To be exact, at housewives who are having a lonely married life because of the crammed work schedule of their husband. Only this particular set of audience would find the book worth their time. They would be able to relate to it. They might even see themselves in the shoes of protagonist. Rest of the readers would be pondering how on earth would this be possible. They would be scratching their heads.
The author tries to bring out the whole set of emotions of the lady. At least for me, she failed miserably at that. She couldn't express the right emotion for the right amount of time. She keeps on bombarding the reader with barrage of emotions that, after some time, you would feel sorry for yourself for picking up this book.
The only highlight that I could find in the book was the last couple of sentences. The sentence the author used to end the story was real heart touching. It would remain with me for some time.
All in all, this book would help you to see how complex a woman is. It gives an insight into her mind. It gives you a piece of her mind. And you can get to know ladies in real life much more better(especially if you are married). And that's why I give this book a three star.
September 21, 2011
Shobha De narrates quite aptly the boring life of housewife. Especially the girl, who is confined to house. Lady whose husband is too boorish, authoritative, conservative and orthodox.
It highlights what all can go wrong for new 'hopeful' bride in alien city, married to comparatively boring person.
I realise importance of compatibility of couples and more importantly open dialogue.
Protaganist fantasized and even successful realised immoral act. Which somehow, author is able to justify in her full vigor (building strong case against Ranjan, her husband).
I have second thoughts about what really it takes for a marriage to be successful (esp. in a glittering city like Mumbai)..
It highlights what all can go wrong for new 'hopeful' bride in alien city, married to comparatively boring person.
I realise importance of compatibility of couples and more importantly open dialogue.
Protaganist fantasized and even successful realised immoral act. Which somehow, author is able to justify in her full vigor (building strong case against Ranjan, her husband).
I have second thoughts about what really it takes for a marriage to be successful (esp. in a glittering city like Mumbai)..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2013
It is a pleasure to read De. This one is about the nightmarish marriage you could land up in and how people will try to use you without caring about your expectations. I found the ending sad but this is what happens in life. Rarely, you end up with someone who cares. Read it to know how Maya, an ambitious woman, struggles each day to find sparks in life.
January 20, 2013
One great book based on a strong female character that invites a reader to the world of a male dominating,hindu society....
A realistic story from a female perspective that shakes the literary world of Asia...
A realistic story from a female perspective that shakes the literary world of Asia...
January 24, 2025
I'm a regular reader of Shobhaa Dé's columns in Sunday's Times of India. And I love reading her columns. This is the first book by her that I picked up. But this came as a huge disappointment. This is a novel about a bored housewife. I couldn't relate to the protagonist Maya. Perhaps, housewives will found the storyline relatable. Also, this novel may serve as a deterrent to those girls who aspire to become housewives by painting a gloomy, drab, dreary painting of an unhappy marriage and how a young woman feels trapped in such a marriage. However, the ending made me sad.
October 4, 2019
I have so many thoughts. Someone I know read it!
September 19, 2020
What is the point of this book??? Arranged marriage may not work for everyone and one must be sensible enough to walk out if it isn't working. What dumb characters!! An annoying read
April 6, 2022
Heart quenching
February 14, 2023
Didn't read completely because didn't like either the storytelling or where the plot was going..
December 23, 2014
Shobhaa Dé sorely disappoints with this one. Don't get me wrong, I'm not biased or anything. I love her other books, I love reading her newspaper columns but I hated this one.
Yes, she subtly manages to bring out a lot of minute details about life in a metropolitian city and how outsiders can feel oatrasized in Mumbai - a city obsessed with itself.
The story ia written from a Calcutta girl Maya's point of view. She marries a bengali settled in Mumbai - Ranjan and thus begins the tale of their arranged marriage which bored me to death. The constant looming fear of adultery due to the upstairs guy - Nikhil does nothing to alleivate the boredom.
Ranjan is an obnoxious, pompous ass, Maya is a wilting daisy with no spine. I thought she would probably emerge as a strong woman in the end but the book heralds no character development. NONE. It's just a mindless account of their fights, interspaced by her futile Nikhil-fantasies and written in no proper sequence.
I don't recommend wasting your money on it.
Yes, she subtly manages to bring out a lot of minute details about life in a metropolitian city and how outsiders can feel oatrasized in Mumbai - a city obsessed with itself.
The story ia written from a Calcutta girl Maya's point of view. She marries a bengali settled in Mumbai - Ranjan and thus begins the tale of their arranged marriage which bored me to death. The constant looming fear of adultery due to the upstairs guy - Nikhil does nothing to alleivate the boredom.
Ranjan is an obnoxious, pompous ass, Maya is a wilting daisy with no spine. I thought she would probably emerge as a strong woman in the end but the book heralds no character development. NONE. It's just a mindless account of their fights, interspaced by her futile Nikhil-fantasies and written in no proper sequence.
I don't recommend wasting your money on it.
December 5, 2010
Maya is eager to escape her dull middle-class existence with her parents in Calcutta.
When a possible suitor in Bombay shows interest in her, Maya jumps at the opportunity and accepts his marriage proposal.
Ranjan is handsome and ambitious, has studied in the US and comes from a wealthy family. Maya could not have hoped for better, she is told.
She soon finds herself trapped and stifled in an arranged marriage to a man she soon finds to be conservative, indifferent to her needs or desires, and completely devoted to his mother.
Maya can never be as good as Ranjan's mother no matter how hard she tries, no matter what she does.
Then she meets Nikhil, a charming neighbour.
Nikhil forces her to question her complete devotion to her husband and sterile existence. The stage is set for a tale of betrayal, an extra-marital affair. This is a dark, hopeless story about arranged marriages.
When a possible suitor in Bombay shows interest in her, Maya jumps at the opportunity and accepts his marriage proposal.
Ranjan is handsome and ambitious, has studied in the US and comes from a wealthy family. Maya could not have hoped for better, she is told.
She soon finds herself trapped and stifled in an arranged marriage to a man she soon finds to be conservative, indifferent to her needs or desires, and completely devoted to his mother.
Maya can never be as good as Ranjan's mother no matter how hard she tries, no matter what she does.
Then she meets Nikhil, a charming neighbour.
Nikhil forces her to question her complete devotion to her husband and sterile existence. The stage is set for a tale of betrayal, an extra-marital affair. This is a dark, hopeless story about arranged marriages.
March 2, 2021
More of the same second of my Shobhaa De books, this was again the story of a middle class woman stuck between two places and she goes nowhere.
My dream of being a writer is realized and I am now a Goodreads Author. People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genres but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books that are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
My dream of being a writer is realized and I am now a Goodreads Author. People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genres but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books that are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
May 20, 2013
What could you expect from a feminist, who looks with a jaundiced eye at marriage and relationships? Second Thoughts is for those who want a voyeuristic adventure in a bored married life. You wonder why the central character is so weak, that she can neither hold her ground with her husband, nor control her urges in the presence of another man.
What is the message of this story? What is the end purpose? To show how bleak arranged marriages are? To prove that attraction is an imminent outcome of a boring marriage? Most of the previous generation have had boring arranged marriages. Not everybody jumped into another's bed for that reason alone.
The only saving grace is the style of narrative. The story gives us a glimpse into a bored housewife's mind, her fears, failings, and fetishes. The characters are etched well, and the pace is good. The author needs to come out of her comfort zone, (of training her guns on conservative men) and try something new for a change.
What is the message of this story? What is the end purpose? To show how bleak arranged marriages are? To prove that attraction is an imminent outcome of a boring marriage? Most of the previous generation have had boring arranged marriages. Not everybody jumped into another's bed for that reason alone.
The only saving grace is the style of narrative. The story gives us a glimpse into a bored housewife's mind, her fears, failings, and fetishes. The characters are etched well, and the pace is good. The author needs to come out of her comfort zone, (of training her guns on conservative men) and try something new for a change.
December 15, 2013
My reaction after reading this : WTF?
No seriously I get that Shobhaa De is some sort of journalistic activist in India(I'm sorry if I got that wrong)but still I'm sorry, even if you are a feminist against the sort institution of marriage found in south Asia, women, I'm sure there would be no Mayas cropping up anytime soon, your protagonist.
Maya is a spineless, thoughtless and scared being who got stuck in a marriage because of her own self. And ofcourse, the pressures of middle-class society. Though the fact that it was written in '96 tells us alot why the things are the way they were in this novel but there is still just no justification for Maya.
In Urdu there is a saying, aurat he aurat ke sab se bari dushman hoti hai. Which translates into, only a women can be anothers women worst enemy. Shobhaa De herself, and the female characters in Second Thoughts have embodied this.
No seriously I get that Shobhaa De is some sort of journalistic activist in India(I'm sorry if I got that wrong)but still I'm sorry, even if you are a feminist against the sort institution of marriage found in south Asia, women, I'm sure there would be no Mayas cropping up anytime soon, your protagonist.
Maya is a spineless, thoughtless and scared being who got stuck in a marriage because of her own self. And ofcourse, the pressures of middle-class society. Though the fact that it was written in '96 tells us alot why the things are the way they were in this novel but there is still just no justification for Maya.
In Urdu there is a saying, aurat he aurat ke sab se bari dushman hoti hai. Which translates into, only a women can be anothers women worst enemy. Shobhaa De herself, and the female characters in Second Thoughts have embodied this.
December 23, 2015
This was my first Shobhaa De book and I must say that this one is a quick and light read especially if you want to spend a lazy Sunday on your bed or lazing around on your couch.
This book correctly showed how women in most Indian communities are oppressed and never allowed to voice their thoughts even if they are educated, smart women. I also liked the way Maya was portrayed in the book. A simple housewife utterly bored with her monotonous life style. I couldn't help but compare her tedious life to most of the women in our community.
Of course, the end was something that I had not anticipated. It was more realistic and it definitely is something that happens in most of the cases with most people.
This book correctly showed how women in most Indian communities are oppressed and never allowed to voice their thoughts even if they are educated, smart women. I also liked the way Maya was portrayed in the book. A simple housewife utterly bored with her monotonous life style. I couldn't help but compare her tedious life to most of the women in our community.
Of course, the end was something that I had not anticipated. It was more realistic and it definitely is something that happens in most of the cases with most people.
March 22, 2015
The book is drab with basically just one storyline. Male chauvinism. The protagonist of the book is meek and spineless. Her husband does not want to let her work but she's too scared to voice her opinions. I'm sorry, but the back of the book said 'And the stage is set for romance' or whatever but she practically had no affair with the neighbor.Do yourselves a favor, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS BOOK
January 27, 2013
An average read portraying the husband as a strong typical Indian chauvinist. It still remains an irony how women/wives put up with all that manly whining but its sadly true. An honest perspective from a woman's point of view. Not a very impressive end to the story though.
June 21, 2013
Picked this up from the college library, only to regret it! writing is typical Shobha de, one could appreciate the wit ( you have to genuinely TRY HARD! ) but the story 9 or whatever it is) moves so painfully slow; it gets almost stagnant.
Want to read
January 6, 2014good.
October 3, 2015
Awesome book... i really appreciate the way she take care of every minute details happening between the couple. hats-off to her
October 30, 2012
Not liked much..sorry
December 25, 2017
This is the first time I've read Shobhaa De and this book was kind of like watching the weeks episodes of a soap opera on a Saturday morning. Nothing really happens, but it takes up half your day.
I sympathized with Maya and Ranjan. They remind me of my parents LOL. Maybe that's why I was always rooting for them, hoping for that breakthrough moment where they finally look at each other and connect. But it just didn't happen.
There was nothing about Nikhil that I liked. And I don't think Maya really was in love with him either. He was an escape from her boring, pathetic life. And he took advantage of that. She should have listened to the mop salesman.
I sympathized with Maya and Ranjan. They remind me of my parents LOL. Maybe that's why I was always rooting for them, hoping for that breakthrough moment where they finally look at each other and connect. But it just didn't happen.
There was nothing about Nikhil that I liked. And I don't think Maya really was in love with him either. He was an escape from her boring, pathetic life. And he took advantage of that. She should have listened to the mop salesman.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews