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Indian Maidens Bust Loose
Nisha Desai is a young Indian woman who pines for romance in a country where love is in the same class as malaria, and where mates are selected using a calculator.
Normally deluged with ghastly suitors of her father's choosing, she suddenly finds herself on the short list for a bride-seeing tour by a rich and handsome nephew of a neighbor. This is the stuff of which dreams are made.
A nightmare materializes when a very un-Indian ruffian moves in next door, complete with beard and obnoxious Harley motorcycle. He might play the bad boy in one of Nisha's beloved romance novels, but in real life, he terrifies her.
So she tries to ignore the thundering engine of the bike while anxiously awaiting the arrival of Prince Charming--or at least, Prince Rich.
But arriving first are a long-lost black-sheep American aunt and her trouble-magnet teenage daughters. The aunt proves to be a New Age space case, while the cousins’ appetite for disasters threatens to level the city of Ahmedabad. In short order, the demented cousins instigate an elopement, a public protest, and a riot that gets Nisha thrown in jail.
Nisha’s family comes to the conclusion that while East and West may meet, sometimes they shouldn't. The guests are seen as an invading force, equipped with weapons of mass corruption.
While Nisha wonders how she can hide her now corroded reputation from the dream suitor's family, insanity marches on. Nisha's father adopts a pet cow and convinces half the city it's the reincarnation of a Hindu deity. The two families are finally united in a common to bilk thousands. The result is Madison Avenue's idea of a religious experience, which is not a controllable situation.
Indian Maidens Bust Loose is a hilarious romantic comedy set in the land of cows, curry, and the Kama Sutra.
Normally deluged with ghastly suitors of her father's choosing, she suddenly finds herself on the short list for a bride-seeing tour by a rich and handsome nephew of a neighbor. This is the stuff of which dreams are made.
A nightmare materializes when a very un-Indian ruffian moves in next door, complete with beard and obnoxious Harley motorcycle. He might play the bad boy in one of Nisha's beloved romance novels, but in real life, he terrifies her.
So she tries to ignore the thundering engine of the bike while anxiously awaiting the arrival of Prince Charming--or at least, Prince Rich.
But arriving first are a long-lost black-sheep American aunt and her trouble-magnet teenage daughters. The aunt proves to be a New Age space case, while the cousins’ appetite for disasters threatens to level the city of Ahmedabad. In short order, the demented cousins instigate an elopement, a public protest, and a riot that gets Nisha thrown in jail.
Nisha’s family comes to the conclusion that while East and West may meet, sometimes they shouldn't. The guests are seen as an invading force, equipped with weapons of mass corruption.
While Nisha wonders how she can hide her now corroded reputation from the dream suitor's family, insanity marches on. Nisha's father adopts a pet cow and convinces half the city it's the reincarnation of a Hindu deity. The two families are finally united in a common to bilk thousands. The result is Madison Avenue's idea of a religious experience, which is not a controllable situation.
Indian Maidens Bust Loose is a hilarious romantic comedy set in the land of cows, curry, and the Kama Sutra.
231 pages, ebook
First published April 21, 2012
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211 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 12, 2019
Two Indian ladies are being pushed into arranged marriages by their traditional father. But they have their own ideas about their lives.
Then two cousins from America burst into their home with culture shock comments on both countries.
A very humorous story especially if you enjoy Asian cultures..
Then two cousins from America burst into their home with culture shock comments on both countries.
A very humorous story especially if you enjoy Asian cultures..
May 16, 2013
OMW! This book was SO funny!! I laughed out loud, I was squirming in my chair and at one point, I was laughing so hard, tears were streaming from my eyes! I love the insight into a different culture. This felt like a very real, very clear insight into the Indian culture with a great deal of pun and humor thrown into the mix.
It was a super quick read. I picked it up and seriously could NOT put it down. What a great, GREAT job! There were so many things I loved about this book; the Voice, the visuals, the characters, everything simply leaped off the page.
This is a book I will DEFINITELY read again! Great job, Ms. Samson!
It was a super quick read. I picked it up and seriously could NOT put it down. What a great, GREAT job! There were so many things I loved about this book; the Voice, the visuals, the characters, everything simply leaped off the page.
This is a book I will DEFINITELY read again! Great job, Ms. Samson!
May 27, 2012
As a man I had a good laugh at this witty and well written story,
although I suspect it is written with a female audience in mind. Even
the title made me laugh with its double entendre. (The main character
is a fan of bodice-ripper romances). I enjoyed the strategies of the
sisters in not cooperating in the arranged marriage game, until of
course the right man comes along. Having a long-lost aunty and her two
daughters visit from America is a clever mechanism for the author to
contrast Indian and American cultures. She does this in a humorous way
without belittling either culture. She gets the accents of the
participants, especially the father, just right. This reader quickly
found himself in the shoes of the main character. My only (tiny)
criticism was that some of the character developments were a little
light - especially the mother. But this really is a tiny nit-pic on my
part. There are many genuinely LOL moments, two of the best involving
cows. Immediately likeable characters, the dialogue is crisp, the
setting authentic. As a previous visitor to the subcontinent I relived
many of my own experiences there and even experienced some nostalgia.
I fully recommend this gem of Indian writing for women AND men, and
command its author to generate more.
although I suspect it is written with a female audience in mind. Even
the title made me laugh with its double entendre. (The main character
is a fan of bodice-ripper romances). I enjoyed the strategies of the
sisters in not cooperating in the arranged marriage game, until of
course the right man comes along. Having a long-lost aunty and her two
daughters visit from America is a clever mechanism for the author to
contrast Indian and American cultures. She does this in a humorous way
without belittling either culture. She gets the accents of the
participants, especially the father, just right. This reader quickly
found himself in the shoes of the main character. My only (tiny)
criticism was that some of the character developments were a little
light - especially the mother. But this really is a tiny nit-pic on my
part. There are many genuinely LOL moments, two of the best involving
cows. Immediately likeable characters, the dialogue is crisp, the
setting authentic. As a previous visitor to the subcontinent I relived
many of my own experiences there and even experienced some nostalgia.
I fully recommend this gem of Indian writing for women AND men, and
command its author to generate more.
May 29, 2012
"Indian Maidens Bust Loose" (IMBL) is, in a word, surprising. At first blush it may not be apparent to the casual reader just what the novel is about. I've read this book at least twice and it's one of those which you will enjoy as much the second time as the first.
It is HILARIOUS!
Ms. Samson's amusing and intelligent voice comes through in every moment. She writes in an entertaining style which stays with you long after you've read the book.
It is DELIGHTFUL!
Lest I get carried away with the many well deserved accolades, let me tell you why, AND a little of what the story of "Indian maidens Bust Loose" is really all about.
A friend of mine saw the title and said something like, "Oh, you're reading one of those ...", meaning "those" of the spicy sexy variety. Well, yes, there is a mention or two of sex, but what self-respecting novel wouldn't have? But that's not what it's about.
Our maidens in question, Nisha and Vinita Desai live in Ahmedabad, India in a gated society of sorts common to a middle-class area. As with many young women in India, they have struggles with personal freedoms and hope for something other than arranged marriages and outmoded rituals of the ancient past. They strive to become FREE and be their own persons.
A feat not so easily achieved, especially with a father like Rasik, who seems to parade a never-ending entourage of suitors for both unfortunate maidens.
Nevertheless, when their Aunty Damini comes visiting from America with her two daughters Lauren and Amber, the foundation for "busting loose" seems a real possibility. East indeed meets West with a tumultuous bang, leaving nobody unscathed, and with perhaps a plan on Nisha's part to realize her dream.
But this is a good thing, except from Papa's point of view.
And so we have the basis for a comic adventure about how two sisters, Nisha and Vinita, finagle a way out of their personal predicaments by enlisting the aid of their strange cousins from America to overthrow their oppressive overlord (Papa) and have a chance to live their own lives as they would like.
Now what about a plan.
To tell you the story would do it no fair justice. The author does it for you in a fantastic and entertaining way with many surprises along the way. Ah, the trials and tribulations of youth.
In Nisha's words, "I felt sorry for the visitors in advance."
Vinita sneered. “I don’t think Americans would be impressed by Ahmedabad. They’re obsessed with size.”
“Ahmedabad has millions of people, even if most of them aren’t very big.”
“I meant skyscrapers, three-car garages, and Big Macs. That’s the standard.”
“True. Big bathrooms, giant TV sets, huge beds.”
Vinita looked surprised. “Huge beds?”
“Judging by pictures I’ve seen, you could easily get four people in one.”
“They would.”
“Jumbo jets.”
“We have jumbo jets.”
“They built them. Big breasts, too.”
Vinita pouted. That was a sore point with her.
“Perhaps not,” I consoled. “We’ll have to wait until the cousins arrive and see. After all, they’re half Indian.”
And so they are, but you'd never guess it. They're completely westernized, which presents Nisha with a conundrum, how to make them her allies in a bargain to win her freedom from her lot in life. She wants to go to America, after all, but there is a cost.
Lauren and Amber, Nisha and Vinita's cousins, turn out to be interested in their adventure in India. Interested in learning about how life is led in Ahmedabad, especially when Lauren decides to make a video journal for a project at school. Whoops! Well, that's where they learn even some of the more common of life's adventures can take an awkward turn.
Lauren and Amber soon learn the differences in the way things are done in the East as opposed to their comfort zones of the West.
Amber asks Nisha if she can use the bathroom.
“Certainly.” I felt I should prepare her. “It’s a little different from what you’re accustomed to.” I led her down the hall. Lauren followed, her curiosity apparently aroused, as did Vinita, who clearly anticipated her sort of entertainment.
As I stopped at the lavatory door ... with some misgivings, I pulled the handle. Nothing happened.
“Sticks every so often,” I said, grinning as I gave the handle a good yank. The door yielded and I staggered backward, almost falling.
The cousins stared into a tiny lavatory. The star attraction was a porcelain trough set in the floor. Next to it sat a filled bucket, with a jug floating in the water. Above the bucket was a tap.
Amber looked down at the fixture, an odd expression on her face. “That’s it?”
Vinita smirked. “That’s it.”
“Where does one, like, sit?”
“One doesn’t.”
Lauren peered over Amber’s shoulder. “I think it’s like going in the woods.”
Amber wrinkled her nose. “Jeez, how primitive. Like, where’s the paper?”
“We don’t use toilet paper,” said Vinita.
“What do you use?”
“There’s a bucket full of water, and a jug,” I explained. “You wash yourself.”
“With what?”
I thought I had explained that. “With the water.”
“And...?”
Vinita, who had always been quicker than me, understood the problem. “And your left hand.”
“Ew-w-w,” said Amber.
“How do you flush?” she asked.
“There’s no flush,” said Vinita.
“No flush?” echoed Amber.
“No, there isn’t,” I admitted. “We pour water into the toilet from a bucket whenever we want to flush.”
Amber and Lauren looked at each other.
“We’ll just have to rough it,” said Lauren. “When in Ahmedabad...”
Well, you get the idea. And so it goes while the American cousins learn about life in India. And, as you will see, there are MANY things to learn.
Let's see ... but wait. Did I make any mention of a villain. Ah, perhaps it slipped my mind but there is a ... villainess. And right there in the neighborhood, too. You see, Gita is the neighborhood gossip who delights in trouble making, and does she ever. She'll stop at nothing to make life miserable for anyone. She pops up at every inconvenience, you see, so watch for her while you read the trials and tribulations of the Desai family.
But lest I leave out one more of the parts you're probably wondering about (sex), suffice it to say: beware of Mr. Cucumber.
It is HILARIOUS!
Ms. Samson's amusing and intelligent voice comes through in every moment. She writes in an entertaining style which stays with you long after you've read the book.
It is DELIGHTFUL!
Lest I get carried away with the many well deserved accolades, let me tell you why, AND a little of what the story of "Indian maidens Bust Loose" is really all about.
A friend of mine saw the title and said something like, "Oh, you're reading one of those ...", meaning "those" of the spicy sexy variety. Well, yes, there is a mention or two of sex, but what self-respecting novel wouldn't have? But that's not what it's about.
Our maidens in question, Nisha and Vinita Desai live in Ahmedabad, India in a gated society of sorts common to a middle-class area. As with many young women in India, they have struggles with personal freedoms and hope for something other than arranged marriages and outmoded rituals of the ancient past. They strive to become FREE and be their own persons.
A feat not so easily achieved, especially with a father like Rasik, who seems to parade a never-ending entourage of suitors for both unfortunate maidens.
Nevertheless, when their Aunty Damini comes visiting from America with her two daughters Lauren and Amber, the foundation for "busting loose" seems a real possibility. East indeed meets West with a tumultuous bang, leaving nobody unscathed, and with perhaps a plan on Nisha's part to realize her dream.
But this is a good thing, except from Papa's point of view.
And so we have the basis for a comic adventure about how two sisters, Nisha and Vinita, finagle a way out of their personal predicaments by enlisting the aid of their strange cousins from America to overthrow their oppressive overlord (Papa) and have a chance to live their own lives as they would like.
Now what about a plan.
To tell you the story would do it no fair justice. The author does it for you in a fantastic and entertaining way with many surprises along the way. Ah, the trials and tribulations of youth.
In Nisha's words, "I felt sorry for the visitors in advance."
Vinita sneered. “I don’t think Americans would be impressed by Ahmedabad. They’re obsessed with size.”
“Ahmedabad has millions of people, even if most of them aren’t very big.”
“I meant skyscrapers, three-car garages, and Big Macs. That’s the standard.”
“True. Big bathrooms, giant TV sets, huge beds.”
Vinita looked surprised. “Huge beds?”
“Judging by pictures I’ve seen, you could easily get four people in one.”
“They would.”
“Jumbo jets.”
“We have jumbo jets.”
“They built them. Big breasts, too.”
Vinita pouted. That was a sore point with her.
“Perhaps not,” I consoled. “We’ll have to wait until the cousins arrive and see. After all, they’re half Indian.”
And so they are, but you'd never guess it. They're completely westernized, which presents Nisha with a conundrum, how to make them her allies in a bargain to win her freedom from her lot in life. She wants to go to America, after all, but there is a cost.
Lauren and Amber, Nisha and Vinita's cousins, turn out to be interested in their adventure in India. Interested in learning about how life is led in Ahmedabad, especially when Lauren decides to make a video journal for a project at school. Whoops! Well, that's where they learn even some of the more common of life's adventures can take an awkward turn.
Lauren and Amber soon learn the differences in the way things are done in the East as opposed to their comfort zones of the West.
Amber asks Nisha if she can use the bathroom.
“Certainly.” I felt I should prepare her. “It’s a little different from what you’re accustomed to.” I led her down the hall. Lauren followed, her curiosity apparently aroused, as did Vinita, who clearly anticipated her sort of entertainment.
As I stopped at the lavatory door ... with some misgivings, I pulled the handle. Nothing happened.
“Sticks every so often,” I said, grinning as I gave the handle a good yank. The door yielded and I staggered backward, almost falling.
The cousins stared into a tiny lavatory. The star attraction was a porcelain trough set in the floor. Next to it sat a filled bucket, with a jug floating in the water. Above the bucket was a tap.
Amber looked down at the fixture, an odd expression on her face. “That’s it?”
Vinita smirked. “That’s it.”
“Where does one, like, sit?”
“One doesn’t.”
Lauren peered over Amber’s shoulder. “I think it’s like going in the woods.”
Amber wrinkled her nose. “Jeez, how primitive. Like, where’s the paper?”
“We don’t use toilet paper,” said Vinita.
“What do you use?”
“There’s a bucket full of water, and a jug,” I explained. “You wash yourself.”
“With what?”
I thought I had explained that. “With the water.”
“And...?”
Vinita, who had always been quicker than me, understood the problem. “And your left hand.”
“Ew-w-w,” said Amber.
“How do you flush?” she asked.
“There’s no flush,” said Vinita.
“No flush?” echoed Amber.
“No, there isn’t,” I admitted. “We pour water into the toilet from a bucket whenever we want to flush.”
Amber and Lauren looked at each other.
“We’ll just have to rough it,” said Lauren. “When in Ahmedabad...”
Well, you get the idea. And so it goes while the American cousins learn about life in India. And, as you will see, there are MANY things to learn.
Let's see ... but wait. Did I make any mention of a villain. Ah, perhaps it slipped my mind but there is a ... villainess. And right there in the neighborhood, too. You see, Gita is the neighborhood gossip who delights in trouble making, and does she ever. She'll stop at nothing to make life miserable for anyone. She pops up at every inconvenience, you see, so watch for her while you read the trials and tribulations of the Desai family.
But lest I leave out one more of the parts you're probably wondering about (sex), suffice it to say: beware of Mr. Cucumber.
July 10, 2012
Vidya Samsom pulls off quite a coup with this book. She managed to write a very funny book (at times it was laugh out loud funny) that touches on some very serious subjects. The entire book is told in first person by a young woman named Nisha Desai, who lives in a house that is comfortably middle class by Indian standards, but it looks very strange and inhospitable to her two American born and bred cousins.
The house belongs to Nisha's mother's mother, which makes for an interesting dynamic, as Nisha's father is a petty tyrant who wants to rule the roost, even though the doesn't own the hen house. Nisha's mother is suffering from a bad case of sibling rivalry as her disgraced sister (she ran off with a white American boy when she was quite young) has been allowed to return home with her two young daughters. Nisha and her sister Vinita give up their own rooms so the aunt and cousins can be more comfortable but this isn't what disrupts Nisha's life: the cousins have not been taught that their father's word is law; they don't believe in tradition and blind respect for elders. Pretty soon Nisha waffles between envy, fear, and wistfulness and she realizes how different her life is from theirs. For one thing, their father isn't trying to marry them off to any man who will take them off his hands without asking too much dowry.
Other themes touched on include the caste system, the plight of the poor, the corrupt nature of politicians, the difference between acting from a sense of duty and acting out of love, and how easily many people are fooled by false hopes. There's a dash of romance thrown in, mostly at the end, but this isn't really about falling in love as much as it is about learning to know yourself.
Nisha's tone is very funny and personable. The author has some of the characters speak English with a kind of consistently incorrect grammar that borders on dialect, which wore on me after a while. It might be accurate but after a while it was annoying. There were just a few rough spots on this gem, but on the whole it was a very enjoyable book that was also rather an education. It reminded me of the kind of comedy of manners kind of book that authors like Nancy Mitford used to write; the author could even have called this one LOVE IN A HOT CLIMATE.
The house belongs to Nisha's mother's mother, which makes for an interesting dynamic, as Nisha's father is a petty tyrant who wants to rule the roost, even though the doesn't own the hen house. Nisha's mother is suffering from a bad case of sibling rivalry as her disgraced sister (she ran off with a white American boy when she was quite young) has been allowed to return home with her two young daughters. Nisha and her sister Vinita give up their own rooms so the aunt and cousins can be more comfortable but this isn't what disrupts Nisha's life: the cousins have not been taught that their father's word is law; they don't believe in tradition and blind respect for elders. Pretty soon Nisha waffles between envy, fear, and wistfulness and she realizes how different her life is from theirs. For one thing, their father isn't trying to marry them off to any man who will take them off his hands without asking too much dowry.
Other themes touched on include the caste system, the plight of the poor, the corrupt nature of politicians, the difference between acting from a sense of duty and acting out of love, and how easily many people are fooled by false hopes. There's a dash of romance thrown in, mostly at the end, but this isn't really about falling in love as much as it is about learning to know yourself.
Nisha's tone is very funny and personable. The author has some of the characters speak English with a kind of consistently incorrect grammar that borders on dialect, which wore on me after a while. It might be accurate but after a while it was annoying. There were just a few rough spots on this gem, but on the whole it was a very enjoyable book that was also rather an education. It reminded me of the kind of comedy of manners kind of book that authors like Nancy Mitford used to write; the author could even have called this one LOVE IN A HOT CLIMATE.
June 22, 2012
What really captivated me throughout this novel was its spirit. There is such a uniqueness to the writing that it makes it a delight to read. Apart from being laugh-out-loud funny, there are many sweet moments that take this story into deeper literary territory.
The gist of the novel is deceptively simple: two sisters looking to become independent, their own people, despite their father’s strong opposition. Hilarity ensues as the sisters attempt to evade their father’s marriage plans for them.
Something that I notice and for which I applaud the author is that, despite the pitting of one culture (Indian) and another (Western), both sides are written convincingly and with heart. Neither of them are made fun of, which sometimes can happen in these kinds of stories. While there is lots of comedy, it’s all in good fun and not to belittle anyone.
The characters are nicely done, each playing against the other so that we get a good balance of personalities. They are all amusing to read about and I didn’t really find myself disliking any of them, not even the controlling father.
I would recommend this for anyone who’s looking for a light, quick read that will make you laugh but which still has enough heart to make it memorable.
The gist of the novel is deceptively simple: two sisters looking to become independent, their own people, despite their father’s strong opposition. Hilarity ensues as the sisters attempt to evade their father’s marriage plans for them.
Something that I notice and for which I applaud the author is that, despite the pitting of one culture (Indian) and another (Western), both sides are written convincingly and with heart. Neither of them are made fun of, which sometimes can happen in these kinds of stories. While there is lots of comedy, it’s all in good fun and not to belittle anyone.
The characters are nicely done, each playing against the other so that we get a good balance of personalities. They are all amusing to read about and I didn’t really find myself disliking any of them, not even the controlling father.
I would recommend this for anyone who’s looking for a light, quick read that will make you laugh but which still has enough heart to make it memorable.
February 10, 2013
A friend told me about this book, so I picked up a copy for my Kindle. It is Indian chick lit and is absolutely hilarious. The main character is Nisha Desai, a young college-educated Indian woman, with a degree in Communications. She loves romance novels and want to visit the U.S., so is ecstatic when she learns that her aunt and two American-born cousins will be coming to visit. Her younger sister, the acid-tongued Vinita, is less thrilled, since the girls have to give up their room to the cousins and move to the basement. Life is complicated by their traditional father's attempts at matchmaking, especially since he has such awful taste in prospective suitors. The American cousins arrive and cause a stir wherever they go, with comic results. The funniest subplot involves a "sacred" cow their father installs in the backyard. But all's well that ends well, and I laughed out loud through the whole book.
April 12, 2014
What a great read!! The characters are believable and often funny. The story takes you through the life of Indian (India) girls; one in India and her two cousins that come to visit from the United States. Of course the US cousins wreak havoc on the family, and stirs up a lot of indecision about arranged marriages.
June 18, 2012
Loved this hilarious east meets west comedy. What a fun and funny read.
July 12, 2012
Funny read, with a glimpse into another culture.
read-never
October 12, 2024I found the setting quite intriguing but then I saw:
Indian Maidens Bust Loose is a hilarious romantic comedy set in the land of cows, curry, and the Kama Sutra.
(like seriously??)
And I was like no thanks I'll pass.
Indian Maidens Bust Loose is a hilarious romantic comedy set in the land of cows, curry, and the Kama Sutra.
(like seriously??)
And I was like no thanks I'll pass.
March 14, 2017
Excellent book, laugh out funny in many places!
September 25, 2012
Reviewed for THC Reviews
Indian Maidens Bust Loose is a chick-lit story told Indian style. It is a hilarious romp through Indian culture as a young, twenty-something woman gradually finds the courage to break free from her parents' old-school ways and live her own life. I learned a great deal about India and the culture there, and many of the things I discovered made me extremely grateful to live in America. This book is riotously funny, but woven throughout the humorous moments, the author managed to showcase the stark reality of the inequality which Indian women face on a daily basis. I can scarce imagine what it must be like to be pressured or even forced into an arranged marriage with someone you don't like much less love. Not to mention, not being allowed to take the job you want in spite of being highly educated and well qualified for it. And it's not just the women who face inequality, but the lower classes and orphans on the street. It was very inspiring to see the female characters in the story banding together to build a better life for themselves, but it's all done in a fun, light-hearted way.
Nisha is the first-person narrator of the story. She's a college graduate who wants to become a journalist. Her father won't allow it though, because the job might entail her working late hours, and a woman being out after a certain time of night is considered a big no-no. She and her sister, Vinita, also have to endure an endless parade of suitors, and their father seems to keep picking all the worst ones he can find. Nisha is a romantic at heart. She loves to read, mostly romance novels. There is a part of her that desperately wants to experience the kind of love and romance she reads about, but the other part of her is a realist, knowing the best she can probably hope for is finding a man who isn't from the bottom of the barrel where her father seems to be looking. Mostly, Nisha is the normal one in a family of wacky people, and is just trying to navigate through all the waves they've set in motion to find a place for herself in the world where she can feel comfortable and have a sense of belonging.
Indian Maidens Bust Loose had tons of uproarious moments. It could have been subtitled “Misadventures in Arranged Marriages” or “How Many Ways Can My American Cousins Ruin My Reputation.” The suitor meeting with the two brothers that ended in a family feud was hysterical. The things that happen to their poor little car were utterly zany. Nisha's father is a penny-pinching miser, so much so that he tried to haggle with the police like he would a street vendor over the cost of his daughters' bail. But I think the most priceless thing of all was the “magical” cow that her fathered turned into a money-making operation when he became convinced that it was the reincarnation of an Indian deity. This story would certainly make a riotous romantic comedy movie that I'd eagerly pay to see. I spent the majority of the time reading this book with a grin on my face, if not outright laughing, sometimes hard enough to produce tears of mirth.
Vidya Samson is a talented author who drew me in right from the start and kept me coming back with moments like those I mentioned above, as well as plenty of family drama. She masterfully combines heart-warming moments with hilarity and deftly weaves multiple plot points and characters together, bringing all of them full-circle by the end, with a few unexpected twists thrown in for good measure. Not a single event in the book is mere filler or wasted space. Everything has a purpose that is eventually revealed. I have no idea if Ms. Samson intends to write any more for Nisha or not. It seems like there could be the potential for more story, and if she did write it, I'd gladly read it. In the meantime, I'm really looking forward to checking out her other works.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Indian Maidens Bust Loose is a chick-lit story told Indian style. It is a hilarious romp through Indian culture as a young, twenty-something woman gradually finds the courage to break free from her parents' old-school ways and live her own life. I learned a great deal about India and the culture there, and many of the things I discovered made me extremely grateful to live in America. This book is riotously funny, but woven throughout the humorous moments, the author managed to showcase the stark reality of the inequality which Indian women face on a daily basis. I can scarce imagine what it must be like to be pressured or even forced into an arranged marriage with someone you don't like much less love. Not to mention, not being allowed to take the job you want in spite of being highly educated and well qualified for it. And it's not just the women who face inequality, but the lower classes and orphans on the street. It was very inspiring to see the female characters in the story banding together to build a better life for themselves, but it's all done in a fun, light-hearted way.
Nisha is the first-person narrator of the story. She's a college graduate who wants to become a journalist. Her father won't allow it though, because the job might entail her working late hours, and a woman being out after a certain time of night is considered a big no-no. She and her sister, Vinita, also have to endure an endless parade of suitors, and their father seems to keep picking all the worst ones he can find. Nisha is a romantic at heart. She loves to read, mostly romance novels. There is a part of her that desperately wants to experience the kind of love and romance she reads about, but the other part of her is a realist, knowing the best she can probably hope for is finding a man who isn't from the bottom of the barrel where her father seems to be looking. Mostly, Nisha is the normal one in a family of wacky people, and is just trying to navigate through all the waves they've set in motion to find a place for herself in the world where she can feel comfortable and have a sense of belonging.
Indian Maidens Bust Loose had tons of uproarious moments. It could have been subtitled “Misadventures in Arranged Marriages” or “How Many Ways Can My American Cousins Ruin My Reputation.” The suitor meeting with the two brothers that ended in a family feud was hysterical. The things that happen to their poor little car were utterly zany. Nisha's father is a penny-pinching miser, so much so that he tried to haggle with the police like he would a street vendor over the cost of his daughters' bail. But I think the most priceless thing of all was the “magical” cow that her fathered turned into a money-making operation when he became convinced that it was the reincarnation of an Indian deity. This story would certainly make a riotous romantic comedy movie that I'd eagerly pay to see. I spent the majority of the time reading this book with a grin on my face, if not outright laughing, sometimes hard enough to produce tears of mirth.
Vidya Samson is a talented author who drew me in right from the start and kept me coming back with moments like those I mentioned above, as well as plenty of family drama. She masterfully combines heart-warming moments with hilarity and deftly weaves multiple plot points and characters together, bringing all of them full-circle by the end, with a few unexpected twists thrown in for good measure. Not a single event in the book is mere filler or wasted space. Everything has a purpose that is eventually revealed. I have no idea if Ms. Samson intends to write any more for Nisha or not. It seems like there could be the potential for more story, and if she did write it, I'd gladly read it. In the meantime, I'm really looking forward to checking out her other works.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2012
This book looks at a classic clash of cultures. Nisha and Vinita live under the thumbs of their parents who believe very much in the very traditional Indian ways. When their American cousins, Amber and Lauren, come to visit, their lives are turned upside down.
India has always been a fascinating place for me. I would love to go there and visit someday. I think that it would definitely be an awesome experience. There are a lot of things that are unfamiliar to Americans as Amber and Lauren find out. In parts, I kind of wanted to kick Amber and Lauren as they seem to be checking all of the boxes as the ugly American tourists, a stereotype that I really, really hate. Although, I think a lot of times it's hard to keep in mind that you have to accept other places for what they are and that the world would be a very boring place if every single place were exactly the same. That being said, I think that the reactions that the cousins had were very realistic. Even if I didn't share them out loud, I recognized some of the same things that I thought about when I was in Ukraine last year (I don't know how it compares directly to India but it was definitely the roughest country that I had ever been in).
One thing I didn't like in the book was the mystery of Nisha and Vinita's origin. The mystery didn't come in until sort of the end of the middle of the book. It seemed like it was put there for some unknown reason and then the mystery ends pretty quickly. I can see how it resolved some issues in the minds of the characters but I wasn't really sure how it fit into the "big picture" of the book.
I loved the writing of the book. Samson really makes you care about the characters, especially the main character, Nisha. You get to feel what she's dealing with and you get to experience first hand the transition that she makes throughout the book, which I really liked.
Bottom line: I think that readers who like books about different places and cultures will really enjoy this one!
India has always been a fascinating place for me. I would love to go there and visit someday. I think that it would definitely be an awesome experience. There are a lot of things that are unfamiliar to Americans as Amber and Lauren find out. In parts, I kind of wanted to kick Amber and Lauren as they seem to be checking all of the boxes as the ugly American tourists, a stereotype that I really, really hate. Although, I think a lot of times it's hard to keep in mind that you have to accept other places for what they are and that the world would be a very boring place if every single place were exactly the same. That being said, I think that the reactions that the cousins had were very realistic. Even if I didn't share them out loud, I recognized some of the same things that I thought about when I was in Ukraine last year (I don't know how it compares directly to India but it was definitely the roughest country that I had ever been in).
One thing I didn't like in the book was the mystery of Nisha and Vinita's origin. The mystery didn't come in until sort of the end of the middle of the book. It seemed like it was put there for some unknown reason and then the mystery ends pretty quickly. I can see how it resolved some issues in the minds of the characters but I wasn't really sure how it fit into the "big picture" of the book.
I loved the writing of the book. Samson really makes you care about the characters, especially the main character, Nisha. You get to feel what she's dealing with and you get to experience first hand the transition that she makes throughout the book, which I really liked.
Bottom line: I think that readers who like books about different places and cultures will really enjoy this one!
September 19, 2012
This is a hilarious tale of two Indian sisters, using every trick they can come up with to drive away the suitors their father keeps bringing home. Being good girls, they have to greet and converse with the prospective husbands. But they can choose hideous clothes, wear terrible hair-dos, and make the conversation short and un-sweet. And they do.
Nisha, our heroine, is hooked on romance novels but knows their happily-ever-after endings aren't for her. She accepts her fate, kind of, and hopes only for a man she can stand. Preferably the American nephew of a neighbor who's eager to matchmake for her. Certainly not the motorcycle hippie visiting next door.
Then, their aunt arrives from America--California, no less--with her two blonde daughters. Their father is horrified, their mother is angry--her sister ran away and ought to be destitute or worse, certainly not happy and well-off--and their grandmother is thrilled that her long-lost daughter is home. And it's Granny's house.
The sisters don't know what to make of their relatives, but they aren't happy to be moved to the basement so the blonde sisters can use their room. In turn, the American sisters are appalled at the bathroom facilities, poverty, and attitudes.
Before the story's over, we're treated to a decrepit car, a cow the father turns into a sacred icon for financial reasons, and the entertaining clash of east-west cultures.
I can so see this as a Bollywood production. Great read.
Nisha, our heroine, is hooked on romance novels but knows their happily-ever-after endings aren't for her. She accepts her fate, kind of, and hopes only for a man she can stand. Preferably the American nephew of a neighbor who's eager to matchmake for her. Certainly not the motorcycle hippie visiting next door.
Then, their aunt arrives from America--California, no less--with her two blonde daughters. Their father is horrified, their mother is angry--her sister ran away and ought to be destitute or worse, certainly not happy and well-off--and their grandmother is thrilled that her long-lost daughter is home. And it's Granny's house.
The sisters don't know what to make of their relatives, but they aren't happy to be moved to the basement so the blonde sisters can use their room. In turn, the American sisters are appalled at the bathroom facilities, poverty, and attitudes.
Before the story's over, we're treated to a decrepit car, a cow the father turns into a sacred icon for financial reasons, and the entertaining clash of east-west cultures.
I can so see this as a Bollywood production. Great read.
November 20, 2015
For Full and detailed review, see http://cynthology.blogspot.in/2015/11...
Indian Maidens Bust Loose by Vidya Samson was a charming read. The book has all the ingredients that might be completely easy stewing in a Bollywood potboiler, sewn together by Vidya’s humour. First person narrator Nisha Desai makes flippant and irreverent remarks that make you think.
The lines that the characters speak are all funny. An additional element of humour is brought on by the strange English spoken by Papa, Ma and Naani. The chapter names are quirky and colourful.
Much as the ingredients seem like they belong to a chick-lit novel, I hesitate to call this chick-lit. Vidya effectively manages to raise a number of serious issues through her funny book. These include the differences between the East and the West, the perennial debate about the lack of moral values, the relationships between sisters across generations, superstition as a way of life, and the lack of basic rights such as water, among other things. If only the narrator had been a stronger character, I’d cheer even more for this book.
Indian Maidens Bust Loose by Vidya Samson was a charming read. The book has all the ingredients that might be completely easy stewing in a Bollywood potboiler, sewn together by Vidya’s humour. First person narrator Nisha Desai makes flippant and irreverent remarks that make you think.
The lines that the characters speak are all funny. An additional element of humour is brought on by the strange English spoken by Papa, Ma and Naani. The chapter names are quirky and colourful.
Much as the ingredients seem like they belong to a chick-lit novel, I hesitate to call this chick-lit. Vidya effectively manages to raise a number of serious issues through her funny book. These include the differences between the East and the West, the perennial debate about the lack of moral values, the relationships between sisters across generations, superstition as a way of life, and the lack of basic rights such as water, among other things. If only the narrator had been a stronger character, I’d cheer even more for this book.
June 14, 2012
Originally posted at Http://www.nilsa-rodriguez.blogspot.com
Indian Maidens Bust Loose, is as it says it is- A hilarious romantic comedy. I can easily see this book become a next Bollywood hit! ^-^
The story follows Nisha Desai and her family as her father tries to find her and her sister Vinita prospective husbands. Which of course they are not happy about and sabotage each meeting.
Nisha's hope of leaving her family's home and coming to America to pursue her love of journalism comes to light when her long, detached aunt comes to visit, along with her too VERY Americanized, trouble seeking cousins.
That's when her life and future begins to spiral....
Samson did an awesome job in writing this book with humor and entertainment in mind. Even the titles of the chapters are catchy. I really enjoyed reading this book. It is different from the kind of books I normally read, but it hooked me from the begining and long after the end. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to read a book full of culture, humor, and some romance in the mix!
Indian Maidens Bust Loose, is as it says it is- A hilarious romantic comedy. I can easily see this book become a next Bollywood hit! ^-^
The story follows Nisha Desai and her family as her father tries to find her and her sister Vinita prospective husbands. Which of course they are not happy about and sabotage each meeting.
Nisha's hope of leaving her family's home and coming to America to pursue her love of journalism comes to light when her long, detached aunt comes to visit, along with her too VERY Americanized, trouble seeking cousins.
That's when her life and future begins to spiral....
Samson did an awesome job in writing this book with humor and entertainment in mind. Even the titles of the chapters are catchy. I really enjoyed reading this book. It is different from the kind of books I normally read, but it hooked me from the begining and long after the end. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to read a book full of culture, humor, and some romance in the mix!
January 8, 2013
This book, with its gentle humour, resonates deeply with the current call for change in India in how it treats women, especially with the passing of two rape victims. One from suicide; the other in a hospital in Singapore due to severe injuries from her rape.
Vidya Samson's book actually does deal with an incident of Eve-teasing, and even though humorous, with the current stories in the news, the reader understands the fear of the women in the story as they try to cross the road to get away from the men.
There is genuine comfort in returning to the dynamics of the Desai house because author Vidya Samson has provided characters that you want to follow, from the American cousins who adapt with little fuss to the plumbing situation, to the main character's family — headed by a Father whose accent is so well defined his brief appearances make him a highpoint; so much so, that the direction of the ending loses its momentum by undervaluing his presence.
Still... a great read, especially when it grabs you and makes you laugh out loud.
Vidya Samson's book actually does deal with an incident of Eve-teasing, and even though humorous, with the current stories in the news, the reader understands the fear of the women in the story as they try to cross the road to get away from the men.
There is genuine comfort in returning to the dynamics of the Desai house because author Vidya Samson has provided characters that you want to follow, from the American cousins who adapt with little fuss to the plumbing situation, to the main character's family — headed by a Father whose accent is so well defined his brief appearances make him a highpoint; so much so, that the direction of the ending loses its momentum by undervaluing his presence.
Still... a great read, especially when it grabs you and makes you laugh out loud.
May 18, 2012
This book starts with two sisters, Nisha and Vinita, are doing everything they can to avoid having to marry the horrible prospective husbands their father keeps picking out. And they are horrible.
When the American cousins come to visit, Nisha is hoping to convince them to take her home with them and let her study journalism. She's determined to make a good impression, while everyone else---with the exception of the grandmother---are determined to make the aunt and cousins miserable.
This book is hilarious, and a very quick read (I read it in a day). There were only a few times where I wished things would speed up a little.
I have to admit, I kept forgetting the girls were as old as they were. They'd finished college, and several times I had to remind myself they weren't high school girls. It's just a cultural thing.
When the American cousins come to visit, Nisha is hoping to convince them to take her home with them and let her study journalism. She's determined to make a good impression, while everyone else---with the exception of the grandmother---are determined to make the aunt and cousins miserable.
This book is hilarious, and a very quick read (I read it in a day). There were only a few times where I wished things would speed up a little.
I have to admit, I kept forgetting the girls were as old as they were. They'd finished college, and several times I had to remind myself they weren't high school girls. It's just a cultural thing.
April 14, 2014
I loved Vidya Samson's book " Bras , boys and Blunders in Bahrain " ,..... so met this book of hers with the same anticipation as the fun I had gleaned from the other ........ So ,with this book , although the premise is rich with the crazed perversity of the Great Indian Marriage " Market " , the jokes are few and far between , and the story just draws out too long ...... midway throught the book , you have got your bubblegum totally dry ! The only thing that made me read the entire book , was the bountiful expectations I had scurried from her other novel ....So , this one overall , was quite a damper !!!
June 23, 2012
This book is an entertaining look at modern day middle-class India. the arrival of the prodigal sister and her two daughters from the US for a visit turns the entire family (including to marriageable daughters with master's degrees) upside down. I can't really discuss the book too much without spoilers galore, but this combination of East meets West makes everyone better off in the end, even those who revere tradition. A fun summer read.
August 10, 2012
I enjoyed this story and its characters. It was an unusual and humorous novel and the setting was nearly another character itself.
My one complaint was that I have the version for Kindle, and it was glitchy. Regularly, two lines were skipped when flipping from page to page; the only way to view the skipped lines was to change the font size. That got annoying. This has never before happened to me while reading anything on Kindle.
My one complaint was that I have the version for Kindle, and it was glitchy. Regularly, two lines were skipped when flipping from page to page; the only way to view the skipped lines was to change the font size. That got annoying. This has never before happened to me while reading anything on Kindle.
July 16, 2012
I didn't expect to like it so much. It is first person narrative and some dialogues are supposed to be in Indian English and at first it was a little peculiar for me, English not being my first language, but I got used to it and it was very funny. It is not a romance (it has romantic elements) but mostly a comedy on different cultures. Very amusing.
March 14, 2016
Fun read, good humor. Covers aspects of modern Indian culture, especially in regards to women, with introspection and familiarity. Enlightening for a western reader, as many of the topics are guessed at but not widely discussed. The book could have used another round of editing to trim it down, but considering its length it is a surprisingly easy read.
July 8, 2012
started off on a promising note. then the fun stops and starts becoming downright silly. the climax was a drag. can't believe how a character turns around so abruptly. i liked the writing style though.so a three
June 14, 2012
The main storyline is a romance; if that's not your cup of tea, you may not appreciate it. The humor can be a bit dark, but the book is truly funny. It is also written with Western sensibilities in mind, so if you are offended by values that are not traditionally Indian, you should stay away.
June 25, 2012
If I didn't always feel compelled to finish every book I start I would have abandoned this one by Chapter 2.
July 15, 2012
A fun, funny and sometimes snarky read.
Read my review here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RA1V59BY...
Read my review here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RA1V59BY...
September 21, 2012
I was not sure at first how I would like this book but it quickly captivated me. I don't know much about Indian culture but found the clash of the American cousins truly fascinating and funny.
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