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House of Cards
Mridula is a young and enthusiastic woman who hails from a village in Karnataka. She meets Sanjay, an impoverished doctor, and they fall in love and decide to marry and settle in Bangalore. Mridula starts to notice the selfish and materialistic world around her. In the meanwhile, Sanjay decides to leave his current job for a private practice. The job pays him well and with more money comes the desire for even more. This leads to corrupt practices and problems between the couple. Mridula eventually decides that she needs to leave her husband and go out on her own.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
276 people are currently reading
3103 people want to read
About the author
Sudha Murty
180 books2,986 followersSudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written nine novels, four technical books, three travelogues, one collection of short stories, three collections of non-fiction pieces and two books for children.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
October 1, 2015
Every married man and men who wish to marry must read this book.
May 29, 2023
As I always say... You can never go wrong with Sudha Murty!
The story follows the life of a young woman named Mridula hailing from the village of Aladahalli and how her life changes once she gets married and moves to the big city of Bangalore. The author very truly depicted how a woman is asked to put her family first in everything and not care for herself at all.
The writing is very simple yet elegant. There were a lot of characters and it became hard to remember their names and backgrounds. But those characters felt very real. No one was only good or bad. Just like in real life everyone had their good and bad side. Many were two faced! The story was fast in the beginning, then slows down a little in the middle, then again picks up pace in the last chapters. The ending was really really good.
❌SPOILERS APPROACHING❌
The ending was very nice. I really admired Mridula leaving her husband Sanjay after she became depressed and it became impossible to live with him. And I also loved the fact that Sanjay finally put his ego aside and went to Aladahalli to get Mridula back.
RECOMMENDED
The story follows the life of a young woman named Mridula hailing from the village of Aladahalli and how her life changes once she gets married and moves to the big city of Bangalore. The author very truly depicted how a woman is asked to put her family first in everything and not care for herself at all.
The writing is very simple yet elegant. There were a lot of characters and it became hard to remember their names and backgrounds. But those characters felt very real. No one was only good or bad. Just like in real life everyone had their good and bad side. Many were two faced! The story was fast in the beginning, then slows down a little in the middle, then again picks up pace in the last chapters. The ending was really really good.
❌SPOILERS APPROACHING❌
The ending was very nice. I really admired Mridula leaving her husband Sanjay after she became depressed and it became impossible to live with him. And I also loved the fact that Sanjay finally put his ego aside and went to Aladahalli to get Mridula back.
RECOMMENDED
January 16, 2014
Yet another Sudha Murthy Forte!
Lovely story-line, depicts the exact feeling of any female facing discontentment in married life despite a love marriage! I had always loved the names which are chosen for the female protagonists in all her works. Vinuta, Shrimati, Anupama & Mridula. There are so much similarity in all these characters of different novels, starting from the location of the novels i.e Karnataka (Dharwad, Hubli), leading a simple life, selfish husbands and etc. The story-line usually takes us to the peak of emotions totally sunk in the oceans of reality where even a hard hearted person wud shed tears! RAtnamma's character is worth noticing because of which Mridula cud make a decision to move out and lead an independent life!
Only difference in this novel was tat, there was a happy ending!
Worth a read..
Lovely story-line, depicts the exact feeling of any female facing discontentment in married life despite a love marriage! I had always loved the names which are chosen for the female protagonists in all her works. Vinuta, Shrimati, Anupama & Mridula. There are so much similarity in all these characters of different novels, starting from the location of the novels i.e Karnataka (Dharwad, Hubli), leading a simple life, selfish husbands and etc. The story-line usually takes us to the peak of emotions totally sunk in the oceans of reality where even a hard hearted person wud shed tears! RAtnamma's character is worth noticing because of which Mridula cud make a decision to move out and lead an independent life!
Only difference in this novel was tat, there was a happy ending!
Worth a read..
May 18, 2022
This book about life of mridula and sanjay.
It takes place mostly in karnataka especially bangalore reloves around the life of Kannada people.
But I think whole india can connect with them in their journey of life.
The character are uniquely written.
I think surely we come across such type of person in our life so we can join with them easily.
It covers all matters of life mainly revolves around family values,money,happiness.
It is well written book so it easy read and must book read for all family lover.
The Written things and values in the book you may know but it is shown very well in this book .
It takes place mostly in karnataka especially bangalore reloves around the life of Kannada people.
But I think whole india can connect with them in their journey of life.
The character are uniquely written.
I think surely we come across such type of person in our life so we can join with them easily.
It covers all matters of life mainly revolves around family values,money,happiness.
It is well written book so it easy read and must book read for all family lover.
The Written things and values in the book you may know but it is shown very well in this book .
May 21, 2014
I personally loved the ending, and whole the book! It helped me go through waiting in a Govt office :D
On more serious terms, this book was more complex than Mahashwetha or Dollar Bahu. It involved so many different characters that I often had to turn back my pages just to see who it was. And all those extra characters seemed dull. It seemed to be fast forwarded movie while I was reading. I taught me to value relationships more than money, and so many little things that we always find in Sudha Murthy's books. She has a clear idea of her concepts and somewhere, I felt it lacked as I start procrastinating if it's boring for me. But, as always, she was brilliant.
Sometime I wonder if Mridula was actually her 0.o
Maybe. I dunno.
On more serious terms, this book was more complex than Mahashwetha or Dollar Bahu. It involved so many different characters that I often had to turn back my pages just to see who it was. And all those extra characters seemed dull. It seemed to be fast forwarded movie while I was reading. I taught me to value relationships more than money, and so many little things that we always find in Sudha Murthy's books. She has a clear idea of her concepts and somewhere, I felt it lacked as I start procrastinating if it's boring for me. But, as always, she was brilliant.
Sometime I wonder if Mridula was actually her 0.o
Maybe. I dunno.
March 29, 2016
I found this book when i was browsing through my cousins collection and decided to give it a read.
This book is about a small village girl Mridula, from the state of Karnataka who lived in the moment and enjoyed life every single day. She falls in love and gets married to a guy named Sanjay, and supports him fully in everything he did without compromising what she wanted in life.
But there comes a moment in life when money comes into play and then so does greed. This story tells us about what she goes through when her family challenges her beliefs as well as what greed does to a person which in turn affects a marriage.
Sudha takes a very relevant topic and through this story really conveys what really happens in a household.
It starts really good with a strong story line and the writing style is pretty easy to understand. The characters had a strong base and were well developed but as the story continued the characters become shallow.
To me Sudha lost the plot mid way when various characters and sub-plots were introduced which weren't really relevant. Along with this, the time line changed too frequently without completing the previous one, which actually irked me.
The ending was really sweet though and overall would say that it was a decent read.
This book is about a small village girl Mridula, from the state of Karnataka who lived in the moment and enjoyed life every single day. She falls in love and gets married to a guy named Sanjay, and supports him fully in everything he did without compromising what she wanted in life.
But there comes a moment in life when money comes into play and then so does greed. This story tells us about what she goes through when her family challenges her beliefs as well as what greed does to a person which in turn affects a marriage.
Sudha takes a very relevant topic and through this story really conveys what really happens in a household.
It starts really good with a strong story line and the writing style is pretty easy to understand. The characters had a strong base and were well developed but as the story continued the characters become shallow.
To me Sudha lost the plot mid way when various characters and sub-plots were introduced which weren't really relevant. Along with this, the time line changed too frequently without completing the previous one, which actually irked me.
The ending was really sweet though and overall would say that it was a decent read.
January 28, 2019
Highly disappointed with the usage of words and stereotyping everything. Letting to read between the lines is all a reader wants. There is no need to specifically detail every action or non action.
Disappointed with the author to use certain language which is easily understandable by everyone but not digestible.
Never going to read any such books
Disappointed with the author to use certain language which is easily understandable by everyone but not digestible.
Never going to read any such books
August 29, 2021
Sudha Murthy as always portrays a serious issue in a simple yet impactful story. House of cards is the journey of Mridula, from being a happy young girl hailing from a small village to a married woman grappling with the ways of life in a metropolitan city. Stories like these are not uncommon in Indian society. The author has rightly hit the nail on how a woman’s sacrifice for her husband and family is considered a moral obligation, as if she lives her life for everyone but herself.
All of Sudha Murthy’s books teach you a lesson not like a self help book but by living it through her characters experiences like Mridula.
Simple writing style and a gripping story makes it a breeze to read her books.
All of Sudha Murthy’s books teach you a lesson not like a self help book but by living it through her characters experiences like Mridula.
Simple writing style and a gripping story makes it a breeze to read her books.
September 24, 2013
A book by Sudha Murthy, a story set in North Karnataka somewhere near Hubli is how the book, House of Cards, starts.
Mridula is the daughter of Bheemanna and Rukuma Bai. They live in Aladahalli in North Karnataka. She is a kind hearted and simple girl and has enormous enthusiasm for life and unlimited energy for reading, cooking and sketching and wants to spend every moment of the day fruitfully. Even though she scores a rank in the tenth class, she wants to be a teacher and joins the local government school. When asked whose favourite, she says, “I am Amma’s girl and Appa’s world”. She has an older brother, Krishna.
Sanjay, a doctor, is the son of Ratnamma, a money lender in T Narasipura, works in KEM Hospital Bombay under Dr Chandra. He is a very sincere doctor like his father who was a medical practitioner. He wants to be a gynaecologist. He has a sister Lakshmi who’s married to Shankar, a bank clerk. For Ratnamma, money has more value than thing and for Lakshmi and Shankar, spending is more important than saving.
Sanjay meets Mridula at a marriage in Hubli, then again in Bombay and proposes marriage to her. They get married and move to Bangalore: he joins as a resident in a college to do his post-graduation and Mridula gets transferred to a government school in Bangalore. After getting frustrated in a Government job, Sanjay moves into private practice.
Though, Sanjay and Mridula move up in their socioeconomic status in the twenty five years of married life, they drift away from each other.
A very well written book. At times I felt that every woman becomes a Mridula sometime in her lifetime.
Mridula is the daughter of Bheemanna and Rukuma Bai. They live in Aladahalli in North Karnataka. She is a kind hearted and simple girl and has enormous enthusiasm for life and unlimited energy for reading, cooking and sketching and wants to spend every moment of the day fruitfully. Even though she scores a rank in the tenth class, she wants to be a teacher and joins the local government school. When asked whose favourite, she says, “I am Amma’s girl and Appa’s world”. She has an older brother, Krishna.
Sanjay, a doctor, is the son of Ratnamma, a money lender in T Narasipura, works in KEM Hospital Bombay under Dr Chandra. He is a very sincere doctor like his father who was a medical practitioner. He wants to be a gynaecologist. He has a sister Lakshmi who’s married to Shankar, a bank clerk. For Ratnamma, money has more value than thing and for Lakshmi and Shankar, spending is more important than saving.
Sanjay meets Mridula at a marriage in Hubli, then again in Bombay and proposes marriage to her. They get married and move to Bangalore: he joins as a resident in a college to do his post-graduation and Mridula gets transferred to a government school in Bangalore. After getting frustrated in a Government job, Sanjay moves into private practice.
Though, Sanjay and Mridula move up in their socioeconomic status in the twenty five years of married life, they drift away from each other.
A very well written book. At times I felt that every woman becomes a Mridula sometime in her lifetime.
September 18, 2021
This book was so cliche and so stereotypical, I cannot even begin. Though this book as fictional, it is an epitome of stereotypical thinking in Indian society. I hated it from page one but i just kept reading to see how cliche could the author get and she has done a very good job at it.
If you are rich, you are surely going to have marital problems. If you are rich, surely your husband is going to cheat on you or have an extra marital affair. If you are rich, surely your children are going to be brats, spendthrifts and ill mannered. If you are rich, surely you are bound to have an attitude and look down up on others. I mean the list of stereotypical comparison by the author just goes on and on. Some pages literally made me cringe.
I enjoyed reading 'Mahashweta' by the author (which, I read somewhere is completely plagiarized) but this was just C GRADE. Not recommended for anyone.
If you are rich, you are surely going to have marital problems. If you are rich, surely your husband is going to cheat on you or have an extra marital affair. If you are rich, surely your children are going to be brats, spendthrifts and ill mannered. If you are rich, surely you are bound to have an attitude and look down up on others. I mean the list of stereotypical comparison by the author just goes on and on. Some pages literally made me cringe.
I enjoyed reading 'Mahashweta' by the author (which, I read somewhere is completely plagiarized) but this was just C GRADE. Not recommended for anyone.
March 1, 2016
House of cards is very ordinary and thought provoking reading. Mridula is calm and center character of this novel. Sudha Murthy has made it a point for all the men in this book through Mridula that man is incomplete without woman.
The saying "THERE IS A WOMAN BEHIND EVERY MAN'S SUCCESS" comes very true. The only thing I went on searching for in this book was, literary way of narrating the story. It could have been more artistic also.
Over all I liked the book and give it a four stars. Sudha Murthy is always simple and real. I like her small topics which influence the society in long run.
The saying "THERE IS A WOMAN BEHIND EVERY MAN'S SUCCESS" comes very true. The only thing I went on searching for in this book was, literary way of narrating the story. It could have been more artistic also.
Over all I liked the book and give it a four stars. Sudha Murthy is always simple and real. I like her small topics which influence the society in long run.
May 9, 2016
By far the best book by Sudha Murthy from her fiction series. I particularly love the way the author explains the life of the 80s in the villages of North Karnataka. This book mesmerises you with the way Mridula is her whole life from the day she met Sanjay. Always believed in equal opportunities but never worked out that way for her. The book makes you understand money is not the answer to everything and family values and respect towards elders are the core to survive in this world. I can keep reading Sudha Murthy for life.
October 23, 2018
House of Cards is a book that deals with this issue. It's about a couple who despite being hardworking and honest find themselves in not so great and luxurious lifestyle. Though the wife, Mridula, never changes even when she moves to a big city like Bangalore, it's her husband Sanjay who kind of falls of track. His professional pressure gets to him and he reaches a point where they both wouldn't have imagined to find themselves in. This book really tries to capture how life changes people, their integrity, their point of view and how the fast moving life has changed our lives forever.
August 18, 2021
I am a follower of Sudha Murthy because of her simplicity and humanity nature. 'It's not your look but your thoughts will make you modern' which we can say by looking at her.
This book is about a girl who has so much enthusiasm about her life and how it changes after her marriage. when her husband goes behind the money and power, she gets ignored by him for her idealistic character.
Every married person must read this book.
This book is about a girl who has so much enthusiasm about her life and how it changes after her marriage. when her husband goes behind the money and power, she gets ignored by him for her idealistic character.
Every married person must read this book.
August 29, 2013
First time a happy ending in sudha murthy's book. I loved it. At the end of the day I am a normal girl who wants to see couple living happily ever after. Though her books always carve strong women statues they end up having a husbands with a villain head. This book is different when it comes to that.
February 25, 2018
One more book which talks about money vs. ethical values. it tries to show us that perspective of people on these is different. it could have been done with less characters and hence more focus on what the message is.
May 9, 2023
This book is Sudha Murthy's masterpiece. It's the correct picture of the Indian middle class society. The greed for money and how it affects one's life. As the climax approaches it becomes unputdownable. The ending is satisfactory.
I rate it as a must read book!!
I rate it as a must read book!!
April 17, 2020
A beautiful moral story. The protagonist is so relatable for any girl in Indian society. Though the story was at some point far too stretched, it summed it up well in the last few pages. Worth read for all those who think money can buy happiness.
March 16, 2023
This is my first Sudha Murthy book, House of cards. As we all know Sudha Murthy's writings will be very simple and elegant to understand. This is a reflection of many Mridula in society. It is a very heart-touching book, I recommend that both men and women read this novel.
June 22, 2020
Good read. To be Frank I felt connected with the story as the plot is setup in Bangalore, yelahanka. Sudha murthy convincingly articulates how we blame bad doctors, we never blame ourself for creating such a system, converting them like one. Rest of the the story is insightful as always.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2025
This was a great read - simple storytelling with a desi vibe. It was a little preachy at times but quite worth it.
September 10, 2014
House of Cards, as the name suggests is about the home - family ties and the balance needed to keep these ties healthy. We are taken into the life of Mridula, from her early years as a simple village girl in Aladahalli, and we journey with her through the years from her marriage, to motherhood and down to 25 years after her wedding. Her husband Sanjay, as a young man was a hard working honest man from a lower background. He remained so for a few years after their wedding. However time and circumstances changed his value systems. He became a shrewd businessman, a huge change from his earlier self - an honest and philanthropic doctor. Money started pouring in and changed him further, making him egoistic, a stark contrast to his hitherto humble self. Mridula however remained the same down to earth, helpful, compassionate and warm person that she was brought up to be. She did not restrict her social circle to more affluent segments. She didnt forget old friends. She couldnt understand how her husband had changed so much over the years. Sanjay also proves to be a dominating and disrespectful husbands and doesnt allow Mridula any real role even in parenting their only son Sishir.
Sudha Murty has put across the story in a very simple and effective way. Nothing is over dramatised. Things are put across subtley and beautifully. The story also touches upon subjects like corruption and partiality of the system towards people with contacts. It exposes the dillemma and the difficulty of the masses who want to work hard and just dont get the fruits of their labour, purely because they dont know the right people.
Its a simple and quick read. I would recommend it to everyone.
Sudha Murty has put across the story in a very simple and effective way. Nothing is over dramatised. Things are put across subtley and beautifully. The story also touches upon subjects like corruption and partiality of the system towards people with contacts. It exposes the dillemma and the difficulty of the masses who want to work hard and just dont get the fruits of their labour, purely because they dont know the right people.
Its a simple and quick read. I would recommend it to everyone.
June 18, 2016
Pros :
1. Written in a easy-to-grasp language.
2. A light read
Cons:
1. Too many characters and sub-plots have ruined of what could have been a good novel.
2. There is no coherence of the sub-plots that were introduced out of the blue.
3. The protagonists' characterization is not at all gradual; its sudden and absolute.
One moment a character is struggling and the very next page, he/she becomes all
powerful/low. There are times when a reader might feel that a character has reached a high
point and would do something that might bring about his/her downfall. But nothing really
happens then. And all of a sudden, there are huge leaps in timelines and the character
becomes shady without actually describing the events that led him/her to the tipping point.
1. Written in a easy-to-grasp language.
2. A light read
Cons:
1. Too many characters and sub-plots have ruined of what could have been a good novel.
2. There is no coherence of the sub-plots that were introduced out of the blue.
3. The protagonists' characterization is not at all gradual; its sudden and absolute.
One moment a character is struggling and the very next page, he/she becomes all
powerful/low. There are times when a reader might feel that a character has reached a high
point and would do something that might bring about his/her downfall. But nothing really
happens then. And all of a sudden, there are huge leaps in timelines and the character
becomes shady without actually describing the events that led him/her to the tipping point.
October 9, 2017
My first foray into Sudha Murty's world. I like her simple writing style, reminds me a bit of Malgudi Day feel as she tries to recreate rustic India feel in her book. Emphasizing on small town values of relationships over money , she poignantly captures the transition of emotions that play through the main protagonists as they first hand feel the transformation. This is a transition society is seeing as a whole so very relevant. I felt the book slowed down at stages where I felt like flipping pages over to see if it picked up later though she does end it with a high. The character development was good for a lot of the main characters which I felt was a strong point.
The verdict on Sudha Murty is still out for me and will probably read another of her books to make a better call.
The verdict on Sudha Murty is still out for me and will probably read another of her books to make a better call.
November 26, 2013
House of Cards by Sudha Murthy is a beautiful story. Mridula, a village girl from Aladahalli gets married to a doctor in Mumbai and both of them start their life in Bangalore in a simple way. Sanjay, her husband establishes his clinic and in due course becomes corrupt. Mridula does not change. Hence, knowing her he keeps a lot of things to himself. When Mridula earns that Sanja has deceived her, how does she take it? Will she accept him as such or will she leave him? This story revolves around a lot of things that bind a marriage together to make it last forever - trust, hope, belief, faith, truthfulness and a lot more. A book worth reading!
March 31, 2014
This Sudha Murthy book is al about family and the importance of ones identity specifically a woman... It portrays how a woman sacrifices so many things for her family however doesn't receive equal importance frm her family... It depicts how strength frm a mother/wife/daughter can help the family to flourish though respect/affection is nt given back to her... And finally... It teaches that every woman should be independent and treated equally neither inferior nor superior... Her identity shud not be diluted and she shud be able to pursue what she likes...no ego no hassles....Dats d key to a healthy and peaceful relation
October 10, 2013
Its a typical Sudha Murty book!
Same old story of love struck couples,broken relations,status of the woman in the family,money minded Indian families and the lady's road to transformation.
But it does outline a very crucial fact in today's modern India,and points out to mindsets that need to be changed-RESPECT THE LADY IN YOUR LIFE!
Don't pickup this book if you are in search for something new and fresh,it will just be disappointing!
I opine that its worth a read.About time women are given some importance!
Same old story of love struck couples,broken relations,status of the woman in the family,money minded Indian families and the lady's road to transformation.
But it does outline a very crucial fact in today's modern India,and points out to mindsets that need to be changed-RESPECT THE LADY IN YOUR LIFE!
Don't pickup this book if you are in search for something new and fresh,it will just be disappointing!
I opine that its worth a read.About time women are given some importance!
January 15, 2014
Here comes a story about another strong woman Mridula.
Sudha Murthy's forte is simple language and beautiful narration.
Her characters are realistic.Unlike her previous women centric books this story has a happy ending.
The protagonist is a simple, content, self reliant person and she remains the same even with the change in status.
The book is about family ties and explores every relationship in depth.
Sudha Murthy delviers an important message successfully - "Though you reach the sky, make sure your feet is always grounded!"
Sudha Murthy's forte is simple language and beautiful narration.
Her characters are realistic.Unlike her previous women centric books this story has a happy ending.
The protagonist is a simple, content, self reliant person and she remains the same even with the change in status.
The book is about family ties and explores every relationship in depth.
Sudha Murthy delviers an important message successfully - "Though you reach the sky, make sure your feet is always grounded!"
August 8, 2013
My review: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2qW
Simple language is Sudha Murty’s forte I feel, and here, she uses it to narrate a family drama plot that makes you think about the depth of relationships, be it between father and daughter or husband and wife. It also shows the character of people in general, looking at luxuries and when obsessed by it, forgetting the simple things. This is a story that will hold you even after it has ended.
Simple language is Sudha Murty’s forte I feel, and here, she uses it to narrate a family drama plot that makes you think about the depth of relationships, be it between father and daughter or husband and wife. It also shows the character of people in general, looking at luxuries and when obsessed by it, forgetting the simple things. This is a story that will hold you even after it has ended.
February 5, 2014
Wonderfully touched.
The simple life of girl/woman in an Indian Family...
Beautifully revives the loving girl/lady as she lives her life and shapes and reshapes into a woman.
Describing the bonds woven by her.
Personally ... was liberated and rejuvenated.
Thank You Sudha for this lovely book.
The simple life of girl/woman in an Indian Family...
Beautifully revives the loving girl/lady as she lives her life and shapes and reshapes into a woman.
Describing the bonds woven by her.
Personally ... was liberated and rejuvenated.
Thank You Sudha for this lovely book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews