What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sleeping Dictionary
From an award-winning novelist, a stunning portrait of late Raj India—a sweeping saga and a love story set against a background of huge political and cultural upheaval.
YOU ASK FOR MY NAME, THE REAL ONE, AND I CANNOT TELL. IT IS NOT FOR LACK OF EFFORT.
In 1930, a great ocean wave blots out a Bengali village, leaving only one survivor, a young girl. As a maidservant in a British boarding school, Pom is renamed Sarah and discovers her gift for languages. Her private dreams almost die when she arrives in Kharagpur and is recruited into a secretive, decadent world. Eventually, she lands in Calcutta, renames herself Kamala, and creates a new life rich in books and friends. But although success and even love seem within reach, she remains trapped by what she is . . . and is not. As India struggles to throw off imperial rule, Kamala uses her hard-won skills—for secrecy, languages, and reading the unspoken gestures of those around her—to fight for her country’s freedom and her own happiness.
YOU ASK FOR MY NAME, THE REAL ONE, AND I CANNOT TELL. IT IS NOT FOR LACK OF EFFORT.
In 1930, a great ocean wave blots out a Bengali village, leaving only one survivor, a young girl. As a maidservant in a British boarding school, Pom is renamed Sarah and discovers her gift for languages. Her private dreams almost die when she arrives in Kharagpur and is recruited into a secretive, decadent world. Eventually, she lands in Calcutta, renames herself Kamala, and creates a new life rich in books and friends. But although success and even love seem within reach, she remains trapped by what she is . . . and is not. As India struggles to throw off imperial rule, Kamala uses her hard-won skills—for secrecy, languages, and reading the unspoken gestures of those around her—to fight for her country’s freedom and her own happiness.
484 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2013
223 people are currently reading
4525 people want to read
About the author
Sujata Massey
36 books2,667 followersSujata Massey is the author of historical and mystery fiction set in Asia. She is best known for the Perveen Mistry series published in the United States by Soho Press and in India by Penguin Random House India. In June, 2021, THE BOMBAY PRINCE, third book in the series, releases in the US/Canada and Australia/New Zealand; it will be published by Penguin India later the same month.
THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL, the first Perveen novel, was named a Best Mystery/Thriller of 2018 and also an Amazon Best Mystery/Thriller of 2018. Additionally, the book won the Bruce Alexander Best Historical Mystery Award, the Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery and the Mary Higgins Clark Award, all in 2019.
The second Perveen novel, THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE, won the Bruce Alexander Best Historical Mystery Award in 2020.
Sujata's other works include THE SLEEPING DICTIONARY (2013) and eleven Rei Shimura mysteries published from 1997-2014. For more about Sujata's books and a full events schedule, subscribe to her newsletter, http://sujatamassey.com/newsletter
Sujata lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with her family and two dogs. In addition to writing, she loves to travel, read, cook, garden and walk.
THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL, the first Perveen novel, was named a Best Mystery/Thriller of 2018 and also an Amazon Best Mystery/Thriller of 2018. Additionally, the book won the Bruce Alexander Best Historical Mystery Award, the Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery and the Mary Higgins Clark Award, all in 2019.
The second Perveen novel, THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE, won the Bruce Alexander Best Historical Mystery Award in 2020.
Sujata's other works include THE SLEEPING DICTIONARY (2013) and eleven Rei Shimura mysteries published from 1997-2014. For more about Sujata's books and a full events schedule, subscribe to her newsletter, http://sujatamassey.com/newsletter
Sujata lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with her family and two dogs. In addition to writing, she loves to travel, read, cook, garden and walk.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
February 23, 2020
I'm a big fan of this writer and her Perveen Mistry series so when I saw this one, i had to read it. It's a fascinating and interesting insight into India's history and tells the story of a young lady who looses her family in a tsunami and afterwards leads a troubled life to survive, amongst others as a prostitute in a 'luxury house', gets with child, flees from the prostitute house while having to leave her little daughter behind with trusted friends. Life gets better when she ends up working in the library of a European gentleman, although the political situation in India turns grim and dangerous. Interesting read definitely. The only thing I found was that the story was a bit too longwinding for me (around 500 pages), and a bit lovey dovey in the last part (not really my thing :-)) but all in view, a 3.6+ read. I'm really hoping for the next Perveen Mistry (first woman lawyer/crime investigator in India) this year, can't wait!
August 2, 2023
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. I came across this book on Goodreads and was drawn in by the title and the premise;
2. it's available for loan on Hoopla and cloudLibrary; and,
3. August 2023 is my self-appointed "Historical Fiction Month"!
Praises:
1. our MC, Pom/Sarah/Pamela/Kamala, who goes by several names depending on her situation, has a most eventful, and often tragic, life, from a 10-year-old orphan to a 27-year-old young woman. As she encounters one barrier after another, I felt sympathy for her predicaments, and then relief as she manages to break free;
2. India is rich in history and author Sujata Massey incorporates it well from the 1920s to 1947, encompassing the beginnings of Partition, to WWII, to India's Independence Day in 1947. The terrifying riots and massacres during the "1946 Calcutta Killings" were especially illuminating;
3. British rule in India plays a huge role in this story, including "sleeping dictionaries" which were "young Indian women who slept with British men and educated them in the ways of India";
4. one may be frustrated by the lies Kamala told and the secrets she kept, but I totally understood, that as a young, unmarried Indian woman during this time period, doing so was a matter of survival;
5. at first, I was daunted by the long list of characters read aloud at the beginning of the story, but I soon realized that I didn't have much difficulty discerning who was who as the story progressed; and,
6. once again, Sneha Mathan is a most authentic narrator!
Niggle:
For such a detailed and heart-wrenching volume, the ending felt a little too neatly wrapped up.
Overall Thoughts:
After reading this book and, most recently, Can You Hear the Nightbird Call?, I've learned a lot more about historical aspects in the Punjab region to the west and in the Bengal region to the east!
This epic story is one of love and loss, friendships and misfortune, deception and betrayal, but most of all, its a story of perseverance, survival, and hope.
It's also a story of coincidences, but as one author wrote, "Without coincidences, there is no story."
1. I came across this book on Goodreads and was drawn in by the title and the premise;
2. it's available for loan on Hoopla and cloudLibrary; and,
3. August 2023 is my self-appointed "Historical Fiction Month"!
Praises:
1. our MC, Pom/Sarah/Pamela/Kamala, who goes by several names depending on her situation, has a most eventful, and often tragic, life, from a 10-year-old orphan to a 27-year-old young woman. As she encounters one barrier after another, I felt sympathy for her predicaments, and then relief as she manages to break free;
2. India is rich in history and author Sujata Massey incorporates it well from the 1920s to 1947, encompassing the beginnings of Partition, to WWII, to India's Independence Day in 1947. The terrifying riots and massacres during the "1946 Calcutta Killings" were especially illuminating;
3. British rule in India plays a huge role in this story, including "sleeping dictionaries" which were "young Indian women who slept with British men and educated them in the ways of India";
4. one may be frustrated by the lies Kamala told and the secrets she kept, but I totally understood, that as a young, unmarried Indian woman during this time period, doing so was a matter of survival;
5. at first, I was daunted by the long list of characters read aloud at the beginning of the story, but I soon realized that I didn't have much difficulty discerning who was who as the story progressed; and,
6. once again, Sneha Mathan is a most authentic narrator!
Niggle:
For such a detailed and heart-wrenching volume, the ending felt a little too neatly wrapped up.
Overall Thoughts:
After reading this book and, most recently, Can You Hear the Nightbird Call?, I've learned a lot more about historical aspects in the Punjab region to the west and in the Bengal region to the east!
This epic story is one of love and loss, friendships and misfortune, deception and betrayal, but most of all, its a story of perseverance, survival, and hope.
It's also a story of coincidences, but as one author wrote, "Without coincidences, there is no story."
June 25, 2020
To say that I fell in love with this book is not an exaggeration. It is one of the most beautifully written, soulful stories that I’ve had the pleasure to read. There are those books that are so special, so captivating, that you know it will forever be a part of you, and you will be perpetually indebted to is author for its creation. Where were the Pulitzer people last year when this book was published? Sujata Massey knows how to start a book, end a book, and, so importantly, how to include the perfect amount of story between beginning and ending. In her comments about writing The Sleeping Dictionary, Sujata admits that there was some extraneous material she had thought of including, but, thankfully, through her good sense and astute editors, she pared it down to what makes it a novel of exquisite style and content, avoiding a cumbersome tome of good and bad. It is simply the good, and the good is great.
The Sleeping Dictionary is a profoundly moving story of heartbreak, courage, loyalty, betrayal, love, hate, loss, recovery, hope, despair, and victory against the odds. It is historically epic, taking place over the last seventeen years of the British Raj rule in India, which began in 1858 and ended in 1947. Massey shows us how much more it was than just the British oppressing the Indians, how the caste system marked its people, and how the interaction of Muslims, Indians, and Anglo-Indians all played a part in limiting its native-born citizens and freeing them, too. This fascinating story follows an Indian girl from the age of 10 through 27, showing the transformation from one identity to another as Kamala struggles to survive and find some meaning in her existence in a world that itself is rapidly changing. It completely captured my heart and made me ache for the cruelties Kamala suffered along her journey. Her resilience is an amazing feat to follow.
“You ask for my name, the real one, and I cannot tell. It is not for lack of effort.”
1930 finds ten-year-old Pom living with her family in the small Bengali village of Johlpur, where her father farms rice for a landlord. Although her Hindu family is poor and low in the caste system of India, there are many poorer. Her family has just recently been blessed with the birth of a boy, the first in her family, and life is considered good. But, Pom’s world is literally turned upside down when a tidal wave wipes out everyone in her village but her. Near death herself, she is discovered by a Muslim man who works for a girls’ school some distance away. She ends up working as a servant at the school, where her name is changed by the headmistress to Sarah, as a more appropriate name for her surroundings. It is the first of several name changes and identities she will assume. Life is often cruel for the young Indian girl at Lockwood School, but it is also the place where she learns English, develops a love of reading, and makes a friend who has an important impact. It is the first stop in an education of both the good and the bad in life. Her next life experience will prove to be almost unbearable, but she keeps her eye on Calcutta and the hope it holds for a better life. Her name changes with her different identities and experiences, and she will go from Sarah to Pamela to Kamala, her final name, before the story ends. Kamala’s story is entwined with the liberation of India from the British, and, as a result, is in flux with the events of that historic time. Like all great historical fiction, readers will be affected by a desire to learn even more about colonial India and its long fought for freedom. Through Kamala’s life, I was able to encounter the different elements, good and bad, that was India during this period. Her courage and resolve are indicative of a nation fighting for its release to self government.
I was first intrigued by the name of this book and its beautiful cover, and upon finding out to what the title referred, I was sure that this was a book I wanted to read. I was rewarded with a setting, cast of characters, and story that would mesmerize me from beginning to end. The author includes a Hindi/Bengali/English glossary and a cast of characters description section. Though the glossary might at first appear daunting, it is not, and I found it essentially helpful and never distracting. I thank Sujata for writing this book that has so enriched my reading life and given me a favorite for the ages. When you read this novel, don’t be surprised that you will want everyone you know to read this amazing book, knowing that their lives will never be complete unless they do.
The Sleeping Dictionary is a profoundly moving story of heartbreak, courage, loyalty, betrayal, love, hate, loss, recovery, hope, despair, and victory against the odds. It is historically epic, taking place over the last seventeen years of the British Raj rule in India, which began in 1858 and ended in 1947. Massey shows us how much more it was than just the British oppressing the Indians, how the caste system marked its people, and how the interaction of Muslims, Indians, and Anglo-Indians all played a part in limiting its native-born citizens and freeing them, too. This fascinating story follows an Indian girl from the age of 10 through 27, showing the transformation from one identity to another as Kamala struggles to survive and find some meaning in her existence in a world that itself is rapidly changing. It completely captured my heart and made me ache for the cruelties Kamala suffered along her journey. Her resilience is an amazing feat to follow.
“You ask for my name, the real one, and I cannot tell. It is not for lack of effort.”
1930 finds ten-year-old Pom living with her family in the small Bengali village of Johlpur, where her father farms rice for a landlord. Although her Hindu family is poor and low in the caste system of India, there are many poorer. Her family has just recently been blessed with the birth of a boy, the first in her family, and life is considered good. But, Pom’s world is literally turned upside down when a tidal wave wipes out everyone in her village but her. Near death herself, she is discovered by a Muslim man who works for a girls’ school some distance away. She ends up working as a servant at the school, where her name is changed by the headmistress to Sarah, as a more appropriate name for her surroundings. It is the first of several name changes and identities she will assume. Life is often cruel for the young Indian girl at Lockwood School, but it is also the place where she learns English, develops a love of reading, and makes a friend who has an important impact. It is the first stop in an education of both the good and the bad in life. Her next life experience will prove to be almost unbearable, but she keeps her eye on Calcutta and the hope it holds for a better life. Her name changes with her different identities and experiences, and she will go from Sarah to Pamela to Kamala, her final name, before the story ends. Kamala’s story is entwined with the liberation of India from the British, and, as a result, is in flux with the events of that historic time. Like all great historical fiction, readers will be affected by a desire to learn even more about colonial India and its long fought for freedom. Through Kamala’s life, I was able to encounter the different elements, good and bad, that was India during this period. Her courage and resolve are indicative of a nation fighting for its release to self government.
I was first intrigued by the name of this book and its beautiful cover, and upon finding out to what the title referred, I was sure that this was a book I wanted to read. I was rewarded with a setting, cast of characters, and story that would mesmerize me from beginning to end. The author includes a Hindi/Bengali/English glossary and a cast of characters description section. Though the glossary might at first appear daunting, it is not, and I found it essentially helpful and never distracting. I thank Sujata for writing this book that has so enriched my reading life and given me a favorite for the ages. When you read this novel, don’t be surprised that you will want everyone you know to read this amazing book, knowing that their lives will never be complete unless they do.
October 21, 2014
I always feel so ecstatic and proud whenever I get to read books about my own old city- Kolkata-a city where I was born, a city which I call 'Home'. Well I was born in Calcutta and grew up in Kolkata. The Nawabs and the British coined Calcutta as "The City of Palaces". But this proverb changed during the reign of Queen Victoria, and thus Calcutta changed to the sprawling, bustling capital of India. Dennison Berwick has quoted in his book, A Walk along the Ganges:
"There is poverty; there is squalor in so many places in our country (India). It is our disgrace. At least in Calcutta we have also culture and poetry."
And as Dominique Lapierre, the author of the book City of Joy has quoted:
"Calcutta produced more writers than Paris and Rome combined, more literary reviews than London and New York, more cinemas than New Delhi, and more publishers than the rest of the country."
I found another great author named Sujata Massey, a British author having Bengali roots, and when I stumbled upon her book named The City o Palaces, I never imagined that book will be so overwhelming and remarkable. I can bet that people of my city will go crazy over this book. Especially, given the fact that still to this day, Bengalis love to spin the tale of their old Calcutta during the British era to their grandsons and daughters. Being a Bengali, I had also the privilege to inherit such tales about the British era from my grandparents. And reading this book, I felt nostalgic, about all those old stories that my grandparents used to share with me.
I cannot thank enough to Penguin India and especially the author, Sujata Massey, for giving me this golden opportunity to read and review her new novel, The City of Palaces.
This book is about a journey of a young girl to her womanhood which is so profound and striking that it's going to melt your heart and soul and will make your heart fall badly for the city as well as for this young woman.
Pom, Sarah, Camilla, Kamala-These are the names of a single woman!- Have you ever wonder how a woman can get so many names in her single lifetime! Well, as a matter of fact, yes, the protagonist of this book had donned so many names and identities.
Pom was born in a small village near the sea beach town, Digha, Johlpur. Left orphaned by the floods, she survived to the towns and finally bagging a job as a servant in Lockwood School run by the British women, where she was called as Sarah-a Christian. But her fate has stored torture and pain for her, ending up in a false accusation of thievery; she again survives to Kharagpur, where her name changed to Camilla. This was the most torturous and painful period of her life, this is the town, where, she became a woman, where she became mother for the first and the last time and which changed the course of her life drastically. Next she finally survives to her dream city- Calcutta, known as The City of Palaces. And the time when she reached Calcutta, was quite vulnerable. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has already formed his army; Mahatma Gandhi has already started his movement to liberate India from the clutches of India. And here we see, Camilla changes her name to Kamala, finally once and for all and this is the city where she developed a crush on a man who hardly responded to her feelings and this where she fell in love for the very first time. And the day Calcutta was liberated was the day when Kamala's soul finally found peace and freedom that it longed for. Although it was a long and hard journey to the road to freedom, we saw the riots, the famine due to rice-shortage, the war between England and Germany and finally the night of 15th August.
The author has woven this tale so vividly. From the very first pages, I felt that I was time-traveled to the 1930s and most of the time I looked up from the pages of the book to make sure that I was actually not time-traveled. Hats off to the author for making each line of the book sound so real. After all it's a fiction based on the real life events, so sometimes it become so hard to tell the difference. It is quite evident that the author must have drowned herself in the history of Independence in Calcutta, and she did her research quite well. And thus making the book thoroughly bewildering and compelling enough to keep the pages of the book turning till the very end.
The characterization is quite strong and striking. Also she has tried to depict the pain of a woman, how she survives from it and how she fights hard with the world to help protect her own flesh and blood. Kamala was portrayed as an innocent girl, who was smart and brave even at the age of seven to run from the clutches of an evil man, who sweet-talked her into working as a dancer in the Jagganath Temple in Puri, Orissa, brave girl fighting with Cholera and flood, ambitious woman looking for a job in the posh and sophisticated offices of Calcutta, a protective mother, who fought like a warrior to save her daughter from prostitution. All in all, Pom or Kamala, is represents the face of modern women of our country who fights and thrives hard to make a name. Maybe she is emotionally weak, but she is a one true great fighter. Even the other characters are also quite remarkable like Rose Baker being the cunning owner of the Rose-Villa, who knew how to deal business like the back-of-her-hand, Pankaj, a lawyer, thriving hard to bring freedom to his country, I loved how Pankaj’s mother used to say that he is married to India, then the best character of the book is Simon Lewes, a British employee working in the Indian Political Services. I really adored this character with all my heart, how being a British, he remains loyal to India and even he utilizes his governmental power to protect the poor people during the time of famine and poverty, how after learning all those cold hard truth about Kamala, he still embraces her with his full heart and mind.
Wrap up yourself in this tale of freedom of a woman from her pain and misfortune and find yourself astonished to see how this tale drags you into the past.
"There is poverty; there is squalor in so many places in our country (India). It is our disgrace. At least in Calcutta we have also culture and poetry."
And as Dominique Lapierre, the author of the book City of Joy has quoted:
"Calcutta produced more writers than Paris and Rome combined, more literary reviews than London and New York, more cinemas than New Delhi, and more publishers than the rest of the country."
I found another great author named Sujata Massey, a British author having Bengali roots, and when I stumbled upon her book named The City o Palaces, I never imagined that book will be so overwhelming and remarkable. I can bet that people of my city will go crazy over this book. Especially, given the fact that still to this day, Bengalis love to spin the tale of their old Calcutta during the British era to their grandsons and daughters. Being a Bengali, I had also the privilege to inherit such tales about the British era from my grandparents. And reading this book, I felt nostalgic, about all those old stories that my grandparents used to share with me.
I cannot thank enough to Penguin India and especially the author, Sujata Massey, for giving me this golden opportunity to read and review her new novel, The City of Palaces.
This book is about a journey of a young girl to her womanhood which is so profound and striking that it's going to melt your heart and soul and will make your heart fall badly for the city as well as for this young woman.
Pom, Sarah, Camilla, Kamala-These are the names of a single woman!- Have you ever wonder how a woman can get so many names in her single lifetime! Well, as a matter of fact, yes, the protagonist of this book had donned so many names and identities.
Pom was born in a small village near the sea beach town, Digha, Johlpur. Left orphaned by the floods, she survived to the towns and finally bagging a job as a servant in Lockwood School run by the British women, where she was called as Sarah-a Christian. But her fate has stored torture and pain for her, ending up in a false accusation of thievery; she again survives to Kharagpur, where her name changed to Camilla. This was the most torturous and painful period of her life, this is the town, where, she became a woman, where she became mother for the first and the last time and which changed the course of her life drastically. Next she finally survives to her dream city- Calcutta, known as The City of Palaces. And the time when she reached Calcutta, was quite vulnerable. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has already formed his army; Mahatma Gandhi has already started his movement to liberate India from the clutches of India. And here we see, Camilla changes her name to Kamala, finally once and for all and this is the city where she developed a crush on a man who hardly responded to her feelings and this where she fell in love for the very first time. And the day Calcutta was liberated was the day when Kamala's soul finally found peace and freedom that it longed for. Although it was a long and hard journey to the road to freedom, we saw the riots, the famine due to rice-shortage, the war between England and Germany and finally the night of 15th August.
The author has woven this tale so vividly. From the very first pages, I felt that I was time-traveled to the 1930s and most of the time I looked up from the pages of the book to make sure that I was actually not time-traveled. Hats off to the author for making each line of the book sound so real. After all it's a fiction based on the real life events, so sometimes it become so hard to tell the difference. It is quite evident that the author must have drowned herself in the history of Independence in Calcutta, and she did her research quite well. And thus making the book thoroughly bewildering and compelling enough to keep the pages of the book turning till the very end.
The characterization is quite strong and striking. Also she has tried to depict the pain of a woman, how she survives from it and how she fights hard with the world to help protect her own flesh and blood. Kamala was portrayed as an innocent girl, who was smart and brave even at the age of seven to run from the clutches of an evil man, who sweet-talked her into working as a dancer in the Jagganath Temple in Puri, Orissa, brave girl fighting with Cholera and flood, ambitious woman looking for a job in the posh and sophisticated offices of Calcutta, a protective mother, who fought like a warrior to save her daughter from prostitution. All in all, Pom or Kamala, is represents the face of modern women of our country who fights and thrives hard to make a name. Maybe she is emotionally weak, but she is a one true great fighter. Even the other characters are also quite remarkable like Rose Baker being the cunning owner of the Rose-Villa, who knew how to deal business like the back-of-her-hand, Pankaj, a lawyer, thriving hard to bring freedom to his country, I loved how Pankaj’s mother used to say that he is married to India, then the best character of the book is Simon Lewes, a British employee working in the Indian Political Services. I really adored this character with all my heart, how being a British, he remains loyal to India and even he utilizes his governmental power to protect the poor people during the time of famine and poverty, how after learning all those cold hard truth about Kamala, he still embraces her with his full heart and mind.
Wrap up yourself in this tale of freedom of a woman from her pain and misfortune and find yourself astonished to see how this tale drags you into the past.
December 4, 2018
Engrossing and fascinating read! This book reminded me of Memoir of a Geisha, but set in India. I had no idea during the 1930's that there were prostitutes in India that were referred to as Sleeping Dictionaries - these young women spoke impeccable English and were well-cultured, which separated them from regular prostitutes. They helped British men, who did not speak the native tongue, negotiate deals with Indian dignitaries, hence how their name came about. Interesting right?
I have to admit though, I was apprehensive about going into this whopping 528 page novel. And the drab cover-art and title did not help much. But I really liked the synopsis and thought I would give it a shot, and I'm glad I did. The writing style was very fluid and fast paced with tons of suspense. I was hooked from the first page. The characters were well-developed and easy to get into. I couldn't help but to empathize with the protagonist every time she fell into a new situation. I just couldn't put down this book. Definitely a page turner.
As I was reading, I couldn't help but draw some parallels to the Civil Rights movement. There were a lot of protest and police brutality going on during this era between Indians and the British,as the Indians were fighting for their Independence. Very insightful.
This book also has some War World 2 elements, which I found quite fascinating.
Brief synopsis: The story is set in Bengal India during the 1930's. It follows a young Bengali village girl by the name of Pom. She loses her family to a tsunami, and winds up in a boarding school working as a fan puller and servant. After being accused of stealing, she flees to Calcutta and ends up in a brothel.
Over all guys, satisfying and light read, yet educational with beautiful descriptions of India. The only thing I didn't care too much for was the ending. It came together too neatly, which seemed far fetched. However it didn't take away the poignancy from the story.
I would recommend this book if you are into historical fiction, or enjoy books like Memoirs of a Geisha. 4 stars.
I have to admit though, I was apprehensive about going into this whopping 528 page novel. And the drab cover-art and title did not help much. But I really liked the synopsis and thought I would give it a shot, and I'm glad I did. The writing style was very fluid and fast paced with tons of suspense. I was hooked from the first page. The characters were well-developed and easy to get into. I couldn't help but to empathize with the protagonist every time she fell into a new situation. I just couldn't put down this book. Definitely a page turner.
As I was reading, I couldn't help but draw some parallels to the Civil Rights movement. There were a lot of protest and police brutality going on during this era between Indians and the British,as the Indians were fighting for their Independence. Very insightful.
This book also has some War World 2 elements, which I found quite fascinating.
Brief synopsis: The story is set in Bengal India during the 1930's. It follows a young Bengali village girl by the name of Pom. She loses her family to a tsunami, and winds up in a boarding school working as a fan puller and servant. After being accused of stealing, she flees to Calcutta and ends up in a brothel.
Over all guys, satisfying and light read, yet educational with beautiful descriptions of India. The only thing I didn't care too much for was the ending. It came together too neatly, which seemed far fetched. However it didn't take away the poignancy from the story.
I would recommend this book if you are into historical fiction, or enjoy books like Memoirs of a Geisha. 4 stars.
December 10, 2020
Oh, how I loved the start of the book. I finished reading close to 100 pages without even realising it. The story is set in the 1930's British-occupied India and goes on till India's independence. Given my fascination for reading stories set in Bengal, the location made it more appealing. The first half of the book was a breeze and just so difficult to put down. Actually, I would say that till about 80% of the book, I was sure it was going to be a five-star read. But then the ending happened.
To me, it felt like that after spending so much time crafting the story, the author seemed to be in a rush in the end. The last few pages of the book did not feel as organically written as the rest of the book. But it was still a brilliant book that I would definitely recommend if you're looking for Indian historical fiction.
The book reminded me of another brilliant read of this year, again based in Bengal - Jorasanko. It was just as gripping and impassioned. Not sure about the historical accuracies of the book, but it did cover the horrific Bengal famine of 1943 which was a result of a massive policy failure by Churchill.
I would have loved to give it five stars! Also, please lead me towards more books set in Bengal!
To me, it felt like that after spending so much time crafting the story, the author seemed to be in a rush in the end. The last few pages of the book did not feel as organically written as the rest of the book. But it was still a brilliant book that I would definitely recommend if you're looking for Indian historical fiction.
The book reminded me of another brilliant read of this year, again based in Bengal - Jorasanko. It was just as gripping and impassioned. Not sure about the historical accuracies of the book, but it did cover the horrific Bengal famine of 1943 which was a result of a massive policy failure by Churchill.
I would have loved to give it five stars! Also, please lead me towards more books set in Bengal!
August 2, 2023
Re-Read
Setting: 1925-1947 India
As the only survivor of a tidal wave that destroys her village, Pom is taken away by her rescuers to a school where she is then renamed Sarah and given a job as a servant.
Pom/Sarah is smart and learns first by listening and then by reading.
Sarah then moves to Kharagpur hoping to become a teacher, but is lured into a life of prostitution and is now known as Pamela.
She survives because of her involvement in the burgeoning movement for independence.
Now in Calcutta, she becomes Kamala and finds a position as a librarian for Simon an English Civil servant.
This is her chance now to network with a band of freedom fighters.
Kamala then begins spying on a besotted Simon and discovers he follows the movements of the revolutionaries.
Will love finally give Kamala a home and a sense of self?
Or will the coming War sweep her hopes away once more?
Don't let that cover fool you into thinking this is a book of a mistress who teaches her master the customs and language of the country.
What an amazing Heroine as well as a survivor!
The story of Pom/Sarah/Kamala slowly but sometimes painstakingly relates her journey through childhood then to a revolutionary War and at last a lover.
A well told story with a historical/political background that doesn't overtake the story and leave you confused or bored.
There is sadness, tragedy, joy, and finally love and triumph.
What I liked most, there is everything in this saga to keep you turning the pages and to root for this Heroine who never gives up.
While I am not a big fan of reading settings/plots etc. in India. I do highly recommend for fans of historical settings in India.
Setting: 1925-1947 India
As the only survivor of a tidal wave that destroys her village, Pom is taken away by her rescuers to a school where she is then renamed Sarah and given a job as a servant.
Pom/Sarah is smart and learns first by listening and then by reading.
Sarah then moves to Kharagpur hoping to become a teacher, but is lured into a life of prostitution and is now known as Pamela.
She survives because of her involvement in the burgeoning movement for independence.
Now in Calcutta, she becomes Kamala and finds a position as a librarian for Simon an English Civil servant.
This is her chance now to network with a band of freedom fighters.
Kamala then begins spying on a besotted Simon and discovers he follows the movements of the revolutionaries.
Will love finally give Kamala a home and a sense of self?
Or will the coming War sweep her hopes away once more?
Don't let that cover fool you into thinking this is a book of a mistress who teaches her master the customs and language of the country.
What an amazing Heroine as well as a survivor!
The story of Pom/Sarah/Kamala slowly but sometimes painstakingly relates her journey through childhood then to a revolutionary War and at last a lover.
A well told story with a historical/political background that doesn't overtake the story and leave you confused or bored.
There is sadness, tragedy, joy, and finally love and triumph.
What I liked most, there is everything in this saga to keep you turning the pages and to root for this Heroine who never gives up.
While I am not a big fan of reading settings/plots etc. in India. I do highly recommend for fans of historical settings in India.
October 5, 2013
A whopping 528 pages of reading pleasure.
In 1930, Pom, a ten year old girl is left an orphan when a huge wave washes her entire village away. It relates her struggles from this time until she is around 18 years old, The book ends with, Pom, an adult, who joins in the political struggle for India to become n independent nation.
This book was well worth the time spent reading it. Props to Sujata Massey.
In 1930, Pom, a ten year old girl is left an orphan when a huge wave washes her entire village away. It relates her struggles from this time until she is around 18 years old, The book ends with, Pom, an adult, who joins in the political struggle for India to become n independent nation.
This book was well worth the time spent reading it. Props to Sujata Massey.
September 6, 2017
"THE SLEEPING DICTIONARY" is one of the best novels I've had the pleasure of reading this year. Sujata Massey, also known for her Rei Shimura mystery novels, is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. This is a rich, multi-layered, intense, thrilling story centered on the life of a young woman from West Bengal during the latter days of the British Raj. She began her life as Pom in a small village that was wiped out by an ocean wave, leaving her to cling to life on the highest rung of a lowly tree til she manages to draw the attention of a small rowing boat, which takes her to shore.
As a 10 year old orphan in 1930, Pom ends up in a British boarding school, where she (renamed Sarah) works as a servant and discovers she has a gift for languages. She learns to read and develops a passion for books and a remarkable facility in the English language, so much so that she can speak it like any well-heeled Briton. While at the boarding school, Sarah strikes up a friendship with Bidushi, an Indian girl of similar age from a well-to-do Brahmin family who struggles to learn English. Sarah helps Bidushi with her studies, and over time, their friendship grows, making them deeply bonded to one another.
Bidushi's family has made arrangements for her to marry Pankaj, a fellow Brahmin who is studying law in London. The family encourages both Bidushi and Pankaj to maintain a correspondence. Bidushi shares Pankaj's letters with Sarah, and asks her help in writing letters in response to him. As a result, Sarah learns a great deal about Pankaj (who is among those Indians determined to achieve independence for their country from the British), and this proves to figure prominently in Sarah's later life. A life full of twists and turns that sees her forced out of the boarding school before she could complete her studies, and find refuge in Kharagpur. There she faces many challenges and experiences the darker, more sinister side of life before again, she finds she must flee. From Kharagpur, Sarah moves on to Calcutta in the late 1930s. There Sarah takes on a new identity, friends, work, and a deep, abiding commitment to the growing independence movement. The novel never flags. One you pick it up and read a few chapters, you're hooked.
I highly recommend "THE SLEEPING DICTIONARY" to everyone. It has an English/Hindi/Bengali reference guide that will further enrich your reading experience. And for those readers with a love for Indian cuisine, a few recipes are provided at novel's end under the title "A Taste of Old Calcutta."
As a 10 year old orphan in 1930, Pom ends up in a British boarding school, where she (renamed Sarah) works as a servant and discovers she has a gift for languages. She learns to read and develops a passion for books and a remarkable facility in the English language, so much so that she can speak it like any well-heeled Briton. While at the boarding school, Sarah strikes up a friendship with Bidushi, an Indian girl of similar age from a well-to-do Brahmin family who struggles to learn English. Sarah helps Bidushi with her studies, and over time, their friendship grows, making them deeply bonded to one another.
Bidushi's family has made arrangements for her to marry Pankaj, a fellow Brahmin who is studying law in London. The family encourages both Bidushi and Pankaj to maintain a correspondence. Bidushi shares Pankaj's letters with Sarah, and asks her help in writing letters in response to him. As a result, Sarah learns a great deal about Pankaj (who is among those Indians determined to achieve independence for their country from the British), and this proves to figure prominently in Sarah's later life. A life full of twists and turns that sees her forced out of the boarding school before she could complete her studies, and find refuge in Kharagpur. There she faces many challenges and experiences the darker, more sinister side of life before again, she finds she must flee. From Kharagpur, Sarah moves on to Calcutta in the late 1930s. There Sarah takes on a new identity, friends, work, and a deep, abiding commitment to the growing independence movement. The novel never flags. One you pick it up and read a few chapters, you're hooked.
I highly recommend "THE SLEEPING DICTIONARY" to everyone. It has an English/Hindi/Bengali reference guide that will further enrich your reading experience. And for those readers with a love for Indian cuisine, a few recipes are provided at novel's end under the title "A Taste of Old Calcutta."
February 21, 2017
2,5
Il personaggio principale e le sue vicissitudini non sono credibili. Seguiamo la sua vita da quando è una bambina e perde la famiglia per colpa di un'inondazione. Sembra una povera Cenerentola a cui però alla fine tutto va bene: quando si trova in una brutta situazione riesce sempre a cavarsela come se avesse una buona stella a proteggerla; è sempre forte, decisa e fortunata. Da adulta ancora non ha capito che le bugie hanno le gambe corte, ma anche questa volta tutto si conclude con il lieto fine. Non fa proprio per me. L'unica cosa leggermente interessante di questo romanzo è lo sfondo storico e politico. Alcune parti sono coinvolgenti e avvincenti, ma non c'è sostanza. Potrebbe essere il tipico libro da ombrellone.
English
The main character and its vicissitudes are not credible. We follow her life since her childhood when she loses her family because of a flooding. She seems a poor Cinderella but at the end everything goes well: when she is in a bad situation she is always able to get away as if she has a lucky star that protects her; she is always strong and lucky, also in the worst situations. Still as an adult she doesn't understand that telling lies is never a good solution, but also this time everything ends with a happy ending. It's not my cup of tea. The only slightly interesting thing in this novel is the historical and political background. It is an entertaining and enthralling read and nothing more.
Il personaggio principale e le sue vicissitudini non sono credibili. Seguiamo la sua vita da quando è una bambina e perde la famiglia per colpa di un'inondazione. Sembra una povera Cenerentola a cui però alla fine tutto va bene: quando si trova in una brutta situazione riesce sempre a cavarsela come se avesse una buona stella a proteggerla; è sempre forte, decisa e fortunata. Da adulta ancora non ha capito che le bugie hanno le gambe corte, ma anche questa volta tutto si conclude con il lieto fine. Non fa proprio per me. L'unica cosa leggermente interessante di questo romanzo è lo sfondo storico e politico. Alcune parti sono coinvolgenti e avvincenti, ma non c'è sostanza. Potrebbe essere il tipico libro da ombrellone.
English
The main character and its vicissitudes are not credible. We follow her life since her childhood when she loses her family because of a flooding. She seems a poor Cinderella but at the end everything goes well: when she is in a bad situation she is always able to get away as if she has a lucky star that protects her; she is always strong and lucky, also in the worst situations. Still as an adult she doesn't understand that telling lies is never a good solution, but also this time everything ends with a happy ending. It's not my cup of tea. The only slightly interesting thing in this novel is the historical and political background. It is an entertaining and enthralling read and nothing more.
July 6, 2013
I really like Sujata Massey's Rei Shimura series, so I had high hopes for this. I didn't love it, sadly, but it was a pretty good book. It takes place in a very interesting time and place, and the storyline kept me reading. I was not as caught up as I would have liked, though. I found the main character very formal, and while I know that that was most likely the author's intention, it meant that I felt removed from her even though the story is told in the first person. I found her almost unbelievably naive at times, and also quick to judge others (interesting combo). The romantic interest built up slowly, but there were the moments that anyone who has ever read a formulaic romance novel is familiar with: the, "oh no, the truth will get out and everyone will know we're sleeping together and I can't ruin his reputation like that so I'd better be noble and self-sacrificing for a few minutes until he tells me he doesn't care what people think". I did a bit of eye rolling, I have to admit... The last portion of the book ran off in all directions and I thought it seemed rushed (the book is nearly 500 pages already, what's a few more really?).
June 6, 2021
The Sleeping Dictionary was a great book about a you g girl who grows as India shakes off the last vestiges of the British colonial empire, and the tribulations faced by our character and the country along the way. All the characters were well-rounded, and the extreme detail with which Massey recreates the era is laudable. All in all, a fantastic author whose works I will now seek actively.
September 21, 2019
5 freakin awesome stars !
Firstly I must thank my Goodreads friend @Barbara for recommending me this author (though she had recommended another book, i picked up this one). This book will suck you in like quicksand. I've sat up late into many a nights simply because I could not stop myself from reading on.
This is the story of Pam/Sarah/Kamala (the same protagonist but with different names at several stages in her life), a village girl and her life's journey set against the back ground of World War II and the Indian independence struggle. Orphaned at a very young age, she finds her way to the small town of Kharagpur where having to fend for herself, land up (quite unwilling) in an unsavory professions.
Determined to escape this fate she escapes to the bustling city of Calcutta and finds a job as a Librarian for a Englishman working for the Indian Civil Services.
What follows is an excellent story as she is determined to do her best at her job but at the same time is eager to contribute in whatever way possible to India's freedom struggle. She attends political gathering and meets many revolutionaries and shares top rated secrets by spying on her 'employer'.
Eventually realizing her love for her English employer, she is torn between her love and her duty towards her country. The author's description of colonial time 'Calcutta' is stunning and seems completely different from the city that it is today.
The writing is beautiful and every page is a delight. I was hoping this book would never end.
Firstly I must thank my Goodreads friend @Barbara for recommending me this author (though she had recommended another book, i picked up this one). This book will suck you in like quicksand. I've sat up late into many a nights simply because I could not stop myself from reading on.
This is the story of Pam/Sarah/Kamala (the same protagonist but with different names at several stages in her life), a village girl and her life's journey set against the back ground of World War II and the Indian independence struggle. Orphaned at a very young age, she finds her way to the small town of Kharagpur where having to fend for herself, land up (quite unwilling) in an unsavory professions.
Determined to escape this fate she escapes to the bustling city of Calcutta and finds a job as a Librarian for a Englishman working for the Indian Civil Services.
What follows is an excellent story as she is determined to do her best at her job but at the same time is eager to contribute in whatever way possible to India's freedom struggle. She attends political gathering and meets many revolutionaries and shares top rated secrets by spying on her 'employer'.
Eventually realizing her love for her English employer, she is torn between her love and her duty towards her country. The author's description of colonial time 'Calcutta' is stunning and seems completely different from the city that it is today.
The writing is beautiful and every page is a delight. I was hoping this book would never end.
July 14, 2020
Breathtaking view into colonial India through the eyes of a girl, Pam, of a lower caste, not quite an untouchable, but with no thought of opportunity beyond a lowly servant.
Her young life is marked by tragedy and wretched people who let prejudice and privilege mar their humanity. Her adult life is marked by culture, passion her beloved homeland, and the haunting whisks of the life she ran from, which threaten to consume her.
Lyrical, rich with Indian custom and British influence, Pom's story evokes love and loss, tragedy and triumph, deception and delight, a swirl of sounds and smells and tastes so rich you can almost imagine oneself on the Bengali coast or among the streets of Calcutta in the 1940s.
Gorgeous on audio, well narrated and easy to follow, even with the Indian names and references.
Her young life is marked by tragedy and wretched people who let prejudice and privilege mar their humanity. Her adult life is marked by culture, passion her beloved homeland, and the haunting whisks of the life she ran from, which threaten to consume her.
Lyrical, rich with Indian custom and British influence, Pom's story evokes love and loss, tragedy and triumph, deception and delight, a swirl of sounds and smells and tastes so rich you can almost imagine oneself on the Bengali coast or among the streets of Calcutta in the 1940s.
Gorgeous on audio, well narrated and easy to follow, even with the Indian names and references.
August 9, 2017
Acquistato anni fa, Dio solo sa il perché, e - cosa strana - non ricordo nemmeno dove. Discreto lavoro di rivisitazione di alcuni classici che vengono qui "innestati" in un contesto inusuale; leggendo i ringraziamenti si deduce che il libro abbia comportato un corposo lavoro di ricerca, il risultato è in ogni caso una lettura abbastanza leggera e decisamente in rosa, con qualche concessione al luogo comune e tuttavia non sciocca, piacevolissime atmosfere esotiche nell'India degli anni '30 e '40; il lato negativo non sta tanto nelle tinte rosa del racconto quanto in una certa lentezza che si riscontra nella parte centrale oltre che in un finale scontatissimo.
Romanzo molto british, molto vittoriano, non solo perché ambientato nell'India dell'impero britannico ma soprattutto perché ha un impianto assolutamente in stile 'Piccola Dorrit' o 'Piccola principessa', più una buona dose di 'Jane Eyre' da cui vengono riprese non solo la trama ma anche alcune scene in forma di 'remake': la protagonista orfana e sfortunata appartenente ad una delle caste inferiori, grazie a una forte personalità unita a caparbietà e ottime capacità di apprendimento e di relazionarsi con gli altri, attraverso mille peripezie saprà cavarsela e giungere all'happy ending. Il titolo originale non si discosta poi molto dalla traduzione scelta per l'italiano, 'The sleeping dictionary' ossia 'Dizionario da camera' - ricopio direttamente dal glossario in appendice - "metafora con cui i colonialisti olandesi e inglesi indicavano le amanti che insegnavano loro anche la lingua e le usanze del paese"; tale titolo racchiude in sé una discreta parte delle avventure e dei significati di questa storia, che intrattiene abbastanza bene e nel contempo insegna qualcosa sul sistema delle caste, sulla colonizzazione e l'indipendenza dell'India. Last but not least, si impara ad apprezzare un interessantissimo autore bengalese, Rabindranath Tagore, con alcune ottime epigrafi all'inizio dei vari capitoli e citazioni all'interno del romanzo stesso.
Romanzo molto british, molto vittoriano, non solo perché ambientato nell'India dell'impero britannico ma soprattutto perché ha un impianto assolutamente in stile 'Piccola Dorrit' o 'Piccola principessa', più una buona dose di 'Jane Eyre' da cui vengono riprese non solo la trama ma anche alcune scene in forma di 'remake': la protagonista orfana e sfortunata appartenente ad una delle caste inferiori, grazie a una forte personalità unita a caparbietà e ottime capacità di apprendimento e di relazionarsi con gli altri, attraverso mille peripezie saprà cavarsela e giungere all'happy ending. Il titolo originale non si discosta poi molto dalla traduzione scelta per l'italiano, 'The sleeping dictionary' ossia 'Dizionario da camera' - ricopio direttamente dal glossario in appendice - "metafora con cui i colonialisti olandesi e inglesi indicavano le amanti che insegnavano loro anche la lingua e le usanze del paese"; tale titolo racchiude in sé una discreta parte delle avventure e dei significati di questa storia, che intrattiene abbastanza bene e nel contempo insegna qualcosa sul sistema delle caste, sulla colonizzazione e l'indipendenza dell'India. Last but not least, si impara ad apprezzare un interessantissimo autore bengalese, Rabindranath Tagore, con alcune ottime epigrafi all'inizio dei vari capitoli e citazioni all'interno del romanzo stesso.
May 23, 2014
This was a great historical fiction story. It was one little girl’s journey in India, defying a natural disaster, as well as man-made disasters. She defied bad luck and bad decisions. She did what she had to do to survive. She followed her heart. She took giant leaps of faith and worked hard to get what she wanted even when she wasn't sure if it was possible. It was also a time when India was fighting for its independence. I found that part of the story equally compelling.
The author did a beautiful job with the descriptions and character development. Even though the main character seemed quite formal, I felt I got to know her through her struggles and her triumphs, and that is because the author made it so. She really opened up the world of this little girl, who grew to womanhood, along a rocky road. And I just have to say....I loved Simon.
It also kept a nice pace for its length. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
The author did a beautiful job with the descriptions and character development. Even though the main character seemed quite formal, I felt I got to know her through her struggles and her triumphs, and that is because the author made it so. She really opened up the world of this little girl, who grew to womanhood, along a rocky road. And I just have to say....I loved Simon.
It also kept a nice pace for its length. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
August 2, 2016
All on its own, the story is worth the read -- epic and intimate, rich in historical detail without being pedantic. Added value comes through an organic depiction of India's people, culture and languages on both a personal and grand scale.
I was impressed by author Sujata Massey's artful code-switching, using Bengali words for things that would sound dull and awkward with English approximations. A glossary makes it all accessible.
The audio version narrated by Sneha Mathan is also superb. I recommend listening to some of it even if you prefer to read. Hearing Mathan's expert pronunciations and accents gave voice to the print version for me, and I even listened later to some parts that I had read in print. In this way, I nearly read the entire book twice, and would have had the audio version not been due back to the library.
I was impressed by author Sujata Massey's artful code-switching, using Bengali words for things that would sound dull and awkward with English approximations. A glossary makes it all accessible.
The audio version narrated by Sneha Mathan is also superb. I recommend listening to some of it even if you prefer to read. Hearing Mathan's expert pronunciations and accents gave voice to the print version for me, and I even listened later to some parts that I had read in print. In this way, I nearly read the entire book twice, and would have had the audio version not been due back to the library.
January 24, 2019
All is rolling along smartly in this novel of pre-independence India. we have a brave little heroine, surviving against all odds, there is a Jane-Eyre-Lowwood-School phase, and then a stint in a brothel by way of a change up. WW11 hits, and the challenges multiply as independence approaches. This all worked for me until the hero turned up and spoiled things by being - just too too perfect. I'd gotten used to the struggle!
June 11, 2021
The book takes you on a wonderful journey riding on the thoughts of a little peasant girl, travelling through time during India’s turbulent freedom struggle years in the 1940’s.
A poor orphan girl’s innocence is rudely shattered as she struggles to come to terms with the guile and the ruthlessness of the adult world in which she is swept as she struggles helplessly to find an anchor
Sujata Massey weaves an engrossing tale skillfully making for an enjoyable read.
A poor orphan girl’s innocence is rudely shattered as she struggles to come to terms with the guile and the ruthlessness of the adult world in which she is swept as she struggles helplessly to find an anchor
Sujata Massey weaves an engrossing tale skillfully making for an enjoyable read.
January 2, 2015
I loved this book; the story, the writing, the history and the strength of character of one woman through all of it. Set in India prior to and during WWII and Indian independence, the story follows an orphaned Indian girl and her relationships with the ruling British. I couldn't put it down and pulled an all nighter to finish it!
June 11, 2021
4.5 stars for this beautifully written saga about a young girl through the time of India’s independence. At times this was painfully gut wrenching, but worth the read to be a part of this bumpy historical journey.
March 24, 2025
Un gioiellino, stupendo! Super consigliato a chi ha amato "Shantaram".
August 28, 2013
4.5 stars. "The Sleeping Dictionary" is a sweeping historical-fiction tale about a young woman trying to find her way in India during a time of great change in that particular country. Kamala (called by many other names in the book) knows that she truly has the odds stacked against her at so many stages in her life. This book is her story and it is truly a treat.
Standing at almost 500 pages, this book about one person's life could have gone awry by simply becoming overwhelming and perhaps too drawn out. I can honestly say that this book was gripping throughout. I really, really liked Kamala. Even though she was born to a lowly caste and had her entire family swept away from her, she succeeds because she is so resourceful and so smart. She knows exactly what decisions are going to get her further. Oh and I don't know about you but I really like when people in books are bookish and Kamala is! She teaches herself to read and from that point on, she reads voraciously. There is so much to like about her and I love that the book was told from her point of view. It really allows the reader to get fully entrenched into the story.
India is an absolutely fascinating place to me. I love reading about the country but I have read very little historical fiction about the country and even less about the independence movement. I loved this book for the armchair traveling aspect of this book and all of the historical detail was really wonderful.
Now according to Goodreads, this book is only the first book in a planned series, which was wonderfully exciting news to me. I would love to see what happens to Kamala and her family in the future!
Overall, this was a fantastic historical fiction that I know I will want to re-read in the future!
Standing at almost 500 pages, this book about one person's life could have gone awry by simply becoming overwhelming and perhaps too drawn out. I can honestly say that this book was gripping throughout. I really, really liked Kamala. Even though she was born to a lowly caste and had her entire family swept away from her, she succeeds because she is so resourceful and so smart. She knows exactly what decisions are going to get her further. Oh and I don't know about you but I really like when people in books are bookish and Kamala is! She teaches herself to read and from that point on, she reads voraciously. There is so much to like about her and I love that the book was told from her point of view. It really allows the reader to get fully entrenched into the story.
India is an absolutely fascinating place to me. I love reading about the country but I have read very little historical fiction about the country and even less about the independence movement. I loved this book for the armchair traveling aspect of this book and all of the historical detail was really wonderful.
Now according to Goodreads, this book is only the first book in a planned series, which was wonderfully exciting news to me. I would love to see what happens to Kamala and her family in the future!
Overall, this was a fantastic historical fiction that I know I will want to re-read in the future!
September 4, 2016
While this book had some good issues about Indian Independence, I found myself getting irritated at the heroine. I had a hard time reconciling her lack of education with the way she spoke. Her motives didn't make sense to me sometimes. I got tired of the constant lies and wondered why she didn't just tell the truth and get everything out of the way. As a result I ended up skimming through the entire second half of the book.
March 11, 2018
This book was looong. It tells the story of India's Independence from Britain through the perspective of one woman. The problem is that the struggle for independence took years and there are times this book just drags.
The love interest is uncommonly forgiving and angelic. The baddies are bad to the bone and have no saving graces. So all in all, I found reading this book to be a chore.
Instead, I highly recommend The Widows of Malabar Hill by the same author. That book is a delight.
The love interest is uncommonly forgiving and angelic. The baddies are bad to the bone and have no saving graces. So all in all, I found reading this book to be a chore.
Instead, I highly recommend The Widows of Malabar Hill by the same author. That book is a delight.
August 19, 2013
An elegant novel about a woman's journey from the villages of India through a brothel to the fight for Indian independence. Enchanting!
March 4, 2023
One of her best and most beautifully written.
October 7, 2013
THE BOOKISH DAME REVIEWS :
This is one of those books I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked it up to read. When I opened it and saw the glossary of words, I was nearly traumatized! It was daunting to think I might need them, as well as the cast of characters listed, to get through the book. Soon, I found it was far from the truth. The author was just being accommodating in the extreme and we can thank her for the kindness though it was not really necessary. She is actually a magnificent author with much to say about the Indian culture and British colonialism, but she says it in such an enticing and engaging way, I was captivated from the first chapter and couldn't put the book down 'til the end.
As Ms Massey takes us on Pom's journey of grief and self-discovery, survival and love, we are swept away by her determination and her ability to integrate the nuggets of truth around her. I fell in love with the little girl to the grown woman in her. She is a darling girl with lots of spunk and courage for the tasks put before her...and she's a strong woman role model for those of us who love that type of character!
The streets and different environments of India come alive in Sujata Massey's hands. I could well envision the villages, the brothel, the school and other locales she writes about. Every place teeming with life and interest. I just loved the way she painted the people and "Pom" within the circumstances and surroundings.
This is one of those books that will grab you and keep you reading for the joy and intrigue of it. I was moved along from chapter to chapter. The plot and pace were sure and suspenseful. The culture and the quotes kept me interested, but the storyline was heartfelt. Ms Massey is a consummate storyteller and you'll find yourself held in awe by this book.
5 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
This is one of those books I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked it up to read. When I opened it and saw the glossary of words, I was nearly traumatized! It was daunting to think I might need them, as well as the cast of characters listed, to get through the book. Soon, I found it was far from the truth. The author was just being accommodating in the extreme and we can thank her for the kindness though it was not really necessary. She is actually a magnificent author with much to say about the Indian culture and British colonialism, but she says it in such an enticing and engaging way, I was captivated from the first chapter and couldn't put the book down 'til the end.
As Ms Massey takes us on Pom's journey of grief and self-discovery, survival and love, we are swept away by her determination and her ability to integrate the nuggets of truth around her. I fell in love with the little girl to the grown woman in her. She is a darling girl with lots of spunk and courage for the tasks put before her...and she's a strong woman role model for those of us who love that type of character!
The streets and different environments of India come alive in Sujata Massey's hands. I could well envision the villages, the brothel, the school and other locales she writes about. Every place teeming with life and interest. I just loved the way she painted the people and "Pom" within the circumstances and surroundings.
This is one of those books that will grab you and keep you reading for the joy and intrigue of it. I was moved along from chapter to chapter. The plot and pace were sure and suspenseful. The culture and the quotes kept me interested, but the storyline was heartfelt. Ms Massey is a consummate storyteller and you'll find yourself held in awe by this book.
5 stars Deborah/TheBookishDame
February 3, 2019
The Sleeping Dictionary is the engrossing story of a poor young orphan in India who, through her own intelligence and bravery, fights her way through tragedy and discrimination to earn a good living for herself and to help with India’s struggle for freedom from British rule. The title refers to Indian women who acted as translators for their British lovers.
Sujata Massey is a journalist and mystery writer who makes use of her research skills and her personal connection (through her father) to the Indian state of Bengal, to craft a detailed, believable, can’t-put-down saga.
The story begins in 1930, when a little girl nicknamed “Pom” survives a tsunami that washes away her village and her entire family. Through good luck, her own resourcefulness, and help from others, she finds work as a maid in a British-run boarding school, where she is renamed “Sarah.” While going about her duties, she easily picks up spoken English (including a perfect British accent), and learns to read and write in English and Bengali, her native language.
Check out my complete review at: http://herstorynovels.com/sleeping-di...
Sujata Massey is a journalist and mystery writer who makes use of her research skills and her personal connection (through her father) to the Indian state of Bengal, to craft a detailed, believable, can’t-put-down saga.
The story begins in 1930, when a little girl nicknamed “Pom” survives a tsunami that washes away her village and her entire family. Through good luck, her own resourcefulness, and help from others, she finds work as a maid in a British-run boarding school, where she is renamed “Sarah.” While going about her duties, she easily picks up spoken English (including a perfect British accent), and learns to read and write in English and Bengali, her native language.
Check out my complete review at: http://herstorynovels.com/sleeping-di...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews