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Peacocks Dancing
Rita Maraj is born into an Indian family and raised in Guyana. With a beautiful stepsister and a socially ambitious stepmother, she feels like Cinderella in a society where girls are expected to marry early and on command. Her refusal to do so makes her a distinct oddity. But the arrival of a messenger from the former Maharani of Khandapurnam, a distant relative, is to change her destiny forever. She must set out to India to help tempt the heir apparent back from the religious sect he has joined. The journey is to lead her and her stepsister through the brothels of Bombay, where the younger the girl and the paler the skin, the higher the price. They encounter the old-fashioned drawing rooms of high society, the temples and hospitals of India's multitudes, and finally the old villages from where their family once came. Dramatic, vivid, moving and exotic, Peacocks Dancing is a truly spellbinding read.
485 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
652 people are currently reading
893 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Maas
23 books337 followersSharon Maas was born in Georgetown, Guyana in 1951, and a sense of adventure has followed her around the world. In 1971 she spent a year backpacking around South America, followed by a few months with pioneering friends in the Guyana rainforest, followed by an overland trip to India, followed by a year in a Hindu Ashram.
She settled in Germany where she married, studied, worked, and raised children.
Officially retired, she continues to write from her new home in Ireland.
Her first novel was published by HarperCollins in 1999, followed by two more in 2001 and 2002. At present, she has 10 published works with the digital publisher Bookouture.
She has one self-published work, a retelling of the magnificent Indian epic Mahabharata: a project of love that took her over 30 years to "get right", written under the pen name S. Aruna.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
February 6, 2017
The Lost Daughter of India is a beautifully written tale about love, loss, the lure of a foreign country, and the struggles of childhood and motherhood.
Normally when I read about India in novels, it is with more of an exotic focus on the country. This book shows a much darker side, usually hidden by India’s vibrant colours and seductive beauty. This was a real eye-opener!
Although this story does cover a heavy subject, one that is very real, it is approached with sensitivity and not sensationalised in any way, so although difficult to imagine at times, it is one that we need to open our eyes to, as not everyone is lucky enough to be born into a secure, loving family with the wealth to keep them safe.
The Authors Note is a must read. It helped answer questions I had while reading this book, and brought home just how real this problem is. I’m aware I’m being rather vague about the plot, but I’m trying not to include any spoilers, as certain things aren’t mentioned in the blurb.
Normally when I read about India in novels, it is with more of an exotic focus on the country. This book shows a much darker side, usually hidden by India’s vibrant colours and seductive beauty. This was a real eye-opener!
Although this story does cover a heavy subject, one that is very real, it is approached with sensitivity and not sensationalised in any way, so although difficult to imagine at times, it is one that we need to open our eyes to, as not everyone is lucky enough to be born into a secure, loving family with the wealth to keep them safe.
The Authors Note is a must read. It helped answer questions I had while reading this book, and brought home just how real this problem is. I’m aware I’m being rather vague about the plot, but I’m trying not to include any spoilers, as certain things aren’t mentioned in the blurb.
May 20, 2025
I have read and loved all of Sharon Maas's books but this one! Wow! I think this is her most emotional and beautiful book yet! Such a powerful story, so brilliantly narrated, in such a way that you feel part of it all and are left bereft when it is finished. A book that makes a difference and opens your eyes to the horrors that go on still. India is shown in all its glorious beauty and magnificence and ugliness. I LOVED this story so much. So poignant and touching and heartbreaking. Especially loved Kamal from the very first chapter when he is hiding inside a hamper and the smells and sounds and goings on are so wonderfully shown through what he is sensing, what he is feeling. Also, the chapter with Caroline and her nanny reading her the Mahabharatha was beautiful. Loved the depiction of Paatti and Kamal's residence. All the descriptions are so visceral and beautiful. I loved this book. I lived it. I felt for Asha and loved Janiki. A beautiful story. Sharon's best I think - but then I think this of every book of hers that I read. I cannot wait for her next.
March 2, 2017
I have always liked India. I think it is a country with very rich culture and so it has always intrigued me. This is part of the reason as to why I decided to get this book. I also liked the cover due to the pretty, little girl. The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas begins with the story of Kamal and Caroline long before they met. The two live in very different worlds. However, fate sought of brings them together and they start a relationship that nobody in their families supported. Soon the couple gets married and then they have Asha but things don’t quite work out so well.
This book focuses on so many different themes through which we get to know the characters. Kamal and Caroline are not really the best parents at first. They both had their own issues and in a way, Asha didn’t seem to be a priority. I especially found myself judging Caroline although sometimes I sympathized with her. I can’t imagine how hard it is to move to a new country with a different culture, language and far from the life and people that one is used to. Nevertheless, I didn’t quite agree with her decision to leave her daughter. On the other hand, I liked Kamal and was more sympathetic to him.
The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas is not an easy to book to read. Through the pages, we get to learn about human trafficking and child prostitution. The stories of these little girls and boys were so heartbreaking. It is hard to imagine that such things happen but it’s a sad reality. Although this is fiction, the book is inspired by reality. I was particularly shocked to find out that one of the scariest stories involving a child prostitute was actually inspired by real events. I mean, what is wrong with society? What kind of a human being does that to a fellow human being?
The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas is a sad but necessary story. It tackles some really heavy themes that need to be addressed and maybe one of the ways to do this is by creating awareness about them. There are a few things about that book that I didn’t really like. There were some aspects of the narration that were just a bit too dramatic especially around the conflict resolution. However, this doesn’t change how I felt about the book. I enjoyed the cultural nuances; arranged marriages, housing, food and languages. The writing was also quite beautiful, poignant and I like the fact that the book had multiple narrators including young Asha. I also like the fact that the author’s note explained not only her motivation for writing this book but also the real situation surrounding the main themes. This is my first book by Sharon Maas and it definitely won’t be the last one.
This book focuses on so many different themes through which we get to know the characters. Kamal and Caroline are not really the best parents at first. They both had their own issues and in a way, Asha didn’t seem to be a priority. I especially found myself judging Caroline although sometimes I sympathized with her. I can’t imagine how hard it is to move to a new country with a different culture, language and far from the life and people that one is used to. Nevertheless, I didn’t quite agree with her decision to leave her daughter. On the other hand, I liked Kamal and was more sympathetic to him.
The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas is not an easy to book to read. Through the pages, we get to learn about human trafficking and child prostitution. The stories of these little girls and boys were so heartbreaking. It is hard to imagine that such things happen but it’s a sad reality. Although this is fiction, the book is inspired by reality. I was particularly shocked to find out that one of the scariest stories involving a child prostitute was actually inspired by real events. I mean, what is wrong with society? What kind of a human being does that to a fellow human being?
The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas is a sad but necessary story. It tackles some really heavy themes that need to be addressed and maybe one of the ways to do this is by creating awareness about them. There are a few things about that book that I didn’t really like. There were some aspects of the narration that were just a bit too dramatic especially around the conflict resolution. However, this doesn’t change how I felt about the book. I enjoyed the cultural nuances; arranged marriages, housing, food and languages. The writing was also quite beautiful, poignant and I like the fact that the book had multiple narrators including young Asha. I also like the fact that the author’s note explained not only her motivation for writing this book but also the real situation surrounding the main themes. This is my first book by Sharon Maas and it definitely won’t be the last one.
July 13, 2017
A thoughtfully written tale of family, love and the dark side of inner city India. This is unlike many historical fiction stories I have read; I have been drawn to novels set in India over the last several months and it seems this will be one which sticks out in my memory for some time!
Caroline and Kamal's backgrounds couldn't be more different. She is from a rich, white American family, he is the Indian boy raised by a slightly senile grandmother. After falling in love, they move to India and Caroline falls in love with the rich culture. What should be a picture perfect family soon disintegrates and Caroline flees the country for her native homeland - alone.
Although the storyline didn't take me in the direction I had anticipated, I still enjoyed reading the book. Some of what is written is difficult to digest, chiefly because the book is part based on reality. The authors interviews and notes at the end of the book are a must read.
I will likely read another of the authors books; I thought her writing style was effortlessly good, her characters well developed and her description of India so good that the country became a character within itself. Recommended to most.
Caroline and Kamal's backgrounds couldn't be more different. She is from a rich, white American family, he is the Indian boy raised by a slightly senile grandmother. After falling in love, they move to India and Caroline falls in love with the rich culture. What should be a picture perfect family soon disintegrates and Caroline flees the country for her native homeland - alone.
Although the storyline didn't take me in the direction I had anticipated, I still enjoyed reading the book. Some of what is written is difficult to digest, chiefly because the book is part based on reality. The authors interviews and notes at the end of the book are a must read.
I will likely read another of the authors books; I thought her writing style was effortlessly good, her characters well developed and her description of India so good that the country became a character within itself. Recommended to most.
August 26, 2014
This book has been such a treat to read. It's inspired me to read other of Maas' novels as she is a very entertaining story teller.
The setting for this novel is a little known South American country, Guyana. This in itself is fascinating as I have never read a book with this setting and its interesting history.
Rita is the main protagonist, who comes from a predominantly Indian heritage, although as we read her story we discover that most people seem to have an agglomeration of bloods and histories in them. Rita is a very self possessed young girl who doesn't fit the norm. She grows up with her widowed father until he re-marries. Marylyn the step mother is everything Rita is not, very feminine, conscious of her attire, their social standing and getting the right husband for her daughters. A step sister eventuates, Isabelle. And Rita's whole life is transformed. She mothers her baby sister and sets up a pattern of dependency which stretches throughout their lives.
The story spans most of Rita's adult years and her search for identity and purpose in life. This search leads her to her family in India, and a defining moment when she meets her cousin Kamal. He has his own search for identity and mission in life which is the rescuing of young girls sold into prostitution in Madras and Bombay. It's harrowing but obviously the author is deeply concerned for these girls and we can sense the desperation of their lives in slavery.
A story well written, researched and told.
I really enjoyed reading this novel, it is worth while and entertaining.
The setting for this novel is a little known South American country, Guyana. This in itself is fascinating as I have never read a book with this setting and its interesting history.
Rita is the main protagonist, who comes from a predominantly Indian heritage, although as we read her story we discover that most people seem to have an agglomeration of bloods and histories in them. Rita is a very self possessed young girl who doesn't fit the norm. She grows up with her widowed father until he re-marries. Marylyn the step mother is everything Rita is not, very feminine, conscious of her attire, their social standing and getting the right husband for her daughters. A step sister eventuates, Isabelle. And Rita's whole life is transformed. She mothers her baby sister and sets up a pattern of dependency which stretches throughout their lives.
The story spans most of Rita's adult years and her search for identity and purpose in life. This search leads her to her family in India, and a defining moment when she meets her cousin Kamal. He has his own search for identity and mission in life which is the rescuing of young girls sold into prostitution in Madras and Bombay. It's harrowing but obviously the author is deeply concerned for these girls and we can sense the desperation of their lives in slavery.
A story well written, researched and told.
I really enjoyed reading this novel, it is worth while and entertaining.
March 9, 2018
This was a hard read. My blood was boiling and I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest! How could two parents be so unaware, selfish and stupid? There's no way you can put this book down. It must be finished in one sitting. Child trafficking and prostitution is horrific business. Children being sold by their fathers. How can men buy children the age of 6 and 8? What could be their malfunction? The writing was very compelling. As I write this I'm angry and distraught. I will write more, but I need the characters names to do so.
Asha
Janiki
Ragi (adopted child slave)
Kamal
Caroline
Devaki (woman wrangler of the children)
Asha
Janiki
Ragi (adopted child slave)
Kamal
Caroline
Devaki (woman wrangler of the children)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2017
Sharon Maas is a unique writer and one who really puts extra and more into each and every book.
This is as evocative and atmospheric as ever. Heartbreaking on so many levels and there are some difficult subjects examined here. Child trafficking has to be one of the most heartbreaking issues ever and this book made me sad and realise just how the problem takes hold and destroys all in its path
Heartbreaking and moving. Full review to follow
This is as evocative and atmospheric as ever. Heartbreaking on so many levels and there are some difficult subjects examined here. Child trafficking has to be one of the most heartbreaking issues ever and this book made me sad and realise just how the problem takes hold and destroys all in its path
Heartbreaking and moving. Full review to follow
February 7, 2017
I loved this book My heart was racing at the end of it. Sharon Maas never fails to disappoint me
February 9, 2017
I loved the first 3/4's of this book but thought that the author rushed the story too much towards the end. Worth reading. I will try and get my hands on some of her other books too!
March 13, 2017
This review first appeared on our blog, where Sharon talks to us about wellness, spirituality and yoga in India: http://www.tripfiction.com/poignant-n...
The novel opens with three storylines. Caroline has come to India with an idealised view of the country; Kamal is the grandson of royalty it seems, raised at the Palace of Moti Khodayal; and Asha is a young girl who is farmed out and by an quirk of unfortunate fate finds herself being shipped from pillar to post.
This book is essentially the story of how tiny Asha is abandoned by her mother and is then swept into Indian family life at the Iyengars, where Janiki, an older child, takes her under her wing. But soon the arrangement falls apart, Janiki has gone to study in the States and Asha is bundled off into harsh servitude. However, the family with whom she has been placed, is soon under arrest, once again leaving Asha in the hands of cruel fate. The police are at the house and rather than finding security with them, she falls prey to unscrupulous people and is groomed for child prostitution. The police are complicit in the trade of young girls.
Her parents, living apart, soon come together with Janiki in their mission to find her when they all realise she is missing….
This review first appeared on our blog, where Sharon also talks about her personal experience of wellness and yoga in India.
The theme central to the novel is truly heart rending. This of course is fiction but in the heart of Kamathipura, the red light district of Mumbai, there are thousands of girls and young women who are traded everyday. And that is a truly sobering thought to ponder once the book comes to a close.
As you may guess, the stories of each character introduced at the beginning all dovetail into a cohesive storyline.
At times I did feel that some of the exploits of the characters were a little far-fetched but it’s a good and perceptive story, which blossoms into a very readable novel.
The author clearly knows India well and the feel of the country is beautifully brought to life with all its vicissitudes and contrasts. And Sharon goes on to share her very personal journey
January 20, 2017
‘Bombay, or Mumbai, as it is now to be called, was the enemy. She arrived prepared to do battle, prepared to wrest from its bowels that precious jewel, her Asha.’
Sharon Maas has done it again with The Lost Daughter Of India, having created a heart-felt, intensely moving, beautifully written novel.
When American Caroline meets Indian Kamal, she believes her childhood dreams of India have come true. After marrying, giving birth to their daughter Asha and settling in a small village in India, she realises that this is not the life she wanted, compounded by her struggle to adjust to motherhood. Returning to America, leaving her daughter behind with the family they have resided with, things later go awry when Asha goes missing in India and Caroline, Kamal and Asha’s foster-sister Janiki try desperately to find her. What follows is a gripping story of secrets, regret and desperation in a country of contrasts.
The Lost Daughter Of India is not always a comfortable book to read as it addresses some of the horrifying aspects of India and the way it treats some of its women and children. It touches on topics that are not easy to come to terms with and that are, sadly, a reality for many Indian children, however it is done with sensitivity and understanding.
Told from the perspectives of Asha, Caroline, Kamal and Janiki, Asha’s foster-sister, with Asha’s parts told in first person narrative, Sharon has created well-rounded characters. The impact their different cultures have had on each of them come across perfectly. Asha’s parts really struck me as you feel as though you are actually sat with Asha as she tells her story. She becomes more than a character in a book due to Sharon’s way of having Asha address the reader directly. I really liked this as it ensured that I was fully invested emotionally in Asha’s story and plight. Caroline is at times unrealistic and I didn’t agree with some of her decisions, however I found myself questioning my own views and wondering if I was coming from a very western point of view as a result.
The Lost Daughter of India would make a great book for a reading group as it touches on various themes—attachment difficulties between mother and child, child trafficking, the impact of culture on behaviour and views—that are thought-provoking and ripe for discussion. The downside to reading advance copies of books is being unable to talk about it with someone else who has read it. This is one of those books you really want to get into a conversation about.
And then there is the writing. You are immediately drawn into the book from the prologue. Sharon’s enchanting and rich descriptions evoke all of the sights, sounds, colours and smells of India. As Caroline’s nanny reads to her and Caroline talks about how the book makes her feel, she could be describing how her own books make me feel. Sharon writes about India wonderfully, getting across the dual nature of this country of contrasts perfectly and it made me feel really emotional!
‘Two-faced India, gentle and brutal, gloriously beautiful, hideously ugly. The India that kissed you on one cheek and slapped you on the other. The India that soothed your soul one day and ripped it to shreds the next. The India that nourished your senses and starved your ego, kicking it into the ground.’
The difficulty of finding Asha is portrayed beautifully through the prose, with Sharon illustrating the importance of the setting in such a way that India takes on a life of its own and becomes omnipresent.
I loved The Lost Daughter Of India. It is poignant, evocative, beautiful yet shocking and intelligently and sensitively written. It is all-absorbing, gripping and emotionally charged - an absolute must read and I just hope I have done it justice in this review.
Thank you to Sharon Maas, Bookouture and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Sharon Maas has done it again with The Lost Daughter Of India, having created a heart-felt, intensely moving, beautifully written novel.
When American Caroline meets Indian Kamal, she believes her childhood dreams of India have come true. After marrying, giving birth to their daughter Asha and settling in a small village in India, she realises that this is not the life she wanted, compounded by her struggle to adjust to motherhood. Returning to America, leaving her daughter behind with the family they have resided with, things later go awry when Asha goes missing in India and Caroline, Kamal and Asha’s foster-sister Janiki try desperately to find her. What follows is a gripping story of secrets, regret and desperation in a country of contrasts.
The Lost Daughter Of India is not always a comfortable book to read as it addresses some of the horrifying aspects of India and the way it treats some of its women and children. It touches on topics that are not easy to come to terms with and that are, sadly, a reality for many Indian children, however it is done with sensitivity and understanding.
Told from the perspectives of Asha, Caroline, Kamal and Janiki, Asha’s foster-sister, with Asha’s parts told in first person narrative, Sharon has created well-rounded characters. The impact their different cultures have had on each of them come across perfectly. Asha’s parts really struck me as you feel as though you are actually sat with Asha as she tells her story. She becomes more than a character in a book due to Sharon’s way of having Asha address the reader directly. I really liked this as it ensured that I was fully invested emotionally in Asha’s story and plight. Caroline is at times unrealistic and I didn’t agree with some of her decisions, however I found myself questioning my own views and wondering if I was coming from a very western point of view as a result.
The Lost Daughter of India would make a great book for a reading group as it touches on various themes—attachment difficulties between mother and child, child trafficking, the impact of culture on behaviour and views—that are thought-provoking and ripe for discussion. The downside to reading advance copies of books is being unable to talk about it with someone else who has read it. This is one of those books you really want to get into a conversation about.
And then there is the writing. You are immediately drawn into the book from the prologue. Sharon’s enchanting and rich descriptions evoke all of the sights, sounds, colours and smells of India. As Caroline’s nanny reads to her and Caroline talks about how the book makes her feel, she could be describing how her own books make me feel. Sharon writes about India wonderfully, getting across the dual nature of this country of contrasts perfectly and it made me feel really emotional!
‘Two-faced India, gentle and brutal, gloriously beautiful, hideously ugly. The India that kissed you on one cheek and slapped you on the other. The India that soothed your soul one day and ripped it to shreds the next. The India that nourished your senses and starved your ego, kicking it into the ground.’
The difficulty of finding Asha is portrayed beautifully through the prose, with Sharon illustrating the importance of the setting in such a way that India takes on a life of its own and becomes omnipresent.
I loved The Lost Daughter Of India. It is poignant, evocative, beautiful yet shocking and intelligently and sensitively written. It is all-absorbing, gripping and emotionally charged - an absolute must read and I just hope I have done it justice in this review.
Thank you to Sharon Maas, Bookouture and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
May 25, 2017
“One woman. One impossible choice. Her daughter or her happiness …”
The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Mass is a picturesque depiction of love between two persons living two different parts of the world. Also it portrays Indian royal culture, society as well as child and women trafficking.
Summary:- When Caroline meets Kamal the attraction is instant. He’s enchanting, charismatic and she can’t wait to set up a new life with him in India. Both their families are against the union but Caroline is convinced they’ll come round, especially when she gives birth to a beautiful daughter, Asha.
Asha is an adorable child but Caroline, homesick and beginning to hate the remote Indian village they live in, struggles with motherhood. Kamal is hardly ever there and she feels more and more isolated. In the grips of severe depression Caroline flees back to America, leaving Asha behind.
Ten years later …
Caroline recovered from her illness, is consumed by thoughts of the daughter she abandoned. Desperate to find Asha, she reunites with Kamal, intent on tracking her down. Will they ever be able to find their lost daughter? If they have any chance, they must confront the painful truths of the past and a terrible secret that has been kept for many years, until now.
My thoughts:- The story is about a young couple Caroline and Kamal who met each other in university, fell in love, married and came to India to settle down. However, Caroline felt homesick after the daughter, Asha, was born and she left for her home overseas leaving Asha behind. The Indian Iyenger family with whom Kamal and Caroline resided during their stay in India takes in Asha as their own child. Iyengers’ eldest daughter Janiki is like her second mother. But a doom fell on them when her adoptive parents died and Janiki went to abroad for studies. Iyenger’s younger treacherous brother claims their home and in some circumstances Asha found herself in Bombay (Now Mumbai) red light area.
From the writing it is clear that Sharon Mass has deep knowledge about Indian culture. Well can’t expect less from an authoress who has spent a chunk of her life in this country. She has deftly portrayed the Royal style as well as the dank, deep darkness of a RED LIGHT DISTRICT. A well researched account I must say. The romantic description of Caroline and Kamal and her shattered romantic disposition after seeing the real India with her own eyes is well depicted and obviously true.
Most people have those romantic ideas about thiscountry. Kings and queens, the royalties, golden treasuries; however that isn’t the truth.
The best moment is when Caroline comes back to find her daughter, and the happy ending. It was overdue.
Drawbacks and ratings:- The main drawback is the slow pace of the story. The incidents and accidents were running at the snail pace. And the description of royalties seemed a bit too exaggerated, especially Kamal’s grandmother. But I found some of her habits quite funny.
Also I don’t think I can’t really forgive Kamal or Caroline. Caroline could have taken the child with her. Yes it was true that her parents didn’t like her marriage with Kamal but if they could accept their daughter after all those years why not their granddaughter? If it were because of a child of Indian then they don’t have my respect at all. Also for Kamal it was difficult to care for a child alone but he could have come back from time to time to see her daughter, which he did minimally.
The name is catchy enough and a nice cover.
The story has a good plot and if you like women’s fictions and romance this book is for you.
I rate it 3 stars.
Thanksgiving:- Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the authoress for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Also posted on my blog https://bookwonderlandofsubinita.word...
The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Mass is a picturesque depiction of love between two persons living two different parts of the world. Also it portrays Indian royal culture, society as well as child and women trafficking.
Summary:- When Caroline meets Kamal the attraction is instant. He’s enchanting, charismatic and she can’t wait to set up a new life with him in India. Both their families are against the union but Caroline is convinced they’ll come round, especially when she gives birth to a beautiful daughter, Asha.
Asha is an adorable child but Caroline, homesick and beginning to hate the remote Indian village they live in, struggles with motherhood. Kamal is hardly ever there and she feels more and more isolated. In the grips of severe depression Caroline flees back to America, leaving Asha behind.
Ten years later …
Caroline recovered from her illness, is consumed by thoughts of the daughter she abandoned. Desperate to find Asha, she reunites with Kamal, intent on tracking her down. Will they ever be able to find their lost daughter? If they have any chance, they must confront the painful truths of the past and a terrible secret that has been kept for many years, until now.
My thoughts:- The story is about a young couple Caroline and Kamal who met each other in university, fell in love, married and came to India to settle down. However, Caroline felt homesick after the daughter, Asha, was born and she left for her home overseas leaving Asha behind. The Indian Iyenger family with whom Kamal and Caroline resided during their stay in India takes in Asha as their own child. Iyengers’ eldest daughter Janiki is like her second mother. But a doom fell on them when her adoptive parents died and Janiki went to abroad for studies. Iyenger’s younger treacherous brother claims their home and in some circumstances Asha found herself in Bombay (Now Mumbai) red light area.
From the writing it is clear that Sharon Mass has deep knowledge about Indian culture. Well can’t expect less from an authoress who has spent a chunk of her life in this country. She has deftly portrayed the Royal style as well as the dank, deep darkness of a RED LIGHT DISTRICT. A well researched account I must say. The romantic description of Caroline and Kamal and her shattered romantic disposition after seeing the real India with her own eyes is well depicted and obviously true.
Most people have those romantic ideas about thiscountry. Kings and queens, the royalties, golden treasuries; however that isn’t the truth.
The best moment is when Caroline comes back to find her daughter, and the happy ending. It was overdue.
Drawbacks and ratings:- The main drawback is the slow pace of the story. The incidents and accidents were running at the snail pace. And the description of royalties seemed a bit too exaggerated, especially Kamal’s grandmother. But I found some of her habits quite funny.
Also I don’t think I can’t really forgive Kamal or Caroline. Caroline could have taken the child with her. Yes it was true that her parents didn’t like her marriage with Kamal but if they could accept their daughter after all those years why not their granddaughter? If it were because of a child of Indian then they don’t have my respect at all. Also for Kamal it was difficult to care for a child alone but he could have come back from time to time to see her daughter, which he did minimally.
The name is catchy enough and a nice cover.
The story has a good plot and if you like women’s fictions and romance this book is for you.
I rate it 3 stars.
Thanksgiving:- Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the authoress for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Also posted on my blog https://bookwonderlandofsubinita.word...
June 19, 2017
It's hard to know where to begin with this book, the synopsis given for the book doesn't really match the contents of the book all that well which means that much of its content was a real surprise. The book itself is a gripping one, it's filled with twists and turns, and so much injustice that I found I had to just keep reading in order to make sure things ended correctly. At the same time the subject of the book is one that I would probably never have chosen to read about which naturally changed my feelings about it. I certainly can't say that I enjoyed the book but at the same time I never thought about not continuing with it.
June 11, 2025
3/5 ⭐️ I am sad that this book didn't pan out to be what I was expecting. The Indian culture is so enormously rich and intriguing to me. The cover lured me in easily. However, once I started deep diving into the nitty gritty, I am forlorn to say that it had very slow progression and character development. We visit various themes for discussion centering around culture and acclimation, parenting troubles, human trafficking, conflicts and plenty of heavier to swallow topics. It was almost too much, too fast for the one book and it seemed like the author lost focus? I see it as a necessary evil to teach others about these dark aspects of society - but it seemed overly exaggerated. The synopsis did not match what I read in the contents of the book.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this free eARC and the opportunity to review this book honestly.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this free eARC and the opportunity to review this book honestly.
January 19, 2017
The lost daughter of India is Asha's story - how she is retrieved in the nick of time from the darkness of humanity. The book explores the fickleness & strength of human nature along with some dark secrets of human sex trafficking in a delicate voice, based on excellent research.
January 16, 2018
Love my India novels. Very well written. Sharon Maas does not disappoint!
August 17, 2019
A novel of color and growth
This is not Guyana-born Sharon Maas's first published novel, although I suspect some, if not most, of this was written before the publication of her well-received Of Marriageable Age. Yes, she could have used a great editor here, somebody to whisper in her ear that the novel will gain strength by what is left out.
Consequently this reads like the first novel of a gifted novelist put before the public without benefit of the sort of judicious trimming that lends focus to a work of art.
The setting is Guyana and India, the central character Rita Maraj, whom we meet as a child, a girl at once black and Indian whose language is English, a girl fascinated with life--all of life--ants and horses, tadpoles and dogs, a girl who is a bit "quirky," as she terms herself, a girl who hates remembering dates and doing numbers, but a girl who loves words with the passion of a lexicographer, a girl who can tell a tale like Scheherazade.
This girl could be Sharon Maas herself who has a gift for story and for character; indeed one is compelled to associate Maas's heroine with Maas because knowing only the two from Guyana, one knows no others. And besides the life that Maas depicts growing up in Georgetown is so enthrallingly vivid that it had to be lived.
There is a child-like simplicity to the narrative that I found attractive, a kind of fairytale quality that pits the innocence and goodness of Rita against the world. This is especially accentuated in her relationship with her stepmother, Marilyn, whose shallow personality and unrelenting stupidity are matched only by half sister Isabelle's unmitigated self-absorption.
Certainly Maas is not neutral about her heroine. She has given Rita the integrity that her father, her stepmother, and her half sister lack. Even more, we know that in Rita's soul there is a sense of something more important than the bourgeois values that so dominate the lives of those around her.
Not far into the novel Maas breaks away from Rita and takes us to India where we meet a boy named Kamal who lives in a palace protected from the ugliness of the world by his all-controlling grandmother, Rani, a corpulent woman whose hand moves throughout the day with slow deliberateness from food trays placed around her to her mouth. In Kamal one is reminded of Siddhartha, and indeed the little boy longs to leave the palace, and one day manages to sneak out, and indeed sees some of the same deplorable sights that long ago opened the Buddha's eyes.
Of course Kamal and Rita must meet. But Maas, who loves to tell a story and build and build upon that story toward a culmination, returns after a few chapters to Rita. (Part II, which is about Kamal is only 56 of the 485 pages.) We watch her grow into a teenager and then into a young woman, and we learn the source of her inner strength. It comes from her maternal grandmother, Granny, a venerable woman who lives up river, a woman who sees reflected in the black river not only the stars but the wisdom of the ages, a woman who tells Rita, "Mixed up blood is fine. Mixed up religion, no."
She also gives Rita some diamonds (yes, there is a lot of a woman's fantasy life imbedded in the novel, but Maas does not give in to the easy illusions associated with that genre) and tells her, "Be like this creek. When it is still and its surface unbroken it reflects the truth...and you will know your way." One wonders whether Granny is more Zen or Taoist, but one knows it doesn't matter.
I would like to have seen more complexity in the men. We know Ronnie Maraj, Rita's father only slightly as one who acquiesces all too agreeably to Marilyn's demands. We see his love for others, for his daughters and for Marilyn even, yet there is much of the man that is missing. I was also a little disconcerted at how Maas abruptly kills off some of her creations as though somehow dissatisfied with them. Caroline is a case in point, like a painting began and then set aside, and then painted over with someone new.
This an epic-like read of people and places exotic and different, but curiously so like our own. I could almost say that Rita Maraj reminds me of a girl I went to school with. I can certainly say that her concerns at Number Seven, Georgetown, Guyana are little different from those experienced by girls growing up in, say, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I could even say that Rita exchanges pelicans for peacocks.
--Dennis Littrell, author of the mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri”
This is not Guyana-born Sharon Maas's first published novel, although I suspect some, if not most, of this was written before the publication of her well-received Of Marriageable Age. Yes, she could have used a great editor here, somebody to whisper in her ear that the novel will gain strength by what is left out.
Consequently this reads like the first novel of a gifted novelist put before the public without benefit of the sort of judicious trimming that lends focus to a work of art.
The setting is Guyana and India, the central character Rita Maraj, whom we meet as a child, a girl at once black and Indian whose language is English, a girl fascinated with life--all of life--ants and horses, tadpoles and dogs, a girl who is a bit "quirky," as she terms herself, a girl who hates remembering dates and doing numbers, but a girl who loves words with the passion of a lexicographer, a girl who can tell a tale like Scheherazade.
This girl could be Sharon Maas herself who has a gift for story and for character; indeed one is compelled to associate Maas's heroine with Maas because knowing only the two from Guyana, one knows no others. And besides the life that Maas depicts growing up in Georgetown is so enthrallingly vivid that it had to be lived.
There is a child-like simplicity to the narrative that I found attractive, a kind of fairytale quality that pits the innocence and goodness of Rita against the world. This is especially accentuated in her relationship with her stepmother, Marilyn, whose shallow personality and unrelenting stupidity are matched only by half sister Isabelle's unmitigated self-absorption.
Certainly Maas is not neutral about her heroine. She has given Rita the integrity that her father, her stepmother, and her half sister lack. Even more, we know that in Rita's soul there is a sense of something more important than the bourgeois values that so dominate the lives of those around her.
Not far into the novel Maas breaks away from Rita and takes us to India where we meet a boy named Kamal who lives in a palace protected from the ugliness of the world by his all-controlling grandmother, Rani, a corpulent woman whose hand moves throughout the day with slow deliberateness from food trays placed around her to her mouth. In Kamal one is reminded of Siddhartha, and indeed the little boy longs to leave the palace, and one day manages to sneak out, and indeed sees some of the same deplorable sights that long ago opened the Buddha's eyes.
Of course Kamal and Rita must meet. But Maas, who loves to tell a story and build and build upon that story toward a culmination, returns after a few chapters to Rita. (Part II, which is about Kamal is only 56 of the 485 pages.) We watch her grow into a teenager and then into a young woman, and we learn the source of her inner strength. It comes from her maternal grandmother, Granny, a venerable woman who lives up river, a woman who sees reflected in the black river not only the stars but the wisdom of the ages, a woman who tells Rita, "Mixed up blood is fine. Mixed up religion, no."
She also gives Rita some diamonds (yes, there is a lot of a woman's fantasy life imbedded in the novel, but Maas does not give in to the easy illusions associated with that genre) and tells her, "Be like this creek. When it is still and its surface unbroken it reflects the truth...and you will know your way." One wonders whether Granny is more Zen or Taoist, but one knows it doesn't matter.
I would like to have seen more complexity in the men. We know Ronnie Maraj, Rita's father only slightly as one who acquiesces all too agreeably to Marilyn's demands. We see his love for others, for his daughters and for Marilyn even, yet there is much of the man that is missing. I was also a little disconcerted at how Maas abruptly kills off some of her creations as though somehow dissatisfied with them. Caroline is a case in point, like a painting began and then set aside, and then painted over with someone new.
This an epic-like read of people and places exotic and different, but curiously so like our own. I could almost say that Rita Maraj reminds me of a girl I went to school with. I can certainly say that her concerns at Number Seven, Georgetown, Guyana are little different from those experienced by girls growing up in, say, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I could even say that Rita exchanges pelicans for peacocks.
--Dennis Littrell, author of the mystery novel, “Teddy and Teri”
March 14, 2017
Well researched and written book
I really enjoyed reading this book and its different angles from various members of the family. It was very descriptive of the pitfalls that can arise when a child loses its parents and is subject to the whim of uncaring relatives seeking to rid themselves of the child.
I can well imagine that in India these things might happen where every mouth to feed is extra burden.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes reading this genre as it is well written and well thought out.
I would definitely read more books by Sharon Maas
I really enjoyed reading this book and its different angles from various members of the family. It was very descriptive of the pitfalls that can arise when a child loses its parents and is subject to the whim of uncaring relatives seeking to rid themselves of the child.
I can well imagine that in India these things might happen where every mouth to feed is extra burden.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes reading this genre as it is well written and well thought out.
I would definitely read more books by Sharon Maas
June 14, 2023
This was good, educational without being too graphic. I learned a lot about the depths of India and Mumbai and how evil men can be.
December 23, 2016
The Lost daughter of India is about relationships, cultural differences, family love, responsibility, kindness and survival. Most importantly it shines a light on child trafficking in India, while pointing out the corruption of police and government. An American girl, Caroline, lover of all things India, falls in love and marries Kamal, and they move to his country. She is rejected from her family and he rejects his so they settle on their own with a local family in a small town. Kamal works in a big city and leaves for a while to make more money for their future while Caroline is left with their newborn. The baby, Asha, bonds with the family they live with and not so much with Caroline, so when Caroline gets sick, without telling Kamal she leaves Asha with the family (foster family) and returns to the United States. Kamal returns to find his wife gone and his bond with Asha nonexistent. Caroline and Kamal both agree Asha is better off being raised by the foster family and their young daughter Janiki, who becomes Asha's little mother (like a mother's helper).
Time goes by and Janiki goes off to school and the foster parents die in an accident. An uncle moves in to take over the household and he sends Asha away to become a child in the sex slave industry. When Caroline and Kamal do not hear from the foster family or Asha they become concerned. In addition, Janiki exchanged emails with Asha that indicate she is in danger, so the three team up to try and track down Asha to rescue her.
I enjoy stories set in India so the title was an immediate draw for me. This novel was fast paced and touched on tradition and hierarchy in Indian culture as well as highlighted the horrors of child trafficking and the sex slave industry in India. I was rooting for Asha and enjoyed the chapters in her voice which allowed me to get to know her and realize how young, vulnerable and determined she was. Janiki, Asha's little mother, was another great character who was Indian but lived in America, was educated, loving, responsible and resourceful.
The labyrinth that lead to Asha's rescue kept me interested and I couldn't put the book down until I finished!
For me, Asha's mother Caroline was not very believable (as a young girl she knew everything about India, had married an Indian and had lived there, but when she came back to look for Asha she dressed inappropriately wearing diamonds and seemed suprised by things she should have known like the way in which coffee was served...she had left her only child in a foreign country for years and then when she went looking for her she was overcome with emotion saying Asha was the most precious thing in her life. She also considered getting back together with Kamal, the man she left many years ago and had not been in close contact with...besides the fact that she was remarried) and her father Kamal started out rich but ultimately fell flat (as an adult he expressed very little emotion, determination or connection with any of the other characters, he could have moved closer to Asha after Caroline left...in some cases the book made it seem like the women has all the power and in other cases the men) but the storyline was powerful enough and was carried by Asha and Janiki. I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it. I give it a 3.5. Thank you to net galley for sending me a copy.
Time goes by and Janiki goes off to school and the foster parents die in an accident. An uncle moves in to take over the household and he sends Asha away to become a child in the sex slave industry. When Caroline and Kamal do not hear from the foster family or Asha they become concerned. In addition, Janiki exchanged emails with Asha that indicate she is in danger, so the three team up to try and track down Asha to rescue her.
I enjoy stories set in India so the title was an immediate draw for me. This novel was fast paced and touched on tradition and hierarchy in Indian culture as well as highlighted the horrors of child trafficking and the sex slave industry in India. I was rooting for Asha and enjoyed the chapters in her voice which allowed me to get to know her and realize how young, vulnerable and determined she was. Janiki, Asha's little mother, was another great character who was Indian but lived in America, was educated, loving, responsible and resourceful.
The labyrinth that lead to Asha's rescue kept me interested and I couldn't put the book down until I finished!
For me, Asha's mother Caroline was not very believable (as a young girl she knew everything about India, had married an Indian and had lived there, but when she came back to look for Asha she dressed inappropriately wearing diamonds and seemed suprised by things she should have known like the way in which coffee was served...she had left her only child in a foreign country for years and then when she went looking for her she was overcome with emotion saying Asha was the most precious thing in her life. She also considered getting back together with Kamal, the man she left many years ago and had not been in close contact with...besides the fact that she was remarried) and her father Kamal started out rich but ultimately fell flat (as an adult he expressed very little emotion, determination or connection with any of the other characters, he could have moved closer to Asha after Caroline left...in some cases the book made it seem like the women has all the power and in other cases the men) but the storyline was powerful enough and was carried by Asha and Janiki. I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it. I give it a 3.5. Thank you to net galley for sending me a copy.
September 12, 2017
It's so sad what people can do to one another for money.
May 14, 2017
A well written story which takes place in India and its darker side. This story in one part, deals with the trafficking of children into the sex trade, but starts out with a love story between and Indian man, Kamal and a white North American woman, Caroline. Caroline, since she was a young girl in Massachusetts, dreams of someday going to India and Marrying a prince. She had an Indian nanny when she was little and heard wonderful stories of the country, which made her want to move there. Kamal, grew up with his grandmother in India, isolated and forbidden to leave their lush estate due to his grandmothers fears. When he finally does leave first for boarding school and then to MIT in Boston to study, he meets Caroline, who already plans on going to India to finish her studies. While living with a local family she and Kamal get married and eventually have a baby girl, Asha. Kamal works outside of the town and is only able to get back occasionally to see his wife and daughter, while they save money as the couple have plans to move back to the States to live and raise their child. Being left alone so much and having a new born, Caroline becomes overwhelmed and lets the family she is living with mainly take care of her child, she has postpartum depression and gets food poisoning, and decides to go back to the States to get well, leaving her child with the Indian family she lived with. Caroline does not go back and asks for a divorce, and so the baby grows up with the foster family, until she is 12 when tragedy strikes the family and her life changes forever.
Caroline and Kamal meet again after they have not heard anything from the family raising their daughter and find out about the tragedy and what has happened to Asha, now together along with a family friend and other people that become involved, set out to find her. Here is where the story becomes very tense and hard to put down.
Wonderful characters, from the caring family who took care of Asha, to the Grandmother who lives in a fantasy world. You will definitely get caught up in this story.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture
Caroline and Kamal meet again after they have not heard anything from the family raising their daughter and find out about the tragedy and what has happened to Asha, now together along with a family friend and other people that become involved, set out to find her. Here is where the story becomes very tense and hard to put down.
Wonderful characters, from the caring family who took care of Asha, to the Grandmother who lives in a fantasy world. You will definitely get caught up in this story.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture
January 19, 2017
The lost daughter of India by Sharon Mass is a women's fiction and general fiction (adult) read.
One woman. One impossible choice. Her daughter or her happiness …
When Caroline meets Kamal the attraction is instant. He’s enchanting, charismatic and she can’t wait to set up a new life with him in India. Both their families are against the union but Caroline is convinced they’ll come round, especially when she gives birth to a beautiful daughter, Asha.
Asha is an adorable child but Caroline, homesick and beginning to hate the remote Indian village they live in, struggles with motherhood. Kamal is hardly ever there and she feels more and more isolated. In the grips of severe depression Caroline flees back to America, leaving Asha behind.
Ten years later …
Caroline recovered from her illness, is consumed by thoughts of the daughter she abandoned. Desperate to find Asha, she reunites with Kamal, intent on tracking her down. Will they ever be able to find their lost daughter? If they have any chance, they must confront the painful truths of the past and a terrible secret that has been kept for many years, until now.
What a read. Fantastic story with fantastic characters. I loved Kamal. He was my favourite character. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
One woman. One impossible choice. Her daughter or her happiness …
When Caroline meets Kamal the attraction is instant. He’s enchanting, charismatic and she can’t wait to set up a new life with him in India. Both their families are against the union but Caroline is convinced they’ll come round, especially when she gives birth to a beautiful daughter, Asha.
Asha is an adorable child but Caroline, homesick and beginning to hate the remote Indian village they live in, struggles with motherhood. Kamal is hardly ever there and she feels more and more isolated. In the grips of severe depression Caroline flees back to America, leaving Asha behind.
Ten years later …
Caroline recovered from her illness, is consumed by thoughts of the daughter she abandoned. Desperate to find Asha, she reunites with Kamal, intent on tracking her down. Will they ever be able to find their lost daughter? If they have any chance, they must confront the painful truths of the past and a terrible secret that has been kept for many years, until now.
What a read. Fantastic story with fantastic characters. I loved Kamal. He was my favourite character. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
January 29, 2017
The Lost Daughter of India by Sharon Maas
Sharon Maas has become one of my most reliable authors. She may not win a Man-Booker or a Pulitzer Prize but she does consistently tell a darn good story. Story begins in 1970 with baby Caroline cooing on the lap of her Indian grandmother and nanny. From a very early age she believes that she is going to grow up and marry a prince not just any prince but an Indian prince and live in a palace happily ever after. She meets her prince, Kamal, at MIT and they marry and have a baby named Asha. She believes her dream has come true but the reality of living in a third world country, post partem depression, botchilism poisoning sends her packing for Massachusetts and to the arms of her parents leaving Asha to be cared for by friends Sundari and Viram who become her foster family. Both of her foster parents are killed in a car accident and Viram’s brother Uncle Paruthy takes over and dislikes Asha seeing her as useless girl and just one more mouth to feed so he does the unthinkable. . .he sell her into a life of child prostitution. Janika, her foster sister who is thirteen years older than Asha tries to come to her rescue. Beautiful story. Beautifully written. Thank you Denise Bloom Eisenberg for bringing it to my attention.
Sharon Maas has become one of my most reliable authors. She may not win a Man-Booker or a Pulitzer Prize but she does consistently tell a darn good story. Story begins in 1970 with baby Caroline cooing on the lap of her Indian grandmother and nanny. From a very early age she believes that she is going to grow up and marry a prince not just any prince but an Indian prince and live in a palace happily ever after. She meets her prince, Kamal, at MIT and they marry and have a baby named Asha. She believes her dream has come true but the reality of living in a third world country, post partem depression, botchilism poisoning sends her packing for Massachusetts and to the arms of her parents leaving Asha to be cared for by friends Sundari and Viram who become her foster family. Both of her foster parents are killed in a car accident and Viram’s brother Uncle Paruthy takes over and dislikes Asha seeing her as useless girl and just one more mouth to feed so he does the unthinkable. . .he sell her into a life of child prostitution. Janika, her foster sister who is thirteen years older than Asha tries to come to her rescue. Beautiful story. Beautifully written. Thank you Denise Bloom Eisenberg for bringing it to my attention.
October 13, 2018
I bought this as I was brought up in Guyana in the 60s and we are going back this year to see how things have changed . I thought the story was interesting and engaging enough to keep me hooked. I loved the main character Rita as I could relate to her emotions throughout the story.
I particularly was drawn in to the descriptions and mentions of places I remember as a child such as Fogerty's and the other shop there was Bookers but I suspect that has changed to another name. The seawall road i have driven along and ridden on my horse many times and there was even mention of the Pony Club which my mother was one of the founder members of.
I think the book would appeal to many people as a story but for anyone brought up or who knew Guyana years ago it was a lovely step back in time as well.
The part of the book set in India was also interesting but took a different turn and some descriptions of the brothels were shocking but having read many books set in India, sadly these descriptions are all too familiar.
I have a number of this authors other books and plan to read few more now I have found her.
I particularly was drawn in to the descriptions and mentions of places I remember as a child such as Fogerty's and the other shop there was Bookers but I suspect that has changed to another name. The seawall road i have driven along and ridden on my horse many times and there was even mention of the Pony Club which my mother was one of the founder members of.
I think the book would appeal to many people as a story but for anyone brought up or who knew Guyana years ago it was a lovely step back in time as well.
The part of the book set in India was also interesting but took a different turn and some descriptions of the brothels were shocking but having read many books set in India, sadly these descriptions are all too familiar.
I have a number of this authors other books and plan to read few more now I have found her.
February 4, 2017
4.5*
This is my first book by Sharon Maas and it was so beautifully written.
The Lost Daughter of India is a powerful and emotional story of child trafficking and the sex trade in India and was truly heartbreaking.
The writing was so beautifully descriptive and at times I felt as though I was right there in India’
Wonderful, although some flawed characters, it did take time for me to warm to Caroline’s character, but when I did I loved her and her description of her love/hate relationship with India was truly stunning. Kamal and Janiki were just wonderful.
I can highly recommend this book, and although there seem to be loads of books about child trafficking at the moment, The Lost Daughter of India was different and stands out.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased and voluntary.
This is my first book by Sharon Maas and it was so beautifully written.
The Lost Daughter of India is a powerful and emotional story of child trafficking and the sex trade in India and was truly heartbreaking.
The writing was so beautifully descriptive and at times I felt as though I was right there in India’
Wonderful, although some flawed characters, it did take time for me to warm to Caroline’s character, but when I did I loved her and her description of her love/hate relationship with India was truly stunning. Kamal and Janiki were just wonderful.
I can highly recommend this book, and although there seem to be loads of books about child trafficking at the moment, The Lost Daughter of India was different and stands out.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased and voluntary.
May 25, 2025
Epic ! Highly recommended
Very well written, loved it - such a powerful story about relationships, cultural differences, family, love , kindness and survival. Child trafficking in India and the exploitation of the inner depths of Mumbai
Sharon Maas, you did not disappoint
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre
Very well written, loved it - such a powerful story about relationships, cultural differences, family, love , kindness and survival. Child trafficking in India and the exploitation of the inner depths of Mumbai
Sharon Maas, you did not disappoint
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre
April 14, 2016
I just finished this book and I am still emerged by the emotions that it made me feel. It is unbelievably realistic, beautifully written. You are part of the story, you feel and see with the heart and eyes of Rita, the difficult relationship between sisters, finding one's place in the world, one's mission, listening to your heart and living your life being true to yourself. All this, mixed with the atrocities of Bombay and child trafficking and prostitution in India. The last part of the book is so hooking you cannot put it down. Different from "Of marriable age" but the writing is as good as the first and the story as interesting. I'm looking forward to Sharon Maas's next book.
September 5, 2024
To begin with I enjoyed this book. There were some wonderful characters in it and some very humorous moments. When it switched to the second group of characters I got a bit lost, but once I was well into the story I saw the relevance of the parallel story. My disappointment came at the end. While everything had seemingly meandered along suddenly events were rushed and in places pretty unbelievable. Hence the 3 star rating.
November 1, 2019
I loved the book as I'm from the Caribbean and can relate to many cultural references. However, the last chapters went a bit too fast, which made it seem a bit unreal. The protagonist finds the information she's looking for which in reality, isn't that simple if you know how India works. Nevertheless, a gripping read.
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