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The Color of Our Sky: A Novel
A sweeping, emotional journey of two childhood friends—one struggling to survive the human slave trade and the other on a mission to save her—two girls whose lives converge only to change one fateful night in 1993.
India, 1986: Mukta, a ten-year-old girl from the lower caste Yellamma cult of temple prostitutes has come of age to fulfill her destiny of becoming a temple prostitute. In an attempt to escape this legacy that binds her, Mukta is transported to a foster family in Bombay. There she discovers a friend in the high spirited eight-year-old Tara, the tomboyish daughter of the family, who helps her recover from the wounds of her past. Tara introduces Mukta to a different world—ice cream and sweets, poems and stories, and a friendship the likes of which she has never experienced before.As time goes by, their bond grows to be as strong as that between sisters. In 1993, Mukta is kidnapped from Tara’s room.
Eleven years later, Tara who blames herself for what happened, embarks on an emotional journey to search for the kidnapped Mukta only to uncover long buried secrets in her own family.
Moving from a remote village in India to the bustling metropolis of Bombay, to Los Angeles and back again, amidst the brutal world of human trafficking, this is a heartbreaking and beautiful portrait of an unlikely friendship—a story of love, betrayal, and redemption—which ultimately withstands the true test of time.
India, 1986: Mukta, a ten-year-old girl from the lower caste Yellamma cult of temple prostitutes has come of age to fulfill her destiny of becoming a temple prostitute. In an attempt to escape this legacy that binds her, Mukta is transported to a foster family in Bombay. There she discovers a friend in the high spirited eight-year-old Tara, the tomboyish daughter of the family, who helps her recover from the wounds of her past. Tara introduces Mukta to a different world—ice cream and sweets, poems and stories, and a friendship the likes of which she has never experienced before.As time goes by, their bond grows to be as strong as that between sisters. In 1993, Mukta is kidnapped from Tara’s room.
Eleven years later, Tara who blames herself for what happened, embarks on an emotional journey to search for the kidnapped Mukta only to uncover long buried secrets in her own family.
Moving from a remote village in India to the bustling metropolis of Bombay, to Los Angeles and back again, amidst the brutal world of human trafficking, this is a heartbreaking and beautiful portrait of an unlikely friendship—a story of love, betrayal, and redemption—which ultimately withstands the true test of time.
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First published June 30, 2015
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About the author
Amita Trasi
1 book290 followersAmita Trasi was born and raised in Mumbai, India. She has an MBA in Human Resource Management, and currently lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two cats. This is her first novel. Visit her website at www.amitatrasi.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,265 reviews
July 11, 2016
Other days, I'd remind myself what Amma used to tell me-the color of our sky will be bright again so I shouldn't lose hope.
In the late 1980's Mutka's realizes that her caste in life has led her to be dedicated to Yellamma and become a temple prostitute, her Amma is sick and her father is pretty unknown. Her Amma had told her that he was a rich and powerful man but he will never claim a prostitute's daughter as his.
Mutka ends up being rescued and taken back to Bombay to live with a foster family, that includes a young girl named Tara. Tara and Mutka have a tentative friendship as Tara's mother pretty much hates having Mutka in the house and makes sure she knows her place at all times.
Then Mutka is kidnapped one night from Tara's room. Tara sees the whole thing but tells no one her secrets. Her mother had been killed in the bombings and she is 'still recuperating.'
Tara's father is devastated after his wife's death and Mutka's kidnapping so he moves Tara and himself to America to start over.
Years pass and Tara's father dies and she finds out that the whole time he was looking still for Mutka..she leaves America to return to India to hunt her after eleven years.
Okay, so this is not a bad book. It's so beautifully written that it does keep you interested. There were just some things that were not wrapped up well for me. Cuz I'm a picky bitch.
Tara-I never really liked her. I felt like she did something bad when she was younger and then after her father died she didn't have anything else to do so she then felt the guilt.
Then she goes to India and greases palms, stays and eats, uses a private investigator...all after it being said that she worked three menial jobs in the US???? How the heck did she afford that?
Secondary characters-they come and then they go. No follow up for introducing the reader to them. I need more than that.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
In the late 1980's Mutka's realizes that her caste in life has led her to be dedicated to Yellamma and become a temple prostitute, her Amma is sick and her father is pretty unknown. Her Amma had told her that he was a rich and powerful man but he will never claim a prostitute's daughter as his.
Mutka ends up being rescued and taken back to Bombay to live with a foster family, that includes a young girl named Tara. Tara and Mutka have a tentative friendship as Tara's mother pretty much hates having Mutka in the house and makes sure she knows her place at all times.
Then Mutka is kidnapped one night from Tara's room. Tara sees the whole thing but tells no one her secrets. Her mother had been killed in the bombings and she is 'still recuperating.'
Tara's father is devastated after his wife's death and Mutka's kidnapping so he moves Tara and himself to America to start over.
Years pass and Tara's father dies and she finds out that the whole time he was looking still for Mutka..she leaves America to return to India to hunt her after eleven years.
Okay, so this is not a bad book. It's so beautifully written that it does keep you interested. There were just some things that were not wrapped up well for me. Cuz I'm a picky bitch.
Tara-I never really liked her. I felt like she did something bad when she was younger and then after her father died she didn't have anything else to do so she then felt the guilt.
Then she goes to India and greases palms, stays and eats, uses a private investigator...all after it being said that she worked three menial jobs in the US???? How the heck did she afford that?
Secondary characters-they come and then they go. No follow up for introducing the reader to them. I need more than that.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
November 18, 2017
A beautiful testament to friendship depicted through the story of Tara and Mukta which starts in 1987 in Mumbai. We are introduced to their two different worlds from different castes and then how they are brought together when Tara's father who works to help orphan children , brings Mukta home.
There are alternating chapters narrated by Tara and Mukta and each section begins with a thought from each of them. These were especially telling of what was in their hearts and minds .
"It took me most of my childhood to realize that traditions have infinite power over us ." Mukta
" I look back at a time when , absorbed in our own sweet lives , we were unable to see the sadness in another's eyes ." Tara
" The warm summer winds have long blown by. Now , only the cold rain assaults , reminding us that life moves on without waiting for anyone ." Mukta
" I read somewhere that one must keep walking against the strong winds of despair; waiting patiently on the high rocks of hope ... as if it were that simple." Tara
Moving back and forth in time from 1987 to 2009 , the story unfolds of the privileged girl and the girl made to suffer the brutal life of a prostitute . The novel is about what fate has dealt these girls , it's about friendship, the meaning of family and the horrible brutality of the sex slave trade where young girls are forced into prostitution in the name of a religious tradition . What makes this sad and so affecting is that even though , the author tells us in a note that the village of Ganipur is fictional, "there are similar villages in the area that practice the Devdasi traditions and force young girls into the prostitution trade . The tradition of temple prostitution is especially prevalent in the poorer sections of society ."
The feel of the story is somewhat reminiscent , although they are very different stories to the Kite Runner . In some ways , it is predictable, but still a beautiful yet incredibly sad story which tells awful truths , yet offers some hope at least for the characters in this book . One can only wish that this hope will exist for the real Mukta's of this world .
4.5 stars .
Thanks to Bloomhill Books and NetGalley.
There are alternating chapters narrated by Tara and Mukta and each section begins with a thought from each of them. These were especially telling of what was in their hearts and minds .
"It took me most of my childhood to realize that traditions have infinite power over us ." Mukta
" I look back at a time when , absorbed in our own sweet lives , we were unable to see the sadness in another's eyes ." Tara
" The warm summer winds have long blown by. Now , only the cold rain assaults , reminding us that life moves on without waiting for anyone ." Mukta
" I read somewhere that one must keep walking against the strong winds of despair; waiting patiently on the high rocks of hope ... as if it were that simple." Tara
Moving back and forth in time from 1987 to 2009 , the story unfolds of the privileged girl and the girl made to suffer the brutal life of a prostitute . The novel is about what fate has dealt these girls , it's about friendship, the meaning of family and the horrible brutality of the sex slave trade where young girls are forced into prostitution in the name of a religious tradition . What makes this sad and so affecting is that even though , the author tells us in a note that the village of Ganipur is fictional, "there are similar villages in the area that practice the Devdasi traditions and force young girls into the prostitution trade . The tradition of temple prostitution is especially prevalent in the poorer sections of society ."
The feel of the story is somewhat reminiscent , although they are very different stories to the Kite Runner . In some ways , it is predictable, but still a beautiful yet incredibly sad story which tells awful truths , yet offers some hope at least for the characters in this book . One can only wish that this hope will exist for the real Mukta's of this world .
4.5 stars .
Thanks to Bloomhill Books and NetGalley.
June 17, 2017
Let me begin with a bit of a disclaimer regarding my soul: I realize the content and story written in this novel are of utmost social importance, and that inherited prostitution in India is a moral abomination, and that these women lead miserable, suffering lives that I could never truly imagine or know, thank God. This message should resonate throughout Indian society, government, and law enforcement. I truly feel the greatest remorse and sympathy for the humans that these characters and situations are based on.
That being said, it's very obvious that 1) English is not the author's first language, 2) the book wasn't intended for the 'literary crowd' and 3) the author's graduate studies were in business, not literature. At times I felt mentally tortured by phrases and passages of this book; I'm the type that finishes a book No Matter What, and I struggled mightily through redundant and elementary descriptions, cliched metaphors, and plain and simple BAD WRITING. The author qualifying what a character's dialog is after the character has just spelled it out in the dialog. Infinite counts of crying: there were more crying episodes in this book than any I've ever read, ever. And this causes the act to lose its impact after, say, 200 times of people crying, and every time described in pretty much the same exact way.
The characters are one dimensional and not self-aware in the least. The author uses so many tropes, SO MANY! There is no nuanced psychology, there is no subtly emotions, everything is HIT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH A HAMMER simplicity. And this renders the characters unbelievable, in action and in essence. This could actually work (maybe?) as a young adult novel, and maybe I'm just a snob, but this book lacked the dynamic, intriguing characters I've come to expect from good literature, and was paint-by-numbers dialog and plot. I could guess what was going to be said, and what action was coming next, line by line, chapter by chapter. I was sour and disappointed, but not entirely surprised because I did buy this novel in the airport, looking for the lesser of all evils in that newsstand shop, so that's a lesson learned.
Now, after ravaging it, I want to apologize to anyone who worked on it, who's real lives are depicted in it, and the message it so desperately needs to communicate. I hope it's a positive force for change in Indian society, because the cause is worthy...but the execution way off. In its place I would recommend The Association of Small Bombs. Sorry and Goodbye!
That being said, it's very obvious that 1) English is not the author's first language, 2) the book wasn't intended for the 'literary crowd' and 3) the author's graduate studies were in business, not literature. At times I felt mentally tortured by phrases and passages of this book; I'm the type that finishes a book No Matter What, and I struggled mightily through redundant and elementary descriptions, cliched metaphors, and plain and simple BAD WRITING. The author qualifying what a character's dialog is after the character has just spelled it out in the dialog. Infinite counts of crying: there were more crying episodes in this book than any I've ever read, ever. And this causes the act to lose its impact after, say, 200 times of people crying, and every time described in pretty much the same exact way.
The characters are one dimensional and not self-aware in the least. The author uses so many tropes, SO MANY! There is no nuanced psychology, there is no subtly emotions, everything is HIT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH A HAMMER simplicity. And this renders the characters unbelievable, in action and in essence. This could actually work (maybe?) as a young adult novel, and maybe I'm just a snob, but this book lacked the dynamic, intriguing characters I've come to expect from good literature, and was paint-by-numbers dialog and plot. I could guess what was going to be said, and what action was coming next, line by line, chapter by chapter. I was sour and disappointed, but not entirely surprised because I did buy this novel in the airport, looking for the lesser of all evils in that newsstand shop, so that's a lesson learned.
Now, after ravaging it, I want to apologize to anyone who worked on it, who's real lives are depicted in it, and the message it so desperately needs to communicate. I hope it's a positive force for change in Indian society, because the cause is worthy...but the execution way off. In its place I would recommend The Association of Small Bombs. Sorry and Goodbye!
May 29, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars rounded up for the prettiest cover I've seen so far this year.
“The only way we can rectify our mistakes is to try and undo the wrong we have done.”
This review is brought to you by . . . .
Do you ever actively search for something that you know will bring you down? It’s been raining here for like 74 years and The Color of Our Sky looked like it might be a winner in the “No, I Don’t Have Seasonal Affective Disorder, I Just Read a Sad Book” category. I was spot on. I mean, look at this synopsis:
Mukta was born to a long line of temple prostitutes and due to the caste system fulfills her destiny at the tender age of 10. Tara was born to a middle-class family and a father who feels obligated to save as many children as possible from the horrible fate that awaits them. When Mukta becomes one of the children Tara’s father brings home, life changes for both girls as their friendship develops. But when Mukta is kidnapped Tara blames herself. Tara remains haunted by the past so much so that as a grown woman she embarks on a journey to find the missing Mukta and save her once again from the brothel.
There you have it. Basically this reading experience can be summed up with a few simple words . . .
If you’re looking for a real heart-ripper-outer, this might be the book for you. I had a few problems with the story – mainly how a woman who worked three jobs in the U.S. was able to travel to India indefinitely with no means of income (especially considering her father’s wealth (or possible lack thereof when they immigrated to America) was never really detailed) and also how the corruption of various charity and welfare organizations in India was never brought up at all. The second issue could be due to me reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers not too long ago, though. However, if you are a reader who is able to just enjoy the story for what it is and can go without having every question answered you probably won’t have any issues at all. The writing was solid, the timeline flowed nicely from past to present and the characters were all well-developed. Just remember you need to go into this one knowing that whenever you think things might look up, they probably aren’t . . .
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
3.5 Stars rounded up for the prettiest cover I've seen so far this year.
“The only way we can rectify our mistakes is to try and undo the wrong we have done.”
This review is brought to you by . . . .
Do you ever actively search for something that you know will bring you down? It’s been raining here for like 74 years and The Color of Our Sky looked like it might be a winner in the “No, I Don’t Have Seasonal Affective Disorder, I Just Read a Sad Book” category. I was spot on. I mean, look at this synopsis:
Mukta was born to a long line of temple prostitutes and due to the caste system fulfills her destiny at the tender age of 10. Tara was born to a middle-class family and a father who feels obligated to save as many children as possible from the horrible fate that awaits them. When Mukta becomes one of the children Tara’s father brings home, life changes for both girls as their friendship develops. But when Mukta is kidnapped Tara blames herself. Tara remains haunted by the past so much so that as a grown woman she embarks on a journey to find the missing Mukta and save her once again from the brothel.
There you have it. Basically this reading experience can be summed up with a few simple words . . .
If you’re looking for a real heart-ripper-outer, this might be the book for you. I had a few problems with the story – mainly how a woman who worked three jobs in the U.S. was able to travel to India indefinitely with no means of income (especially considering her father’s wealth (or possible lack thereof when they immigrated to America) was never really detailed) and also how the corruption of various charity and welfare organizations in India was never brought up at all. The second issue could be due to me reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers not too long ago, though. However, if you are a reader who is able to just enjoy the story for what it is and can go without having every question answered you probably won’t have any issues at all. The writing was solid, the timeline flowed nicely from past to present and the characters were all well-developed. Just remember you need to go into this one knowing that whenever you think things might look up, they probably aren’t . . .
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
June 20, 2015
Read on the WondrousBooks blog.
*** Actual rating: 3.5 ***
This is one of those books which leave me with very mixed feelings. To be honest, I considered giving it 3 stars instead of 4, but I'm feeling generous today.
The good sides:
1. It's touching and sad. I'm not saying that a sad book or a character's sad story is a good thing, but if a book is able to influence you in any way, it's a good thing. I know, because I've had my fair share of books for which I really didn't give a damn.
2. The character of Mukta is quite beautiful. I really enjoyed reading every single line written from her perspective. She is extremely humble and kind, loyal and generous - in her case, as she has nothing else, what she shares with everyone is her big heart, even though it gets bruised by many. I was able to really feel her emotions and her pain and I spent the majority of the book rooting for her.
3. The writing is lovely. Trasi just has a way with words, especially when Mukta is the narrator. There is great beauty in her descriptions. Despite the many things I didn't approve of in this book, I'm in no way able to say that Amita Trasi is not a good writer. What she lacks in creativity as far as the plot goes, she makes up in the way she builds the philosophy of the book and the world in it.
The bad sides:
1. It's sort of like season 2 of The Kite Runner: India. Nearly every character in The Color of Our Sky has an exact counterpart in The Kite Runner. The idea of this book is so similar, in fact, that even many of the quotes are the same. As a summary: there are two kids, one comes from a good family, the other one is a servant of sorts, they are friends, but the richer child treats the other one like the servant that it is and doesn't really think that they are friends; something happens to one of the children, the other one says nothing, not long after it goes to America with its father, the other one stays in the home country; years later the one that left returns to right its wrongs. I could put some spoilers here which would set in stone my claim that the books have virtually the same storyline, but if you are interested, you can read it for yourselves.
2. Mukta's storyline, as much as I liked it, lacks depth. It's sort of like the Memoirs of a Geisha, minus 300 pages. Too many years are skipped, too many events. We don't really follow the development/change of the character - the reason for that is that we simply don't have the time, the book ends too fast. I was interested in what happened with Arun Sahib, but that story was neither fully developed, nor even properly ended.
3. I don't have a tolerance for the "Tara" type of character. She is the exact replica of The Kite Runner's Amir. Acts like an ass when she is a child, then later just comes out of nowhere to make herself feel better and everyone thinks she's a hero. I was extremely frustrated by the trust Mukta had in Tara and the way she always hoped and believed that Tara truly loved her and had her back. No matter what happened in the book, I'm not sure that is so. Whatever Tara might have done, it would have all been too late in my opinion.
Also, I can't not find the way Tara had an endless supply of money very implausible. She spent 5 whole years in India without working a single day and yet she had enough money to do whatever she wanted, bribe people, buy plane tickets and more. Even though we are told that her father comes from a rich family, how rich can a village aristocrat be? And we are not given reason to believe that she received vast sums of her father's family inheritance anyway.
4. What happened with the secondary characters? As soon as they served their purpose, they simply disappeared. What happened with Tara's grandmother, with Madam, with Arun Sahib, with Tara's friend from America, with a dozen more secondary characters...? Are we to assume that this time Madam decided to just drop it? Her description makes that highly unbelievable.
5. Why do all books at least partially set in India that I've read always end up with someone's ashes being thrown in the river? I realize it's a tradition, but when every author starts using it, it becomes a stereotype. Stereotypes lead to people being offended and from this book as well as others, it's obvious that the stereotype is self-created.
Would I recommend this book?
a) Yes, if you are avid readers. It's moving and has a nice enough plot.
b) No, if you don't read so often. There are books similar to this one and yet better so if you are only going to choose one, pick The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns.
*** Actual rating: 3.5 ***
This is one of those books which leave me with very mixed feelings. To be honest, I considered giving it 3 stars instead of 4, but I'm feeling generous today.
The good sides:
1. It's touching and sad. I'm not saying that a sad book or a character's sad story is a good thing, but if a book is able to influence you in any way, it's a good thing. I know, because I've had my fair share of books for which I really didn't give a damn.
2. The character of Mukta is quite beautiful. I really enjoyed reading every single line written from her perspective. She is extremely humble and kind, loyal and generous - in her case, as she has nothing else, what she shares with everyone is her big heart, even though it gets bruised by many. I was able to really feel her emotions and her pain and I spent the majority of the book rooting for her.
3. The writing is lovely. Trasi just has a way with words, especially when Mukta is the narrator. There is great beauty in her descriptions. Despite the many things I didn't approve of in this book, I'm in no way able to say that Amita Trasi is not a good writer. What she lacks in creativity as far as the plot goes, she makes up in the way she builds the philosophy of the book and the world in it.
The bad sides:
1. It's sort of like season 2 of The Kite Runner: India. Nearly every character in The Color of Our Sky has an exact counterpart in The Kite Runner. The idea of this book is so similar, in fact, that even many of the quotes are the same. As a summary: there are two kids, one comes from a good family, the other one is a servant of sorts, they are friends, but the richer child treats the other one like the servant that it is and doesn't really think that they are friends; something happens to one of the children, the other one says nothing, not long after it goes to America with its father, the other one stays in the home country; years later the one that left returns to right its wrongs. I could put some spoilers here which would set in stone my claim that the books have virtually the same storyline, but if you are interested, you can read it for yourselves.
2. Mukta's storyline, as much as I liked it, lacks depth. It's sort of like the Memoirs of a Geisha, minus 300 pages. Too many years are skipped, too many events. We don't really follow the development/change of the character - the reason for that is that we simply don't have the time, the book ends too fast. I was interested in what happened with Arun Sahib, but that story was neither fully developed, nor even properly ended.
3. I don't have a tolerance for the "Tara" type of character. She is the exact replica of The Kite Runner's Amir. Acts like an ass when she is a child, then later just comes out of nowhere to make herself feel better and everyone thinks she's a hero. I was extremely frustrated by the trust Mukta had in Tara and the way she always hoped and believed that Tara truly loved her and had her back. No matter what happened in the book, I'm not sure that is so. Whatever Tara might have done, it would have all been too late in my opinion.
Also, I can't not find the way Tara had an endless supply of money very implausible. She spent 5 whole years in India without working a single day and yet she had enough money to do whatever she wanted, bribe people, buy plane tickets and more. Even though we are told that her father comes from a rich family, how rich can a village aristocrat be? And we are not given reason to believe that she received vast sums of her father's family inheritance anyway.
4. What happened with the secondary characters? As soon as they served their purpose, they simply disappeared. What happened with Tara's grandmother, with Madam, with Arun Sahib, with Tara's friend from America, with a dozen more secondary characters...? Are we to assume that this time Madam decided to just drop it? Her description makes that highly unbelievable.
5. Why do all books at least partially set in India that I've read always end up with someone's ashes being thrown in the river? I realize it's a tradition, but when every author starts using it, it becomes a stereotype. Stereotypes lead to people being offended and from this book as well as others, it's obvious that the stereotype is self-created.
Would I recommend this book?
a) Yes, if you are avid readers. It's moving and has a nice enough plot.
b) No, if you don't read so often. There are books similar to this one and yet better so if you are only going to choose one, pick The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns.
June 20, 2015
When I picked up this book, admittedly because of its beautiful cover, I never expected the inside to match the outside. This book really touched me and I found myself extremely invested in the characters and the story. The characters are so complex, yet so relatable. Mukta broke my heart.
It was very hard to read about the subject of the Devadasi's, since this barbaric tradition is still alive and well today. I haven't marathoned a book in a long time but I simply could not put it down. The writing is beautiful and the story will truly touch your heart. There are some really great lessons in this book, and I think that this would be a perfect book club read.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy
My little nutshell review really doesn't give this book justice, so I suggest if you are interested in this book to request it from Netgalley and leave a more eloquent review than what I could muster.
https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2023
Book 20/100 for the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge.
Firstly, thank you Rosh for taking the time to converse with me about the caste-based system in India! 💖
I can't recall if I had read this book before ? Or if I had just read a book with a very similar plot because I had major deja vu whilst reading!! So that tampered my enjoyment while reading but it was definitely a well-written novel. I appreciated the back and forth between both MC stories and how it highlighted the juxtaposition between the rich characters and impoverished characters. I found myself drawn to the innocence and naivete of both MCs as children and how their respective traumatic upbringings stunted their emotional growth as adults. When all you know is darkness, it can be easy to be enchanted by all the bright & shiny objects in the world... even when it leads to continued trauma and pain. 💔
It is very hard to describe my thoughts because there is still so much about India and its populations that I am ignorant about and I feel I need to do more research. The writing was beautiful though it lagged in parts and some of the characters felt more like placeholders than a value added piece of the story.
3.5 stars rounded down ⭐️
Firstly, thank you Rosh for taking the time to converse with me about the caste-based system in India! 💖
I can't recall if I had read this book before ? Or if I had just read a book with a very similar plot because I had major deja vu whilst reading!! So that tampered my enjoyment while reading but it was definitely a well-written novel. I appreciated the back and forth between both MC stories and how it highlighted the juxtaposition between the rich characters and impoverished characters. I found myself drawn to the innocence and naivete of both MCs as children and how their respective traumatic upbringings stunted their emotional growth as adults. When all you know is darkness, it can be easy to be enchanted by all the bright & shiny objects in the world... even when it leads to continued trauma and pain. 💔
It is very hard to describe my thoughts because there is still so much about India and its populations that I am ignorant about and I feel I need to do more research. The writing was beautiful though it lagged in parts and some of the characters felt more like placeholders than a value added piece of the story.
3.5 stars rounded down ⭐️
December 18, 2016
This eloquent novel will take your breath away. It explores the destiny of two girls in India from different backgrounds who come together and form a bond that is lifelong. Mukta is the child of a prostitute and she is destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps. At 12 years old her grandmother sells her to work as a sex slave. Tara’s father rescues children from horrible situations and tries to provide them with foster homes. Her father brings Mutka to live with them in their home in Mumbi. Tragedy strikes when Tara’s mother dies and she blames Mukta for her death. Tara and her father relocate in the United States. A decade later Tara’s guilt pushes her to return to India to find Mutka. With only one old photo of her, she is determined to find her childhood friend. Although the search is long and frustrating she never gives up.
This is a captivating but tragic novel that will bring you to tears. It’s hard to believe that this is Amita Trasi’s debut novel when her writing seems the work of a seasoned author. Without being sexually explicit she paints a vivid picture of the world of human trafficking. It’s hard to believe that this kind of thing still goes on in our modern world.
I bought this novel for $1.99 when it was on Amazon for a short time. Unbelievably, it suddenly became unavailable. After some research I found it will be reintroduced in 2017 under another publisher. This is a curious situation and one can only guess why it happened. I have my thoughts but it is sheer speculation.
This is a captivating but tragic novel that will bring you to tears. It’s hard to believe that this is Amita Trasi’s debut novel when her writing seems the work of a seasoned author. Without being sexually explicit she paints a vivid picture of the world of human trafficking. It’s hard to believe that this kind of thing still goes on in our modern world.
I bought this novel for $1.99 when it was on Amazon for a short time. Unbelievably, it suddenly became unavailable. After some research I found it will be reintroduced in 2017 under another publisher. This is a curious situation and one can only guess why it happened. I have my thoughts but it is sheer speculation.
February 24, 2018
Muy bonita historia sobre la amistad y los lazos inquebrantable que forjamos a lo largo de la vida.
Reseña próximamente en el canal
Reseña próximamente en el canal
October 8, 2017
A two person narration that brings to the surface the topic of sex trafficking in India spanning the decades of the 80's, 90's and O0's. Tara, an Indian -American returns to India in 2004 to find the lower caste serving girl, Mukta, that was kidnapped from her family home in 1993. Tara, is reminiscent of The Atonement 's Briony, because she has held onto the secret of the role she may have played in the young girl's disappearance.
Solid writing, important topic, strong family drama and a dash of romance were found within the pages of the story. I certainly wanted to see how the story would unravel and if Tara would find out what really happened. But I have this feeling of being unsatisfied and a bit let down. I cannot pinpoint what exactly it is I am looking to have resolved, but the story seemed a bit unfinished.
Solid writing, important topic, strong family drama and a dash of romance were found within the pages of the story. I certainly wanted to see how the story would unravel and if Tara would find out what really happened. But I have this feeling of being unsatisfied and a bit let down. I cannot pinpoint what exactly it is I am looking to have resolved, but the story seemed a bit unfinished.
October 18, 2022
When I picked this book i didn't know what to expect and the weird part is that few days ego is when have learned about caste, this kind of practice that still exist in our society and this book talked about it. When you read this book is when you ask yourself why this world can be so cruel? A page Turner..
Review to come..
Review to come..
December 31, 2020
Esse livro é triste e maravilhoso demais para se por em palavras.
Terminar de le-lo no mesmo dia em que a Argentina legalizou o aborto para até 14 semanas de gestacão, garantindo de forma segura, legal e gratuita que corpos não morram nesse processo foi muito emocionante.
É indescritível o quanto os temas abordados são urgentes para serem discutidos! E sem tapar os olhos falando que isso acontece na Índia, Paquistão, países árabes e esquecer que o litoral brasileiro inteiro tem que fazer campanha contra pedofilia, que isso está acontecendo nos grandes centros e interior do país.
O que mais me dá raiva é ver o quanto em culturas diferentes, espalhadas ao redor do mundo, em contextos diversos, conseguiram fazer com que isso fosse imposto na sociedade. Desde ser "justificado por castas" até o turismo sexual comecado pelos europeus desde a chegada deles em terras tupiniquins, o sangue feminino foi derramado nos mais violentos e infelizmente comuns casos. Nem pau-brasil é tão vermelho assim.
Vontade de esfregar esse livro na cara de todos que falam que feminismo não é necessário.
Terminar de le-lo no mesmo dia em que a Argentina legalizou o aborto para até 14 semanas de gestacão, garantindo de forma segura, legal e gratuita que corpos não morram nesse processo foi muito emocionante.
É indescritível o quanto os temas abordados são urgentes para serem discutidos! E sem tapar os olhos falando que isso acontece na Índia, Paquistão, países árabes e esquecer que o litoral brasileiro inteiro tem que fazer campanha contra pedofilia, que isso está acontecendo nos grandes centros e interior do país.
O que mais me dá raiva é ver o quanto em culturas diferentes, espalhadas ao redor do mundo, em contextos diversos, conseguiram fazer com que isso fosse imposto na sociedade. Desde ser "justificado por castas" até o turismo sexual comecado pelos europeus desde a chegada deles em terras tupiniquins, o sangue feminino foi derramado nos mais violentos e infelizmente comuns casos. Nem pau-brasil é tão vermelho assim.
Vontade de esfregar esse livro na cara de todos que falam que feminismo não é necessário.
January 13, 2018
Yet another 4 and 5 star parade for a book that I seriously considered gouging my eyes out while reading. I completed it as it was a book club choice, but come on, this is not a four star book.
I do sympathize with women who are trapped in prostitution in India and realize and appreciate that inherited or forced prostitution is an abomination and must be brought to the attention of the world; but the writing in this book is an abomination as well. It's just plain eye-gougingly awful.
Some 'authors' are getting a pass for writing books that provide a shock and awe for the western conscience without being required to have any writing skills. Unfortunately these books greatly diminish the impact of the unjust they are trying to bring to the forefront with substandard writing that detracts from the subject matter.
I do sympathize with women who are trapped in prostitution in India and realize and appreciate that inherited or forced prostitution is an abomination and must be brought to the attention of the world; but the writing in this book is an abomination as well. It's just plain eye-gougingly awful.
Some 'authors' are getting a pass for writing books that provide a shock and awe for the western conscience without being required to have any writing skills. Unfortunately these books greatly diminish the impact of the unjust they are trying to bring to the forefront with substandard writing that detracts from the subject matter.
March 14, 2017
I received a free copy of The Color of our Sky in exchange for an honest review. This was a book that I could not put down. It drew me in right away. Amitr Trasi takes the reader on an emotional journey about two girls spanning from childhood through adulthood. The setting alternates between a small Indian village where Mukta, a ten year old girl, born into the lower caste Yellama cult and Mumbai, where Mukta is sent to be a house girl for an upper class family. Mukta is sent away from her village, after she witnesses the brutal murder of her mother, so she can escape her destiny of becoming a temple prostitute as her mother and grandmother were. While living with Ashok Deshmukh's family, Mukta and Tara, Ashok Deshmukh's eight year old daughter, form a beautiful friendship. Although Tara and Mukta were born into different backgrounds the two learned so much from each other. All was well until Tara's mother was killed in a bombing at the market. Tara blames Mukta for her mother's death. Tara's mother had asked Mukta to do an errand for her at the Market. Mukta tells a little lie about not being able to go and so Tara's mother is forced to do it herself. Tara cannot forgive Mukta and wishes her harm. Tara goes as far as trying to arrange Mukta's kidnapping to take her back to her native village. When the kidnapping actually occurs Tara is ridden with guilt. Tara never forgives herself. Eleven years after the kidnapping, Tara, now an adult, returns to Mumbai. Her father , we learn, has just committed suicide in America where the two had been living since her mother's death. Tara is determined to find Mukta. Little does Tara realize that Mukta was sold into human trafficking. What Tara discovers through her endeavors to find Mukta are heart wrenching. This is a must read. I highly recommend this new novel to all. I hope that Amita Trasi continues to write many novels.
September 24, 2015
I received this for free from NetGalley
This is by far the best book I have read in a very long time. The story is so beautifully written and the story is absolutely heartbreaking. This one is going to haunt me for awhile.
This is by far the best book I have read in a very long time. The story is so beautifully written and the story is absolutely heartbreaking. This one is going to haunt me for awhile.
March 31, 2020
#parceriabookster - O cenário desta história é a Índia do final da década de 90, retratando a sua estrutura social dividida em castas e a submissão do povo indiano às suas tradições.
Mukta, protagonista da obra, nasce em uma casta de mulheres que, em respeito aos deuses, devem colocar seus corpos à disposição dos homens. Seu destino, portanto, já está traçado desde sua infância e, inevitavelmente, ela trabalhará como uma prostituta. Sendo assim, com pouco mais de 10 anos, Mukta deve passar por seu ritual de iniciação: a perda da virgindade. A beleza da personagem se destaca e isso pode garantir um espaço nos prostíbulos das grandes cidades.
Entretanto, Mukta tem a sorte de ser salva por um homem desconhecido, que a leva para morar junto com sua família. Lá, ela conhece Tara, a filha única da casa. A partir disso, as diferenças de castas entre as garotas entra em conflito com uma possível relação de amizade que tenta se desenvolver. Quando a situação parece melhorar, Mukta é sequestrada e retorna à vida a que as mulheres de sua casta devem se submeter.
A obra é narrada por Mukta e Tara, por meio de capítulos que vão se alternando e revelando a triste vida de Mukta e a luta de Tara para reencontrar a “irmã” que nunca teve. A leitura é fluida e a autora consegue traçar um retrato muito interessante da Índia contemporânea, marcada pela exploração do sistema das castas e a pobreza das grandes cidades. Durante a leitura, cheguei a me questionar em alguns momentos: Como algo tão absurdo pode acontecer nos dias atuais? A obra ainda desperta reflexões sobre a condição da mulher, a força da amizade e a possibilidade de manter a esperança mesmo nas situações mais desafiadoras.
Confesso que em algumas passagens senti que a autora se perdeu no enredo, focando, desnecessariamente, em alguns fatos e criando situações não tão verossímeis. Mas isso não tira a qualidade e importância da obra, que impacta o leitor ao mesmo tempo em que ensina sobre cultura e crenças bem peculiares. ⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“A esperança é como um pássaro. Quer se manter em movimento, por mais que se tente aprisioná-la.”
Leia mais resenhas em https://www.instagram.com/book.ster/
Mukta, protagonista da obra, nasce em uma casta de mulheres que, em respeito aos deuses, devem colocar seus corpos à disposição dos homens. Seu destino, portanto, já está traçado desde sua infância e, inevitavelmente, ela trabalhará como uma prostituta. Sendo assim, com pouco mais de 10 anos, Mukta deve passar por seu ritual de iniciação: a perda da virgindade. A beleza da personagem se destaca e isso pode garantir um espaço nos prostíbulos das grandes cidades.
Entretanto, Mukta tem a sorte de ser salva por um homem desconhecido, que a leva para morar junto com sua família. Lá, ela conhece Tara, a filha única da casa. A partir disso, as diferenças de castas entre as garotas entra em conflito com uma possível relação de amizade que tenta se desenvolver. Quando a situação parece melhorar, Mukta é sequestrada e retorna à vida a que as mulheres de sua casta devem se submeter.
A obra é narrada por Mukta e Tara, por meio de capítulos que vão se alternando e revelando a triste vida de Mukta e a luta de Tara para reencontrar a “irmã” que nunca teve. A leitura é fluida e a autora consegue traçar um retrato muito interessante da Índia contemporânea, marcada pela exploração do sistema das castas e a pobreza das grandes cidades. Durante a leitura, cheguei a me questionar em alguns momentos: Como algo tão absurdo pode acontecer nos dias atuais? A obra ainda desperta reflexões sobre a condição da mulher, a força da amizade e a possibilidade de manter a esperança mesmo nas situações mais desafiadoras.
Confesso que em algumas passagens senti que a autora se perdeu no enredo, focando, desnecessariamente, em alguns fatos e criando situações não tão verossímeis. Mas isso não tira a qualidade e importância da obra, que impacta o leitor ao mesmo tempo em que ensina sobre cultura e crenças bem peculiares. ⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“A esperança é como um pássaro. Quer se manter em movimento, por mais que se tente aprisioná-la.”
Leia mais resenhas em https://www.instagram.com/book.ster/
March 4, 2019
A surprised past tragedy that speak its truth years later. I was brought to follow both Tara and Mukta journeys throughout the years giving me both different emotions and thoughts. A regret from retribution, a past secret that suddenly came across, a good read on caste and traditions in India-- the unfairness and ignorance, a mishap in one's humanity. Story wise was okay. Development on plot done well, no dragginess or unrelated side story. Secrets and mystery about some narratives and stuff Tara did to unfold each was fairly intense and leaving me some good bitterness and lessons. This giving me quite a thought about one's life, the upbringing, that exact true feelings that each of us might encounter once in our lifetime. I love Mukta's way of telling her stories-- she suffered a lot that it hurts me so much reading her narratives and imagining her life with future uncertainty. Heart wrenching and compelling. You'll read the brutalness and massive harsh reality of prostitution in India, a thread of friendship along the way, back and forth in between two time phase, so bittersweet. A good read nevertheless.
January 14, 2016
(Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomhill Books for this ARC. It's out today!)
“There must be something about pain, about the way it touches you so deeply that sometimes you never get back to being the person you once were.”
After 11 years away Tara travels back to India, to search for a young girl, Mukta, who was kidnapped while staying with Tara’s family. Tara not only has to face her own guilt and demons from the past, but she must unravel family secrets that she might have preferred to leave alone.
It alternates between Tara, narrating the present, and Mukta narrating the past, and it works surprisingly well. At first the story is confusing and as the mystery builds, but it doesn’t take long before you start to make sense of it, and not many of the twists and turns come as surprises, but they somehow still retain their emotional impact. No part of this story will leave you untouched.
Tara left her life in America behind to search for Mukta, who she, until her father passed away, had thought dead as well. Her search for Mukta is desperate and all encompassing, it consumes her, and it soon becomes apparent that her search for Mukta is about more than just finding her, it’s about redemption and forgiveness, too.
For Tara, finding Mukta is the only thing that can alleviate her guilt and so she searches endlessly, untiring, while learning more and more about the horrors of the world that Mukta was destined to be part of. Mukta, on the other hand, tells a tale of sorrow and of hope. Forced into prostitution from a young age, and returned to that same life later on, her story is not a search for forgiveness, but for hope, for those small moments, that make the pain worth it.
“Papa used to say kindness, even out of selfishness, is a start.”
Their two stories are juxtaposed to bring out the worst and the best in both the characters. Tara’s bleakness, despite her freedom and opportunities, contrasts the captivity, but careful acceptance of circumstances that Mukta represents. Underneath it all there’s an incredible tenderness and anguish, a terrible desire to be either absolved or saved, to discover the truth or to run from it. And to be reunited with the one person, who meant more to them, than anyone else.
It’s a truly beautiful book that not only depicts the familial bond that two people can share despite not being family, the hope that can spring in the unlikeliest place, and how grief and pain can change a person. And how not giving up is perhaps, at times, the most courageous thing a person can do. It’s a story about the darkest parts of humanity, human trafficking, the sex trade, abuse of children, but also the best parts of it. The untiring efforts of some people to make the world a better place, to save those they can and help those who need it. About how a little love, a place in a home, a kind smile and a caring hand, can help get a person through absolute hell.
We’ve all done things we regret, we’ve all blamed ourselves for things we wish we could take back, but that will forever be fixed in time, unchangeable. Some of it’s small, some of it’s big, but we’ve all been there. We all have secrets and we’ve all done wrong.
“The only way we can rectify our mistakes is to try to undo the wrong we have done.”
Tara tries, after 11 years of guilt, to undo a wrong. This story, of two women whose lives are connected across continents and time, is haunting, beautiful and heartbreaking. Even more so, because you know that while this particular story is fictional, young women like Mukta have their lives stolen from them every day, and far from everyone, get even a sliver of happiness, or someone looking for them.
I think everyone should read it.
If you want to know more about the book and the story behind it, you can do that on Amita Trasi’s website. There are also links to organizations that help people in Mukta’s position, if you would like to support a good cause.
“Someday the color of our sky would turn bright, I knew.”
“There must be something about pain, about the way it touches you so deeply that sometimes you never get back to being the person you once were.”
After 11 years away Tara travels back to India, to search for a young girl, Mukta, who was kidnapped while staying with Tara’s family. Tara not only has to face her own guilt and demons from the past, but she must unravel family secrets that she might have preferred to leave alone.
It alternates between Tara, narrating the present, and Mukta narrating the past, and it works surprisingly well. At first the story is confusing and as the mystery builds, but it doesn’t take long before you start to make sense of it, and not many of the twists and turns come as surprises, but they somehow still retain their emotional impact. No part of this story will leave you untouched.
Tara left her life in America behind to search for Mukta, who she, until her father passed away, had thought dead as well. Her search for Mukta is desperate and all encompassing, it consumes her, and it soon becomes apparent that her search for Mukta is about more than just finding her, it’s about redemption and forgiveness, too.
For Tara, finding Mukta is the only thing that can alleviate her guilt and so she searches endlessly, untiring, while learning more and more about the horrors of the world that Mukta was destined to be part of. Mukta, on the other hand, tells a tale of sorrow and of hope. Forced into prostitution from a young age, and returned to that same life later on, her story is not a search for forgiveness, but for hope, for those small moments, that make the pain worth it.
“Papa used to say kindness, even out of selfishness, is a start.”
Their two stories are juxtaposed to bring out the worst and the best in both the characters. Tara’s bleakness, despite her freedom and opportunities, contrasts the captivity, but careful acceptance of circumstances that Mukta represents. Underneath it all there’s an incredible tenderness and anguish, a terrible desire to be either absolved or saved, to discover the truth or to run from it. And to be reunited with the one person, who meant more to them, than anyone else.
It’s a truly beautiful book that not only depicts the familial bond that two people can share despite not being family, the hope that can spring in the unlikeliest place, and how grief and pain can change a person. And how not giving up is perhaps, at times, the most courageous thing a person can do. It’s a story about the darkest parts of humanity, human trafficking, the sex trade, abuse of children, but also the best parts of it. The untiring efforts of some people to make the world a better place, to save those they can and help those who need it. About how a little love, a place in a home, a kind smile and a caring hand, can help get a person through absolute hell.
We’ve all done things we regret, we’ve all blamed ourselves for things we wish we could take back, but that will forever be fixed in time, unchangeable. Some of it’s small, some of it’s big, but we’ve all been there. We all have secrets and we’ve all done wrong.
“The only way we can rectify our mistakes is to try to undo the wrong we have done.”
Tara tries, after 11 years of guilt, to undo a wrong. This story, of two women whose lives are connected across continents and time, is haunting, beautiful and heartbreaking. Even more so, because you know that while this particular story is fictional, young women like Mukta have their lives stolen from them every day, and far from everyone, get even a sliver of happiness, or someone looking for them.
I think everyone should read it.
If you want to know more about the book and the story behind it, you can do that on Amita Trasi’s website. There are also links to organizations that help people in Mukta’s position, if you would like to support a good cause.
“Someday the color of our sky would turn bright, I knew.”
June 2, 2015
After I turned the last page of the Color of Our Sky, I knew this book was not over for me. It will be with me for a very long time, the painted images and the characters became very real, and not easy to forget.
We meet head on the caste system that is prevalent in India to this day, and once born your assignment does not change. Thinking of my relationship with my sister’s and how easy my life has been in contrast to what this story portrays and the utter disappointment with your lot.
I had a chance a few years ago to ask my husbands Doctor, who was from India, how he felt about the caste system. He was very pro it, and I reflected that for him an upper class why wouldn’t he, I’ll bet his outlook would be very different if he was a Dalit’s, untouchable.
We get a look at an upper class family, their children able to go to school, and enjoy their life. Then we get a look at the children born to prostitutes with their future assigned at birth, the worse being born a girl. We put faces to these people as we delve into this story, and everything becomes so real. We deal with the guilt the thought of being responsible for putting someone in a brothel, and the ways that the guilt is dealt with is sad. This part of the story sure had a lot of twists and surprises that I never saw coming.
You will quickly be absorbed in Tara’s and Mutka’s story, and you won’t want this book to end.
I received this book from the Author through Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
We meet head on the caste system that is prevalent in India to this day, and once born your assignment does not change. Thinking of my relationship with my sister’s and how easy my life has been in contrast to what this story portrays and the utter disappointment with your lot.
I had a chance a few years ago to ask my husbands Doctor, who was from India, how he felt about the caste system. He was very pro it, and I reflected that for him an upper class why wouldn’t he, I’ll bet his outlook would be very different if he was a Dalit’s, untouchable.
We get a look at an upper class family, their children able to go to school, and enjoy their life. Then we get a look at the children born to prostitutes with their future assigned at birth, the worse being born a girl. We put faces to these people as we delve into this story, and everything becomes so real. We deal with the guilt the thought of being responsible for putting someone in a brothel, and the ways that the guilt is dealt with is sad. This part of the story sure had a lot of twists and surprises that I never saw coming.
You will quickly be absorbed in Tara’s and Mutka’s story, and you won’t want this book to end.
I received this book from the Author through Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
June 30, 2015
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bloomhill Books for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The closest I've ever been to India was Germany. That is, not close at all. Still, I know that India has an extremely rich cultural tradition. I also know that, sometimes, this very same cultural tradition is translated into misery and suffering. For instance, the castes. Labeling someone as untouchable is just so wrong to my Westernized eyes.
And here, the author portrays another tradition that causes a lot of pain: the temple prostitutes. At the age of ten, Mukta is given to the temple, as so many other girls are. However, she was rescued and given a chance at a different life. She gets a shot at happiness. And then, she is kidnapped, leaving Tara wondering what happened and blaming herself.
The relationship between the two girls was superbly developed. It also showed how children don't really care for castes or other social differences. When Tara goes back to look for Mukta, after eleven years away, it also showed how some Indians are trying to change traditions. Of course, it'll take decades, if not centuries, to bring down traditions that have endured for thousands of years. But they are trying, and for every life that they change, it makes a huge difference.
My heart broke for Mukta. I'm not going to spoil anything, but be prepared to her POVs. My only issue with this book was that the ending was a bit too open-ended for my taste.
The closest I've ever been to India was Germany. That is, not close at all. Still, I know that India has an extremely rich cultural tradition. I also know that, sometimes, this very same cultural tradition is translated into misery and suffering. For instance, the castes. Labeling someone as untouchable is just so wrong to my Westernized eyes.
And here, the author portrays another tradition that causes a lot of pain: the temple prostitutes. At the age of ten, Mukta is given to the temple, as so many other girls are. However, she was rescued and given a chance at a different life. She gets a shot at happiness. And then, she is kidnapped, leaving Tara wondering what happened and blaming herself.
The relationship between the two girls was superbly developed. It also showed how children don't really care for castes or other social differences. When Tara goes back to look for Mukta, after eleven years away, it also showed how some Indians are trying to change traditions. Of course, it'll take decades, if not centuries, to bring down traditions that have endured for thousands of years. But they are trying, and for every life that they change, it makes a huge difference.
My heart broke for Mukta. I'm not going to spoil anything, but be prepared to her POVs. My only issue with this book was that the ending was a bit too open-ended for my taste.
December 8, 2020
A leitura deste livro foi por puro engano... acompanhem me nesta aventura ... uns meses atrás li uma review de um livro que seria romântico, cómico e com um cachorro magnífico. Tudo bem ao meu gosto. Nem li a sinopse e comprei o ebook. Comecei a ler e a meio do ebook decidi investigar. Será que a pessoa que tinha feito a review estava bêbada??? Pois é... o ebook que comprei tinha a capa certa mas a história era de outro livro completamente diferente! O destino pregou me uma partida e ainda bem !! Se alguma vez iria ler este livro ?? Não ... a capa não é atrativa... a sinopse não me puxava ... este livro fala sobre a história de duas crianças nascidas na Índia onde uma pertence a uma casta inferior. Está escrito de uma forma magnífica e quase sentimos os odores da Índia e conseguimos ver as cores dos saris. Mukta é de uma beleza de sentimentos que me fez chorar! A todas as Muktas deste mundo aqui fica um relato de todas as atrocidades e maldades a que são obrigadas a viver mas algumas nunca perdem a esperança.
August 25, 2017
Given the tragic nature of the story, I'm sorry to say it didn't hold my interest. It drags in the beginning and has holes in it that made me ask many questions, which are never really answered. The biggest being how can Tara, with no obvious income, afford to spend so much time looking for Mukta? What was her life in America like? Perhaps I missed something. I found the writing uneven and confusing: in the first chapter, 'the sky thundered and rain rammed the rooftops', 'a stray slant of sunlight fell on furniture', 'the rain was falling softly', 'it began drizzling as I stepped outside', 'raining very hard when the taxi came to a stop' - was it storming or was it not? When the story dragged on and on, with characters coming and going, not being thoroughly developed, I skipped to the end. I think it's telling that I understood the ending without needing to read half the book.
July 6, 2019
Incredibly thought provoking. I could not put this down.
May 15, 2020
A book you won't soon forget!
February 15, 2017
In India in 1986, Mukta is only 10 years old when she is coerced into dedicating her life to the Goddess, Yellamma, little knowing that she is pledging herself to be a temple prostitute. But she is rescued from this nightmare and settles into a life with a family in Mumbai, where she becomes fast friends with an 8-year-old girl, Tara. Mukta is treated as a servant but she feels very lucky to have escaped her fate. But then she’s kidnapped and disappears. Eleven years have passed and Tara has turned away from her new life in America and has returned to India to search for her long-lost friend.
This is a devastatingly brutal book about sex trafficking. The author pulls little Mukta into your heart and completely brings her to life so all that happens to her is bound to move you. This debut author brought me to tears several times in this book. I think the thing that struck me the most was how resigned Mukta was to her fate. Her mother and her grandmother were both temple prostitutes so Mukta never felt she had a chance at anything better, although she longed to go to school and maybe marry one day. So few were willing to help these young girls, not even the police who were often paid off to turn their heads.
The beauty of the book comes from the strength of the friendship of Mukta and Tara. The tie between them survived betrayals and secrets. Though one had a privileged, easy life and the other had such an unimaginably hard life, they were true sisters of the heart. Their bond was such a pleasure to read about.
This is a very talented author who writes so beautifully. Her descriptions are so vivid and realistic. The subject matter of the book is one that’s close to her heart. The character of Mukta is loosely based on the daughter of a family servant, Shaku, who Ms. Trasi as a young girl tried to teach how to read. Learn more about the author and this brilliant book on her website at http://www.amitatrasi.com/.
Highly recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
This is a devastatingly brutal book about sex trafficking. The author pulls little Mukta into your heart and completely brings her to life so all that happens to her is bound to move you. This debut author brought me to tears several times in this book. I think the thing that struck me the most was how resigned Mukta was to her fate. Her mother and her grandmother were both temple prostitutes so Mukta never felt she had a chance at anything better, although she longed to go to school and maybe marry one day. So few were willing to help these young girls, not even the police who were often paid off to turn their heads.
The beauty of the book comes from the strength of the friendship of Mukta and Tara. The tie between them survived betrayals and secrets. Though one had a privileged, easy life and the other had such an unimaginably hard life, they were true sisters of the heart. Their bond was such a pleasure to read about.
This is a very talented author who writes so beautifully. Her descriptions are so vivid and realistic. The subject matter of the book is one that’s close to her heart. The character of Mukta is loosely based on the daughter of a family servant, Shaku, who Ms. Trasi as a young girl tried to teach how to read. Learn more about the author and this brilliant book on her website at http://www.amitatrasi.com/.
Highly recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
November 14, 2020
“How many such children had we ignored or treated badly simply because they weren’t our blood or didn’t belong to the “right” caste?! How many such children continue to become victims of our traditions . . .”
"THE COLOR OF OUR SKY" is a very special book, not any ordinary one!
I am surprised as it's rare to have a debut novel of any Author in your hands and you found it unputdownable! Amita Trasi has impressed me with her captivating writing style and the execution of the extremely sensitive plot with her witty and strong dialogues. Her descriptions of Mumbai and the culture were splendid and reminded me of Khaled Hosseini's description of Afghan culture.
This book is a wake-up call for the barbarians carrying the legacy of dark traditions in the name of a religion and assassinating innocent lives to fulfill their lust.
I loved the characters of Mukta and Tara and their strong friendship made me happy and sad and left me shocked to witness the highest level of courage which they carried in their hearts by recalling their memorable cherished moments. I cried my heart out due to the brutality young girls face in the name of human trafficking and debt bondage with the sexual slavery. Trasi has highlighted some extremely important issues which we all need to focus on. I also enjoyed the flashbacks and the imaginations of Mukta the most. In short, I loved her innocent questions and the way she looked at the stars!
The ending was perfect as this book is of light, not darkness. Thanks to Trasi for not breaking my heart and keeping it alive by giving me the hope especially when it is badly needed these days.
I highly recommend all to read this important Book and you will learn the true colors of hope, love and above all, courage!
I highly look forward to her future writings.
"THE COLOR OF OUR SKY" is a very special book, not any ordinary one!
I am surprised as it's rare to have a debut novel of any Author in your hands and you found it unputdownable! Amita Trasi has impressed me with her captivating writing style and the execution of the extremely sensitive plot with her witty and strong dialogues. Her descriptions of Mumbai and the culture were splendid and reminded me of Khaled Hosseini's description of Afghan culture.
This book is a wake-up call for the barbarians carrying the legacy of dark traditions in the name of a religion and assassinating innocent lives to fulfill their lust.
I loved the characters of Mukta and Tara and their strong friendship made me happy and sad and left me shocked to witness the highest level of courage which they carried in their hearts by recalling their memorable cherished moments. I cried my heart out due to the brutality young girls face in the name of human trafficking and debt bondage with the sexual slavery. Trasi has highlighted some extremely important issues which we all need to focus on. I also enjoyed the flashbacks and the imaginations of Mukta the most. In short, I loved her innocent questions and the way she looked at the stars!
The ending was perfect as this book is of light, not darkness. Thanks to Trasi for not breaking my heart and keeping it alive by giving me the hope especially when it is badly needed these days.
I highly recommend all to read this important Book and you will learn the true colors of hope, love and above all, courage!
I highly look forward to her future writings.
June 6, 2017
This is about the friendship between two young girls who grew up in India - Tara a bit privilege, loved by her parents, and Mukta is the daughter of a devdasi (temple prostitute) who will eventually be groomed for the same life. The chapters go back and forth in each girl's voice and the reader learns what happens in each girl's life throughout the years.
The story is a bit sad as it takes you into the world of human trafficking and child prostitution. I found Tara to be quite bratty and I am unsure I, as a reader, forgive her for what she did even though she was a young girl. Mukta was the most touching character of the story, and it was hard reading what happened to her when she was younger. But as the book progresses, the author doesn't go into too much detail with the rest of the horrific things Mukta experiences.
Toward the end, I did get a strong The Kite Runner vibe and that ruined it a little for me. But overall, I think this book is a must read if one is interested in reading about different cultures of India, without it being overly romanticized.
EDIT: The reason I said The Kite Runner vibe ruined it for me is not because I didn't like The Kite Runner. Quite the opposite, I loved it. It just made Trasi's story a little less original.
The story is a bit sad as it takes you into the world of human trafficking and child prostitution. I found Tara to be quite bratty and I am unsure I, as a reader, forgive her for what she did even though she was a young girl. Mukta was the most touching character of the story, and it was hard reading what happened to her when she was younger. But as the book progresses, the author doesn't go into too much detail with the rest of the horrific things Mukta experiences.
Toward the end, I did get a strong The Kite Runner vibe and that ruined it a little for me. But overall, I think this book is a must read if one is interested in reading about different cultures of India, without it being overly romanticized.
EDIT: The reason I said The Kite Runner vibe ruined it for me is not because I didn't like The Kite Runner. Quite the opposite, I loved it. It just made Trasi's story a little less original.
July 3, 2017
3.7
Ah Hindistan, yine yüreğime oturdu acısı ve hüznüyle.
Mukta karakterini ne kadar çok sevdiysem, Tara'dan nefret ettim. Kitap hakkında ne söyleyebilirim bilmiyorum.
Ah Hindistan, yine yüreğime oturdu acısı ve hüznüyle.
Mukta karakterini ne kadar çok sevdiysem, Tara'dan nefret ettim. Kitap hakkında ne söyleyebilirim bilmiyorum.
January 5, 2022
Let me begin with a bit of a trigger warning. I realize the content and story written in this novel are of utmost social importance, and that inherited prostitution in India is a moral abomination, and that these women lead miserable, suffering lives that I could never truly understamd or comprehend. This message should resonate throughout Indian society, government, and law enforcement. I truly feel the greatest remorse and sympathy for the humans that these characters and situations are based on.
THE COLOR OF OUR SKY" is a very special book, not like most stories you read.
Amita Trasi has impressed me with her captivating writing style and the execution of the extremely sensitive plot. Her descriptions of Mumbai and the culture were splendid and reminded me of Khaled Hosseini's books which represents the Afghan culture.
I loved the characters of Mukta and Tara and their strong friendship. I also enjoyed the flashbacks and the imaginations of Mukta the most. In short, I loved her innocent questions and the way she looked at the stars!
The ending was perfect as this book is of hope and forgiveness.Especially when it is badly needed these days
I highly recommend all to read this important Book and you will learn the true colors of hope, love and above all, courage!
I highly look forward to her future writings.
THE COLOR OF OUR SKY" is a very special book, not like most stories you read.
Amita Trasi has impressed me with her captivating writing style and the execution of the extremely sensitive plot. Her descriptions of Mumbai and the culture were splendid and reminded me of Khaled Hosseini's books which represents the Afghan culture.
I loved the characters of Mukta and Tara and their strong friendship. I also enjoyed the flashbacks and the imaginations of Mukta the most. In short, I loved her innocent questions and the way she looked at the stars!
The ending was perfect as this book is of hope and forgiveness.Especially when it is badly needed these days
I highly recommend all to read this important Book and you will learn the true colors of hope, love and above all, courage!
I highly look forward to her future writings.
April 11, 2020
“It was only now, that I understood the threads of life don’t always weave the way we want them too.
Sometimes the pattern at the end of our lives is different than we imagined it would be.” -Mukta (how true is that!?)
Possibly 3 1/2 stars. A story about friendship, sisterhood, love, forgiveness, betrayal and consequences.
This book is heartbreaking. Some things I liked and some I didn’t. Learning some of the culture was interesting and some of it so sad. I thought the book was a little too long and at the same time didn’t delve into the characters and some things enough. Like...Mukta, I wanted to know more about her feelings and less about how much she thought about Tara who I didn’t think deserved so much praise. I didn’t really connect with Tara. I also didn’t think Taras feelings were deep enough either. She should have felt a lot worse than she did by the end when it all came together. I also wanted to know about Mukta after it all. No way she left that life without some deep wounds inside.
The story kind of reminded me of the kite runner but about girls instead of boys. Did anyone else feel that way? The stories aren’t really even the same.
(Audio)
Sometimes the pattern at the end of our lives is different than we imagined it would be.” -Mukta (how true is that!?)
Possibly 3 1/2 stars. A story about friendship, sisterhood, love, forgiveness, betrayal and consequences.
This book is heartbreaking. Some things I liked and some I didn’t. Learning some of the culture was interesting and some of it so sad. I thought the book was a little too long and at the same time didn’t delve into the characters and some things enough. Like...Mukta, I wanted to know more about her feelings and less about how much she thought about Tara who I didn’t think deserved so much praise. I didn’t really connect with Tara. I also didn’t think Taras feelings were deep enough either. She should have felt a lot worse than she did by the end when it all came together. I also wanted to know about Mukta after it all. No way she left that life without some deep wounds inside.
The story kind of reminded me of the kite runner but about girls instead of boys. Did anyone else feel that way? The stories aren’t really even the same.
(Audio)
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