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Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride
1998 Australia. Anjali Jathar is looking forward to life as an immigrant bride following her arranged marriage to ambitious divorcee Ravi. Settling in, she explores not just a new culture but also her newfound freedom. But life is less than perfect. Ravi’s constant travel and preoccupation with work leave Anjali feeling increasingly unloved and lonely.
Enter Jake Ellis. Charmed by Anjali’s exoticism, he finds himself gradually falling in love with her. And so begins an emotionally intoxicating roller-coaster ride.
‘Unravelling Anjali’ is a cross cultural tale delving into love, lust and relationships. What happens if a woman meets her soul mate after marriage…and it’s not her husband?
A riveting read, ‘Unravelling Anjali’ is a vivid portrayal of commitment, betrayal and the struggle to find one’s identity in a foreign land.
Enter Jake Ellis. Charmed by Anjali’s exoticism, he finds himself gradually falling in love with her. And so begins an emotionally intoxicating roller-coaster ride.
‘Unravelling Anjali’ is a cross cultural tale delving into love, lust and relationships. What happens if a woman meets her soul mate after marriage…and it’s not her husband?
A riveting read, ‘Unravelling Anjali’ is a vivid portrayal of commitment, betrayal and the struggle to find one’s identity in a foreign land.
358 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 4, 2017
Anjali Jathar, our protagonist, lands in Australia to start her ‘journey’ as a newlywed bride. She has various ideologies and expectations as she embarks on her new life in a completely new place. But her expectations start to crumble as soon as she lands in Australia. Ravi, who is on his second marriage, is too career oriented and has absolutely no time for his new bride. His work is his life and consumes most of his time. He also travels a lot for his work. Anjali feels left behind and ignored; and even though she soon makes some friends her life feels incomplete. Some unexpected friendships and twists take Anjali on a road that she would have never imagined treading upon… What will come of these relationships? And where will it take Anjali?
I was intrigued by the blurb of the book. The life of an immigrant wife with a hint of adultery on the side is not something I am usually attracted to, but the allure was too much and I decided to take a chance with this book.
Anjali is a character who handles her role of the protagonist well. Her honest voice makes the reader feel and empathize with her even at the darkest moments of her life. It was pretty easy to fall in love with Anjali and support her throughout. Also the development of her character is so well done… You can see her grown and change over the pages. Ravi on the other hand came across as a bit of a downer in the book. I couldn’t really like him till the end. I guess that shows how well the author has worked on her characters – so as to make us feel so strongly about them. There are other supporting characters that bring something to the plot, especially Jake, but I will not discuss them in detail, or I might give out some spoilers.
The author has done a wonderful job with her narration of the story. I loved the detail oriented narration that helped the story take a picturesque form in my mind. The flow is smooth and while some may find the pace to be a bit lacking, it is because of the care that the author has taken in world building and setting up the backdrop for each situation. As a result, I found the book to be very engaging and entertaining.
This makes for a very light hearted read and if you are someone who doesn’t condone adultery and have been avoiding picking this book up because of it, I suggest you give it a try anyway.
I was intrigued by the blurb of the book. The life of an immigrant wife with a hint of adultery on the side is not something I am usually attracted to, but the allure was too much and I decided to take a chance with this book.
Anjali is a character who handles her role of the protagonist well. Her honest voice makes the reader feel and empathize with her even at the darkest moments of her life. It was pretty easy to fall in love with Anjali and support her throughout. Also the development of her character is so well done… You can see her grown and change over the pages. Ravi on the other hand came across as a bit of a downer in the book. I couldn’t really like him till the end. I guess that shows how well the author has worked on her characters – so as to make us feel so strongly about them. There are other supporting characters that bring something to the plot, especially Jake, but I will not discuss them in detail, or I might give out some spoilers.
The author has done a wonderful job with her narration of the story. I loved the detail oriented narration that helped the story take a picturesque form in my mind. The flow is smooth and while some may find the pace to be a bit lacking, it is because of the care that the author has taken in world building and setting up the backdrop for each situation. As a result, I found the book to be very engaging and entertaining.
This makes for a very light hearted read and if you are someone who doesn’t condone adultery and have been avoiding picking this book up because of it, I suggest you give it a try anyway.
December 6, 2014
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Book Review: Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar: An Engrossing and Emotional Story
If you believe in magic of love, true love, then this book is for you. If you think that nobody in this world is perfect to make right choice every time he or she is at a crossroad, then again this book is going to deliver you some interesting stuff throughout. And if you feel that before you take action on someone’s mistake – someone close to you in life, hold on for some time and introspect within to check if you are one of the reasons for this mistake, and you have the guts and wits to realize it; and have heart to pardon the mistake; then again this is an interesting story to read on. The book I am talking about is Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar.
The last chapter of Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar made my eyes tearful thrice – at three different instances happened in the climax of the story. The story is quite engrossing and interesting to keep you connected with the main characters of the story. Lead character of the story is Anjali Jathar, a young girl from Maharashtra, who unexpectedly gets married to a boy of her caste residing in Australia, thus becoming an immigrant bride. Anjali is married to Ravi and is destined to travel alone to Australia after getting married, getting her visa etc. The story period is somewhere around 1998. Ravi is a divorcee and is settled in Australia during his study days. After completing his studies there, he got a very good paying job but in lieu of demanding high level of engagement with work even during working days, and substantial amount of travel across Australia.
After moving to Australia, Anjali, the central character of Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar always found a silent distance between Ravi and her the moment she met with him at the airport after landing there. For a long time she keeps thinking and in fact pointing out the same to Ravi regarding his high amount of engagement with work and less involvement with her. Ravi on the other hand is a man with lot of dreams to be fulfilled for which he has to get faster promotions and to earn lot of money. But all this happens at the cost of his newly married life where he is not able to pay attention to. And Ravi also decides not to get a child, at least for next 5 years, till he is well settled and has earned good money. Except love, time and attention from Ravi, Anjali has no other scarcity in life. Ravi in a way is quite dominant on Anjali regarding whats and hows of life which she is not able to absorb well.
Finally Anjali decides to go for job and that brings in a big storm in her life. The engrossing story of Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar takes you through the confusing state of Anjali where she gets stuck on whether to listen to her heart or to her mind…
Overall a very interesting, engrossing and emotional story woven extremely well in Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar.
Book Review: Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar: An Engrossing and Emotional Story
If you believe in magic of love, true love, then this book is for you. If you think that nobody in this world is perfect to make right choice every time he or she is at a crossroad, then again this book is going to deliver you some interesting stuff throughout. And if you feel that before you take action on someone’s mistake – someone close to you in life, hold on for some time and introspect within to check if you are one of the reasons for this mistake, and you have the guts and wits to realize it; and have heart to pardon the mistake; then again this is an interesting story to read on. The book I am talking about is Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar.
The last chapter of Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar made my eyes tearful thrice – at three different instances happened in the climax of the story. The story is quite engrossing and interesting to keep you connected with the main characters of the story. Lead character of the story is Anjali Jathar, a young girl from Maharashtra, who unexpectedly gets married to a boy of her caste residing in Australia, thus becoming an immigrant bride. Anjali is married to Ravi and is destined to travel alone to Australia after getting married, getting her visa etc. The story period is somewhere around 1998. Ravi is a divorcee and is settled in Australia during his study days. After completing his studies there, he got a very good paying job but in lieu of demanding high level of engagement with work even during working days, and substantial amount of travel across Australia.
After moving to Australia, Anjali, the central character of Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar always found a silent distance between Ravi and her the moment she met with him at the airport after landing there. For a long time she keeps thinking and in fact pointing out the same to Ravi regarding his high amount of engagement with work and less involvement with her. Ravi on the other hand is a man with lot of dreams to be fulfilled for which he has to get faster promotions and to earn lot of money. But all this happens at the cost of his newly married life where he is not able to pay attention to. And Ravi also decides not to get a child, at least for next 5 years, till he is well settled and has earned good money. Except love, time and attention from Ravi, Anjali has no other scarcity in life. Ravi in a way is quite dominant on Anjali regarding whats and hows of life which she is not able to absorb well.
Finally Anjali decides to go for job and that brings in a big storm in her life. The engrossing story of Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar takes you through the confusing state of Anjali where she gets stuck on whether to listen to her heart or to her mind…
Overall a very interesting, engrossing and emotional story woven extremely well in Unravelling Anjali: Diary of an Immigrant Bride by Nim Gholkar.
July 15, 2015
The author –Nim, has done nice work in portraying her heroine. She too is an Indian and shifted her base to Australia. Having being introduced to both the cultures by herself, she was in a better position to shape her story and the incidents and she succeeded fairly well. The turn of events depicted in the story is smooth and easy connecting. Nowhere, you could sense any breaks or even feel that you are reading a book. Her writing style is flowy and easy to comprehend.
This comes as an easy breezy read for the book lovers, who love reading soft centered stories; especially the home makers. Yes, you can choose reading this work of fiction over those repetitive cookery books and melodramatic tele-serials.
I find this to be a perfect read for the ladies married to NRIs and finding roots and connections with the Indian soil without compromising with the new surroundings.
Source: https://booksnewsindia.wordpress.com/...
This comes as an easy breezy read for the book lovers, who love reading soft centered stories; especially the home makers. Yes, you can choose reading this work of fiction over those repetitive cookery books and melodramatic tele-serials.
I find this to be a perfect read for the ladies married to NRIs and finding roots and connections with the Indian soil without compromising with the new surroundings.
Source: https://booksnewsindia.wordpress.com/...
February 23, 2015
Reviewed @ http://nandhinisbookreviews.blogspot....
Anjali is like any other middle-class Indian girl raised by the traditional values of India. When she was seventeen, she made a decision that she would only ever marry for true love.
At last at the age of twenty six, marriage knocks her door and she is married. It was an arranged marriage, to Ravi, a Non Resident Indian, settled in Australia and a divorcee. Her family is happy about getting her married to a NRI and she as well is excited about the life abroad and looks forward to a romantic married life as she lands at the Sydney airport, a few months after their wedding.
Least did she know then, the fate that awaited her in the new place and how the turn of events would change the traditionally rooted Anjali to an entirely new person.
Anjali is like any other middle-class Indian girl raised by the traditional values of India. When she was seventeen, she made a decision that she would only ever marry for true love.
At last at the age of twenty six, marriage knocks her door and she is married. It was an arranged marriage, to Ravi, a Non Resident Indian, settled in Australia and a divorcee. Her family is happy about getting her married to a NRI and she as well is excited about the life abroad and looks forward to a romantic married life as she lands at the Sydney airport, a few months after their wedding.
Least did she know then, the fate that awaited her in the new place and how the turn of events would change the traditionally rooted Anjali to an entirely new person.
November 27, 2014
The plot is not really complicated but straight and credible. An Indian bride, Anjali, married to a divorced NRI, Ravi arrives in Australia with hopes and dreams of love and excitement. But she finds that her husband is an authoritarian workaholic and spends most of his traveling and working. His Indian friends become Anjali’s friends too. Unexpectedly, Ravi’s ex-Australian wife Anne also becomes good friends with Anjali. The book is about Anjali’s journey of how she sorts herself out in a new land. Full review at Natasha'z Words
December 30, 2014
I loved this book a lot. The front cover of the book is really amazing. my favorite paragraph in the book is preparation of mind made by Anjali while traveling Australia and how confident she acts while traveling. Also the thought of meet up of ravi's ex wife and Anjali at yoga Academy was thrilling. Wonderful story indeed
December 18, 2014
Love to read more of her for sure. It don't look like her debut one as the story is well super written.
Well explained story of an Indian bride overseas.
It has well managed quotes as the content goes on.
If she will write another one, I am gonna buy it ASAP after publishing.
Well explained story of an Indian bride overseas.
It has well managed quotes as the content goes on.
If she will write another one, I am gonna buy it ASAP after publishing.
December 7, 2014
I got this book through Goodreads First Reads. The book is nicely written and the story of Anjali is relatable.
December 9, 2014
Quick and easy read, the narrative style is good. The mind set of a bride who visits her husband in a foreign country and the loneliness and the plight narrated in a realistic manner.
July 14, 2017
Very Indian way of thinking
July 13, 2016
Well its obvious that the book is about Anjali. Its 1998, and Anjali Jathar is looking forward to life as an immigrant bride following her arranged marriage to ambitious divorcee Ravi. Settling in, she explores not just a new culture but also her new found freedom. But life is less than perfect. Ravi’s constant travel and preoccupation with work leave Anjali feeling increasingly unloved and lonely. That’s when Jake Ellis enters her life. Charmed by Anjali’s exoticism, he finds himself gradually falling in love with her while she finds in him the attention and love she did not get from her husband. And so begins an emotionally intoxicating roller-coaster ride.
I found the the flow and narration to be pretty good and natural. Character development is another great thing about the book. I could relate to the tense parents, the strict yet loving mother in law, the doting father in law etc. Also, I loved how during the whole story, the author kept introducing nitty-gritties of the Maharashtrian culture. The thing that disappointed me about the book was the fact that the story....Read complete review here: http://www.coml13.com/index.php/2015/...
I found the the flow and narration to be pretty good and natural. Character development is another great thing about the book. I could relate to the tense parents, the strict yet loving mother in law, the doting father in law etc. Also, I loved how during the whole story, the author kept introducing nitty-gritties of the Maharashtrian culture. The thing that disappointed me about the book was the fact that the story....Read complete review here: http://www.coml13.com/index.php/2015/...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews