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The Unexpected Son
On a sunny April morning in West Windsor, New Jersey, Vinita Patil wakes up to find an envelope from Mumbai in her mail. The anonymous missive inside it claims that her son is dying of leukaemia and that his survival may depend on her. This confounds Vinita. She has been living with her husband and daughter for twenty-five years in America. She has no son. Or does she . . .
Once upon a time, in a small town in India, a middle-class girl fell in love with an upper-class playboy from her college. The torrid affair inevitably ended in a catastrophe that turned her world upside down. Now, as transgressions from her past threaten to rattle her cozy suburban dream, Vinita must leave behind a family whose faith in her has been shaken and return to her hometown in India that’s on the brink of bedlam. Amidst this turmoil, will Vinita be able to salvage her marriage? Or will secrets from the past wreck her world forever? Find out in this riveting tale of one woman’s emotional journey back home to make amends for blunders made in her youth.
Once upon a time, in a small town in India, a middle-class girl fell in love with an upper-class playboy from her college. The torrid affair inevitably ended in a catastrophe that turned her world upside down. Now, as transgressions from her past threaten to rattle her cozy suburban dream, Vinita must leave behind a family whose faith in her has been shaken and return to her hometown in India that’s on the brink of bedlam. Amidst this turmoil, will Vinita be able to salvage her marriage? Or will secrets from the past wreck her world forever? Find out in this riveting tale of one woman’s emotional journey back home to make amends for blunders made in her youth.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2010
32 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Shobhan Bantwal
10 books139 followersShobhan Bantwal is the Indian-American author of THE DOWRY BRIDE, her debut novel set in India and slated for release by Kensington Books in September 2007. It is the first of a two-book contract with Kensington.
Since 2002, Shobhan's articles and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications like India Abroad, Little India, U.S. 1, Desi Journal, India Currents, Overseas Indian, New Woman India, Kanara Saraswat and Sulekha. Her short stories have won honors and awards in fiction contests sponsored by Writer's Digest, New York Stories and New Woman magazines.
Her award winning stories are accessible through her web site: www.shobhanbantwal.com
"
Since 2002, Shobhan's articles and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications like India Abroad, Little India, U.S. 1, Desi Journal, India Currents, Overseas Indian, New Woman India, Kanara Saraswat and Sulekha. Her short stories have won honors and awards in fiction contests sponsored by Writer's Digest, New York Stories and New Woman magazines.
Her award winning stories are accessible through her web site: www.shobhanbantwal.com
"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 1, 2024
I love how honest her characters are written in the book! Love the writing so much!
Here’s one misconception on women that I would want to vanish forever!
I would say that the misconception of thinking that a woman’s life runs on batteries charged by the advice and taunts of the males around her. A girl needs proper education, needs to know what’s harassment and what’s not acceptable behaviour towards her. A girl needs to grow up to be self reliable and financially independent.
But what happens in this story is that despite the best marks Vinita secures in her class and be the best behaved girl at home living up to the expectations of her mother and her strict brother, young love crosses her path. Against her better judgement things took a turn but her brother decided everything to change her life and hide her from the rest of their community.
What happened is what the title is and in order to save their face (which is a common phrase used in such contexts) Vinita has to get married to a person her family decided feeding her truths with lies she isn’t allowed to know.
Things get into a situation that one precious person to Vinita gets revealed at the start of the story and we are reading about how this person came to be such an important character in the book.
The plot deals with caste systems that do not allow intermarriages; sacrifices women have to make to save face for their families while the males decide their fates like flipping coins; complexities of marriages and adult relationships but what matters the most is this one young female character that would intervene to make things better towards the end.
There’s so much to learn from this book. What I write here would never be able to convey the whole message of the story.
The writing is so easy to get into and you will totally get attached to the characters.
I am planning to read more books by the author in the future. This is the second one and I am not at all disappointed.
Here’s one misconception on women that I would want to vanish forever!
I would say that the misconception of thinking that a woman’s life runs on batteries charged by the advice and taunts of the males around her. A girl needs proper education, needs to know what’s harassment and what’s not acceptable behaviour towards her. A girl needs to grow up to be self reliable and financially independent.
But what happens in this story is that despite the best marks Vinita secures in her class and be the best behaved girl at home living up to the expectations of her mother and her strict brother, young love crosses her path. Against her better judgement things took a turn but her brother decided everything to change her life and hide her from the rest of their community.
What happened is what the title is and in order to save their face (which is a common phrase used in such contexts) Vinita has to get married to a person her family decided feeding her truths with lies she isn’t allowed to know.
Things get into a situation that one precious person to Vinita gets revealed at the start of the story and we are reading about how this person came to be such an important character in the book.
The plot deals with caste systems that do not allow intermarriages; sacrifices women have to make to save face for their families while the males decide their fates like flipping coins; complexities of marriages and adult relationships but what matters the most is this one young female character that would intervene to make things better towards the end.
There’s so much to learn from this book. What I write here would never be able to convey the whole message of the story.
The writing is so easy to get into and you will totally get attached to the characters.
I am planning to read more books by the author in the future. This is the second one and I am not at all disappointed.
June 23, 2010
The Unexpected Son, due to be released in August, 2010, delves deeply into the Indian/ HIndu culture. In this, her fourth novel, Bantwal takes us to Palgaum, perhaps a town based on Belguam, her hometown.
Unlike the previous books, in The Unexpected Son the reader learns about politics and prejudice in India. In the town of Palgaum, rival cultures battle for power causing riots, mayhem and real danger to the citizens of the town. Each group, the Kannada and the Marathi, believe that the town should belong to Karnataka and Maharashtra respectively. The two groups boast different cultures and languages and true enmity exists between them.
This is the backdrop for a one-sided Romeo and Juliet where only Juliet is in love. Vinita, an admittedly plain girl, falls for the playboy and gets pregnant. In India in the 70's, this is unheard of. Vinita refuses to have an abortion, has the baby, loses the baby, and end up married in America.
However, after thirty happy years of marriage, Vinita gets a shock--the son she thought was dead is alive, but needs her help. She must return to India to resolve what was begun when she was a naive teenager. Will her husband understand? Will she be able to save her newly-found son's life?
Bantwal tells the story in two time periods--the present and the 1970's. What happened to Vinita when she was nineteen and how those experiences now impact her life are the center of the story. Bantwal is able to seamlessly weave the two tales together and keep the reader enthralled. There are subtle clues which foreshadow events for the perceptive reader, but most of all there is the message this author loves to write about: the importance of family.
As in her other books, Bantwal shows that she loves to teach us about India--its culture, religion and people--and in such a delightful book, we enjoy the learning!
Visit Shobhan Bantwal's website for information about her three previous books and biographical information. Mrs. Bantwal knows a lot about India and arranged marriages. She lived in India until she came to the United States through an arranged marriage.
Any of her books are great choices for a book club.
Unlike the previous books, in The Unexpected Son the reader learns about politics and prejudice in India. In the town of Palgaum, rival cultures battle for power causing riots, mayhem and real danger to the citizens of the town. Each group, the Kannada and the Marathi, believe that the town should belong to Karnataka and Maharashtra respectively. The two groups boast different cultures and languages and true enmity exists between them.
This is the backdrop for a one-sided Romeo and Juliet where only Juliet is in love. Vinita, an admittedly plain girl, falls for the playboy and gets pregnant. In India in the 70's, this is unheard of. Vinita refuses to have an abortion, has the baby, loses the baby, and end up married in America.
However, after thirty happy years of marriage, Vinita gets a shock--the son she thought was dead is alive, but needs her help. She must return to India to resolve what was begun when she was a naive teenager. Will her husband understand? Will she be able to save her newly-found son's life?
Bantwal tells the story in two time periods--the present and the 1970's. What happened to Vinita when she was nineteen and how those experiences now impact her life are the center of the story. Bantwal is able to seamlessly weave the two tales together and keep the reader enthralled. There are subtle clues which foreshadow events for the perceptive reader, but most of all there is the message this author loves to write about: the importance of family.
As in her other books, Bantwal shows that she loves to teach us about India--its culture, religion and people--and in such a delightful book, we enjoy the learning!
Visit Shobhan Bantwal's website for information about her three previous books and biographical information. Mrs. Bantwal knows a lot about India and arranged marriages. She lived in India until she came to the United States through an arranged marriage.
Any of her books are great choices for a book club.
February 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this story! Vinita is an Indian teenager who becomes involved with a high school "cassanova." When Vinita becomes pregnant, her parents and brother arrange for Vinita to give birth to her child far away from home. (An unattached Indian pregnant woman is not acceptable; In fact, an entire family will be shamed for life). When Vinita wakes up from her C-Section, she is told that her son died.
Vinita is lucky to marry an Indian divorced man who was living in the United States. Girish and Vinita have a loving relationship. They have a child together, who grows into a beautiful and extremely intelligent young woman.
One day, Vinita receives some mail from an anonymous sender that her son is alive and he has acute leukemia. Vinita's life is turned upside down when she leaves her husband and her daughter to go back to India with the intent of giving her son, now a brilliant chemistry professor, a bone marrow transplant which might save his life.
This novel not only depicts Vinita's family life story, but the "warring" between two ethnic groups in her home town in India. Vinita belongs to one group, the man who impregnates her belongs to the other group. Family tensions and group tensions continue to mount throughout the story. I read this in three days; I was aching to know how it would end.
Vinita is lucky to marry an Indian divorced man who was living in the United States. Girish and Vinita have a loving relationship. They have a child together, who grows into a beautiful and extremely intelligent young woman.
One day, Vinita receives some mail from an anonymous sender that her son is alive and he has acute leukemia. Vinita's life is turned upside down when she leaves her husband and her daughter to go back to India with the intent of giving her son, now a brilliant chemistry professor, a bone marrow transplant which might save his life.
This novel not only depicts Vinita's family life story, but the "warring" between two ethnic groups in her home town in India. Vinita belongs to one group, the man who impregnates her belongs to the other group. Family tensions and group tensions continue to mount throughout the story. I read this in three days; I was aching to know how it would end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2011
So this book was okay. I liked the basic story. I wouldn't recommend against reading the book. But I wouldn't get all excited recommending the book to anyone either. I am not a fan of the end of the book. It felt unfinished. It needed an epilogue, or all of the main characters coming together. Instead it felt a chapter short. And the quality of the writing, while not bad, wasn't exactly good either. Right now I'm reading a Thrity Umrigar (sp?) book and you can *immediately* feel the difference in the quality of the writing. Thrity's writing flows..... Bantwal's writing, instead, it has lots of details, but it feels like with a college paper, where you're supposed to add detail and atmosphere and feeling and so you add a lot of adjectives.... and so it's all there. But does it flow? Is it smooth? Not if you're not a talented writer. You know how some people are just BORN to be writers and others just want to write a book? I think this author wriote a decent book, but she wasn't BORN to be a writer. So if the storyline appeals to you, go ahed and read it, that's what I did. But moving on to a better writer, I am enjoying the next book that much more.
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September 28, 2016Novel review
This report I am writing is for Ms. Orona, my English IV teacher. The book I am currently reading is “The Unexpected Son” by Shobhan Bantwal. This book is 326 pages long and its publishers are the Kensington Publishing Corp. I decided to read this book because I have always liked to read stories that are from other countries because the authors of such books have a different perspective of things than authors of my home place due to the fact that they grew up in an entirely different culture than the one I'm used to.. I mostly just like reading books of cultures other than mine. I also decided to read this book because it had won the “National Indie Excellence Award” for best multicultural fiction.
The main character of this book is Vinita Shelke/Patil. Vinita is important in this book because the decision she makes not only affects her schooling, life, and future, but also threatens to destroy her family’s reputation according to Indian customs.
Som kori, guy in college who Vinita gets involved with and damps Vinita as soon he learns that she is pregnant. He suggests that Vinita should abort the baby. Vishal Shelke is Vinita’s brother who acts upon her discretion and decides to give his sister’s son up for adoption. He helps Vinita throughout her phase and supports her even when she finally puts herself to revisit her darkest times. Very protective of his sister. Sarla Shelke, Vinita’s mother who supports her during the pregnancy. Also knew about Vishal’s plan for the baby. Girish Patil, Vinita's husband, formerly divorced, very supportive of Vinita and their daughter. Girish distances himself from Vinita after learning that she hadn't trusted him with her teenage recklessness when she got involved with “the popular guy” at school. He feels disappointed by the whole situation since he was so honest to Vinita about himself. Arya Patil, Vinita and Girish’s daughter. Arya does the opposite of what her father does, she categorizes her mother's indiscretions as mistakes made by a teen(vulnerable stage).
The Unexpected Son is based in Palgaum, India and some of it is based in New Jersey, U.S.A. This novel was written in the 20th century. Vinita’s encounters with Som (“college boyfriend”) mostly took place at the coffee shop. Other places that are significant in this novel would be the hospital because that’s where all matters concerning Vinita’s pregnancy were taken care of including the baby’s adoption decision. Some parts of this book were scary due to the rivalry between marathi and kannada tribes, some people are intentionally beaten to death for merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But the novel in general has an emotional appeal to it, with the discovery of Vinita’s pregnancy, her learning from her relatives that the baby died during birth and when she actually finds out that her son is in fact alive (and sick at the same time). Vinita goes back to India in hopes of being a possible marrow donor to Rohit, her alive son. The book ends with Vinita not being a possible donor and her brother, Vishal donates his marrow without telling anyone(except his wife) he was going to do so. Som is reported to have had an accident and died. Prior to his death, Barve had an accident whereby most of his supporters and followers assumed that it really wasn't an accident. Vinita ends up blaming herself for all of this chaos.
My final thoughts on “the unexpected son” are that it's an engaging book and at the same time very dramatic. I liked the book in that it clearly stated what the entire topic of the novel was to be, a mistake that cost many. I didn't really like the too much drama that the novel contained. The recurring theme of the novel is consistent throughout. I think there are just too many skips in paragraphs that shouldn't really have them, in that the author is still talking about the same thing from the previous paragraph. I feel like I learnt that being a strong women in a very “man” viewed world is difficult but at the same time, it's not worth it when we let other people control us and our decisions. I would recommend this book to many people because it deals with how we can solve our problems no matter how embarrassing and unfriendly our past may seem.
April 23, 2016
Shobhan is such a wonderful storyteller! She creates amazingly realistic characters, wonderful rich complicated stories that touch the reader in so many ways. The Unexpected Son does not disappoint on any of these levels! The story is rich with Indian culture, the voice of a young girls heart, and a mothers sense of duty...
Oh the foolishness of youth. But oh, what a wonderful story! Imagine holding onto a secret for 30 years only to find out you were not the only one holding onto a secret. When Vinita Patil receives a letter from Mumbai, little does she realize that her world will never be the same. Vinita is such a wonderful character! She is such a strong independent woman, torn between her modern sensibilities and the traditions of her upbringing. The story follows her from a serious young 19-year-old college girl, who has little time for boys. Her studies are important to her, in order to break free from the traditional views of a woman's place in her society and in order to honor her family with good grades. But then there's this boy... He's a bad boy... and he slowly seduces Vinita with his attentions and sweet talk and then... you guessed it... "something" happens. Vinita is pregnant, unwed, dumped and an emotional wreck. The men in her family decide what to do- which is to whisk her away to Bombay, where no one will know her, keeping the family honor, and where she is told by her family that her baby was born stillborn. If the story were only one of a son showing up on a birth mother's doorstep unexpected, it would be a good story. But, in the hands a Shobhan Bantwal you can expect so much more! And it all starts with that mysterious letter...
With the skills of Shobhan Bantwal's writing, we experience the culture of India through the eyes and ears of Vinita Patil. The traditional place of women, family honor, dating, marriage... The shame that Vinita carries through out her life is tempered by her happy marriage to her modern Indian husband (their courtship was a wonderful part of the story) and daughter, but the happiness she finds there will be shaken with the news of a son... The relationships between the members of Vinita's family are rich and complex, and as family secrets are revealed Vinita's strength of character shines through.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters came alive off the pages, the story captured my attention, and I loved the traditional Indian culture that served as the core of the story and as the basis for the relationships between the family members. There is a wealth of book to discuss here, and it would definitely make a perfect reading group selection. Readers who enjoy stories that deal with traditional cultural values will want to put this on their TBR list, but anyone who enjoys a great story, with a strong female lead character will want to too! I couldn't help myself and read it in one sitting!
Oh the foolishness of youth. But oh, what a wonderful story! Imagine holding onto a secret for 30 years only to find out you were not the only one holding onto a secret. When Vinita Patil receives a letter from Mumbai, little does she realize that her world will never be the same. Vinita is such a wonderful character! She is such a strong independent woman, torn between her modern sensibilities and the traditions of her upbringing. The story follows her from a serious young 19-year-old college girl, who has little time for boys. Her studies are important to her, in order to break free from the traditional views of a woman's place in her society and in order to honor her family with good grades. But then there's this boy... He's a bad boy... and he slowly seduces Vinita with his attentions and sweet talk and then... you guessed it... "something" happens. Vinita is pregnant, unwed, dumped and an emotional wreck. The men in her family decide what to do- which is to whisk her away to Bombay, where no one will know her, keeping the family honor, and where she is told by her family that her baby was born stillborn. If the story were only one of a son showing up on a birth mother's doorstep unexpected, it would be a good story. But, in the hands a Shobhan Bantwal you can expect so much more! And it all starts with that mysterious letter...
With the skills of Shobhan Bantwal's writing, we experience the culture of India through the eyes and ears of Vinita Patil. The traditional place of women, family honor, dating, marriage... The shame that Vinita carries through out her life is tempered by her happy marriage to her modern Indian husband (their courtship was a wonderful part of the story) and daughter, but the happiness she finds there will be shaken with the news of a son... The relationships between the members of Vinita's family are rich and complex, and as family secrets are revealed Vinita's strength of character shines through.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters came alive off the pages, the story captured my attention, and I loved the traditional Indian culture that served as the core of the story and as the basis for the relationships between the family members. There is a wealth of book to discuss here, and it would definitely make a perfect reading group selection. Readers who enjoy stories that deal with traditional cultural values will want to put this on their TBR list, but anyone who enjoys a great story, with a strong female lead character will want to too! I couldn't help myself and read it in one sitting!
February 6, 2012
This is an easy read and is something of a page-turner if you're in the right frame of mind. (That is, too tired or sick to read a book that makes you think, but want something more than sudoku). I enjoyed it, especially the fact that it was set in a place with which I was somewhat unfamiliar - Belgaum (Palgaum), India. It's about a woman who, 30 years after giving birth to a still-born, illegitimate child, finds out that her child was/is actually alive. If you're thinking that this is a plot that is just right for really irritating, terrible writing, that's what I was thinking too but the author writes decently. It's not high literature but it's entirely readable.
May 9, 2015
4.5/5
Okay while this was borderline cliche, it had a number of things I liked, that fell in two categories: for one, there was a sense of realness in the story line and two, the characters were relateable.
My only problem was the cliffhanger ending.. Does her son live or not?!
Okay while this was borderline cliche, it had a number of things I liked, that fell in two categories: for one, there was a sense of realness in the story line and two, the characters were relateable.
My only problem was the cliffhanger ending.. Does her son live or not?!
June 5, 2019
Name of the book: The Unexpected Son
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
Publisher: Finger Print
No. of pages: 328
Genre: Fiction
Blurb of the book
On a sunny April morning in West Windsor, New Jersey, Vinita Patil wakes up to find an envelope from Mumbai in her mail. The anonymous missive inside it claims that her son is dying of leukaemia and that his survival may depend on her. This confounds Vinita. She has been living with her husband and daughter for twenty-five years in America. She has no son. or does she
Once upon a time, in a small town in India, a middle-class girl fell in love with an upper-class playboy from her college. The torrid affair inevitably ended in a catastrophe that turned her world upside down.
Now, as transgressions from her past threaten to rattle her cozy suburban dream, Vinita must leave behind a family whose faith in her has been shaken and return to her hometown in India that's on the brink of bedlam.
Amidst this turmoil, will Vinita be able to salvage her marriage? or will secrets from the past wreck her world forever? Find out in this riveting tale of one woman's emotional journey back home to make amends for blunders made in her youth.
About the Author
Shobhan Bantwal is the author of six novels and two anthologies. Her books combine contemporary women's issues with romantic elements. Her articles have appeared in The Writer, Romantic Times, India Abroad, Little India, New Woman and India Currents. Her short fiction has won honours and awards in contests sponsored by Writer's Digest, New York Stories and New Woman magazines. Her debut book, The Dowry Bride, won the 2008 Golden Leaf Award. The Unexpected Son won the 2012 National Indie Excellence Award. Shobhan lives in Arizona, USA.
Review (my view)
Cover page: **** The cover page of the book is lovely with a lady engrossed in her thoughts gives a clear picture of the protagonist of the story, Vinita. I found the cover page of the book, quite interesting, apt for the story.
Narration: ***** the narration of this book is its strongest point. The story has nothing so novel but the way it has been narrated by the author will make you hooked to the book, till it ends. I truly enjoyed the ups and downs faced by Vinita, and life gives her twists and turens. It was beautifully narrated.
I recommend this book to all the fiction lovers. I am sure the reader will enjoy the story and roller coaster ride of Vinita's life.
Overall rating is **** .
If you are a fiction lover, then do check this book.
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
Publisher: Finger Print
No. of pages: 328
Genre: Fiction
Blurb of the book
On a sunny April morning in West Windsor, New Jersey, Vinita Patil wakes up to find an envelope from Mumbai in her mail. The anonymous missive inside it claims that her son is dying of leukaemia and that his survival may depend on her. This confounds Vinita. She has been living with her husband and daughter for twenty-five years in America. She has no son. or does she
Once upon a time, in a small town in India, a middle-class girl fell in love with an upper-class playboy from her college. The torrid affair inevitably ended in a catastrophe that turned her world upside down.
Now, as transgressions from her past threaten to rattle her cozy suburban dream, Vinita must leave behind a family whose faith in her has been shaken and return to her hometown in India that's on the brink of bedlam.
Amidst this turmoil, will Vinita be able to salvage her marriage? or will secrets from the past wreck her world forever? Find out in this riveting tale of one woman's emotional journey back home to make amends for blunders made in her youth.
About the Author
Shobhan Bantwal is the author of six novels and two anthologies. Her books combine contemporary women's issues with romantic elements. Her articles have appeared in The Writer, Romantic Times, India Abroad, Little India, New Woman and India Currents. Her short fiction has won honours and awards in contests sponsored by Writer's Digest, New York Stories and New Woman magazines. Her debut book, The Dowry Bride, won the 2008 Golden Leaf Award. The Unexpected Son won the 2012 National Indie Excellence Award. Shobhan lives in Arizona, USA.
Review (my view)
Cover page: **** The cover page of the book is lovely with a lady engrossed in her thoughts gives a clear picture of the protagonist of the story, Vinita. I found the cover page of the book, quite interesting, apt for the story.
Narration: ***** the narration of this book is its strongest point. The story has nothing so novel but the way it has been narrated by the author will make you hooked to the book, till it ends. I truly enjoyed the ups and downs faced by Vinita, and life gives her twists and turens. It was beautifully narrated.
I recommend this book to all the fiction lovers. I am sure the reader will enjoy the story and roller coaster ride of Vinita's life.
Overall rating is **** .
If you are a fiction lover, then do check this book.
November 1, 2017
It is a morning like any other in suburban New Jersey when Vinita Patil opens the bettered envelope marked "Mumbai." But the letter inside turns her comfortable world upside down. It tells Vinita an impossible story: she has grown son in India whose life may depend on her.
Once upon a time, a naive young college girl fell in love with a wealthy boy whose primary interests were cricket and womanizing. Vinita knew, even then, that a secret affair with a man whose language and values were different from her own was a mistake. He finished with her soon enough, leaving her to birth a boy that was stillborn. Or so Vinita was told.
Now, that child is a grown man in desperate need. To help her son, to know him, Vinita must revisit her darkest hours by returning to her battle-scarred homeland and pray for the faith of the family she leaves behind.
This story portrays a young woman caught between love and duty, hope and despair.
Once upon a time, a naive young college girl fell in love with a wealthy boy whose primary interests were cricket and womanizing. Vinita knew, even then, that a secret affair with a man whose language and values were different from her own was a mistake. He finished with her soon enough, leaving her to birth a boy that was stillborn. Or so Vinita was told.
Now, that child is a grown man in desperate need. To help her son, to know him, Vinita must revisit her darkest hours by returning to her battle-scarred homeland and pray for the faith of the family she leaves behind.
This story portrays a young woman caught between love and duty, hope and despair.
July 2, 2022
An involving and interesting story of a family coping with crisis
This was a well developed story of coming to terms with unforeseen events that are the result of youthful events. When Vinita receives an anonymous letter telling her the child she thought was stillborn 30 years ago, needs a bone marrow transplant to combat his leukemia, she returns to her hometown and family to try to be a donor. The characters are multi-faceted and it is a glimpse of how separated families can respond to chaos and disruption. The story finishes with the reader thinking of the possible outcomes, which can mirror life’s realities. This was a very good story that I enjoyed greatly.
This was a well developed story of coming to terms with unforeseen events that are the result of youthful events. When Vinita receives an anonymous letter telling her the child she thought was stillborn 30 years ago, needs a bone marrow transplant to combat his leukemia, she returns to her hometown and family to try to be a donor. The characters are multi-faceted and it is a glimpse of how separated families can respond to chaos and disruption. The story finishes with the reader thinking of the possible outcomes, which can mirror life’s realities. This was a very good story that I enjoyed greatly.
March 10, 2019
I thought this was a sensitive treatment of adoption and the cultural assumptions around shame, family honor, and reproductive choice for an unwed girl in 1970s India. The story started off like a Preti Zinta film, but I really like what Bantwal did with the 30 year flash forward. There are no pat answers and no easy sense of closure. I would give this book a 3.5. I will probably read it a second time and I'm waiting to see if it stands up to a second reading.
January 3, 2022
Well, it was definitely better than The Full Moon Bride but she sure is obsessed with going on and on about how plain she is just like in TFM Bride...kind of tedious. The book ended with a lot of things unresolved but I guess that is better than having an epilogue that tied everything up in a perfect, pretty little bow.
2.5 🌟
2.5 🌟
May 1, 2019
Very readable book about a hidden, then found child. I think it is more understandable than others like it, as the mother is now north american, and it is told, in part, from this view point.
Well written, with enough detail to make it a rich story.
Well written, with enough detail to make it a rich story.
November 7, 2019
I loved this book, but had a hard time with the ending. I wanted to know what happen to Rohit. Did he make it? What was his future like if he did? The ending left so many questions. I’m sad it’s over.
June 3, 2018
Well written.
January 14, 2021
Lovely story. Well written. The ending left a huge unanswered question. Hoping for a part 2.
June 22, 2021
A little bit predictable, but a good story. Lots of exposure to life and culture in India during the 1970's. Enjoyed it. Probably could be slightly better character development.
September 8, 2024
Loved it
Great story
Great characters and brought me to tears
Great story
Great characters and brought me to tears
September 1, 2013
Settled in New Jersey with her husband and daughter, when 50-year old Vinita receives a “typically Indian looking” letter from Mumbai, little did she know that her life was going to change. Upon reading the letter, she is catapulted into her past. A past she had left behind with great difficulty, and moved on.
19-year old Vinita was the ideal daughter that every parent wished for. She was brilliant in her studies, topped each year, was obedient and had bright plans for her future. But when the college playboy Somesh Kori, quite literally bumps into her, her near-perfect life goes completely topsy-turvy. Suddenly she is lying to her parents, is completely distracted from her goals, and falls to the 5th rank from the 1st. Despite many warnings from her friends, she truly believes in her relationship with Sohm. Soon enough, she gets pregnant and Sohm wants nothing to do with the child. In the India of the 70’s, an unmarried pregnant woman was considered a taboo and a blemish on the reputation of the family. (Notably, she still is.) Upon refusing to get an abortion done, her family takes her to Mumbai for her delivery. But the child was stillborn.
Thirty years later when Vinita gets a letter telling her that her son is dying of acute leukaemia, she is stunned. She never had a son, did she? At least not one who lived. A secret she had guarded for thirty years suddenly comes tumbling out and disrupts her normal, peaceful life. Will her husband ever forgive her betrayal? Will her daughter come to terms with her mother’s illicit affair and a half-brother? Or will her son ever accept her as his mother?
The narrative is divided in two parts: the past and the present. The past (1976-1982) gives us a vivid description of what life was like in those days; when the newest acquisition one felt the need to show-off among their peers was an Ambassador car, and when coffee was the big rage because it was popularized in America. The present (2012) tells us about life as it is today, with small towns of 1976 being given the status of a city by the government and development taking place at every nook and corner. Another thing that has changed, for the worse however, are the Marathi-Kannada communal riots in Palgaum, which intensify with each passing day. Palgaum (now Belgaum), a district stuck in between Maharashtra and Karnataka, with almost equal Marathi and Kannada residents is being fought over by the two states to make it a part of their own. However, what hasn’t changed in these thirty years are the strong virtues that are ingrained involuntarily in every Hindu household, and the importance of “parivaar ki izzat”.
I really enjoyed reading the book. The plot was not unique or unheard of. But the way the story has been narrated kept me enthralled until the very end. Shobhan Bantwal effortlessly weaved the past with the present, with the two parts in complete sync with one another. Like her previous book that I read, The Reluctant Matchmaker, the author has substantially emphasized on the rich Indian culture…the traditional place of women, family, honour, dignity and shame. However, unlike her previous book, we get to read about the political scenario from the 70’s to present day in the form of the Marathi-Kannada clashes. The language used is not particularly elaborate or fancy, but neither is it dull and drab. The relationships between the members of Vinita’s family are complex, and secrets are unravelled at every step. The characters were simple and realistic, though none of them really leapt out of the book for me. However, if I had to choose a favourite, it would definitely be Vinita. She is a girl with a mind of her own who wants to break through the norms of society and become independent. She ensures she has a say in the decisions that are made by her family for her. As the book progresses, Vinita’s strength of character shines through.
The only complaint I had with the book was the ending. It seemed vague and incomplete, with a LOT of scope left for imagination. The book felt incomplete of a last chapter, or an epilogue giving the readers an insight into what finally happened. But beyond this, I doubt I can find any fault.
Shobhan Bantwal is a very talented writer, and I have enjoyed reading both The Unexpected Son and The Reluctant Matchmaker. The Unexpected Son is a tremendous fast-paced read that you would probably finish in a single sitting.
Originally reviewed at Vaultofbooks.com, a close-knit community of fanatical readers. We are looking for perceptive readers who can write well, and we are eager to provide lots of free books in exchange for reviews. Shoot us a mail at contact@vaultofbooks.com
19-year old Vinita was the ideal daughter that every parent wished for. She was brilliant in her studies, topped each year, was obedient and had bright plans for her future. But when the college playboy Somesh Kori, quite literally bumps into her, her near-perfect life goes completely topsy-turvy. Suddenly she is lying to her parents, is completely distracted from her goals, and falls to the 5th rank from the 1st. Despite many warnings from her friends, she truly believes in her relationship with Sohm. Soon enough, she gets pregnant and Sohm wants nothing to do with the child. In the India of the 70’s, an unmarried pregnant woman was considered a taboo and a blemish on the reputation of the family. (Notably, she still is.) Upon refusing to get an abortion done, her family takes her to Mumbai for her delivery. But the child was stillborn.
Thirty years later when Vinita gets a letter telling her that her son is dying of acute leukaemia, she is stunned. She never had a son, did she? At least not one who lived. A secret she had guarded for thirty years suddenly comes tumbling out and disrupts her normal, peaceful life. Will her husband ever forgive her betrayal? Will her daughter come to terms with her mother’s illicit affair and a half-brother? Or will her son ever accept her as his mother?
The narrative is divided in two parts: the past and the present. The past (1976-1982) gives us a vivid description of what life was like in those days; when the newest acquisition one felt the need to show-off among their peers was an Ambassador car, and when coffee was the big rage because it was popularized in America. The present (2012) tells us about life as it is today, with small towns of 1976 being given the status of a city by the government and development taking place at every nook and corner. Another thing that has changed, for the worse however, are the Marathi-Kannada communal riots in Palgaum, which intensify with each passing day. Palgaum (now Belgaum), a district stuck in between Maharashtra and Karnataka, with almost equal Marathi and Kannada residents is being fought over by the two states to make it a part of their own. However, what hasn’t changed in these thirty years are the strong virtues that are ingrained involuntarily in every Hindu household, and the importance of “parivaar ki izzat”.
I really enjoyed reading the book. The plot was not unique or unheard of. But the way the story has been narrated kept me enthralled until the very end. Shobhan Bantwal effortlessly weaved the past with the present, with the two parts in complete sync with one another. Like her previous book that I read, The Reluctant Matchmaker, the author has substantially emphasized on the rich Indian culture…the traditional place of women, family, honour, dignity and shame. However, unlike her previous book, we get to read about the political scenario from the 70’s to present day in the form of the Marathi-Kannada clashes. The language used is not particularly elaborate or fancy, but neither is it dull and drab. The relationships between the members of Vinita’s family are complex, and secrets are unravelled at every step. The characters were simple and realistic, though none of them really leapt out of the book for me. However, if I had to choose a favourite, it would definitely be Vinita. She is a girl with a mind of her own who wants to break through the norms of society and become independent. She ensures she has a say in the decisions that are made by her family for her. As the book progresses, Vinita’s strength of character shines through.
The only complaint I had with the book was the ending. It seemed vague and incomplete, with a LOT of scope left for imagination. The book felt incomplete of a last chapter, or an epilogue giving the readers an insight into what finally happened. But beyond this, I doubt I can find any fault.
Shobhan Bantwal is a very talented writer, and I have enjoyed reading both The Unexpected Son and The Reluctant Matchmaker. The Unexpected Son is a tremendous fast-paced read that you would probably finish in a single sitting.
Originally reviewed at Vaultofbooks.com, a close-knit community of fanatical readers. We are looking for perceptive readers who can write well, and we are eager to provide lots of free books in exchange for reviews. Shoot us a mail at contact@vaultofbooks.com
October 21, 2024
I have read Shobhan Bantwal's books before and haven't been impressed by her writing. I feel that the plot of her stories is good but the narration along the way loses strength and the story becomes stale.
Vinita Shelke-Patil lives in New Jersey and has been married to Girish Patil for nearly 25 years and has a 23-year-old daughter Arya. Vinita receives a letter from India written by an anonymous person that says that her son has cancer and needs help and her brother Vishal could provide more details. She thinks back about 30 years when she was in college and love with a local goon. As a result, she is pregnant and despite her family's pressure to abort, she decides to keep the baby. During birth, Vinita is sick and loses her baby, or at least that's what she was told.
Later she meets Girish, marries him, and lives a happy life. After she receives the letter, her husband Girish is upset that she kept the secret for 25 years and now she is traveling to India to meet her sick son and help him with a bone marrow transplant. Vinita confronts her family back in India for keeping her son a secret and meets her son who was adopted by a couple who live in the same town. She finds out that the adoptive father and the actual father of her son Rohit are arch-rivals and are leaders of two different groups fighting for heritage and could even kill each other. Vinita stays in Palgaum for an extended period trying to donate bone marrow to Rohit but ends up malaria. She meets Rohit's actual father and asks him to help his only son, but he denies it. While all this is going on, her married life is turbulent since her husband Girish neither speaks to her over the phone nor communicates through e-mail. Vinita is now worried that Girish is planning to file for a divorce. The end was surprising but stale.
Shobhan has written about Palgaum which I feel is Belgaum, located on the border of Karnataka and Maharashtra, where clashes for language and heritage are still alive today. The middle-class family of Shelkes and the adolescent years have been written very well. Arya's character is very mature for her age and is very broad-minded to accept her mother's past. The coverage of local politics was completely pointless and unnecessary. Some of the chapters were pointless and had nothing significant.
I was neither impressed with the story nor the writing. I don't think I will read another book by Shobhan Bantwal unless it is exceptionally good.
Favorite lines from the book:
Happiness was only a state of mind, a fleeting and fragile condition that could be shattered in an instant.
Fate was an odd thing. Events returned full circle sometimes, leaving one helpless and struggling against the tide.
Anger is such a wasted emotion when you don't know whether you'll be alive next week or not.
Vinita Shelke-Patil lives in New Jersey and has been married to Girish Patil for nearly 25 years and has a 23-year-old daughter Arya. Vinita receives a letter from India written by an anonymous person that says that her son has cancer and needs help and her brother Vishal could provide more details. She thinks back about 30 years when she was in college and love with a local goon. As a result, she is pregnant and despite her family's pressure to abort, she decides to keep the baby. During birth, Vinita is sick and loses her baby, or at least that's what she was told.
Later she meets Girish, marries him, and lives a happy life. After she receives the letter, her husband Girish is upset that she kept the secret for 25 years and now she is traveling to India to meet her sick son and help him with a bone marrow transplant. Vinita confronts her family back in India for keeping her son a secret and meets her son who was adopted by a couple who live in the same town. She finds out that the adoptive father and the actual father of her son Rohit are arch-rivals and are leaders of two different groups fighting for heritage and could even kill each other. Vinita stays in Palgaum for an extended period trying to donate bone marrow to Rohit but ends up malaria. She meets Rohit's actual father and asks him to help his only son, but he denies it. While all this is going on, her married life is turbulent since her husband Girish neither speaks to her over the phone nor communicates through e-mail. Vinita is now worried that Girish is planning to file for a divorce. The end was surprising but stale.
Shobhan has written about Palgaum which I feel is Belgaum, located on the border of Karnataka and Maharashtra, where clashes for language and heritage are still alive today. The middle-class family of Shelkes and the adolescent years have been written very well. Arya's character is very mature for her age and is very broad-minded to accept her mother's past. The coverage of local politics was completely pointless and unnecessary. Some of the chapters were pointless and had nothing significant.
I was neither impressed with the story nor the writing. I don't think I will read another book by Shobhan Bantwal unless it is exceptionally good.
Favorite lines from the book:
Happiness was only a state of mind, a fleeting and fragile condition that could be shattered in an instant.
Fate was an odd thing. Events returned full circle sometimes, leaving one helpless and struggling against the tide.
Anger is such a wasted emotion when you don't know whether you'll be alive next week or not.
September 4, 2013
The Unexpected Son by Shobhan Bantwal is the story of an Indian girl from brought up with traditional Indian values.
1976
Vinita Shelke, 19, is the topper of her class in Shivraj College, Palgaum, Karnataka. Her father is an accountant and her mother, a pious, traditional housewife. Her elder brother, Vishal, is a chartered accountant who works in Bombay. She learns Bharatnatyam and Prema is her best friend.
Somesh Kori, a rich landlord’s son, is the college heart throb and the captain of the college cricket team. As a wager in a bet, he makes Vinita fall for him, plays with her emotions and leaves her when she is pregnant.
She decides to keep the baby and says that she would do whatever she can to take care of the baby. To save the family name, her parents and her brother move her to Bombay where her brother takes care of her. Her family tells her that her son was stillborn.
She reconciles with her life, studies in Bombay and gets a job there. She is introduced to a few eligible men. Girish Patil, a divorcee from New Jersey, is one of them. She likes him and is unable to divulge the truth to him, even thogh, she does not intend to do so. May be this is her destiny.
Thirty years later:
Mrs Vinita Shelke Patil, who now lives in New Jersey with her husband, Girish, and daughter, Arya, receives an anonymous letter from Bombay saying that her son is dying and that her brother knows the details. Her husband, who does not know her secret, is out of town and she cannot confide in her daughter. When she tells it to both of them, Girish withdraws into his shell and Arya, after her initial withdrawal, becomes her confidante.
She decides to go back to Palgaum, meet her family and her son. She wants to be there for her son, Rohit, who teaches Chemistry in Shivraj College and help him in whichever way possible, even if that means that she becomes the bone marrow donor or talk to Somesh and ask him to become one.
My Take:
The characters have been very beautifully described. Vinita is strong and independent, yet an introvert and modern yet traditional; Girish is very understanding and open; Vishal is very strict on the outside but very soft inside; Arya, very understanding. Communal riots between the Marathis and Kannadas add a little political angle to the story.
I liked the way the author has described the courtship of Vinita and Girish, she wanting to tell him everything, but somehow, cannot do so and he so open about his past. She has wonderfully shown the different directions a mother daughter relationship can move depending upon the people in question.
A very well written story of a mother’s love for a child she did not know existed. As I was reading, I got so involved in the story, like all Shobhan Bantwal’s stories, that I could not keep the book down and was reading in the kitchen waiting for the water to boil and dreamt of the characters.
1976
Vinita Shelke, 19, is the topper of her class in Shivraj College, Palgaum, Karnataka. Her father is an accountant and her mother, a pious, traditional housewife. Her elder brother, Vishal, is a chartered accountant who works in Bombay. She learns Bharatnatyam and Prema is her best friend.
Somesh Kori, a rich landlord’s son, is the college heart throb and the captain of the college cricket team. As a wager in a bet, he makes Vinita fall for him, plays with her emotions and leaves her when she is pregnant.
She decides to keep the baby and says that she would do whatever she can to take care of the baby. To save the family name, her parents and her brother move her to Bombay where her brother takes care of her. Her family tells her that her son was stillborn.
She reconciles with her life, studies in Bombay and gets a job there. She is introduced to a few eligible men. Girish Patil, a divorcee from New Jersey, is one of them. She likes him and is unable to divulge the truth to him, even thogh, she does not intend to do so. May be this is her destiny.
Thirty years later:
Mrs Vinita Shelke Patil, who now lives in New Jersey with her husband, Girish, and daughter, Arya, receives an anonymous letter from Bombay saying that her son is dying and that her brother knows the details. Her husband, who does not know her secret, is out of town and she cannot confide in her daughter. When she tells it to both of them, Girish withdraws into his shell and Arya, after her initial withdrawal, becomes her confidante.
She decides to go back to Palgaum, meet her family and her son. She wants to be there for her son, Rohit, who teaches Chemistry in Shivraj College and help him in whichever way possible, even if that means that she becomes the bone marrow donor or talk to Somesh and ask him to become one.
My Take:
The characters have been very beautifully described. Vinita is strong and independent, yet an introvert and modern yet traditional; Girish is very understanding and open; Vishal is very strict on the outside but very soft inside; Arya, very understanding. Communal riots between the Marathis and Kannadas add a little political angle to the story.
I liked the way the author has described the courtship of Vinita and Girish, she wanting to tell him everything, but somehow, cannot do so and he so open about his past. She has wonderfully shown the different directions a mother daughter relationship can move depending upon the people in question.
A very well written story of a mother’s love for a child she did not know existed. As I was reading, I got so involved in the story, like all Shobhan Bantwal’s stories, that I could not keep the book down and was reading in the kitchen waiting for the water to boil and dreamt of the characters.
January 22, 2011
I first saw this book on S. Krishna's Books and the cover immediately caught my eye. I've been making an effort to read outside of my comfort zone and this sounded like a great book to start off with. It was a wonderful read and gave an interesting glimpse into a culture that was pretty foreign to me. The story premise was immediately intriguing as a mother myself I cannot imagine going through 30 years of your life not knowing that you had a son and then to find out he is dying. It was shocking to see the types of cultural views and taboos that lead up to this situation and it made me wonder how true this is in today's world in India. In this story it was shocking that preserving the family's reputation was seen as much more important than the happiness of Vinita or even the well being of her child. Then we see how because her family pretended she had a form of cancer and was sent away for treatment instead of admitting she was pregnant she was still viewed as not marriageable and only introduced to men who had some sort of problem like being an alcoholic or a divorcee. All of this makes me want to learn more about the Indian culture to see how true to form the details in this story are.
Vinita was an interesting character because at times you heart breaks for her and other times she irritates the heck out of you and you want to shake some sense into her. She comes across as so real to me because she isn't perfect and makes dumb mistakes out of stubborness that a lot of us would make in her shoes. Things don't always work out in the end like in a fairy tale and she has to learn to live with the consequences of her actions.
Her brother, Vishal, is another interesting character because he can come across as a real bastard but really he does what he believes is right for his family even if that means concealing the existence of Vinita's son from her for all these years. You want to dislike him for what he does but you can't because it is obvious how much he loves Vinita and respects his parents.
I did not want to put this one down and my co-workers laughed at me as I frantically tried to finish the last 8 pages before we had to start a training class because I couldn't wait to find out what happened. This is a wonderful book if you are looking for a glimpse into Indian culture.
Vinita was an interesting character because at times you heart breaks for her and other times she irritates the heck out of you and you want to shake some sense into her. She comes across as so real to me because she isn't perfect and makes dumb mistakes out of stubborness that a lot of us would make in her shoes. Things don't always work out in the end like in a fairy tale and she has to learn to live with the consequences of her actions.
Her brother, Vishal, is another interesting character because he can come across as a real bastard but really he does what he believes is right for his family even if that means concealing the existence of Vinita's son from her for all these years. You want to dislike him for what he does but you can't because it is obvious how much he loves Vinita and respects his parents.
I did not want to put this one down and my co-workers laughed at me as I frantically tried to finish the last 8 pages before we had to start a training class because I couldn't wait to find out what happened. This is a wonderful book if you are looking for a glimpse into Indian culture.
August 22, 2010
Vinita Patil left Mumbai, India a long time ago. She is happily married now and has a daughter. They live in America. Vinita didn’t really leave India on good terms. So she could not imagine why someone would be sending her a letter from Mumbai. The letter says that Vinita’s son, Rohit has Myeloid leukemia and needs a donor. First it is a shock that Vinita’s son has Myeloid leukemia but the bigger surprise is that Vinita didn’t know that she had a son.
Vinita had just finished dancing at the college gala. Back stage, Vinita hears a male voice. She turns and it is Somesh Kori. He is the guy that all the ladies want to date. Vinita and Som date. Vinita becomes pregnant. To both her family and Som’s disapproval. Som offers to pay Vinita to have an abortion. Vinita is stubborn and gives birth to a son, though her family tells Vinita that he was born stillborn.
This letter tears Vinita and her husband apart. She never told her husband that she gave born to a child. Rohit believes that Vinita discarded him. Can Vinita find a way back into both her husband and her son’s hearts?
The Unexpected Son is the fourth book from author, Shobhan Bantwal. This book just cemented my love for Mrs. Bantwal. As if I needed any more of a reason to rave. I was already a fan before this book. Mrs. Bantwal brings to life the world of India like no one else can. I felt both sadness and happiness for Vinita and Rohit. Sadness that she missed growing up with him and Vinita wanted him so bad but happy that they were able to reconnect.
For anyone who has not discovered Shobhan Bantwal and her books, then you had better head to the nearest book store or online store and order her books today. You won’t be sorry you did, only sorry you didn’t try her sooner. The Unexpected Son is an expected winner!
Vinita had just finished dancing at the college gala. Back stage, Vinita hears a male voice. She turns and it is Somesh Kori. He is the guy that all the ladies want to date. Vinita and Som date. Vinita becomes pregnant. To both her family and Som’s disapproval. Som offers to pay Vinita to have an abortion. Vinita is stubborn and gives birth to a son, though her family tells Vinita that he was born stillborn.
This letter tears Vinita and her husband apart. She never told her husband that she gave born to a child. Rohit believes that Vinita discarded him. Can Vinita find a way back into both her husband and her son’s hearts?
The Unexpected Son is the fourth book from author, Shobhan Bantwal. This book just cemented my love for Mrs. Bantwal. As if I needed any more of a reason to rave. I was already a fan before this book. Mrs. Bantwal brings to life the world of India like no one else can. I felt both sadness and happiness for Vinita and Rohit. Sadness that she missed growing up with him and Vinita wanted him so bad but happy that they were able to reconnect.
For anyone who has not discovered Shobhan Bantwal and her books, then you had better head to the nearest book store or online store and order her books today. You won’t be sorry you did, only sorry you didn’t try her sooner. The Unexpected Son is an expected winner!
September 27, 2010
My review from my blog Rundpinne...[return]....Stunningly beautiful, The Unexpected Son by Shobhan Bantwal is a story of family honor, deceit, and forgiveness. The top student in her University class, Vinita had a plan for her life until Somesh Kori enters her life. Som is a rake in every sense of the word, but Vini is young and her emotions took over and she suffered terribly for her mistake. Thirty years pass, Vini is now living in America with her husband Girish and daughter Arya when a mysterious letter arrives from Mumbai, shocking Vini and once again bringing scandal to her family as well as opening old and new wounds. Bantwal does an exceptional job describing life in India, the cultural biases as well as the customs and beliefs. I was fascinated by the family dynamics in India as well as in America. Bantwal has created an exceptional cast of characters that are flawed and quite human to the point the reader may forget this is a work of fiction. The Unexpected Son is filled with several storylines all stemming for Vini’s indiscretion as an 18-year-old and I was drawn into the lives of Vinita, Arya and Girish, Rohini, Kishore, Vishal and Sayee, the Patil’s, and into the life of Rohit and his family. Bantwal writes a beautiful story of love, loss, deception and redemption and I highly recommend The Unexpected Son to any reader and to book discussion groups.
March 10, 2013
This was one of the few times that I've read a book and been able to say exactly what I didn't like about it. The author is talented, and the story does flow well. However I grew very agitated by the fact she kept referring to Vinita and Sol as "real" parents instead of birth parents or biological parents. Every time it happened I got more irritated and just wanted to scream at whoever was saying it that "real" parents are the ones who raise a child, who stay up all night with the child when they are sick, who spend their days working to support the child's needs and dreams. It was just super frustrating for me. I also did not empathize with Vinita as a main character, as the book wore on she became more and more unlikeable. She had an inflated sense of ego and the whole "poor me" attitude just got grating.
Like I said the author is talented and I will still try other books by her, but this one just didn't work for me because of the above reasons.
Like I said the author is talented and I will still try other books by her, but this one just didn't work for me because of the above reasons.
August 2, 2011
Probably the best book I've read this summer. A woman who grew up in India finds out that her illegitimate son was not stillborn and that her family hid that fact from her. He is now an adult with leukemia and she returns to India from the United States to help him. Well written book that incorporates local customs and political unrest throughout the story. Several interesting twists and turns draw the characters - past and present - into their lives and the local unrest. The story also does a good job of bringing up all the family dilemma due to them not wanting to lose face over this secret son they have kept so well hidden over the past 30 years. Nice contrasts between her own Americanized family and her Indian family as they struggle to understand and accept each other's opinions and beliefs.
September 12, 2025
I read The Unexpected Son on Kindle Unlimited back in 2017. The novel begins with Vinita, an Indian-American woman living a settled life in the US, who suddenly receives shocking news: she has a grown son in India, born out of wedlock years ago.
The story takes her back to India, where she must confront her past, her family, and the choices that changed her life forever. Shobhan Bantwal writes with sensitivity and honesty about taboo subjects — premarital relationships, single motherhood, and the clash between tradition and modernity.
I loved how the book balanced emotional depth with engaging storytelling. Vinita’s journey was both heartbreaking and empowering, and the cultural nuances added authenticity.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 — A powerful read for anyone who enjoys diaspora fiction that doesn’t shy away from tough themes.
The story takes her back to India, where she must confront her past, her family, and the choices that changed her life forever. Shobhan Bantwal writes with sensitivity and honesty about taboo subjects — premarital relationships, single motherhood, and the clash between tradition and modernity.
I loved how the book balanced emotional depth with engaging storytelling. Vinita’s journey was both heartbreaking and empowering, and the cultural nuances added authenticity.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 — A powerful read for anyone who enjoys diaspora fiction that doesn’t shy away from tough themes.
February 11, 2012
Between a 3.5 and 4, probably closer to 4. I've always been fascinated by other cultures, their customs and beliefs. I liked this story as it gave a glimpse into the Indian culture. Imagine a teenage Indian girl, studious, sheltered, serious, and by her assessment, plain looking. The most popular guy in school notices her. She eventually falls for him hard. The outcome is inevitable, she's young and pregnant. This is a major transgression in the Indian culture, she has brought shame to her entire family. The story that follows is one of betrayal, heartache, sadness, joy, all intertwined with the Indian culture and beliefs. Good book.
May 29, 2013
The Unexpected Son By Shobhan Bantwal Vinita is an extremely intelligent polite behaved girl attending college in her home town in India. For the very first time in her life she breaks the rules and changes her life and her families destiny forever. Thirty years later Vinita receives a letter at her quiet home in New Jersey and all of her secrets and misgivings come back to turn her life upside down. Vinita is a strong, independent woman and a most likeable character. The novel takes place in a colorful town where the sights and sounds and smells come to life as the authors beautiful descriptions take us on a faraway journey. Highly recommend this excellent read.
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