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Las colinas del tigre
Situadas en una de las regiones más fértiles y hermosas del sur de la India, las colinas de Coorg son el espléndido escenario de esta apasionante novela que arranca en las últimas décadas del siglo XIX. En el centro del relato, la cautivadora figura de Devi, que, desde su posición de hija predilecta de una familia que la adora, será el hilo conductor que nos descubrirá las vicisitudes de unos personajes de variados matices. Séptimo retoño de los Nachimanda, el hecho de ser la primera niña nacida en sesenta y cinco años hará que Devi sea tratada con una veneración rayana en la idolatría. Criada en un ambiente de alegría y felicidad, la irrupción del pequeño Devanna, que llega a la comunidad dejando atrás una tragedia familiar, supone un punto de inflexión en la vida de Devi. El agudo contraste entre dos realidades tan dispares no es óbice para que los dos niños se vuelvan inseparables. Sin embargo, todo cambia la noche en que Devi conoce a un apuesto cazador de tigres y se promete solemnemente que éste será el hombre de su vida. Nace así un amor que, pese a salvar numerosos obstáculos y afianzarse con los años, tendrá terribles consecuencias. Con un bellísimo paisaje como telón de fondo, esta magnífica historia de amor nos envuelve como un manto mágico hasta el punto final del relato.
478 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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1799 people want to read
About the author
Sarita Mandanna
10 books47 followersSarita Mandanna belongs to the stunning landscapes of Coorg. Her family history extends for centuries through these hills, famous for their coffee plantations and often described as the 'Scotland of India'. Tiger Hills is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
September 22, 2019
2.5 stars rounded up
This is quite a hefty tome with a lot going on. Some of the publicity describes it as A Suitable Boy meets The Thorn Birds meets Gone with the Wind. It spans the years1878 to 1936. It is set in the south Indian province of Coorg, in the Sahaydri Mountains. The author comes from this area and it is easy to see that as the landscape is the strongest character in the book. It is also a love triangle (that usually makes me run several miles in the opposite direction, but this is part of a reading challenge), which charts the lives of childhood sweethearts Devi and Devanna and their families.
Unfortunately it is more soap opera than historical fiction and raised a number of issues for me. Does those that are abused automatically turn into abusers? One particular incident plays out through most of the book and for me that just didn’t fit. There also seemed to be an almost total lack of a political context until the last one hundred pages. Even then the nationalists were portrayed as more of a nuisance than anything else. I did learn a certain amount about growing coffee and how to deal with the coffee borer beetle! Despite the beauty of the setting the tragedy is pretty relentless and the use of coincidence stretched my credibility somewhat. Some of the characters lacked a little believability and the last third of the book was much weaker than the rest and felt rather rushed. The descriptions of Coorg are beautifully written and makes up for some of the problems with the human characters.
This is quite a hefty tome with a lot going on. Some of the publicity describes it as A Suitable Boy meets The Thorn Birds meets Gone with the Wind. It spans the years1878 to 1936. It is set in the south Indian province of Coorg, in the Sahaydri Mountains. The author comes from this area and it is easy to see that as the landscape is the strongest character in the book. It is also a love triangle (that usually makes me run several miles in the opposite direction, but this is part of a reading challenge), which charts the lives of childhood sweethearts Devi and Devanna and their families.
Unfortunately it is more soap opera than historical fiction and raised a number of issues for me. Does those that are abused automatically turn into abusers? One particular incident plays out through most of the book and for me that just didn’t fit. There also seemed to be an almost total lack of a political context until the last one hundred pages. Even then the nationalists were portrayed as more of a nuisance than anything else. I did learn a certain amount about growing coffee and how to deal with the coffee borer beetle! Despite the beauty of the setting the tragedy is pretty relentless and the use of coincidence stretched my credibility somewhat. Some of the characters lacked a little believability and the last third of the book was much weaker than the rest and felt rather rushed. The descriptions of Coorg are beautifully written and makes up for some of the problems with the human characters.
August 3, 2016
I so wanted to like this. I loved the setting and plus, it's historical fiction so odds were in my favor, but it wasn't meant to be. This was so depressing and never mind that this was the longest tragedy parade I've ever listened to. It actually started out great, but then it got all tragic, then even more tragic and on and on. Tragedy, actually, is not a deal breaker for me. There was just so much and some of this didn't match up with what we were given to know about the characters. Some of this was so far fetched. Also, the characters weren't likable so it was hard to muster any feelings of empathy. They constantly made awful decisions and then wondered why their life sucked.
The one thing that prevented an elevated rating, is the missed opportunities in character development, namely with Devanna. He had an important role in the story but one would never know it. There was hardly any mention of his marriage or the kids picking up on that. He could have added the necessary depth I crave. There was one sentence when the son mentioned the poor example of their marriage, but that was it. It seemed all so vague. There were a few other characters that could have used more detail. They were all given heavy burdens to bear in a constant storm.
The one thing that prevented an elevated rating, is the missed opportunities in character development, namely with Devanna. He had an important role in the story but one would never know it. There was hardly any mention of his marriage or the kids picking up on that. He could have added the necessary depth I crave. There was one sentence when the son mentioned the poor example of their marriage, but that was it. It seemed all so vague. There were a few other characters that could have used more detail. They were all given heavy burdens to bear in a constant storm.
August 15, 2011
For her first novel, Mandanna's writing is absolutely outstanding. The book is actually 591 pages long, yet it felt like so much less.
This was such a beautiful story. I came to care about the two protagonists more than I thought I would. As I got to the last few pages I was devastated that I would have to say goodbye to them.
The story gave me a clearer understanding of the people who lived in India 100 years ago. They were extremely hard-working and hugely loving, and they had such a great sense of community.
There are also a lot of tears in this book. From the characters and myself!
Mandanna has managed to turn these fictional souls into people whom you wish really existed.
A couple of parts of the book did drag a little, in my opinion, but never for very long and you are very quickly swooped back into this magnificent world.
I hope Mandanna publishes another novel soon. Although, how she is going to top this one I'll never know! But, whatever she writes, I shall be one of the first people to read it. I can see this very talented woman shooting straight to the top of the Bestsellers list time and time again.
This was such a beautiful story. I came to care about the two protagonists more than I thought I would. As I got to the last few pages I was devastated that I would have to say goodbye to them.
The story gave me a clearer understanding of the people who lived in India 100 years ago. They were extremely hard-working and hugely loving, and they had such a great sense of community.
There are also a lot of tears in this book. From the characters and myself!
Mandanna has managed to turn these fictional souls into people whom you wish really existed.
A couple of parts of the book did drag a little, in my opinion, but never for very long and you are very quickly swooped back into this magnificent world.
I hope Mandanna publishes another novel soon. Although, how she is going to top this one I'll never know! But, whatever she writes, I shall be one of the first people to read it. I can see this very talented woman shooting straight to the top of the Bestsellers list time and time again.
September 13, 2010
Set in Coorg in Southern India at the turn of the nineteenth century this is a beautifully written and intricate multi-generational story full of rich cultural details, lush settings and a wide swath of characters. Reminded me of Cutting for Stone in its lyrical sense of place and character (which tended to be too much at times in this book), and of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind – the heroine is spoilt and strong willed, not necessarily likable, and she makes choices that affect and have far reaching consequences especially for the men who love her. And, oh yes, she fights for a plantation – in this case a coffee plantation.
(Picked up this book in India. I think it will be available in the US next year)
(Picked up this book in India. I think it will be available in the US next year)
June 30, 2017
Priča o prijateljstvu, prelijepoj Devi i njenom prijatelju Devanu. Deva je zaljubljena u čovjeka kojeg ne može imati, a Dev je zaljubljen u nju. Priča se proteže kroz decenije, kroz tri generacije i svaka od njih ispašta zbog neuzvraćene ljubavi, jedne noći i jednog grijeha.
Priča o skrivenoj ljubavi i tragediji sa posljedicama.
"Bol ume da se nagomila. Ako ga čovjek ne odbaci, on se nagomila, skupljajući se malo- pomalo. Uništi nam srca tako da ih stvrdne i okameni. Mi prvo pokušamo da uklonimo ožiljke, da ispadnemo nedirnuti i nevini kao što smo nekada bili. Međutim, s vremenom, sve to postane preteško. To prisilno otkrivanje rana, podsećanje na bolne uspomene. Lakše je sve sakriti, da se ne vidi, da se o tome ne priča. Pa onda to vučemo oko vrata kao neki nevidljivi kamen. Rane više ne diramo. I sloj po sloj, ožiljci se stvrdnu, sve dok se jednoga dana ne probudimo i shvatimo da smo nepovratno oguglali. Zakopani u opterećujućoj prošlosti dok svijet oko nas prolazi i teče."
Priča o skrivenoj ljubavi i tragediji sa posljedicama.
"Bol ume da se nagomila. Ako ga čovjek ne odbaci, on se nagomila, skupljajući se malo- pomalo. Uništi nam srca tako da ih stvrdne i okameni. Mi prvo pokušamo da uklonimo ožiljke, da ispadnemo nedirnuti i nevini kao što smo nekada bili. Međutim, s vremenom, sve to postane preteško. To prisilno otkrivanje rana, podsećanje na bolne uspomene. Lakše je sve sakriti, da se ne vidi, da se o tome ne priča. Pa onda to vučemo oko vrata kao neki nevidljivi kamen. Rane više ne diramo. I sloj po sloj, ožiljci se stvrdnu, sve dok se jednoga dana ne probudimo i shvatimo da smo nepovratno oguglali. Zakopani u opterećujućoj prošlosti dok svijet oko nas prolazi i teče."
August 31, 2011
I read Sarita Mandanna's Tiger Hills sometime back. Had been wanting to write a review but could not. I have forgotten most of the details but based on the impressions the book left on me, here are a few notes:
The tiger hills novel tells a triangular love story set in the lushly wooded and beautiful Coorg Hills of the western ghats. The story starts in the late 19th century when the country was still under British rule and it progresses through the times of much turmoil as the World Wars and the struggle for independence gets underway.
This is Sarita Mandanna's first novel and I like her writing very much. Her prose has a lyrical quality to it. Words are picked and stringed together like pearls in a bracelet. She explains the hillside after the monsoons as "The first racemes of laburnums had begun shyly to dot the hillsides. Clouds hung beetle-browed over Coorg." She describes a garden as "The garden was full in bloom; a riot of color in every direction, an artist's palette upended on the soil." It is hard to not yeild to the charm of her words. Here's another one: "The house, with little creaks and groans, like an old man settling down to rest, fell at last into slumber." The sentences like these are more than a mere utility, they offer pleasure.
Her writing style has a distinctive romantic quality to it. It is decorative; though factual, it is not fact-ridden; it does not go into long, pedagogic commentaries or revealing observations or intelligent analyses; it does not have new ideas - big or small; if it has a voice, it is devoid of wisdom or analysis but full of passion and empathy. Like how a river flowing through a unobstructed course has very few eddies or whirls, Mandanna's narration flows from start to finish in a streamlined fashion having very few flashbacks or stories within stories. It sticks to the story, to the characters and to the drama never lifting above them to sum up or to theorize.
Another's writing that comes to mind that serves almost as a jarring contrast to Mandanna's writing is E.M.Forster's "Howard's End". In Howards End, the author's voice is hard to miss - it pushes itself to the forefront; it is assertive; it is wise; it analyzes and theorizes; it is full of ideas.
The novel's plot suffers from a streak of excessive sentimentality that plagues most of our Indian movies and TV soaps. Devi, in her prepubescent, tender age of 10, sees the tiger hunter, Machiah, exchanges a few words with him, and gets infatuated. The way she maintains the ardor of the passion stirred in that brief encounter for years together until she reaches the marriageable age is a bit of a stretch - though plausible, it is hard to ignore.
Consider another instance: Machiah sees Devi after many, many months and the first words he speaks are "Why didn't you wait for me?" You meet someone after, say, a year and to ask a question like that is overblown - it is either because the character is mad or the narration suffers from over dramatization. I am not against drama or against idealistic, burning love; but a dialogue like that verges slightly on the unreal side reminding me of our movies.
Another flaw in the novel is the underdevelopment of its most important character, Machiah. Devi loves Machiah so fervently that she is ready to renounce everything, including her husband and her only kid, and yet it makes you question and wonder why Machiah is so desirable and worthy above all else. Except for one fantastic episode in the jungle where he slays a tiger alive, in all other places he comes across as drab, melancholic and humorless. Then Why is he so irresistable to Devi? He is extremely attractive and even strong and brave. But is physical attraction everything? At least, I am unconvinced.
Overall, Tiger Hills is a great read. The writing is beautiful. However, the Character development and the plot might use some help. One of the great accomplishments is that the novel is transporting - Just like the movie Avatar, Tiger Hills takes you to a different place and different time where you like everything so much that they linger in your mind long after you had read the book.
The tiger hills novel tells a triangular love story set in the lushly wooded and beautiful Coorg Hills of the western ghats. The story starts in the late 19th century when the country was still under British rule and it progresses through the times of much turmoil as the World Wars and the struggle for independence gets underway.
This is Sarita Mandanna's first novel and I like her writing very much. Her prose has a lyrical quality to it. Words are picked and stringed together like pearls in a bracelet. She explains the hillside after the monsoons as "The first racemes of laburnums had begun shyly to dot the hillsides. Clouds hung beetle-browed over Coorg." She describes a garden as "The garden was full in bloom; a riot of color in every direction, an artist's palette upended on the soil." It is hard to not yeild to the charm of her words. Here's another one: "The house, with little creaks and groans, like an old man settling down to rest, fell at last into slumber." The sentences like these are more than a mere utility, they offer pleasure.
Her writing style has a distinctive romantic quality to it. It is decorative; though factual, it is not fact-ridden; it does not go into long, pedagogic commentaries or revealing observations or intelligent analyses; it does not have new ideas - big or small; if it has a voice, it is devoid of wisdom or analysis but full of passion and empathy. Like how a river flowing through a unobstructed course has very few eddies or whirls, Mandanna's narration flows from start to finish in a streamlined fashion having very few flashbacks or stories within stories. It sticks to the story, to the characters and to the drama never lifting above them to sum up or to theorize.
Another's writing that comes to mind that serves almost as a jarring contrast to Mandanna's writing is E.M.Forster's "Howard's End". In Howards End, the author's voice is hard to miss - it pushes itself to the forefront; it is assertive; it is wise; it analyzes and theorizes; it is full of ideas.
The novel's plot suffers from a streak of excessive sentimentality that plagues most of our Indian movies and TV soaps. Devi, in her prepubescent, tender age of 10, sees the tiger hunter, Machiah, exchanges a few words with him, and gets infatuated. The way she maintains the ardor of the passion stirred in that brief encounter for years together until she reaches the marriageable age is a bit of a stretch - though plausible, it is hard to ignore.
Consider another instance: Machiah sees Devi after many, many months and the first words he speaks are "Why didn't you wait for me?" You meet someone after, say, a year and to ask a question like that is overblown - it is either because the character is mad or the narration suffers from over dramatization. I am not against drama or against idealistic, burning love; but a dialogue like that verges slightly on the unreal side reminding me of our movies.
Another flaw in the novel is the underdevelopment of its most important character, Machiah. Devi loves Machiah so fervently that she is ready to renounce everything, including her husband and her only kid, and yet it makes you question and wonder why Machiah is so desirable and worthy above all else. Except for one fantastic episode in the jungle where he slays a tiger alive, in all other places he comes across as drab, melancholic and humorless. Then Why is he so irresistable to Devi? He is extremely attractive and even strong and brave. But is physical attraction everything? At least, I am unconvinced.
Overall, Tiger Hills is a great read. The writing is beautiful. However, the Character development and the plot might use some help. One of the great accomplishments is that the novel is transporting - Just like the movie Avatar, Tiger Hills takes you to a different place and different time where you like everything so much that they linger in your mind long after you had read the book.
July 12, 2017
Tiger Hills is a novel about Devi, Devanna, and Machaiah and their tragic lives. It is set in Coorg, spanning more than half a century during the turbulent period of late 19th and early 20th centuries. The novel is divided into three 'eras' of Devi's life, labelled Devanna, Machaiah, and Appu, ostensibly because of them being the focus of the narration, though this not strictly followed.
Essentially the crux of the plot is that Devi was in love with Machu, and Devanna, with Devi, and the cruel machinations of fate lead all of their lives upon a path of tragedy they take all their lives to set right. Except that it had fuckall to do with fate; The whole thing was distasteful.
The author tries a variety of ways to foreshadow this incident that changed the course of the story, to create an illusion of fate, but it felt woefully superfluous. So that particular foreshadowing was a stupid-ass foreshadowing. This was just one instance; at no point have I felt that the author had succeeded in adding a sense of destiny, which she tries doggedly to, to the story.
I've also felt the love between Devi and Devanna, and between Devi and Machu, unconvincing, which makes the final pay-off not quite satisfying. I hardly ever read any love stories, but is it enough to simply say Devanna loves Devi a lot, to evoke the feel for that love? I felt there should have been more to it. Machu and Devi's love suffers from the other extreme of this equation. We have enough scenes to establish their love, but who the fuck is Machu at all and why does Devi love him? He remains much more a legend than a person to both the reader and Devi through much of the text where their love is evoked. Reverend's love for Olaf was the most convincing, for me.
Notwithstanding the above problems, the author's writing style, while not bad, is pretty boring. The book is riddled with cliches. The author tries to make up for the banality of the events that happen during the course of the novel with the sheer volume of those events. SO much happens, but nothing interesting ever happens.
Essentially the crux of the plot is that Devi was in love with Machu, and Devanna, with Devi, and the cruel machinations of fate lead all of their lives upon a path of tragedy they take all their lives to set right. Except that it had fuckall to do with fate; The whole thing was distasteful.
The author tries a variety of ways to foreshadow this incident that changed the course of the story, to create an illusion of fate, but it felt woefully superfluous. So that particular foreshadowing was a stupid-ass foreshadowing. This was just one instance; at no point have I felt that the author had succeeded in adding a sense of destiny, which she tries doggedly to, to the story.
I've also felt the love between Devi and Devanna, and between Devi and Machu, unconvincing, which makes the final pay-off not quite satisfying. I hardly ever read any love stories, but is it enough to simply say Devanna loves Devi a lot, to evoke the feel for that love? I felt there should have been more to it. Machu and Devi's love suffers from the other extreme of this equation. We have enough scenes to establish their love, but who the fuck is Machu at all and why does Devi love him? He remains much more a legend than a person to both the reader and Devi through much of the text where their love is evoked. Reverend's love for Olaf was the most convincing, for me.
Notwithstanding the above problems, the author's writing style, while not bad, is pretty boring. The book is riddled with cliches. The author tries to make up for the banality of the events that happen during the course of the novel with the sheer volume of those events. SO much happens, but nothing interesting ever happens.
July 7, 2018
Oh I LOVED this book SO much. Poignant and heartbreaking. A skilfully written, layered and intricate story.
August 23, 2012
3.5 This is a sweeping epic style and generational novel, set in the district of Coorg, India at the turn of the twentieth century. The prose is vivid and lush as well as descriptive, all helping to immerse the reader into this culture and the story itself. It is a love story filled with loss, regret and memory. It follows the characters throughout both World Wars and the Indian independence. The coffee plantations, European settlers and old families and 6 decades of social change. The recurring theme of the white herons is poignant , arriving at key points in the story. I loved reading about this culture, these characters and just loved the writing.
March 7, 2012
This historical novel is an Indian "Gone with the Wind." Set between 1878 and 1936, it is a multi-generational saga about a love triangle.
This love triangle, involving Devi, Devanna and Machu, serves as a catalyst for a long sequence of tragedies. Devi, the female lead who connects all the main characters, makes choices with far-reaching consequences for the men who love her. Devanna is her childhood sweetheart until Devi meets Machu, the tiger killer.
Devi, spoilt, self-centred and stubborn, is not a likeable character. Some empathy is felt for her at the beginning but it wanes as her words and actions hurt those who love her the most. For example, she usurps another woman's child and then favours him while treating her own son with indifference. She repeatedly ignores her grandmother's warnings and becomes hard and brittle.
None of the characters are flawless (and that's a positive aspect of the book), but some suffer a great deal more than they deserve; however, the epilogue, where the author reverses a key plot development seemingly to end the novel on a happier note, should have been omitted.
The descriptions of Coorg (Kodagu), known as "the Scotland of India," are wonderful. The reader also learns a great deal about the culture of this region of India.
The suffering that passion can bring, the necessity of forgiveness and the consequences of choices are some of the themes developed in the novel.
This book would make a wonderful Merchant-Ivory production.
This love triangle, involving Devi, Devanna and Machu, serves as a catalyst for a long sequence of tragedies. Devi, the female lead who connects all the main characters, makes choices with far-reaching consequences for the men who love her. Devanna is her childhood sweetheart until Devi meets Machu, the tiger killer.
Devi, spoilt, self-centred and stubborn, is not a likeable character. Some empathy is felt for her at the beginning but it wanes as her words and actions hurt those who love her the most. For example, she usurps another woman's child and then favours him while treating her own son with indifference. She repeatedly ignores her grandmother's warnings and becomes hard and brittle.
None of the characters are flawless (and that's a positive aspect of the book), but some suffer a great deal more than they deserve; however, the epilogue, where the author reverses a key plot development seemingly to end the novel on a happier note, should have been omitted.
The descriptions of Coorg (Kodagu), known as "the Scotland of India," are wonderful. The reader also learns a great deal about the culture of this region of India.
The suffering that passion can bring, the necessity of forgiveness and the consequences of choices are some of the themes developed in the novel.
This book would make a wonderful Merchant-Ivory production.
March 30, 2013
Been a long time since I read anything quite as well-crafted, as engaging, as heart-breaking. Recommended to anyone interested in Indian writing in English.
June 2, 2024
I liked how beautifully written this was and how evocative of a place and time in history. I feel I know Coorg richly for Mandanna's heartfelt story. I did find myself wishing that it hadn't been quite so elaborately plotted as to become unbelievable. I also felt that given the large expanse of time covered and the litany of tragedies befalling them, the two main characters did not show a matching growth in their character arcs. Devi remains essentially unchanged and rigidly herself through to almost the last page. Devanna remains palely drawn, and given that the plot hinges on a heinous lapse on his part, his darkness in the years that follow remains curiously unexplored. I liked the etching of Machu and found the romance with him very convincing.
March 11, 2025
Entretenido y poco más.
Un drama con mucha pena y desgracia que pese q lo que creía no ha tenido un final feliz.
Un drama con mucha pena y desgracia que pese q lo que creía no ha tenido un final feliz.
May 10, 2015
This novel is set in Coorg, Southern India and runs from 1878 to 1940. It is a cross generational love story told in the third person. It is not a slushy romance but a story that explores the gripping emotion of love. This is a book that men can enjoy because Sarita understands just how people form loving bonds. Through the story the foundation of love is explained with the characters as they grow wiser with age. There is no explicit sex in this novel but lots of emotional turmoil.
Sarita’s writing is top quality, it is difficult to believe this is her debut novel. Her vocabulary is huge and her prose is very educated. Her book enables the reader to escape their everyday life, go back in time and to a country they may never have been to. You do not need to have travelled to India or be conversant with the culture. Sarita gently guides you through the rich landscape of Coorg, often described as the ‘Scotland of India” as she details the culture and Hindu traditions.
All the characters are well developed but at a natural pace. The love slowly grows, this is not whirlwind romance but something deeper and stronger. You feel for the characters and wish them well. You feel sorry for all the setbacks they encounter and appreciate their point of view. As a reader you take on a grandfatherly role and wish the younger offspring had the benefit of your experience and can understand the love that bonds us all.
Tiger Hills is a pleasure to read, it is one of those books that you can escape so easily into. It is a wonderfully crafted reading experience and because the timeline spans over 60 years, you feel as though you have lived in India with the characters and your home is in Coorg. The story is not claustrophobic because of the many characters and you feel as though you are part of the community. Many love stories are tightly woven around 2 or 3 characters but the beauty of Tiger Hills is the love that is shared through generations and the landscape. It is not the simple girl meets boy love but a greater and far deeper love that people develop as they grow older. Sarita really understands how love develops and how people have to deal with the pitfalls that life throws at them. This book is so easy to relate to because of how the characters develop a fondness and love for others, that you remember how you felt about past loves of your life. This is not just about love for other people but also for landscapes and animals. Many times through the book I have felt tears coming on and the desire to cry at the book “No! No!”.
Tiger Hills is a very moving book and when I finished it, I felt as though I had a lifetime experience of raising a family and cultivating a coffee plantation in Coorg. I put the book down and stroke Charlie the Pug, my pet dog and remember Nancy the Malabar squirrel and another tear comes to my eye. Sarita has written a wonderful novel and I have no reservations about voting it the top score of 5 stars. There is nothing I can find wrong with her book, the editing is spot on and she ticks all the boxes.
Tiger Hills was written in 2010 and has 593 pages. It was one of the novels featured in The TV Book Club on Channel 4 television in the UK during 2011.
Sarita’s writing is top quality, it is difficult to believe this is her debut novel. Her vocabulary is huge and her prose is very educated. Her book enables the reader to escape their everyday life, go back in time and to a country they may never have been to. You do not need to have travelled to India or be conversant with the culture. Sarita gently guides you through the rich landscape of Coorg, often described as the ‘Scotland of India” as she details the culture and Hindu traditions.
All the characters are well developed but at a natural pace. The love slowly grows, this is not whirlwind romance but something deeper and stronger. You feel for the characters and wish them well. You feel sorry for all the setbacks they encounter and appreciate their point of view. As a reader you take on a grandfatherly role and wish the younger offspring had the benefit of your experience and can understand the love that bonds us all.
Tiger Hills is a pleasure to read, it is one of those books that you can escape so easily into. It is a wonderfully crafted reading experience and because the timeline spans over 60 years, you feel as though you have lived in India with the characters and your home is in Coorg. The story is not claustrophobic because of the many characters and you feel as though you are part of the community. Many love stories are tightly woven around 2 or 3 characters but the beauty of Tiger Hills is the love that is shared through generations and the landscape. It is not the simple girl meets boy love but a greater and far deeper love that people develop as they grow older. Sarita really understands how love develops and how people have to deal with the pitfalls that life throws at them. This book is so easy to relate to because of how the characters develop a fondness and love for others, that you remember how you felt about past loves of your life. This is not just about love for other people but also for landscapes and animals. Many times through the book I have felt tears coming on and the desire to cry at the book “No! No!”.
Tiger Hills is a very moving book and when I finished it, I felt as though I had a lifetime experience of raising a family and cultivating a coffee plantation in Coorg. I put the book down and stroke Charlie the Pug, my pet dog and remember Nancy the Malabar squirrel and another tear comes to my eye. Sarita has written a wonderful novel and I have no reservations about voting it the top score of 5 stars. There is nothing I can find wrong with her book, the editing is spot on and she ticks all the boxes.
Tiger Hills was written in 2010 and has 593 pages. It was one of the novels featured in The TV Book Club on Channel 4 television in the UK during 2011.
February 6, 2012
I first fell in love with Mandana's writing after reading a bunch of short stories by her in an anthology published by Unisun Publishers sometime back. Among the stories in the book, Mandana's beautiful words and stories stood out.I promptly copied a few passages that I found riveting into my book I keep for chronicling memorable writing i come across. And then ...boom.. Tiger Hills happened and she got catapulted into literary stardom.I have been wanting to read this book ever since i attended her book's launch in Chennai, and when I found a copy in my library ,I promptly picked it up. Set in Coorg, Tiger hills is the gut-wrenchingly sad tale that chronicles the lives and times of Devi, the fiery Coorg, Devanna ,her childhood companion, Machaiah, the famed Tiger-killer and their children. The book sprawls languorously across vast time periods (1800's to second world war) and is a beautiful essay in complex human emotions.
A saga of unhappiness is unleashed in the lives of the protagonists ,because of circumstances that are not under their control, really. Mandana's writing is magic:it is like perfectly tempered liquid chocolate waiting to crystallize into perfectly formed chocolate chunks. Coorg's gorgeous topography comes alive in her descriptions.Though a tad slow towards the end( the reason I had to reduce the rating to 4 stars from five I had initially planned on giving it), I enjoyed reading the book immensely. Devi has to be one of the strongest heroines I've encountered in a book in the recent times.Mandana has carefully sculpted her personality,making everything "grey" and not just simple black and white. I loved how Coorgi traditions and folk stories were woven beautifully into the narrative.
Tiger hills is a literary triumph, a celebration of meandering plot and lush words : an absolutely stunning debut novel. Highly recommended to all lovers of historical fiction.
September 9, 2011
My opinion of this book rose over time, from a just-barely-3-stars to a bit under four stars. Usually I like books with multi-generational scope, but there were some pivotal plot elements that I just couldn't believe.
SPOILER ALERT
I didn't believe that Devi would fall in love with an older man when she was, what, 14 years old without knowing him at all and that this love never waivered, not even when he had been dead decades. This does not pass the smell test.
It's like nails on a chalkboard to me when a girl gets pregnant after her first and only sexual experience which is often a rape.
I didn't believe that Devanna would rape Devi - completely out of character. I don't care if he had a concussion and was drunk.
Those things being said, the rest of the book flowed in a more realistic way, and since the unbelievable stuff happens in the first half of the book, once I got some distance from those things, I enjoyed the book a bit more. All three of those things were absolutely critical for the story to be what it is, so I understand why they are there, but it was a problem for me.
On the good side, the setting and story are both interesting. But if I had not been reading it for my book group, I would probably have put it down in the first half.
There is a comparison of this book to the Thorn Birds, which I think is a very fair comparison.
SPOILER ALERT
I didn't believe that Devi would fall in love with an older man when she was, what, 14 years old without knowing him at all and that this love never waivered, not even when he had been dead decades. This does not pass the smell test.
It's like nails on a chalkboard to me when a girl gets pregnant after her first and only sexual experience which is often a rape.
I didn't believe that Devanna would rape Devi - completely out of character. I don't care if he had a concussion and was drunk.
Those things being said, the rest of the book flowed in a more realistic way, and since the unbelievable stuff happens in the first half of the book, once I got some distance from those things, I enjoyed the book a bit more. All three of those things were absolutely critical for the story to be what it is, so I understand why they are there, but it was a problem for me.
On the good side, the setting and story are both interesting. But if I had not been reading it for my book group, I would probably have put it down in the first half.
There is a comparison of this book to the Thorn Birds, which I think is a very fair comparison.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2011
At a little under 600 pages this is quite a big book. The story however is a huge, sweeping, page turner of a saga. Beginning in 1878 with the birth of Devi, the narrative follows the fortunes of her, and childhood playmate Devanna and their families through to the second world war. Charting how one tiny decision or act can change the direction of a life completely. Also how so often people's choices were (and maybe still are) limited due to family pride, tradition and social convention. I can't say I liked many of the characters in the novel, some I sympathised with more than others, Mandanna's character's are deeply flawed, that does make them interesting however.
For the first 200 or 300 pages the drama comes thick and fast, bad thing after terrible tragedy, after horrible sadness, I found a bit exhausting, I often like a rather quieter read. The bang, bang, bang of the early events in this novel are a tad unrelenting. However then things settle down - a little! the pace becomes a little less frenetic. The writing is very good, and the story overall is a wonderful breathless tale, of families, secret loves, coffee plantations and the changing India. Having read this mainly over the weekend - and would say it's a great book for holiday/down time when you can gulp it down in huge draughts.
August 6, 2012
Wonderfully written but just so depressing to read. If you like a book where everything is awful, and there really isn't a happy ending, then get involved. The main character (Devi) is really not very likeable (why are strong women always written in such a way that they are immediately dislikable? We can be both strong and nice, I'm sure of it) and the themes of lost love and life changing consequences are, in my opinion over egged. It did, however, give an interesting look at colonialism and India at the turn of the century. My biggest complaint was that it was all just so 'dramatic' - everything that could go wrong, did. And in the end, there was so much wrong and no right that nothing surprised you, it just made you sigh in desperation.
And as for the ending - well it annoyed me a little but I guess I should keep that to myself!
Anyway, it is a good book and it's a brilliant story, very well told. It's just all a bit too depressing for me.
And as for the ending - well it annoyed me a little but I guess I should keep that to myself!
Anyway, it is a good book and it's a brilliant story, very well told. It's just all a bit too depressing for me.
January 2, 2016
Beautifully written. Very engaging. And it was 4 stars...up until the end... the loose ends got wrapped up TOO neatly, TOO artificially. I'm talking about the last hospital scene...simply too fake and felt very contrived.
Two favorite quotes (among many):
"Love is breath, yes, but also what follows after, when all breath is done, when all the remains is silence. Love is water, yearning for the sea. It is the tree that must remain rooted while reaching for the sky. It is shadow, freighted with absence, the recesses where joy blossoms no more."
"My flower bud...I have told you so often, the true beauty of a flower lies not in the size or color of its petals, but in its fragrance. Listen to your Tayi. Be like the jungle flower that despite blooming unseen, untouched...still gifts its sweetness to the breeze."
I'd definitely read more written by her.
Two favorite quotes (among many):
"Love is breath, yes, but also what follows after, when all breath is done, when all the remains is silence. Love is water, yearning for the sea. It is the tree that must remain rooted while reaching for the sky. It is shadow, freighted with absence, the recesses where joy blossoms no more."
"My flower bud...I have told you so often, the true beauty of a flower lies not in the size or color of its petals, but in its fragrance. Listen to your Tayi. Be like the jungle flower that despite blooming unseen, untouched...still gifts its sweetness to the breeze."
I'd definitely read more written by her.
May 12, 2011
This book was amazing. I literally could not put it down once I started. It spans the entire life of 2 children and goes through their journey together...notwithstanding so many trials and events. It was heartbreaking at points and I found myself crying because I could feel the pain of the characters and what they were going through. The author's descriptions are absolutely wonderful...at points I felt I was seeing and smelling the fields and hills of India she wrote about, and others I was smelling the wonderful fragrances of the flowers that Devanna found. I highly recommend this book....such a captivating story but also just a wonderfully written book!
June 24, 2019
It started off really well and for a little while I thought I would end up at 4 starts, despite it being predictable and filled with clichés.
But then, about a quater way through it just went rapidly downhill. Characters that had been developed up till then were completely abandoned and the story became a farce, endless repetitions and a very inelegant and jumbled jumping back and forth between characters and timelines, as if the author constantly changed her mind about who she wanted the story to be about. The result was a disconnect between characters and reader, leaving me absolutely indifferent to who lived or died and I almost had to laugh at how death got piled on top of death, tragedy on tragedy, to the point that it became completely stupid as if the whole point was just to make it as cruel and evil as possible.
It very much seemed that the author had had a checklist of historical events she wanted to plot in, which she did completely helter skelter and poorly connected to the rest of the story or charcters.
All in all a very dissappointing read.
But then, about a quater way through it just went rapidly downhill. Characters that had been developed up till then were completely abandoned and the story became a farce, endless repetitions and a very inelegant and jumbled jumping back and forth between characters and timelines, as if the author constantly changed her mind about who she wanted the story to be about. The result was a disconnect between characters and reader, leaving me absolutely indifferent to who lived or died and I almost had to laugh at how death got piled on top of death, tragedy on tragedy, to the point that it became completely stupid as if the whole point was just to make it as cruel and evil as possible.
It very much seemed that the author had had a checklist of historical events she wanted to plot in, which she did completely helter skelter and poorly connected to the rest of the story or charcters.
All in all a very dissappointing read.
March 20, 2019
I just happened upon this book, having never heard of it before. Set in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in southwest India, it shows how individual, seemingly small decisions can have a great impact on the life of an individual and family. Some of the twists and terms of fate in this book are devastating, but I enjoyed the scope of this book and the fact that over a span of time, you can see how people bring joy and pain to each other. This book was a very pleasant surprise.
July 25, 2022
The main characters were engaging and there were some lovely descriptions of what sounds like a beautiful part of India. I found some of the names and terms for family members confusing and I think a glossary or family tree would have helped - at one point I got a father and a grandmother hopelessly muddled! The ending was disappointing.
July 23, 2021
3,25
skończyłam, zajęło mi to prawie miesiąc, tak wiem - bardzo długo. książka całkowicie do mnie nie trafiła, ale mimo to nie odradzam jej nikomu, czytajcie
skończyłam, zajęło mi to prawie miesiąc, tak wiem - bardzo długo. książka całkowicie do mnie nie trafiła, ale mimo to nie odradzam jej nikomu, czytajcie
May 31, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna
Tiger Hills, the debut novel by Sarita Mandanna is an epic tragic love story that runs through generations. The story is set in Coorg in Southern India, beginning in the late 1800s through the war time years of the 20th century. Mandanna has given such vivid description of Coorg's luscious landscape, green jungles, rich cultural tradition and food that one can immediately be involved and submerged in the story and be completely entranced by it.
The main protagonist of the story, Devi is the first girl to be born to the Nachimandas in over sixty years. Beautiful, spirited Devi is the apple of every one's eyes in her entire family. She befriends Devanna, a gifted young boy whose mother died of tragic circumstances. The two quickly become inseparable, like two eggs in a nest / two seeds in a cardamom pods, as they grow up amidst the luscious jungles, rolling hills and rich coffee plantations of Coorg. Their future seem inevitably linked, but everything changes when one night Devi attends a tiger wedding, a function held to honor the brave tiger killer, Machu and celebrate his feat of killing a tiger.
Machu is a great hunter and is a cousin of Devanna. The moment Devi sees him, she has the desire to be his wife one day. It was love at first sight for Devi and it is this love that will creat a rift between Devi and Devanna that will eventually widen. Meanwhile, Devanna's aptitude in the academic studies is noted by the head of the local mission school from Germany, Hermann Gundert. Gundert treats Devanna like a son and nurtures him for medical studies. He has high hopes from him, for he thinks Devanna will be the inspiration for the people of Coorg to embrace Christianity. But, one action by Devanna in a fit of grief shatters Gundert's hope and with it changes the lives of many concerned, sowing the seeds of a tradegy that will have consequences that will last for generations.
The novel is named after a coffee plantation estate 'Nari Malai'-Tiger Hills which is subsequently owned by Devi. The novel has many characters and if I were to simple write the plot of the story, it will run into a number of pages. The story is mostly about Devi and the two men in her life Devanna and Machu. There is proper masala for a love triangle and yet, strangely enough it is sustained till the end of the story. In the beginning of the novel, Devi was portrayed as a child of destiny for her birth was marked by a folk of herons, but eventually it pains the readers to see how her life is jeopardised and how she tries to strike a balance between love and hatred in her life. What I despised about Devi was her partial behavior towards Machu's son and her frequent indifference about her own son. I could not think of how a mother could act the way Devi did whatever the reason.
The story is about the sufferings that love brings, for they are the two sides of the same coin, the suffering that Devi at large endured, the suffering of Devanna, Machu and their sons and also of Gundert who had pinned great hopes on Devanna. Yet, finally comes the message that one has to learn to reconcile with their fate and find happiness in what they have received in life.
I love the way Mandanna has given words to the emotions of the characters in the novel. I loved it for the sheer vividness and details of the story. I will definitely recommend reading it.
Tiger Hills, the debut novel by Sarita Mandanna is an epic tragic love story that runs through generations. The story is set in Coorg in Southern India, beginning in the late 1800s through the war time years of the 20th century. Mandanna has given such vivid description of Coorg's luscious landscape, green jungles, rich cultural tradition and food that one can immediately be involved and submerged in the story and be completely entranced by it.
The main protagonist of the story, Devi is the first girl to be born to the Nachimandas in over sixty years. Beautiful, spirited Devi is the apple of every one's eyes in her entire family. She befriends Devanna, a gifted young boy whose mother died of tragic circumstances. The two quickly become inseparable, like two eggs in a nest / two seeds in a cardamom pods, as they grow up amidst the luscious jungles, rolling hills and rich coffee plantations of Coorg. Their future seem inevitably linked, but everything changes when one night Devi attends a tiger wedding, a function held to honor the brave tiger killer, Machu and celebrate his feat of killing a tiger.
Machu is a great hunter and is a cousin of Devanna. The moment Devi sees him, she has the desire to be his wife one day. It was love at first sight for Devi and it is this love that will creat a rift between Devi and Devanna that will eventually widen. Meanwhile, Devanna's aptitude in the academic studies is noted by the head of the local mission school from Germany, Hermann Gundert. Gundert treats Devanna like a son and nurtures him for medical studies. He has high hopes from him, for he thinks Devanna will be the inspiration for the people of Coorg to embrace Christianity. But, one action by Devanna in a fit of grief shatters Gundert's hope and with it changes the lives of many concerned, sowing the seeds of a tradegy that will have consequences that will last for generations.
The novel is named after a coffee plantation estate 'Nari Malai'-Tiger Hills which is subsequently owned by Devi. The novel has many characters and if I were to simple write the plot of the story, it will run into a number of pages. The story is mostly about Devi and the two men in her life Devanna and Machu. There is proper masala for a love triangle and yet, strangely enough it is sustained till the end of the story. In the beginning of the novel, Devi was portrayed as a child of destiny for her birth was marked by a folk of herons, but eventually it pains the readers to see how her life is jeopardised and how she tries to strike a balance between love and hatred in her life. What I despised about Devi was her partial behavior towards Machu's son and her frequent indifference about her own son. I could not think of how a mother could act the way Devi did whatever the reason.
The story is about the sufferings that love brings, for they are the two sides of the same coin, the suffering that Devi at large endured, the suffering of Devanna, Machu and their sons and also of Gundert who had pinned great hopes on Devanna. Yet, finally comes the message that one has to learn to reconcile with their fate and find happiness in what they have received in life.
I love the way Mandanna has given words to the emotions of the characters in the novel. I loved it for the sheer vividness and details of the story. I will definitely recommend reading it.
November 21, 2012
I picked up this book for a lark(like I pick up most books these days). Some of the books I pick up like this end up very disappointing. This one on the other hand, was anything but disappointing.
It was riveting. The story of Devi, a girl born in Coorg in late 1800s. Devi is a wilful child with her mind of her own, unlike other girls at that time. She decides at the age of 10 that she would marry the Tiger Killer, Machu, her best friend Devanna’s cousin. Devanna, on the other hand grows up, desperately in love with Devi, who is completely unaware of his feelings. Devanna is a very intelligent child and is mentored by the local Reverend. He shares a love for Botany with the Reverend, and both of them spend a lot of time together finding specimens in the rich Coorg forests. His dedication towards biology pushes him into a medical school education, which turns the tide for everyone involved.
The way their lives turn out, weaved in with what is happening in Coorg at that time, makes for a fascinating read. The beauty, traditions, and the culture of the place is brought out beautifully by the author. The book transports you to the Coorg that Devi lived in. From the older times when Coorg was untouched by outside influences, to when Eurpoean influences gets the locals to change their names from Kalamma to Kitty, just as Nari Malai gets changed to Tiger Hills.
The story is fast paced, with shocking twists and turns, making us empathize with the characters at so many levels, even when they end up doing things which are not quite right.. A story of love, unrequited and requited, a story of the things people do when consumed by emotions, a story of how normal lives can change in an instant.
A book that gripped me through it. I would not call it a fast read, but a book which refuses to let go, even after you turn the last page.
It was riveting. The story of Devi, a girl born in Coorg in late 1800s. Devi is a wilful child with her mind of her own, unlike other girls at that time. She decides at the age of 10 that she would marry the Tiger Killer, Machu, her best friend Devanna’s cousin. Devanna, on the other hand grows up, desperately in love with Devi, who is completely unaware of his feelings. Devanna is a very intelligent child and is mentored by the local Reverend. He shares a love for Botany with the Reverend, and both of them spend a lot of time together finding specimens in the rich Coorg forests. His dedication towards biology pushes him into a medical school education, which turns the tide for everyone involved.
The way their lives turn out, weaved in with what is happening in Coorg at that time, makes for a fascinating read. The beauty, traditions, and the culture of the place is brought out beautifully by the author. The book transports you to the Coorg that Devi lived in. From the older times when Coorg was untouched by outside influences, to when Eurpoean influences gets the locals to change their names from Kalamma to Kitty, just as Nari Malai gets changed to Tiger Hills.
The story is fast paced, with shocking twists and turns, making us empathize with the characters at so many levels, even when they end up doing things which are not quite right.. A story of love, unrequited and requited, a story of the things people do when consumed by emotions, a story of how normal lives can change in an instant.
A book that gripped me through it. I would not call it a fast read, but a book which refuses to let go, even after you turn the last page.
July 31, 2011
This historical fiction of the people and places near Coorg, India covers the years from 1878 through 1936, chronicling the lives of Devanna of the Pallada family, and Devi of the Nachimandas. These childhood friends grow up and marry. That is the most I can say without spoiling this epic narrative of tribal life during British colonization.
Lush descriptions of the landscape and flora of the area abound and I can see the rich overgrowth of the jungles, smell the vibrant flowers and the sea. It helps, too, that I actually traveled in the area of India described in the story and appreciated the wondrous quiet, inky blackness of the countryside in contrast to the noise, stink, and light of the cities.
A story of loss, suicide, hurt, bullying, regret, sexuality, change, beauty, ugliness, and redemption that should not be missed.
Favorite passage:
"Hurt accumulates. Unless consciously cast aside, it accumulates, building on itself. Hardening, thickening, gouging our hearts apart. We try at first to pick at the scabs, to render ourselves as untainted and innocent as we once were. Over time, though, it becomes too difficult. This forced unbandaging, this revisiting of painful memory. Easier to lock it away, unseen, unspoken. To haul it about like an invisible stone about our necks. We leave our wounds alone. Layer by layer our scars thicken, until one day we awaken and find ourselves irrevocably hardened. Rooted in a keloidal past while the world has passed on by."
Lush descriptions of the landscape and flora of the area abound and I can see the rich overgrowth of the jungles, smell the vibrant flowers and the sea. It helps, too, that I actually traveled in the area of India described in the story and appreciated the wondrous quiet, inky blackness of the countryside in contrast to the noise, stink, and light of the cities.
A story of loss, suicide, hurt, bullying, regret, sexuality, change, beauty, ugliness, and redemption that should not be missed.
Favorite passage:
"Hurt accumulates. Unless consciously cast aside, it accumulates, building on itself. Hardening, thickening, gouging our hearts apart. We try at first to pick at the scabs, to render ourselves as untainted and innocent as we once were. Over time, though, it becomes too difficult. This forced unbandaging, this revisiting of painful memory. Easier to lock it away, unseen, unspoken. To haul it about like an invisible stone about our necks. We leave our wounds alone. Layer by layer our scars thicken, until one day we awaken and find ourselves irrevocably hardened. Rooted in a keloidal past while the world has passed on by."
October 2, 2012
Tiger Hills is an epic novel that spans most of Devi's lifetime. Devi, Devanna, and Machu are all layered, multi-dimensional characters. They are flawed but heartbreakingly sympathetic, each in their own way. Ms. Mandanna even spends quite a bit of time building out the secondary characters like Nanju and Appu as well. Even if I didn't agree with an action one of the characters took, I knew exactly why they would do such a thing because the author paid so much attention to each character's development. (I don't want to get into specifics and spoil the story!) I especially loved Devi and her strength in a time period when it was hard for women in India to do much of anything on their own.
I also loved reading about the traditions of the time and region. I love reading Victorian novels with all of the strict etiquette that characters must operate within. I enjoyed this book for the same reason - life was very ritualized; it was just a different set of rules. Since Tiger Hills spans such a lengthy period of time, society evolves and changes. The author does a nice job of bringing in the real-life historical events that were happening and showing the reader how these events affected the families in this book and India as a whole.
I loved this book - it's hard to believe that it's Sarita's Mandanna's first novel. It was longlisted for the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize, which is not hard to believe. I can't wait to see what Mandanna comes out with next.
I also loved reading about the traditions of the time and region. I love reading Victorian novels with all of the strict etiquette that characters must operate within. I enjoyed this book for the same reason - life was very ritualized; it was just a different set of rules. Since Tiger Hills spans such a lengthy period of time, society evolves and changes. The author does a nice job of bringing in the real-life historical events that were happening and showing the reader how these events affected the families in this book and India as a whole.
I loved this book - it's hard to believe that it's Sarita's Mandanna's first novel. It was longlisted for the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize, which is not hard to believe. I can't wait to see what Mandanna comes out with next.
August 21, 2012
If you enjoy historical, family sagas, then this book needs to be on your TBR list. It is a sweeping tale of love, hate, redemption and most importantly, forgiveness.
There is such beauty to this book. From the opening, with its lush descriptions of herons, to the very last page, it envelops you in an exotic landscape full of wonder. And that’s without even including the characters. But with this book, the land itself is another character, and a protagonist at that.
Devi, Devanna and Machu, the three main characters, are as beautifully written as the landscape. They are multi-dimensional creations that linger long after the reader finishes the book. Devi, in particular, tugs at you the longest. Her life, the good and the bad she’s ever done, captivate us and make us love this woman who has so many faults and yet such a spirit of survival. The side characters are also well done, with diverse personalities that fill the plot, deepening it. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the last generation represented in these pages. The book left me wondering what happened to Baby and Appu, since they’re storyline doesn’t feel like it ended.
This is definitely a book I recommend. I fell in love with it and I hope you do too.
There is such beauty to this book. From the opening, with its lush descriptions of herons, to the very last page, it envelops you in an exotic landscape full of wonder. And that’s without even including the characters. But with this book, the land itself is another character, and a protagonist at that.
Devi, Devanna and Machu, the three main characters, are as beautifully written as the landscape. They are multi-dimensional creations that linger long after the reader finishes the book. Devi, in particular, tugs at you the longest. Her life, the good and the bad she’s ever done, captivate us and make us love this woman who has so many faults and yet such a spirit of survival. The side characters are also well done, with diverse personalities that fill the plot, deepening it. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the last generation represented in these pages. The book left me wondering what happened to Baby and Appu, since they’re storyline doesn’t feel like it ended.
This is definitely a book I recommend. I fell in love with it and I hope you do too.
December 31, 2016
I picked this book up because my mom is from Coorg and I was excited to read something that was set in the estates and hills I've spent summers in. At first I enjoyed reading all the little Kodava words and terms my mom uses at home but once Devi is raped, everything goes downhill. It kept me engaged for a while hoping her love story with Machu would somehow work out but once Machu died I really lost interest. It seemed like these plot twists weren't going to take an upswing at all. I stopped reading when I saw a section about Appu, Machu's son and how Devi adopts him and I couldn't prevent an eye roll. I felt like it was going to become one of those multi generation K Serial sagas and I just didn't have the patience to go through it. As a another reviewer said, there are more interesting things out there to read. I skipped to the last page and it seemed like Nanju also had a fairly depressing life so thanks but no thanks.
As for the writing itself, it's not bad. The descriptions of the settings are good and there were some moments which really did make me feel the emotion that was being described. But all the characters are unlikeable in their own ways and the themes and emotions also become repetitive. Glad I gave it a shot but would not recommend.
As for the writing itself, it's not bad. The descriptions of the settings are good and there were some moments which really did make me feel the emotion that was being described. But all the characters are unlikeable in their own ways and the themes and emotions also become repetitive. Glad I gave it a shot but would not recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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