What do you think?
Rate this book
The Curse of Damini
The world seemed not enough for free spirited Renuka, when she married the highly educated Shashank hailing from the mightiest Zamindars of Bengal. However, soon her life turned upside down when a neighbor revealed her of their sinister past.
It’s a mysterious supernatural curse cast on their family almost a century back. Generation by generation, Damini's enraged curse had passed on, declining their family clan from hundreds to a handful few. Who would be Damini's next victim? And why innocent lives are at a stake for a crime committed by an ancestor a hundred years back? Renuka would not settle until she finds an answer and in her quest she struggles to eradicate all the evils that come in her way. Would she ever win a battle against an unseen enemy? Would the wrong done to Damini be ever avenged?
Set against the nostalgic era of 1940s, the story narrates the arduous journey of Renuka Pal, the protagonist, from a rash teen age freedom fighter to the seasoned writer of the 21st century India. In this thrilling saga of death, betrayal and power plays the narrative would cover a large chunk of twentieth century history. The passing of time, historical events and the changing country is so well-woven to the story that one would hardly differentiate between fact and fiction.
It’s a mysterious supernatural curse cast on their family almost a century back. Generation by generation, Damini's enraged curse had passed on, declining their family clan from hundreds to a handful few. Who would be Damini's next victim? And why innocent lives are at a stake for a crime committed by an ancestor a hundred years back? Renuka would not settle until she finds an answer and in her quest she struggles to eradicate all the evils that come in her way. Would she ever win a battle against an unseen enemy? Would the wrong done to Damini be ever avenged?
Set against the nostalgic era of 1940s, the story narrates the arduous journey of Renuka Pal, the protagonist, from a rash teen age freedom fighter to the seasoned writer of the 21st century India. In this thrilling saga of death, betrayal and power plays the narrative would cover a large chunk of twentieth century history. The passing of time, historical events and the changing country is so well-woven to the story that one would hardly differentiate between fact and fiction.
200 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2015
6 people are currently reading
1752 people want to read
About the author
Debajani Mohanty
11 books144 followersWinner of "Aarya" award, an epitome of nobility, purity and preciousness, year 2017 by Nobel Laureate Shri Kailash Satyarthi and "Best Debutante Author of The Year" award by literature festival Sarjanaa, Debajani Mohanty is an engineering graduate and senior I.T. professional with a career of nearly one and half decades. Her interests include music, history, world cuisines and women education & empowerment. The nature of her work as well as passion for different cultures has made her travel half of the living world.
“The Curse of Damini” her debut novel though crafted as a thriller is actually a historical fiction that covers seven decades of India's past and portrays many age-old vices against women. She started writing this 3 years back after the barbaric Nirbhaya episode of Delhi and her work is a small effort towards ending the violence and discrimination against women in society.
Debajani is married and lives in Delhi/NCR with her husband and two daughters.
“The Curse of Damini” her debut novel though crafted as a thriller is actually a historical fiction that covers seven decades of India's past and portrays many age-old vices against women. She started writing this 3 years back after the barbaric Nirbhaya episode of Delhi and her work is a small effort towards ending the violence and discrimination against women in society.
Debajani is married and lives in Delhi/NCR with her husband and two daughters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
August 6, 2016
I have a shelf that says "uses thesaurus like Ozzy used drugs". That. It made my head hurt. This was an ARC. And this is an honest review. Before I start, I think it is important to mention here, that I prefer writing over storyline. Really. I love Lolita; it's a favourite of mine, but only because Nabokov is a stellar writer. Had Fifty Shades of Shit been written by Neil Gaiman, I would've probably devoured that as well. That said, a book that does have a sizable plotline definitely scores much better than a book that doesn't. And for that, I give this book two stars.
Let me start with the writing. Ms. Mohanty is a very good storyteller, yes. But the writing is appalling. Chock-full of the clunkiest prose I have ever read, the writer has relied heavily on idiomatic statements and, well, for lack of a better term, big words. Huge, unnecessary words. The problem with this is not only that the reader loses track of the story from time to time, but also that sometimes, using synonyms of certain words changes the meaning of the sentence itself. Friends are friends . They don't always have to be referred to as mates , unless, pardon my stereotyping, you're an Australian surfer. Donating clothes is different from giving clothes, and I am yet to learn how lips vibrate . Another problem with the story is the copious info dump that the writer likes participating in. Unnecessary information is shoved down the throat of the reader, and quite frankly, I lost my shit more than once. Complete paragraphs can be slashed, and the story would still make perfect sense. Then again, I would've left the clunky prose slide if the same attention to detail had been paid to grammar and punctuation. The punctuation in this book is so bad, I wanted to rip my hair out. The book needs very strict editing, especially when it comes to commas; because there are no fucking commas (pardon my French). Anywhere. Do not get me started on the lack of Oxford commas. There came a point in the book where I sat down with a pencil, and began punctuating. Then it got too much, so I stopped. I can't take bad grammar. I really can't. I have grammar pedantry syndrome, I think. At least, my friends definitely think so. Also tenses. Past perfect, past continuous...these are tenses as well, and need to be used appropriately. Another issue I have with writers today, is the use of colloquialism. I don't mean the use of native words, or other such things. What I mean is the use of colloquial language outside of conversation. While here, it isn't much the use of words like "frickking", or "goddamn" outside of conversation, but the diction itself. As an Indian, I know full well the colloquialisms we use when we're talking informally. But then again, as a lover of literature, I also expect writers to be able to differentiate between the language used in an informal conversation from the language that should be used while producing a work of literature. I'm sorry if I'm being too brutal, but I am unapologetic about butchering the writing. It needs a serious editor. It really does. I also resolve to set fire to all thesauruses from now on. And to seduce whoever controls the "Thesaurus" option in MS Word so that I can delete it from the software for eternity. Because, for the love of all that is holy, I absolutely hate it. I abhor it. Yours, Baby Kangaroo Tribianni.
Now that that's out of my system, let's move on with the story itself. I liked the characters; they were well-fleshed out, though at times I did feel like they were too good to be true. I think that's better than me wanting to go after them with a flame thrower. What's more, I found them endearing. Not because I'm an Indian, but because they were well written. Ms. Mohanty, despite the clunky prose, is a decent storyteller. There is a flow to the story, and nothing is abrupt. The feminist aspect isn't overplayed, thank god, and the historical aspect of it is given enough focus. Prostitution isn't treated like a disease, and for dealing with an issue as delicate without making it dirty, I thank the author. I liked the play on the meaning of the word "curse", and despite being a lover of all things horror, I found myself liking the lack of a supernatural aspect to this book. What was an issue for me was the constant talk of religion, and god, and god-men. I'm an agnostic theist, and about as religious as a rock, so naturally, I am not a fan of the constant mention of Kali Maa, and Maa Durga, and random aura-surrounded sanyasis.
Ms. Mohanty is a good storyteller, but a terrible writer, because with good, strict editing, this book could have actually been good. Maybe even 3.5 stars good. But where there is bad grammar, there is a low rating.
[ Edit: those of you who have received an ARC as well, and haven't read it yet, please refer to comment 16.]
Let me start with the writing. Ms. Mohanty is a very good storyteller, yes. But the writing is appalling. Chock-full of the clunkiest prose I have ever read, the writer has relied heavily on idiomatic statements and, well, for lack of a better term, big words. Huge, unnecessary words. The problem with this is not only that the reader loses track of the story from time to time, but also that sometimes, using synonyms of certain words changes the meaning of the sentence itself. Friends are friends . They don't always have to be referred to as mates , unless, pardon my stereotyping, you're an Australian surfer. Donating clothes is different from giving clothes, and I am yet to learn how lips vibrate . Another problem with the story is the copious info dump that the writer likes participating in. Unnecessary information is shoved down the throat of the reader, and quite frankly, I lost my shit more than once. Complete paragraphs can be slashed, and the story would still make perfect sense. Then again, I would've left the clunky prose slide if the same attention to detail had been paid to grammar and punctuation. The punctuation in this book is so bad, I wanted to rip my hair out. The book needs very strict editing, especially when it comes to commas; because there are no fucking commas (pardon my French). Anywhere. Do not get me started on the lack of Oxford commas. There came a point in the book where I sat down with a pencil, and began punctuating. Then it got too much, so I stopped. I can't take bad grammar. I really can't. I have grammar pedantry syndrome, I think. At least, my friends definitely think so. Also tenses. Past perfect, past continuous...these are tenses as well, and need to be used appropriately. Another issue I have with writers today, is the use of colloquialism. I don't mean the use of native words, or other such things. What I mean is the use of colloquial language outside of conversation. While here, it isn't much the use of words like "frickking", or "goddamn" outside of conversation, but the diction itself. As an Indian, I know full well the colloquialisms we use when we're talking informally. But then again, as a lover of literature, I also expect writers to be able to differentiate between the language used in an informal conversation from the language that should be used while producing a work of literature. I'm sorry if I'm being too brutal, but I am unapologetic about butchering the writing. It needs a serious editor. It really does. I also resolve to set fire to all thesauruses from now on. And to seduce whoever controls the "Thesaurus" option in MS Word so that I can delete it from the software for eternity. Because, for the love of all that is holy, I absolutely hate it. I abhor it. Yours, Baby Kangaroo Tribianni.
Now that that's out of my system, let's move on with the story itself. I liked the characters; they were well-fleshed out, though at times I did feel like they were too good to be true. I think that's better than me wanting to go after them with a flame thrower. What's more, I found them endearing. Not because I'm an Indian, but because they were well written. Ms. Mohanty, despite the clunky prose, is a decent storyteller. There is a flow to the story, and nothing is abrupt. The feminist aspect isn't overplayed, thank god, and the historical aspect of it is given enough focus. Prostitution isn't treated like a disease, and for dealing with an issue as delicate without making it dirty, I thank the author. I liked the play on the meaning of the word "curse", and despite being a lover of all things horror, I found myself liking the lack of a supernatural aspect to this book. What was an issue for me was the constant talk of religion, and god, and god-men. I'm an agnostic theist, and about as religious as a rock, so naturally, I am not a fan of the constant mention of Kali Maa, and Maa Durga, and random aura-surrounded sanyasis.
Ms. Mohanty is a good storyteller, but a terrible writer, because with good, strict editing, this book could have actually been good. Maybe even 3.5 stars good. But where there is bad grammar, there is a low rating.
[ Edit: those of you who have received an ARC as well, and haven't read it yet, please refer to comment 16.]
December 5, 2016
All rules and restrictions are self imposed!
My reaction to the title and preface of the book.
This one will be a haunting book. I must not read it in the night lest the spirits in it amalgamate my dreams.
After Reading it:
I'm impressed.
A heartbreaking tale of a young lady whose struggles and story will make you cry, laugh and scare you a lot . To what extent society's norms suppressed the women and if they will overcome it and remove the barriers.
Thinking of something said by someone as a curse and taking the baggage for eons, rotating and revolving whole life around that one sentence, just to find out it to be a superstition.
Phew!
That's how the story goes in The Curse of Damini!
An enjoyable and fun roller coaster ride!
Renuka's journey was enchanting. Her bravery took her to places, making her an inspiring character.
I liked the minute details presented in the book such as Shashank's failing a bit in becoming a good father because he didn't have a mom since childhood.
The book has successfully implemented the saying that "Curses are nothing but our own mind's imagination and deeds."
Stimulating read | 4 shining stars.
My reaction to the title and preface of the book.
This one will be a haunting book. I must not read it in the night lest the spirits in it amalgamate my dreams.
After Reading it:
I'm impressed.
A heartbreaking tale of a young lady whose struggles and story will make you cry, laugh and scare you a lot . To what extent society's norms suppressed the women and if they will overcome it and remove the barriers.
Thinking of something said by someone as a curse and taking the baggage for eons, rotating and revolving whole life around that one sentence, just to find out it to be a superstition.
Phew!
That's how the story goes in The Curse of Damini!
An enjoyable and fun roller coaster ride!
Renuka's journey was enchanting. Her bravery took her to places, making her an inspiring character.
I liked the minute details presented in the book such as Shashank's failing a bit in becoming a good father because he didn't have a mom since childhood.
The book has successfully implemented the saying that "Curses are nothing but our own mind's imagination and deeds."
Stimulating read | 4 shining stars.
November 18, 2016
It will be a mistake to judge this book by its cover or its name. It is misleading to think of this story as some paranormal mystery involving curses and ghosts as I initially thought it to be. As the synopsis points out, it is the story of Renuka, who is a true fighter, be it for her the freedom of her country, her family, or her countrymen. It is about the empowerment of women seen through the eyes of the protagonist, who herself contributes a great deal to it. The Curse of Damini is not just a mere curse involving an individual family as the title would suggest, but it also represents the shackles that society puts on women everywhere.
The most striking element in this book for me is the writing style. It is very picturesque. The milieu, well researched. Especially evident from the portrayal of Bengali families and their various customs (I would know, since I’m also Bengali). The society’s treatment of customs such as sati practice to the preference of brass idols is pretty accurate. There is liberal use of Bengali as well as a few Sanskrit words that lend credibility to the ambience of the story.
“The day seemed long—longer than her anticipation could take. By sunset, her eyes had weaved dreams in abundance.”
The writing is really impressive. I soon found myself ensconced into the story of a young Renuka. A rebellious heart, and courage to change and affect not just her own life but that of several others. The story is told not merely through character interactions, but a lot is conveyed by the surroundings, the local rumours and customs, superstitions. The interaction of the newlyweds is especially sweet and pure in its innocence and the slight hesitations betraying awkwardness. I loved how cherishing and supportive her husband is. The beautiful, poignant titles given to each chapter is another plus point.
As for the actual angle of the cursed possession of the mother-in-law, I could not shed off the familiarity of the dialogues used here with that of a popular Hindi film. I feel that part to be a little lacking. The author also tries to address several socio-economic, political issues of that time. Even so, it is still an uplifting and fulfilling story.
It is as much of Renuka’s story as it is of several others who are affected by her decisions. At times, she becomes too real to only think of as a fictional character. Her struggles, her worries and even her joy become tangible. It should also be said that the story doesn't only focus on Renuka, but an empowering message is also conveyed through her. And while this may not be an especially thrilling or titillating read, it has its own quiet charm.
My sincere thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The most striking element in this book for me is the writing style. It is very picturesque. The milieu, well researched. Especially evident from the portrayal of Bengali families and their various customs (I would know, since I’m also Bengali). The society’s treatment of customs such as sati practice to the preference of brass idols is pretty accurate. There is liberal use of Bengali as well as a few Sanskrit words that lend credibility to the ambience of the story.
“The day seemed long—longer than her anticipation could take. By sunset, her eyes had weaved dreams in abundance.”
The writing is really impressive. I soon found myself ensconced into the story of a young Renuka. A rebellious heart, and courage to change and affect not just her own life but that of several others. The story is told not merely through character interactions, but a lot is conveyed by the surroundings, the local rumours and customs, superstitions. The interaction of the newlyweds is especially sweet and pure in its innocence and the slight hesitations betraying awkwardness. I loved how cherishing and supportive her husband is. The beautiful, poignant titles given to each chapter is another plus point.
As for the actual angle of the cursed possession of the mother-in-law, I could not shed off the familiarity of the dialogues used here with that of a popular Hindi film. I feel that part to be a little lacking. The author also tries to address several socio-economic, political issues of that time. Even so, it is still an uplifting and fulfilling story.
It is as much of Renuka’s story as it is of several others who are affected by her decisions. At times, she becomes too real to only think of as a fictional character. Her struggles, her worries and even her joy become tangible. It should also be said that the story doesn't only focus on Renuka, but an empowering message is also conveyed through her. And while this may not be an especially thrilling or titillating read, it has its own quiet charm.
My sincere thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2016
The authoress send me this book in exchange of an honest review.
I gave it 3.8 stars actually. oh goodreads! when will you bring the partial rating system? when?
okay! The curse of Damini is actually about women of a specific era. The main story evolved around a girl named Renuka though many other women and girls came to the limelight and taught about their struggles through the pages. the writer gave us glimpse about Hindu-Muslim riot, British Raj, Independence of India, undivided Bengal and so more still successfully went on with her main story line.
I have a severe objection with the cover and the book name. The cover and both the name made the reader feel that this book might be a horror thriller but it's actually nothing like that. I love how the writer combine the curse of a tortured girl with some realistic issues and gave such practical explanation about the curse's consequences later on but the cover and the name seem deceiving after finishing the book. There are also some paragraphs specially the interview of Renuka where she talks about the social problems and their solutions intends to give a lesson to the reader. I appreciate them but it makes the book like a textbook. She might put it another way rather than a composition writing about "Today's Women's problem"
What I love about this book? well the glimpses of important events of that era and the zamindari internal house system. The easy peasy writing style which gave no pressure on your brain, the building of the characters specially Renu . I like the way the writer built all the characters with their unique characteristics. They all are different yet interesting and eye catching. Their is merely repetition in their behavior which holds the clarity of the story. One more thing which is personal favorite is the input of Bangla dialogues and so many Bangla terms. It gave me a very homely feeling but it can be opposite to other readers as this book is written in international language and not all are Bangla speaking person. But not to worry, there are English translations and a glossary attached so nothing stands between the book and the enjoyment of the reader.
To conclude I can say, the writer can go a little bit away with the description of the historical events and be more playful with the characters. The women in his book are flourished but they can be more bloomed. The men in this book are also somebody about whom people would love to know more and deeply. A nice book to know a little about the struggle period of Bangla and India through an interesting Story and Renu's journey I can say.
I gave it 3.8 stars actually. oh goodreads! when will you bring the partial rating system? when?
okay! The curse of Damini is actually about women of a specific era. The main story evolved around a girl named Renuka though many other women and girls came to the limelight and taught about their struggles through the pages. the writer gave us glimpse about Hindu-Muslim riot, British Raj, Independence of India, undivided Bengal and so more still successfully went on with her main story line.
I have a severe objection with the cover and the book name. The cover and both the name made the reader feel that this book might be a horror thriller but it's actually nothing like that. I love how the writer combine the curse of a tortured girl with some realistic issues and gave such practical explanation about the curse's consequences later on but the cover and the name seem deceiving after finishing the book. There are also some paragraphs specially the interview of Renuka where she talks about the social problems and their solutions intends to give a lesson to the reader. I appreciate them but it makes the book like a textbook. She might put it another way rather than a composition writing about "Today's Women's problem"
What I love about this book? well the glimpses of important events of that era and the zamindari internal house system. The easy peasy writing style which gave no pressure on your brain, the building of the characters specially Renu . I like the way the writer built all the characters with their unique characteristics. They all are different yet interesting and eye catching. Their is merely repetition in their behavior which holds the clarity of the story. One more thing which is personal favorite is the input of Bangla dialogues and so many Bangla terms. It gave me a very homely feeling but it can be opposite to other readers as this book is written in international language and not all are Bangla speaking person. But not to worry, there are English translations and a glossary attached so nothing stands between the book and the enjoyment of the reader.
To conclude I can say, the writer can go a little bit away with the description of the historical events and be more playful with the characters. The women in his book are flourished but they can be more bloomed. The men in this book are also somebody about whom people would love to know more and deeply. A nice book to know a little about the struggle period of Bangla and India through an interesting Story and Renu's journey I can say.
February 6, 2017
The novel is a historical fiction set in early days of independence. This is a story of strong willed woman Renuka. I don’t give the gist of story as it is already present in the blurb.
This is a first time effort of the author, who also happens to be an engineer. After Chetan Bhagat made it big a lot of engineers are taking up fiction writing. Not all of them successful but Debjani Mohanty is very good. Being an engineer myself I am happy that she did so well. Otherwise engineers are considered dull and known only to understand complex equations ;). Also opposed to Chetan she has a very good command of the language. She writes very flowery English and which is poetic also at some places. This adds to the beauty of the novel.
The protagonist is female, may be because the writer is a female and she identifies with her at some unconscious level. But it may not be the case and it is just a guess. The writer created the atmosphere of that era very well.
Author has good command and understanding of human feelings especially women’s. The story captivates and keep you engrossed, though it is clichéd at some places. It also reminded me of some movies of Dilip Kumar and other horror films of that era I saw in childhood.
One thing unrelated to the literary merits of the work. The price of novel at Rs 399/- is a bit steep and it should be priced less like Chetan, Durjoy or Rabindra. It will help it to reach to more readers.
The author has strong feminist tone. Sample this:
"We women have similar fate to animals, we are reared with love and care just to be sent to butcher's house one fine day. And for me, that day has arrived," she told her friend next day, her eyes fixed on horizon. While the nation celebrated its freedom, for Renuka it was the time for being bandini."
And this:
"I hope my free spirited little birdie will remember this for the rest of her life. My dear Renuka, gone are the carefree days of childhood. Now you are stepping into a world of responsibilities, where you have to play the role of the giver. Blessed are the woman who live for others, and that's the path to ultimate bliss. Accept the truth of life, my girl, from today itself. Love your husband with all your heart. Don't ever judge him. And do not look for man-woman equality. It does not exist."
This is a first time effort of the author, who also happens to be an engineer. After Chetan Bhagat made it big a lot of engineers are taking up fiction writing. Not all of them successful but Debjani Mohanty is very good. Being an engineer myself I am happy that she did so well. Otherwise engineers are considered dull and known only to understand complex equations ;). Also opposed to Chetan she has a very good command of the language. She writes very flowery English and which is poetic also at some places. This adds to the beauty of the novel.
The protagonist is female, may be because the writer is a female and she identifies with her at some unconscious level. But it may not be the case and it is just a guess. The writer created the atmosphere of that era very well.
Author has good command and understanding of human feelings especially women’s. The story captivates and keep you engrossed, though it is clichéd at some places. It also reminded me of some movies of Dilip Kumar and other horror films of that era I saw in childhood.
One thing unrelated to the literary merits of the work. The price of novel at Rs 399/- is a bit steep and it should be priced less like Chetan, Durjoy or Rabindra. It will help it to reach to more readers.
The author has strong feminist tone. Sample this:
"We women have similar fate to animals, we are reared with love and care just to be sent to butcher's house one fine day. And for me, that day has arrived," she told her friend next day, her eyes fixed on horizon. While the nation celebrated its freedom, for Renuka it was the time for being bandini."
And this:
"I hope my free spirited little birdie will remember this for the rest of her life. My dear Renuka, gone are the carefree days of childhood. Now you are stepping into a world of responsibilities, where you have to play the role of the giver. Blessed are the woman who live for others, and that's the path to ultimate bliss. Accept the truth of life, my girl, from today itself. Love your husband with all your heart. Don't ever judge him. And do not look for man-woman equality. It does not exist."
August 28, 2015
First of all I was dumbstruck when I was a few pages through, as it's so beautifully started and the story seems so nicely woven from the starting till the end that it builds a very nice suspense for the reader to be glued to it. Each and every chapter has something new to offer to the reader. Renuka's life has been so beautifully carved out that it seems that the reader is living with it and sharing all her moments. Story at numerous places shows the love, understanding and bonding between Renuka and her husband which is an inspiration for all the married couples as to how to live and fight the atrocities of life together. Renuka's strong moves are quite an inspiration for the ladies to this day also.
Awesome but easy vocabulary makes this book a pleasant reading experience.
It was good to see that you wrote the story after full knowledge of the situations in India during and after freedom.
I won't consider this book as a feminist subject, in fact it should be read by the males too to understand how situations and evils of the society can be won over if a male and a female share their capabilities. A five star from me.
Awesome but easy vocabulary makes this book a pleasant reading experience.
It was good to see that you wrote the story after full knowledge of the situations in India during and after freedom.
I won't consider this book as a feminist subject, in fact it should be read by the males too to understand how situations and evils of the society can be won over if a male and a female share their capabilities. A five star from me.
August 29, 2015
Such a gripping story of love, deceit, courage and woman upliftment. The pain factor of womanhood is described seamlessly in the story.
August 29, 2015
An unique piece of work. I wish to read more such stories in future. While reading the novel, never it came to my mind that it could be just a story. The incidents are so well narrated that it gives the reader a feeling as if written on someone's life for real. The only thing that bothered me was the ending, I wish it would have not ended in 200 pages and there should be a sequel.
September 21, 2015
Hardly come across with these types of plots now-a-days. All the characters seem so real and I am glad to know many customs of eastern part of India through this book. The helplessness of women of the era is so timely and accurate, I wish more such works would soon come to market.
March 29, 2024
March 2024: 2 stars
The stage was set so well - amidst the turmoil of independence and partition era Bengal a woman's life changes drastically. The first few chapters had so many interesting goings on but I must say I was disappointed overall. The writing was below-par and did distract me quite a few times with weird word choices and phrasing. A lot of things do happen in this book but most information provided is irrelevant. It truly does not matter to the story how many children each of the myriad characters had and what their individual personalities are like because we never hear from them again. This was a quick read which is suspenseful at times but nothing of import really happens. The first and last few chapters were great though. Unfortunately the stuff in between wasn't as much.
March 2016: 4 stars
This book had me glued from the start. The story revolves around the life of Renuka, an educated woman (which was rare for the era she lived in) who has a beautiful outlook on life. She questions society's discrimination against women and is determined to elevate their position although the patriarchal society tries to discourage her. The lives of different women are shown - widows, prostitutes, women who give birth to girls and those who birth boys; no matter where they live. Maybe a village, maybe a modern city, maybe even a developed country like Germany. The characters are strong and there is a lot of suspense and intrigue that keeps you hooked.
It is also about a curse cast by a girl called Damini onto a rich landlord's family. I felt that the ending was kind of rushed though. Also, in some parts, there was a kind of pity towards women who willingly choose to live domestic lives like it was a dumb thing to do.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
The stage was set so well - amidst the turmoil of independence and partition era Bengal a woman's life changes drastically. The first few chapters had so many interesting goings on but I must say I was disappointed overall. The writing was below-par and did distract me quite a few times with weird word choices and phrasing. A lot of things do happen in this book but most information provided is irrelevant. It truly does not matter to the story how many children each of the myriad characters had and what their individual personalities are like because we never hear from them again. This was a quick read which is suspenseful at times but nothing of import really happens. The first and last few chapters were great though. Unfortunately the stuff in between wasn't as much.
March 2016: 4 stars
This book had me glued from the start. The story revolves around the life of Renuka, an educated woman (which was rare for the era she lived in) who has a beautiful outlook on life. She questions society's discrimination against women and is determined to elevate their position although the patriarchal society tries to discourage her. The lives of different women are shown - widows, prostitutes, women who give birth to girls and those who birth boys; no matter where they live. Maybe a village, maybe a modern city, maybe even a developed country like Germany. The characters are strong and there is a lot of suspense and intrigue that keeps you hooked.
It is also about a curse cast by a girl called Damini onto a rich landlord's family. I felt that the ending was kind of rushed though. Also, in some parts, there was a kind of pity towards women who willingly choose to live domestic lives like it was a dumb thing to do.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
August 29, 2015
This book made me a reader long after my college days. I read it all in one go, and I was transported to a different world altogether. I was smitten. Wish to see a bollywood movie picturised on this novel, is possible.
August 28, 2015
A classic tale of indian history
September 12, 2015
I like all the way the torture in women is expressed and all the useful information which i have not heard of.
September 30, 2015
Your story is so beautiful and full of nuances and layers. Right from the setting, the independence movement, Gandhiji, blind beliefs, feudal life, riots, all so vividly expressed!
August 28, 2016
Its refreshing and thought provoking
First of all a huge thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book and being so kind and patient towards the time I had taken in drafting a review of the book.
I loved it. I loved the book for being so simple yet profound. I loved the book for focusing on a proper story rather than preaching and screaming for attention towards a particular school of thought. I loved it for being a simple and entertaining read and not making me work for it.
To be honest when I picked up the book and judging from the cover, I had envisioned reading a spooky novel but apparently its not. The book is a lot more than that and there was a point when through the first half I felt that the author was trying to achieve an indian Jane Eyre out of her book with the kind of flow it had but eventually the book surprises you with so many domain it touches upon.
I will admit that through the practice of reviewing so many books, I have developed this habit of picking up faults in every book and so please forgive me for doing the same with this book. It is just a bad habit that I have recently developed. Well there are two things that I wanted to crib about. Its not major but yet is strikingly present. The book sort of travels through a lot of domain, like it starts of as a reflection of India during independence struggles and especially for women of that period, to showing the taboos prevalent then moving on to romance to a mystery to spooky to drama.. I mean it touches a lot of things but I love the author for not getting caught up in it so bad that the book dwindles. Yes at times you feel the book taking a sidetrack but still manage to come back to the main point. Now the second is the language. There are few times when almost immediately the book takes a Victorian tone and then goes back to normal mode. Now that I have quenched the thirst for nagging lets get back to the book
The curse of Damini is good for anybody who wants to read a book with a strong female character. In fact I think the work towards upholding this central character to be so true, tangible and simply radiant throughout the book inspite of surrounded by so many secondary characters is commendable. All you would think after reading this book is about the strong central female character and that says a lot.
As a person who has read this book, I would advise everybody to pick this expecting to read a powerful narrative journey of a woman that took control of her life against all odds and then you would find it apt. Don’t be like me and judge the book by its cover assuming it to be a ghost story. Don’t get brainwashed by synopsis enough to believe that this is some preaching on women empowerment. It is more than that. It has a lot to it than what meets the eye. For me the book had a good story that kept me hooked to it and that’s all I ask from my books.
First of all a huge thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book and being so kind and patient towards the time I had taken in drafting a review of the book.
I loved it. I loved the book for being so simple yet profound. I loved the book for focusing on a proper story rather than preaching and screaming for attention towards a particular school of thought. I loved it for being a simple and entertaining read and not making me work for it.
To be honest when I picked up the book and judging from the cover, I had envisioned reading a spooky novel but apparently its not. The book is a lot more than that and there was a point when through the first half I felt that the author was trying to achieve an indian Jane Eyre out of her book with the kind of flow it had but eventually the book surprises you with so many domain it touches upon.
I will admit that through the practice of reviewing so many books, I have developed this habit of picking up faults in every book and so please forgive me for doing the same with this book. It is just a bad habit that I have recently developed. Well there are two things that I wanted to crib about. Its not major but yet is strikingly present. The book sort of travels through a lot of domain, like it starts of as a reflection of India during independence struggles and especially for women of that period, to showing the taboos prevalent then moving on to romance to a mystery to spooky to drama.. I mean it touches a lot of things but I love the author for not getting caught up in it so bad that the book dwindles. Yes at times you feel the book taking a sidetrack but still manage to come back to the main point. Now the second is the language. There are few times when almost immediately the book takes a Victorian tone and then goes back to normal mode. Now that I have quenched the thirst for nagging lets get back to the book
The curse of Damini is good for anybody who wants to read a book with a strong female character. In fact I think the work towards upholding this central character to be so true, tangible and simply radiant throughout the book inspite of surrounded by so many secondary characters is commendable. All you would think after reading this book is about the strong central female character and that says a lot.
As a person who has read this book, I would advise everybody to pick this expecting to read a powerful narrative journey of a woman that took control of her life against all odds and then you would find it apt. Don’t be like me and judge the book by its cover assuming it to be a ghost story. Don’t get brainwashed by synopsis enough to believe that this is some preaching on women empowerment. It is more than that. It has a lot to it than what meets the eye. For me the book had a good story that kept me hooked to it and that’s all I ask from my books.
February 20, 2016
My rating is 4.5
My Review
Why I did not include Plot and Character section is that the plot is too vast and if I say more, it would end up as a spoiler and so is the cast.
The Curse of Damini is a historical fiction. The story of Renuka a headstrong, talented, lovable girl. Renuka is shocked to learn that her marital family is cursed by a girl called Damini, who committed suicide a hundred years back, to escape from being raped by one of the forefathers of Renuka's husband.
While I read the blurb and the first chapters I thought that it is a horror novel. But No. It is a historical fiction. We can see authoress's take on every historical events right from Sepoy mutiny, World war, Quit India movement, Independence, Communal Riots, Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, abolition of Zamindari, Sati and Child marriage to the Nirbhaya case. There is a strong voice of protest against the cruelties towards women. The protagonist is a strong feminist but I would not categorize this book as a feminist novel. For those who say Indians can write only romance, I ask them to buy and read this book. A vast research can be seen in the book. I have posted the review of autobiographical account of a zamindar's son last month. I can say that this book complies with the realities shown by him.
From the thirties to the twenty first century, women are exploited, raped and trodden but not all men are the same. Authoress made this point through the character portrayal of Shashank and Anirudh.
Highlights
The story line is plausibly strong. Character crafting is exemplary. The pace of the story is very consistent. The book has the power to grab the readers and force them to hook to it. I had goosebumps while reading the penultimate chapter. What more should I say? If you like history, romance, rebellion or mystery, you will love this book. This is all in one. And yes, it was contemporary relevance too. Editors have done a good job. The book had practically no errors. Writing style is simple but with strong mettle.
Drawbacks
It might sound silly but the overuse of the word 'however' was like an eyesore. The last chapter was rushed. The ending was good but abrupt.
One Liner
A thrilling, exciting, and riveting saga of Renuka
My Review
Why I did not include Plot and Character section is that the plot is too vast and if I say more, it would end up as a spoiler and so is the cast.
The Curse of Damini is a historical fiction. The story of Renuka a headstrong, talented, lovable girl. Renuka is shocked to learn that her marital family is cursed by a girl called Damini, who committed suicide a hundred years back, to escape from being raped by one of the forefathers of Renuka's husband.
While I read the blurb and the first chapters I thought that it is a horror novel. But No. It is a historical fiction. We can see authoress's take on every historical events right from Sepoy mutiny, World war, Quit India movement, Independence, Communal Riots, Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, abolition of Zamindari, Sati and Child marriage to the Nirbhaya case. There is a strong voice of protest against the cruelties towards women. The protagonist is a strong feminist but I would not categorize this book as a feminist novel. For those who say Indians can write only romance, I ask them to buy and read this book. A vast research can be seen in the book. I have posted the review of autobiographical account of a zamindar's son last month. I can say that this book complies with the realities shown by him.
From the thirties to the twenty first century, women are exploited, raped and trodden but not all men are the same. Authoress made this point through the character portrayal of Shashank and Anirudh.
Highlights
The story line is plausibly strong. Character crafting is exemplary. The pace of the story is very consistent. The book has the power to grab the readers and force them to hook to it. I had goosebumps while reading the penultimate chapter. What more should I say? If you like history, romance, rebellion or mystery, you will love this book. This is all in one. And yes, it was contemporary relevance too. Editors have done a good job. The book had practically no errors. Writing style is simple but with strong mettle.
Drawbacks
It might sound silly but the overuse of the word 'however' was like an eyesore. The last chapter was rushed. The ending was good but abrupt.
One Liner
A thrilling, exciting, and riveting saga of Renuka
June 2, 2016
**Received a copy of book from the author for an honest review.**
""3.50 stars""
Review to come.
""3.50 stars""
Review to come.
December 20, 2017
I am really not sure for where to start about what i felt after reading this. I really wished if I could have finished it as far as I got it from its Author.
What Debajani did with her debut novel is too far to think for anyone to give it in its first shot. It would have been wrong if we judge the novel with its name and cover print as one another reader has already mentioned. There is seriously no such kind of Paranormal activities reign in the content as it had been mentioned in the initials.
The Journey of an girl from being a die-hard freedom fighter to an lady of charm, knowledge and social activist has been very well depicted in the book. How she transformed her thoughts since there was bare-shell to the reality is so much inspiring for every person and not just girls/women. The demolition of unwanted and unnecessary thoughts from the beginning itself is too hard but this character of Renuka proved every ambiguity wrong.
I really found it so much attractive and affectionate as well and it was very hard for me to put it down to took naps in between the first and the last. It seems to me not only a book but some kind of realm of magical and magnetic words.
The Author has put the issues of the era she was defining very nicely and also kept telling page-by-page the solutions taken or needs to take even now to eliminate the same. Making own name out of nothing made protagonist far better than any character and there was no lost-drama-feel of Bollywood. There was no Bollywood masala which could have spoiled the plot but the plot cast for the book can be made/transformed into one very fine Art movie. There were taboo that had been conveyed via protagonist in a very smooth way and it soothed the plot like a very homogeneous part of it.
For me it deserves: 5.0/5.0
What Debajani did with her debut novel is too far to think for anyone to give it in its first shot. It would have been wrong if we judge the novel with its name and cover print as one another reader has already mentioned. There is seriously no such kind of Paranormal activities reign in the content as it had been mentioned in the initials.
The Journey of an girl from being a die-hard freedom fighter to an lady of charm, knowledge and social activist has been very well depicted in the book. How she transformed her thoughts since there was bare-shell to the reality is so much inspiring for every person and not just girls/women. The demolition of unwanted and unnecessary thoughts from the beginning itself is too hard but this character of Renuka proved every ambiguity wrong.
I really found it so much attractive and affectionate as well and it was very hard for me to put it down to took naps in between the first and the last. It seems to me not only a book but some kind of realm of magical and magnetic words.
The Author has put the issues of the era she was defining very nicely and also kept telling page-by-page the solutions taken or needs to take even now to eliminate the same. Making own name out of nothing made protagonist far better than any character and there was no lost-drama-feel of Bollywood. There was no Bollywood masala which could have spoiled the plot but the plot cast for the book can be made/transformed into one very fine Art movie. There were taboo that had been conveyed via protagonist in a very smooth way and it soothed the plot like a very homogeneous part of it.
For me it deserves: 5.0/5.0
March 24, 2016
Debajani Mohanty’s The Curse of Damini begins in 1945, when fifteen year old Renuka, helping her elder brother and his band of nationalist revolutionaries assassinate a British official, meets the quiet, introspective Shashank. Three years later, by an odd twist of fate, Renuka ends up married to Shashank, and learns too of the century-old curse that plagues his family, the Roy Chaudhurys. Like all the zamindars, the Roy Chaudhurys have amassed wealth and power—and have misused it—over the centuries. An ancestor’s abuse of his power, and his exercising of droit de seigneur resulted in the rape of a woman named Damini, who cursed the clan, depriving its members, for generations to come, of marital happiness, longevity, and offspring and just about everything else prized in this part of the world, in this age.
Renuka and Shashank set up home, and the novel follows their lives—and the lives of their extended family, their friends and associates—as the years pass. Along the way, Renuka becomes a renowned writer; they travel abroad; Partition rips India apart; and Damini’s curse seems to haunt the Roy Chaudhurys.
I was pleasantly surprised to realize that—contrary to what I'd expected—this book isn't really about a curse and the superstition surrounding it; it is, on the other hand, about the many obstacles Indian women face in their attempt to live. It is about society and its expectations (and restrictions); about repressive patriarchy and double standards. It tells the story of a woman who has it all, and others who do not, or who—having it all—throw it away. An interesting and engrossing story, even if the penultimate chapter’s neat list of points to prevent rape is cringeworthy. And even if the protagonist, Renuka, does not always act in as circumspect a manner as she’s supposed to, given the constant emphasis on her progressiveness.
Why, then, did I give The Curse of Damini a mere two stars? Because of the writing and the language, which is abysmal. I can live with typos and bad proofreading; but when every paragraph is written in such a clunky, heavy-handed way, with so little attention to grammar and correct usage of idioms, it gets tiresome. (Examples: “her facial grimace clearly indicated her state of mind”, “Her deep bosoms provided a beautifully rounded silhouette…”, “There is a good demand of Indian stories in British market” [this, by the way, uttered by a character who’s British]).
What this book needed was a very strict, very good editor. The story isn't bad, but the writing lets it down.
Renuka and Shashank set up home, and the novel follows their lives—and the lives of their extended family, their friends and associates—as the years pass. Along the way, Renuka becomes a renowned writer; they travel abroad; Partition rips India apart; and Damini’s curse seems to haunt the Roy Chaudhurys.
I was pleasantly surprised to realize that—contrary to what I'd expected—this book isn't really about a curse and the superstition surrounding it; it is, on the other hand, about the many obstacles Indian women face in their attempt to live. It is about society and its expectations (and restrictions); about repressive patriarchy and double standards. It tells the story of a woman who has it all, and others who do not, or who—having it all—throw it away. An interesting and engrossing story, even if the penultimate chapter’s neat list of points to prevent rape is cringeworthy. And even if the protagonist, Renuka, does not always act in as circumspect a manner as she’s supposed to, given the constant emphasis on her progressiveness.
Why, then, did I give The Curse of Damini a mere two stars? Because of the writing and the language, which is abysmal. I can live with typos and bad proofreading; but when every paragraph is written in such a clunky, heavy-handed way, with so little attention to grammar and correct usage of idioms, it gets tiresome. (Examples: “her facial grimace clearly indicated her state of mind”, “Her deep bosoms provided a beautifully rounded silhouette…”, “There is a good demand of Indian stories in British market” [this, by the way, uttered by a character who’s British]).
What this book needed was a very strict, very good editor. The story isn't bad, but the writing lets it down.
April 2, 2020
I was given a copy by Debajani in exchange for an honest review:
In Renuka, the heroine of her book, Debajani has created a feminist icon, who is progressive, educated and forward-thinking, a freedom fighter, a writer, a businesswoman and a lot more. Though the curse is a very small part of the story it's still very much important in the storyline.
We start in the story in 1945 and then with the eyes of Renuka we see the world and we finish the story in the year 2013.
The times, the world changed in all this time but like most of the issues woman safety is still an issue like it was many years ago and yes we still need to go a million miles before we can look our woman folks eye to eye and tell them that they are totally safe in our cities, our towns and in our villages.
With Renu, we live her life along with her and we feel all the emotions she feels, the wonderful book from start to the end. Debajani has done a commendable job in her debut novel and she would go places. All the very best Debajani and Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
In Renuka, the heroine of her book, Debajani has created a feminist icon, who is progressive, educated and forward-thinking, a freedom fighter, a writer, a businesswoman and a lot more. Though the curse is a very small part of the story it's still very much important in the storyline.
We start in the story in 1945 and then with the eyes of Renuka we see the world and we finish the story in the year 2013.
The times, the world changed in all this time but like most of the issues woman safety is still an issue like it was many years ago and yes we still need to go a million miles before we can look our woman folks eye to eye and tell them that they are totally safe in our cities, our towns and in our villages.
With Renu, we live her life along with her and we feel all the emotions she feels, the wonderful book from start to the end. Debajani has done a commendable job in her debut novel and she would go places. All the very best Debajani and Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
Read
March 21, 2016The curse of Damini by Debjani Mohanty is a book, which I would like to agree with the adage - don't judge a book by its cover. A dark cover outlook would trick you into thinking it as another mystery surrounding ghosts ,etc but it's definitely much-much more than that.
Why I would pick up the book again and again - The protagonist Renuka is a good example of optimism in the sense that change must be backed by efforts. Yet, the author carefully blends the shades which are relatable - vulnerability, romance , etc. Also, despite the book traversing different timelines ,one is easily able to relate to the lives of the characters and the scenarios in front of them, even in the present day scenario.
Being a Bengali, I could relate to most of the cultural background, but for some it can take a bit time to figure out what's happening. Also ,initially, I was disappointed with the editing because of few errors but then later ahead I got engrossed in the plot that I didn't care about it anymore and I will surely give kudos to the author for this.The way she weaves the past and the present , with the threads of crimes against women, and that too with all the characters getting their due is not an easy job!
I won't divulge the plot, for it's a racy thriller because once you start reading its difficult to stop. Read the book to know that when a strong-willed Renuka gets married to one of the Bengal's affluent Zamindar family which is affected by Damini's curse then does she get affected by the curse too? I will be waiting for more books from the author since I liked her presentation ,coherency and the deep research she did to bring out this book.
Why I would pick up the book again and again - The protagonist Renuka is a good example of optimism in the sense that change must be backed by efforts. Yet, the author carefully blends the shades which are relatable - vulnerability, romance , etc. Also, despite the book traversing different timelines ,one is easily able to relate to the lives of the characters and the scenarios in front of them, even in the present day scenario.
Being a Bengali, I could relate to most of the cultural background, but for some it can take a bit time to figure out what's happening. Also ,initially, I was disappointed with the editing because of few errors but then later ahead I got engrossed in the plot that I didn't care about it anymore and I will surely give kudos to the author for this.The way she weaves the past and the present , with the threads of crimes against women, and that too with all the characters getting their due is not an easy job!
I won't divulge the plot, for it's a racy thriller because once you start reading its difficult to stop. Read the book to know that when a strong-willed Renuka gets married to one of the Bengal's affluent Zamindar family which is affected by Damini's curse then does she get affected by the curse too? I will be waiting for more books from the author since I liked her presentation ,coherency and the deep research she did to bring out this book.
June 8, 2016
A gripping storyline which depicted the era very well. By reading one can understand that the author has done a lot of research work for presenting the story in the most realistic way.
Though the cover and title indicates a horror story or a thriller, that it is not. Rather it is a story of a very brave and bright lady who had the courage to fight for the independence of our country at a very young age and then fought towards women empowerment throughout.
Though there is room for improvement in editing, I started ignoring those as the story started to engulf me.
At places I felt few preachings could have been avoided specially towards the end where Renuka suggests ways to improve situation of women in the country. That could have been done within the story building some incidents hence that part seemed to be completed in a hurry.
Another disjoint which i could not figure out was to why the Saint declared her first born as special. Also I totally respect the author's discretion but felt a bit sad that the children of succesful parents could not taste success themselves. Leaves me with a thought that is this what happens if the mother is busy?
All in all a great read with clear and well defined characters. The author's thought process is very clear when it comes to telling the story. The flow is just awesome. I could sketch all the characters and the incidents smoothly while reading the book, such is the detailing. Sewing such a vast and deep plot is definitely applaudable. And the ease with which the characters crossed the path of time leaves me expecting more from the author's next work.
Though the cover and title indicates a horror story or a thriller, that it is not. Rather it is a story of a very brave and bright lady who had the courage to fight for the independence of our country at a very young age and then fought towards women empowerment throughout.
Though there is room for improvement in editing, I started ignoring those as the story started to engulf me.
At places I felt few preachings could have been avoided specially towards the end where Renuka suggests ways to improve situation of women in the country. That could have been done within the story building some incidents hence that part seemed to be completed in a hurry.
Another disjoint which i could not figure out was to why the Saint declared her first born as special. Also I totally respect the author's discretion but felt a bit sad that the children of succesful parents could not taste success themselves. Leaves me with a thought that is this what happens if the mother is busy?
All in all a great read with clear and well defined characters. The author's thought process is very clear when it comes to telling the story. The flow is just awesome. I could sketch all the characters and the incidents smoothly while reading the book, such is the detailing. Sewing such a vast and deep plot is definitely applaudable. And the ease with which the characters crossed the path of time leaves me expecting more from the author's next work.
June 17, 2020
I recieved a free copy of this book to write an honest review.
This book had me tucked from the start. When I read synopsis of the book I thought its based on some bollywood horror movie like 1920, but its not. Its an original story.
After reading the book I must want to say that you shoud read the book atleast once. It would be a different experience for you.
The story revolves around the life of Renuka, an educated woman (which was rare for the era she lived in) who has a beautiful outlook on life. She questions society's discrimination against women and is determined to elevate their position although the patriarchal society tries to discourage her. The lives of different women are shown - widows, prostitutes, women who give birth to girls and those who birth boys; no matter where they live. Maybe a village, maybe a modern city, maybe even a developed country like Germany. The characters are strong and there is a lot of suspense and intrigue that keeps you hooked.
It is also about a curse cast by a girl called Damini onto a rich landlord's family when he tries to rape her. Damini is just one of the millions of people who face sexual abuse and that is why her story is important.
All the best to Debajani for her future writings.
This book had me tucked from the start. When I read synopsis of the book I thought its based on some bollywood horror movie like 1920, but its not. Its an original story.
After reading the book I must want to say that you shoud read the book atleast once. It would be a different experience for you.
The story revolves around the life of Renuka, an educated woman (which was rare for the era she lived in) who has a beautiful outlook on life. She questions society's discrimination against women and is determined to elevate their position although the patriarchal society tries to discourage her. The lives of different women are shown - widows, prostitutes, women who give birth to girls and those who birth boys; no matter where they live. Maybe a village, maybe a modern city, maybe even a developed country like Germany. The characters are strong and there is a lot of suspense and intrigue that keeps you hooked.
It is also about a curse cast by a girl called Damini onto a rich landlord's family when he tries to rape her. Damini is just one of the millions of people who face sexual abuse and that is why her story is important.
All the best to Debajani for her future writings.
December 29, 2015
I won this in a Goodreads first reads giveaway...thank you! This book was culturally and historically interesting, and at times the writing is good, but it is also very syrupy and overly melodramatic too often. The book needs some very strong editing too, as the English is often either inappropriately old-fashioned, or it actually caused me to giggle because it was just so odd. Also, I was impressed that some important women's issues were addressed in the story, but it seems that the author believes that only a career, success and money is important, and if a woman chooses only a simple, domestic life raising her children, then she is viewed as unmotivated and an underachiever. That attitude was a little annoying for me, as doesn't a woman (or man) have the right to choose her (his) own path without pressure from others? (And success isn't always about money.) This book has a lot of potential but until those issues are dealt with, I believe it will not be viewed as anything more than a nice, amateur attempt at writing a novel. I hope the problems can be worked out because I actually liked the story. I just can't recommend it at this point. Sorry.
September 11, 2016
The Author, Debajani Mohanty has painstakingly woven the story of the protagonist Renuka along with the independence struggle, worst scenarios of Hindu-Muslim riot during India-Bengal partition,fictitious "The Curse of Damini" and the real pressing issue Gender Inequality.
Author has done a great vivid narration about everything either it's about non-fictitious incidents or the one related the core story. She has done a perfect job.
The private moments between the story's protagonist Renuka and her Husband are lovely and real. Author has managed really well to make readers to believe in The Curse Of Damini and also at last convince us to un-believe it.
My rating for "The Curse of Damini" is 4.25 out of 5.
Author has done a great vivid narration about everything either it's about non-fictitious incidents or the one related the core story. She has done a perfect job.
The private moments between the story's protagonist Renuka and her Husband are lovely and real. Author has managed really well to make readers to believe in The Curse Of Damini and also at last convince us to un-believe it.
My rating for "The Curse of Damini" is 4.25 out of 5.
April 30, 2016
The curse of Damini is a phenomenal work of literature that focuses on issues related to women's exploitation and suppression back in the early era of India after freedom. It is essentially, a feministic story with romance, thrill and 'supernatural' interwoven all in a beautiful blend of art.
It tells the journey of the protagonist, the feminist Renuka Shekhar who was called 'agni-kanya' in her time due to her revolutionary opinions and actions, and justifiably so, for she is the 'holy fire' that burns in the heart of an Indian woman still today. She is the holy fire who doesn't accept injustice for her sisters and mothers, just because the society fails to protect them. She is the fire inside a woman to live her life independently and achieve success in her life, come what may.
_____________________________________
The curse of damini starts with Renuka, the protagonist running through lush paddy fields for participating in bomb-blasting of the house of a British official. She meets her to-be husband, Shashank Shekhar in such an evening. She's engaged to wed to Shashank's elder brother, but because of the demands of dowry, refuses, yes she refuses to marry him.
Despite being called names in her own wedding, she's so ferocious and courageous that she raises her voice against the ill practice of dowry and her father in law in the era when women were not supposed to raise their voice to their own family, lest their in-laws. That instance was the event when Renuka made a place forever in my heart.
She's married to Shashank by some good fortune and bid to the house that has been cursed.
Throughout her life journey, Renuka inspects and analyzes the curse of Damini, a common girl of India who suffered rape in the hands of the zamindars 100 years back. Renuka fights the curse with her karma, for she's the firm believer in writing her own destiny. She fights with her own family and society on rape, dowry, prostitution and the ill practices against widows back in that time. She tries to find the curse amidst all the ill goings in life.
In such an instance, she goes to the village of Damini, where one woman tells her -
"For rich, Damini is a story, but for poor like us, Damini is a part of life"
//SPOILER//
Renuka finds herself in the despair of the curse once in her life but fights with her eminent strength and courage to return her life on track. Where Karma makes her destiny.
The story sheds light on poverty and depression in its proceeding. The story also focuses on the character Mandira, who is the childhood friend of Renuka, in its lower half, who despite being headstrong and courageous about women's rights, lacks somewhat in basic moral values. The curse was again back.
The author wraps up her story with the most symbolic high point of the story, the culmination of Renuka and Mandira. Being a feminist doesn't eradicate the necessity of being a good human.
The author has covered the whole life period of the lead characters. The point from where they were teenagers yet mature to the point where they reached a stage that they had discovered and invented new thoughts and ideologies, and the world appreciates them.
//END SPOILER//
__________________________________
The author brings forward a daring and fantastic attempt to show the cruel reality and history of exploitation of women in India. The flow of the story is quite mesmerizing at times.
There were instances when I turned the pages with damp eyes.
There is a massive amount of research put in this story. It's an amalgamation of facts and fiction, research and literature and most importantly, feminism. The youth of India needs to read such inspiring books.
The way Debajani tells this story is indicative of her future success.
It tells the journey of the protagonist, the feminist Renuka Shekhar who was called 'agni-kanya' in her time due to her revolutionary opinions and actions, and justifiably so, for she is the 'holy fire' that burns in the heart of an Indian woman still today. She is the holy fire who doesn't accept injustice for her sisters and mothers, just because the society fails to protect them. She is the fire inside a woman to live her life independently and achieve success in her life, come what may.
_____________________________________
The curse of damini starts with Renuka, the protagonist running through lush paddy fields for participating in bomb-blasting of the house of a British official. She meets her to-be husband, Shashank Shekhar in such an evening. She's engaged to wed to Shashank's elder brother, but because of the demands of dowry, refuses, yes she refuses to marry him.
Despite being called names in her own wedding, she's so ferocious and courageous that she raises her voice against the ill practice of dowry and her father in law in the era when women were not supposed to raise their voice to their own family, lest their in-laws. That instance was the event when Renuka made a place forever in my heart.
She's married to Shashank by some good fortune and bid to the house that has been cursed.
Throughout her life journey, Renuka inspects and analyzes the curse of Damini, a common girl of India who suffered rape in the hands of the zamindars 100 years back. Renuka fights the curse with her karma, for she's the firm believer in writing her own destiny. She fights with her own family and society on rape, dowry, prostitution and the ill practices against widows back in that time. She tries to find the curse amidst all the ill goings in life.
In such an instance, she goes to the village of Damini, where one woman tells her -
"For rich, Damini is a story, but for poor like us, Damini is a part of life"
//SPOILER//
Renuka finds herself in the despair of the curse once in her life but fights with her eminent strength and courage to return her life on track. Where Karma makes her destiny.
The story sheds light on poverty and depression in its proceeding. The story also focuses on the character Mandira, who is the childhood friend of Renuka, in its lower half, who despite being headstrong and courageous about women's rights, lacks somewhat in basic moral values. The curse was again back.
The author wraps up her story with the most symbolic high point of the story, the culmination of Renuka and Mandira. Being a feminist doesn't eradicate the necessity of being a good human.
The author has covered the whole life period of the lead characters. The point from where they were teenagers yet mature to the point where they reached a stage that they had discovered and invented new thoughts and ideologies, and the world appreciates them.
//END SPOILER//
__________________________________
The author brings forward a daring and fantastic attempt to show the cruel reality and history of exploitation of women in India. The flow of the story is quite mesmerizing at times.
There were instances when I turned the pages with damp eyes.
There is a massive amount of research put in this story. It's an amalgamation of facts and fiction, research and literature and most importantly, feminism. The youth of India needs to read such inspiring books.
The way Debajani tells this story is indicative of her future success.
May 10, 2016
When I started reading the first chapter where a young girl was shown to be involved in a violent act of freedom struggle, I was thrilled as I thought it to be a freedom struggle related thriller (it is one of my most favorite genre) but as the novel proceeded I got a little disheartened, the novel completely changed the path.
As the novel proceeded and the author started to portray the miserable condition of women, the thought which came to my mind was “Come on Debajani…..It doesn’t happens” but when I realized that the story was rolling in eight decade old era I realized my mistake. The condition of women was even worse in those days.
The story nicely cruises around a girl named Renuka from her teenage to eighth decade of her life. The life of protagonist largely sailed smooth as her husband was too nice to an extent that I would not mind saying that it is rare to get such cooperative husbands even today!!. The author has tried to show the misery of women through the relatives of the protagonist Renuka, particularly her sister in Laws. I found it to be a different and unique concept otherwise all books and movies shows the tragedies to be incurring to the main character. Has the author done it with a predetermined purpose or was it just accidental? - will be my query from the author!! But I found this concept to be very successful due to the following reasons.
1. It brought the uniqueness to book
2. The story appears more authentic
3. It gives a good respite to reader otherwise most often the tragic stories becomes tragic to an extent that the reader start to feel nauseated.
4. It proves that good and bad people have always existed in society.
On the flip side-
1. The biggest flaw I found is that the book does not justify the title. The author could not justify whether the protagonist believed in curse or not because the protagonist who was preaching everyone against the curse started to believe in the same curse when she met the tragedy of abortion (the only tragedy she met).
2. At the flow of story and sequence of events I would like to give 2-2.5/ 5 to the author because at times the story becomes too simple to generate interest while at times it start to take the shape of movie where every events appears to create a hero. (In facts these are the junctures where story start to appear a bit artificial losing the main essence of this book).
3. Relation of Mandira and Renuka and their debate on “social norms” is confusing. It deflects the typical human psychology “The social norm which I follow is the ideal for society”. The decision of Mandira to adopt “live in relation” being shown as evil in the society is one of such example. (which author has tried to prove by showing Mandira regretting her decision).
4. “Rapes can be completely eliminated from society” by taking some precautions the author mentions. They can be definitely reduced but completely eliminated… I think, is not only unrealistic but a little immature expectation of author.
5. Being a doctor I felt it to be my moral responsibility to surface a major technical error. You need not undergo hysterectomy (removal of uterus) for family planning {and no doctor on earth would agree for it!!}. It is the tubectomy (closure of the fallopian tubes) which is very simple procedure done for family planning.
To conclude, the book is good for one read. Overall my rating would be 3/5.
My best wishes to the author for her future projects and piece of advice- to work a little more on flow on her future stories.
Regards
As the novel proceeded and the author started to portray the miserable condition of women, the thought which came to my mind was “Come on Debajani…..It doesn’t happens” but when I realized that the story was rolling in eight decade old era I realized my mistake. The condition of women was even worse in those days.
The story nicely cruises around a girl named Renuka from her teenage to eighth decade of her life. The life of protagonist largely sailed smooth as her husband was too nice to an extent that I would not mind saying that it is rare to get such cooperative husbands even today!!. The author has tried to show the misery of women through the relatives of the protagonist Renuka, particularly her sister in Laws. I found it to be a different and unique concept otherwise all books and movies shows the tragedies to be incurring to the main character. Has the author done it with a predetermined purpose or was it just accidental? - will be my query from the author!! But I found this concept to be very successful due to the following reasons.
1. It brought the uniqueness to book
2. The story appears more authentic
3. It gives a good respite to reader otherwise most often the tragic stories becomes tragic to an extent that the reader start to feel nauseated.
4. It proves that good and bad people have always existed in society.
On the flip side-
1. The biggest flaw I found is that the book does not justify the title. The author could not justify whether the protagonist believed in curse or not because the protagonist who was preaching everyone against the curse started to believe in the same curse when she met the tragedy of abortion (the only tragedy she met).
2. At the flow of story and sequence of events I would like to give 2-2.5/ 5 to the author because at times the story becomes too simple to generate interest while at times it start to take the shape of movie where every events appears to create a hero. (In facts these are the junctures where story start to appear a bit artificial losing the main essence of this book).
3. Relation of Mandira and Renuka and their debate on “social norms” is confusing. It deflects the typical human psychology “The social norm which I follow is the ideal for society”. The decision of Mandira to adopt “live in relation” being shown as evil in the society is one of such example. (which author has tried to prove by showing Mandira regretting her decision).
4. “Rapes can be completely eliminated from society” by taking some precautions the author mentions. They can be definitely reduced but completely eliminated… I think, is not only unrealistic but a little immature expectation of author.
5. Being a doctor I felt it to be my moral responsibility to surface a major technical error. You need not undergo hysterectomy (removal of uterus) for family planning {and no doctor on earth would agree for it!!}. It is the tubectomy (closure of the fallopian tubes) which is very simple procedure done for family planning.
To conclude, the book is good for one read. Overall my rating would be 3/5.
My best wishes to the author for her future projects and piece of advice- to work a little more on flow on her future stories.
Regards
July 9, 2016
I received a physical copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Curse of Damini by Debajani Mohanty is a historical fiction. Therefore, I don’t understand why the cover (and the blurb, for that matter) of the book is so dark and eerie. There’s hardly any aspect of “horror’ to the story. I just find it a bit misleading as someone would pick it up; hoping to read another mystery surrounding ghosts or what not.
Nevertheless, moving on to the story: I loved it. Though I dived into the book hoping for something else, I was very happy with the story nonetheless. The book covers the period between 1940's to modern times – from the independence struggle to all the hardships women have to go through at current age.
Renuka, the protagonist of the book, is a very outspoken, free-spirited, and an ambitious girl. Her father, Shri Shashi Kanta Pal, was a well-educated and progressive man – thus ensuring that all of the children in the house were educated and well versed with current affairs, regardless of their gender (unlike most of the households back then). Undoubtedly, Renuka turned out to be very forthright and smart. Being an outspoken girl, she wouldn’t be quiet if she sensed something wrong happening in front of her – which was exactly what she did during her wedding. The groom’s father was not okay with the amount of money (see: dowry) they were given by Renuka’s side and therefore started insulting the family. Upon hearing the argument, Renuka was quick to question him and calling out the groom to be a coward for silently witnessing everything. For obvious reasons, there was no wedding for the guests to look forward to – until the elder brother of the groom came forward to ask Renuka’s hand for marriage. The elder brother, Shashank Chaudhury, is a very nice and highly educated gentleman (and someone who Renuka had acquaintance of as a child) so everything settles as the two of them get married. But later on it seems like Shashank is hiding something from Renuka, a tragic ancestral secret, that Renuka discovers later in the book.
I think the book’s major plus point is the brilliant crafting of characters – maybe except Shashank as he seemed to be too idealistic and passive to be true (not stating that men can’t be nice, just that I found him extremely boring). I liked the fact that there were a few Bengali terminologies in the beginning. Though checking the glossary five times every minute was a pain, it made the characters feel more real. I’m all about immersion and I hate it when a character does not align with their age and setting. The only two drawbacks that I found was the fact that the storyline was not “suspenseful” enough in the end of every chapter to motivate me to read further. Also, a little bit of further editing when it came to grammar and punctuation would have been better.
Overall, I’d say it’s a good read. Had the editing been better, this book definitely deserves a 4 star rating. I’ve not read much books by Indian authors as all of them seem so basic and full of drama – like how I’d imagine a Bollywood script to be. But this book was somewhat refreshing in a way (though I found the romance bits kind of weird and boring. Well, that’s the case for me with every book these days for some reason – unless they’re interracial/glbtqqia characters.)
The Curse of Damini by Debajani Mohanty is a historical fiction. Therefore, I don’t understand why the cover (and the blurb, for that matter) of the book is so dark and eerie. There’s hardly any aspect of “horror’ to the story. I just find it a bit misleading as someone would pick it up; hoping to read another mystery surrounding ghosts or what not.
Nevertheless, moving on to the story: I loved it. Though I dived into the book hoping for something else, I was very happy with the story nonetheless. The book covers the period between 1940's to modern times – from the independence struggle to all the hardships women have to go through at current age.
Renuka, the protagonist of the book, is a very outspoken, free-spirited, and an ambitious girl. Her father, Shri Shashi Kanta Pal, was a well-educated and progressive man – thus ensuring that all of the children in the house were educated and well versed with current affairs, regardless of their gender (unlike most of the households back then). Undoubtedly, Renuka turned out to be very forthright and smart. Being an outspoken girl, she wouldn’t be quiet if she sensed something wrong happening in front of her – which was exactly what she did during her wedding. The groom’s father was not okay with the amount of money (see: dowry) they were given by Renuka’s side and therefore started insulting the family. Upon hearing the argument, Renuka was quick to question him and calling out the groom to be a coward for silently witnessing everything. For obvious reasons, there was no wedding for the guests to look forward to – until the elder brother of the groom came forward to ask Renuka’s hand for marriage. The elder brother, Shashank Chaudhury, is a very nice and highly educated gentleman (and someone who Renuka had acquaintance of as a child) so everything settles as the two of them get married. But later on it seems like Shashank is hiding something from Renuka, a tragic ancestral secret, that Renuka discovers later in the book.
I think the book’s major plus point is the brilliant crafting of characters – maybe except Shashank as he seemed to be too idealistic and passive to be true (not stating that men can’t be nice, just that I found him extremely boring). I liked the fact that there were a few Bengali terminologies in the beginning. Though checking the glossary five times every minute was a pain, it made the characters feel more real. I’m all about immersion and I hate it when a character does not align with their age and setting. The only two drawbacks that I found was the fact that the storyline was not “suspenseful” enough in the end of every chapter to motivate me to read further. Also, a little bit of further editing when it came to grammar and punctuation would have been better.
Overall, I’d say it’s a good read. Had the editing been better, this book definitely deserves a 4 star rating. I’ve not read much books by Indian authors as all of them seem so basic and full of drama – like how I’d imagine a Bollywood script to be. But this book was somewhat refreshing in a way (though I found the romance bits kind of weird and boring. Well, that’s the case for me with every book these days for some reason – unless they’re interracial/glbtqqia characters.)
June 15, 2016
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
*I received a printed copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This book... was simply wow. I didn't think I was going to love this book this much! But I could relate to so much which made this book a great read!
The story deals about the free-spirited girl named Renuka and her journey from a teenage freedom fighter to womanhood where she experiences the various spices of life. We come to know about the British Raj, struggles of India's independence, the Hindu-Muslim riot and the partition of Bengal which were cleverly interwoven with the main storyline.
I fell in love with the story and I absolutely loved the main protagonist Renuka. The story starts at the time before India has gained its Independence, Renuka is just a teenage girl fighting to contribute as much as she can towards the freedom of India. This book highlighted the male dominated patriarchal society at its extreme which still somewhat prevents in India. It was so appropriately depicted and also the zamindari system and its injustices were highlighted as well.
Renuka is a not a person devoid of flaws but she is an idealistic woman with whom I could relate so much because of the values she believed in. I loved how she handled everythinh maturely or tried her best to do so. The plot was interwoven with the curse of an ill-fated girl named Damini which was handled realistically and were depicted really well. Shashank, Renuka's husband was a really great guy, he was loving and caring and stood by his wife no matter what. He played an important part in her life, and he provided her the courage that she needed to go on without faltering. All the various other characters and episodes played an equally important part in this story.
Overall, The Curse of Damini was a great read! The plot kept me hooked from the very beginning and I loved the characters. So many important parts of India's history was highlighted and I loved reading about them. I also loved the fact that there was a glossary at the end of the book which would be helpful for the people who doesn't know Bengali. The writing was smooth and easy to read, I didn't feel bored for even a second and the pace was even throughout the book. Overall, this was a pretty fantastic read that I enjoyed reading very much!
Recommend it?
Yes!
*I received a printed copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This book... was simply wow. I didn't think I was going to love this book this much! But I could relate to so much which made this book a great read!
The story deals about the free-spirited girl named Renuka and her journey from a teenage freedom fighter to womanhood where she experiences the various spices of life. We come to know about the British Raj, struggles of India's independence, the Hindu-Muslim riot and the partition of Bengal which were cleverly interwoven with the main storyline.
I fell in love with the story and I absolutely loved the main protagonist Renuka. The story starts at the time before India has gained its Independence, Renuka is just a teenage girl fighting to contribute as much as she can towards the freedom of India. This book highlighted the male dominated patriarchal society at its extreme which still somewhat prevents in India. It was so appropriately depicted and also the zamindari system and its injustices were highlighted as well.
Renuka is a not a person devoid of flaws but she is an idealistic woman with whom I could relate so much because of the values she believed in. I loved how she handled everythinh maturely or tried her best to do so. The plot was interwoven with the curse of an ill-fated girl named Damini which was handled realistically and were depicted really well. Shashank, Renuka's husband was a really great guy, he was loving and caring and stood by his wife no matter what. He played an important part in her life, and he provided her the courage that she needed to go on without faltering. All the various other characters and episodes played an equally important part in this story.
Overall, The Curse of Damini was a great read! The plot kept me hooked from the very beginning and I loved the characters. So many important parts of India's history was highlighted and I loved reading about them. I also loved the fact that there was a glossary at the end of the book which would be helpful for the people who doesn't know Bengali. The writing was smooth and easy to read, I didn't feel bored for even a second and the pace was even throughout the book. Overall, this was a pretty fantastic read that I enjoyed reading very much!
Recommend it?
Yes!
November 12, 2015
FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK MS.DEBANJANI MOHANTY FOR PROVIDING ME THE BOOK IN A GIVEAWAY.“The Curse of Damini” is a story based on rural society of West Bengal.Renuka is a free bird. Born into a rich family but robbed of her fortunes by circumstances, she is to be married in an extremely rich Zamindar family of the Roy Chaudhurys. However on the day of her marriage she falls victim to one of the most common social evil that still haunts the Indian society – dowry. On the day of the marriage, realizing that what the bride’s father has arranged is not enough, the groom’s side breaks off the tie and leaves hurriedly. But Renuka’s grace is saved by the groom’s elder brother Shashank who decides to marry the poor girl despite of the objections from his family.
As luck would have it Shashank is just the opposite of his younger brother Lalit who is known to have been habituated to all kinds of vices which plague men. Shashank is simpler, sincere, caring and has a much modern and broader outlook towards things. Renuka is indeed lucky. But when she discovers that Shashank is harbouring a secret; a secret which may spell disaster for Renuka, she is left shattered. There is a 100 year old curse which runs in the family and that curse affects anyone who is married into the family. So what is the curse? Will Renuka be spared or will she too fall victim to it? To know this and much more about the story of the Roy Choudharys read this exciting book today!
There are many things to look for in the book, the first and foremost of which is the characters. Almost all characters are very well developed and well placed. They all have a strong personality which enchants the readers and mesmerizes them. Shashank, Renuka, Mandira, Anirudhh, Lalit and Papia are a few noteworthy and well-crafted characters. The next best part of the book is the plot. The book starts with a bang. The suspense and mystery created in the start runs well up to mid book where the pace becomes a little slow before picking up again towards the end. Overall execution of the plot was really good but what I missed the most was an end that was as adventurous as the start. The curse of Damini was intriguing in the beginning but in the latter part of the book it assumed a somewhat secondary importance. In the end however, the implication it had was indeed noteworthy.
As luck would have it Shashank is just the opposite of his younger brother Lalit who is known to have been habituated to all kinds of vices which plague men. Shashank is simpler, sincere, caring and has a much modern and broader outlook towards things. Renuka is indeed lucky. But when she discovers that Shashank is harbouring a secret; a secret which may spell disaster for Renuka, she is left shattered. There is a 100 year old curse which runs in the family and that curse affects anyone who is married into the family. So what is the curse? Will Renuka be spared or will she too fall victim to it? To know this and much more about the story of the Roy Choudharys read this exciting book today!
There are many things to look for in the book, the first and foremost of which is the characters. Almost all characters are very well developed and well placed. They all have a strong personality which enchants the readers and mesmerizes them. Shashank, Renuka, Mandira, Anirudhh, Lalit and Papia are a few noteworthy and well-crafted characters. The next best part of the book is the plot. The book starts with a bang. The suspense and mystery created in the start runs well up to mid book where the pace becomes a little slow before picking up again towards the end. Overall execution of the plot was really good but what I missed the most was an end that was as adventurous as the start. The curse of Damini was intriguing in the beginning but in the latter part of the book it assumed a somewhat secondary importance. In the end however, the implication it had was indeed noteworthy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews