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Where the River Parts
But these things haven’t happened before. It’s August 1947, the night before India’s independence. It is also the night before Pakistan’s creation and the brutal partition of the two countries.Asha, a Hindu in a newly created Muslim land, must flee to safety. She carries with her a secret she has kept even from Firoze, her Muslim lover. But Firoze must remain in Pakistan, and increasing tensions between the two countries mean the couple can never reunite.Fifty years later in New York, Asha’s Indian granddaughter falls in love with a Pakistani, and Asha and Firoze, meeting again at last, are faced with one more—final—choice.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2016
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August 18, 2016
It is 1947, in the province of Punjab, which sits between India and Pakistan, an area where Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and others live side by side. Tension is mounting as political events cause rifts between friends and neighbours as many of the Muslim population support the area becoming part of Pakistan and many Hindu fear for their lives, while the same tensions exist among Muslims living in the predominantly Hindu parts of India.
They are all living on the cusp of Pakistan’s creation and the brutal partition of the two countries, which will split Punjab in two, the west becoming Pakistan, the east India, triggering the largest mass migration of humanity in history, affecting 10 million people.
Asha and Nargis are neighbours and best friends, they go to school together and spend time in each others homes, sharing their excitement at the future, especially as they are close to marriageable age and they know it’s something their parents are considering on their behalf. After he walks her to school for a week, Asha slowly becomes close to Nargis brother Firoze, a relationship that was unlikely to be accepted by their families even without the changes that Partition is threatening to bring.
The thing they all fear most, that some desire most happens and Asha’s family leave their past behind and head for Delhi. Firoze helps them to escape and Asha leaves with a secret she has kept from everyone, the future unknown.
We follow the life of Asha and all that happens to her, the sacrifices she makes, the effect of the secrets she holds and watches as the family she raises and lives among move far from the childhood and attitudes she has known. She makes peace with what has happened and accepts her new life, until 50 years later, when old memories resurface as she visits her daughter and grand-daughter in New York, who are in conflict as Asha’s Indian grand-daughter has fallen in love with Hussain, a young Muslim originally from Pakistan.
One of the most touching scenes in the novel, one that must have encapsulated the thought processes of so many, was when a grandmother from Pakistan asks Asha about Delhi because she too had been severed from her roots. That and the frequent, evocative references to the way she would make tea or other subtle habits that retained within them, the essence of where she had come from – representing those seemingly insignificant things people miss, that when they encounter again, provide immense nostalgic pleasure. Radhik Swarup evokes these memory inducing touches without sentimentalising, we sense it at a primal level, as those who have ever left home for an extended period will recognise.
An often heart-breaking story of the impossibilities of love to survive political and religious differences and events, the way it changes lives, how people cope and the deep compassion required if it is ever to be overcome.
They are all living on the cusp of Pakistan’s creation and the brutal partition of the two countries, which will split Punjab in two, the west becoming Pakistan, the east India, triggering the largest mass migration of humanity in history, affecting 10 million people.
Asha and Nargis are neighbours and best friends, they go to school together and spend time in each others homes, sharing their excitement at the future, especially as they are close to marriageable age and they know it’s something their parents are considering on their behalf. After he walks her to school for a week, Asha slowly becomes close to Nargis brother Firoze, a relationship that was unlikely to be accepted by their families even without the changes that Partition is threatening to bring.
It was too quiet for hope, and then too loud for safety.
She thought of the people she had lost, of the affection, the smiles, the belonging she could never again take for granted.
It was the end of a life, and as she stood there, shivering in the brief night-time chill, it dawned on her that it was the end of her childhood.
The thing they all fear most, that some desire most happens and Asha’s family leave their past behind and head for Delhi. Firoze helps them to escape and Asha leaves with a secret she has kept from everyone, the future unknown.
‘Suddenly those who read, those who had access to news, learned to differentiate. People spoke of ‘those Muslims’ and ‘those Hindus’, of separatist and patriots, of a Hindustan for Hindus and a Pakistan for Muslims. They spoke of two nations, they mourned the martyred, the shaheed.’
We follow the life of Asha and all that happens to her, the sacrifices she makes, the effect of the secrets she holds and watches as the family she raises and lives among move far from the childhood and attitudes she has known. She makes peace with what has happened and accepts her new life, until 50 years later, when old memories resurface as she visits her daughter and grand-daughter in New York, who are in conflict as Asha’s Indian grand-daughter has fallen in love with Hussain, a young Muslim originally from Pakistan.
One of the most touching scenes in the novel, one that must have encapsulated the thought processes of so many, was when a grandmother from Pakistan asks Asha about Delhi because she too had been severed from her roots. That and the frequent, evocative references to the way she would make tea or other subtle habits that retained within them, the essence of where she had come from – representing those seemingly insignificant things people miss, that when they encounter again, provide immense nostalgic pleasure. Radhik Swarup evokes these memory inducing touches without sentimentalising, we sense it at a primal level, as those who have ever left home for an extended period will recognise.
‘But I want you to tell me about India. I want you to tell me what changed in Delhi after I left.’
‘It’s changed. There are new shops, new roads, new names.’ She saw the woman’s face fall, and she leaned forward, taking her hands in her own. ‘But in spirit it remains the same. It’s still a village at heart; noisy and intrusive. There are still the narrow lanes that cross the magnificent boulevards, still the shanties beyond the grand circuses. It’s still impossible to keep things secret.’ The woman closed her eyes, considered Asha’s words, and a slow smile spread on her face. ‘In that case’, she said, ‘all is well.’
An often heart-breaking story of the impossibilities of love to survive political and religious differences and events, the way it changes lives, how people cope and the deep compassion required if it is ever to be overcome.
February 19, 2016
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2016/0...
In the prologue there is a scene that we read again as part of the story. The second time (for me) had so much more impact as the names were more than a word on paper. I had formed a connection with them. The second time is much more hard hitting.
When the story begins, Asha and Firoze's families are very close. Asha is Hindu and Firoze Muslim and although riots have been escalating, no-one can actually believe that harm will come to the Indian families in the neighbourhood.
Asha's best friend is Firoze's sister Nargis. When their separate religions have a celebration they take part in each others. There are no boundaries. They walk to school together and tease each other about their crushes, as any young girls do. Firoze starts working for Asha's father which adds another bond to their connection.
Asha's father doesn't want to leave. He is respected in their village with a professional occupation. Harassment and assault happen which precipitates hiding and leaving. He must protect his family. Rapes, abductions, murder and destitution make this a time of complete turmoil. Even reaching Delhi there are refugee 'camps' and there is so much need. The animalistic and baseness of humanity is to the fore and there is so much heartache.
Amidst this there is building a new life, even if it's not what the refugees saw for themselves. But how do you forget the life that was before the Partition? How can you leave behind family, friends and lovers knowing you won't see them again? The blurb tells us that fifty years later, Asha and Firoze meet again and must make a choice. So many threads come into play when making that final choice. Half a decade of not expecting to see each other again. And a divide still between Hindu and Muslim. I cried. In fact I sobbed. I don't think you can read Where The River Parts and not show emotion!
At each of the different periods in Asha's life (a young woman, a wife, a mother, a grandmother) she is determined to survive and make the best of what is in front of her. She doesn't give up or give in. She is a strong lead and doesn't falter, even when there are secrets involved. The author has created a believable and indomitable woman, formed partly no doubt from those hazy memories of overhearing adults discussing the past. I am sure Radhika's own nomadic experiences have had an impact on her writing too.
I enjoy reading stories about different cultures, mainly because they are so different from the West and I love to challenge my thoughts and perceptions. I loved the different rituals, the foods, the way they are prepared and the clothing.
Where The Rivers Part is a story of a woman fleeing religious intolerance from her homeland to a place where she ultimately finds peace. It's a story of hope and dreams (even when they're shattered) and a love that touches your soul.
I would like to thank the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In the prologue there is a scene that we read again as part of the story. The second time (for me) had so much more impact as the names were more than a word on paper. I had formed a connection with them. The second time is much more hard hitting.
When the story begins, Asha and Firoze's families are very close. Asha is Hindu and Firoze Muslim and although riots have been escalating, no-one can actually believe that harm will come to the Indian families in the neighbourhood.
Asha's best friend is Firoze's sister Nargis. When their separate religions have a celebration they take part in each others. There are no boundaries. They walk to school together and tease each other about their crushes, as any young girls do. Firoze starts working for Asha's father which adds another bond to their connection.
Asha's father doesn't want to leave. He is respected in their village with a professional occupation. Harassment and assault happen which precipitates hiding and leaving. He must protect his family. Rapes, abductions, murder and destitution make this a time of complete turmoil. Even reaching Delhi there are refugee 'camps' and there is so much need. The animalistic and baseness of humanity is to the fore and there is so much heartache.
Amidst this there is building a new life, even if it's not what the refugees saw for themselves. But how do you forget the life that was before the Partition? How can you leave behind family, friends and lovers knowing you won't see them again? The blurb tells us that fifty years later, Asha and Firoze meet again and must make a choice. So many threads come into play when making that final choice. Half a decade of not expecting to see each other again. And a divide still between Hindu and Muslim. I cried. In fact I sobbed. I don't think you can read Where The River Parts and not show emotion!
At each of the different periods in Asha's life (a young woman, a wife, a mother, a grandmother) she is determined to survive and make the best of what is in front of her. She doesn't give up or give in. She is a strong lead and doesn't falter, even when there are secrets involved. The author has created a believable and indomitable woman, formed partly no doubt from those hazy memories of overhearing adults discussing the past. I am sure Radhika's own nomadic experiences have had an impact on her writing too.
I enjoy reading stories about different cultures, mainly because they are so different from the West and I love to challenge my thoughts and perceptions. I loved the different rituals, the foods, the way they are prepared and the clothing.
Where The Rivers Part is a story of a woman fleeing religious intolerance from her homeland to a place where she ultimately finds peace. It's a story of hope and dreams (even when they're shattered) and a love that touches your soul.
I would like to thank the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2016
The words are beautiful, almost poetic,embracing you in an old worldly charm, of an era gone by.
The book starts with the main protagonist, Asha and her family trying to cross the border into India. It is a mass exodus on both the sides of the border known as Partition. When the Indian sub-continent got freedom from the British, the country was divided on communal lines into two countries – India and Pakistan. Pakistan wanted to be a country for Muslims, however, India kept its secular nature. Asha and her family are living happily in Suhanpur which happened to be in Pakistan after the Partition. Initially, reluctant to leave their home where they have lived for generations, they are left with no choice but to migrate.
http://www.kaapitimes.com/2016/03/whe...
The book starts with the main protagonist, Asha and her family trying to cross the border into India. It is a mass exodus on both the sides of the border known as Partition. When the Indian sub-continent got freedom from the British, the country was divided on communal lines into two countries – India and Pakistan. Pakistan wanted to be a country for Muslims, however, India kept its secular nature. Asha and her family are living happily in Suhanpur which happened to be in Pakistan after the Partition. Initially, reluctant to leave their home where they have lived for generations, they are left with no choice but to migrate.
http://www.kaapitimes.com/2016/03/whe...
January 25, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Well-written historical fiction is always a joy to find, and this book does not disappoint. The brutal partitioning of Pakistan from the rest of India was a joy to many, but also a nightmare to many others. As religion breaks apart her family and friends, Asha must adjust to a life much different from the one of her childhood. Settling in Delhi, she manages but childhood loss follows her throughout her long life. Recommended reading.
Well-written historical fiction is always a joy to find, and this book does not disappoint. The brutal partitioning of Pakistan from the rest of India was a joy to many, but also a nightmare to many others. As religion breaks apart her family and friends, Asha must adjust to a life much different from the one of her childhood. Settling in Delhi, she manages but childhood loss follows her throughout her long life. Recommended reading.
November 12, 2018
Two human beings. Two gender. Two families. Two religions. One nation. But after 1947 two of them becomes a part of two nations and two lives. What happens when they meet again decades later!
Where the river parts is the story of the love life of Asha and Firoze. Rather it is Asha's story of how she fell in love with Firoze and used to keep fast during Ramzan and observe Karwa Chauth for him and how she came back to India and became Om's wife and how she became a mother and a grandmother.
The book is definable in different dimensions. It is a pointer towards reality during partition. It shows the irony of how the daughter of a Muslim woman denies the permission for marriage of her own daughter just because she loved a Muslim. It touches different level of the societal norms.
If there is a usage called poetic prose, this book qualifies the best for it. The narration is exemplary. The love between Asha and Firoze permeates into the intellect of the reader even without any lovemaking scenes or explicit drama. The relationship between Asha and Om doesn't get overshadowed by that between Asha and Firoze. Even though for a very short duration in the narration, Om gains a prominent space in the psyche of the readers.
Further when the story develops, the plot seems rushed. The book should have been something like Gone With the Wind in terms of length or a story with a sequel. If so, it would have been helped the readers in connecting between Asha's next generation.
Verdict
Overall the book is a touching palpable and exemplary piece of art
Where the river parts is the story of the love life of Asha and Firoze. Rather it is Asha's story of how she fell in love with Firoze and used to keep fast during Ramzan and observe Karwa Chauth for him and how she came back to India and became Om's wife and how she became a mother and a grandmother.
The book is definable in different dimensions. It is a pointer towards reality during partition. It shows the irony of how the daughter of a Muslim woman denies the permission for marriage of her own daughter just because she loved a Muslim. It touches different level of the societal norms.
If there is a usage called poetic prose, this book qualifies the best for it. The narration is exemplary. The love between Asha and Firoze permeates into the intellect of the reader even without any lovemaking scenes or explicit drama. The relationship between Asha and Om doesn't get overshadowed by that between Asha and Firoze. Even though for a very short duration in the narration, Om gains a prominent space in the psyche of the readers.
Further when the story develops, the plot seems rushed. The book should have been something like Gone With the Wind in terms of length or a story with a sequel. If so, it would have been helped the readers in connecting between Asha's next generation.
Verdict
Overall the book is a touching palpable and exemplary piece of art
February 19, 2016
Based around the events of Partition in India in 1947, Asha’s story takes her across decades until she is an old woman in a sweeping historical love story. I don’t usually make comparisons between writers but I think those who’ve loved Dinaah Jefferies’ books will love Where the River Parts too.
I have to confess that I knew very little about the violent times of Partition and wasn’t sure that I would enjoy Radhika Swarup’s novel, but it is wonderful.
In Where the River Parts there is an exquisite telling of the violence and heartbreak of political turmoil from an intimate perspective. In Asha, Radhika Swarup illustrates just how huge international events impact on the individual, so that I found it impossible not to feel fully engaged with what happened in another country a whole lifetime ago. The sadness for me in reading this book is that so much of the same horror is being inflicted on people today.
Radhika Swarup’s writing is so vivid. She appeals to all the senses so that the heat, smells and colours of India and Pakistan are beautifully conveyed. There is a real sense of place.
The plot races along and my only complaint is that the narrative does not end exactly how I would like but I can’t say more without spoiling the read for others. Let’s just say it reduced me to tears.
I think the title is fantastic. Action takes place physically where the river does indeed part, and Asha’s memories return to that part of her life when she is an old woman reflecting on her past, but also, the title represents the ways in which women carve out their lives like a river flowing across the earth.
I think I have learned so much from reading Where the River Parts. It has everything from history and politics to geography and culture, but more importantly, it shows love and the enduring spirit of humanity. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
http://lindasbookbag.com/
I have to confess that I knew very little about the violent times of Partition and wasn’t sure that I would enjoy Radhika Swarup’s novel, but it is wonderful.
In Where the River Parts there is an exquisite telling of the violence and heartbreak of political turmoil from an intimate perspective. In Asha, Radhika Swarup illustrates just how huge international events impact on the individual, so that I found it impossible not to feel fully engaged with what happened in another country a whole lifetime ago. The sadness for me in reading this book is that so much of the same horror is being inflicted on people today.
Radhika Swarup’s writing is so vivid. She appeals to all the senses so that the heat, smells and colours of India and Pakistan are beautifully conveyed. There is a real sense of place.
The plot races along and my only complaint is that the narrative does not end exactly how I would like but I can’t say more without spoiling the read for others. Let’s just say it reduced me to tears.
I think the title is fantastic. Action takes place physically where the river does indeed part, and Asha’s memories return to that part of her life when she is an old woman reflecting on her past, but also, the title represents the ways in which women carve out their lives like a river flowing across the earth.
I think I have learned so much from reading Where the River Parts. It has everything from history and politics to geography and culture, but more importantly, it shows love and the enduring spirit of humanity. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
http://lindasbookbag.com/
February 17, 2016
Punjab in 1947, and Asha and her best friend, Nargis, are seventeen and still at school. Although Asha is a Hindu and Nargis Muslim, religious differences cannot sour their friendship, nor the goodwill between their families living in neighbouring houses in a comfortable part of town. The girls take part in each other’s traditions, such as fasting alongside the older women to safeguard their future husbands’ well-being. Unusually in a culture in which marriages are usually arranged by the parents, Asha has already chosen her husband in the form of her friend’s older brother, Firoze. What could possibly come between them? Firoze likes her, and her parents like Firoze; in fact, he���s her beloved father’s protégé in his law firm.
Full review http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecdo...
Full review http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecdo...
March 15, 2016
Where the river parts is the kind of novel that haunts long after you've finished it. I don't want to say goodbye to Asha and Firoze, nor to this fragrant India that serves as background for their love. Asha's message of love, forgiveness and sacrifice is pure and beautiful, and a nice change from most pessimistic novels published nowadays. Absolutely loved this novel. Thank you
June 10, 2016
I really enjoyed this story, it was gripping and captivating and beautifully written.
January 18, 2023
Reading about stories from the time of Partition is so hard because of the absolutely cruel things that happened to people but more so, to the areas that were affected more closely. The setup from pre-partition to the displacement and settlement in Delhi was so heavy but written so well.
There are so many dimensions to this book apart from just romantic love. The heaviness but warmth I felt when she got the balis from Nargis was a different feeling entirely. I'm so glad Lana and Hussain get to enjoy and savor their love in a way that Firoze and Asha couldn't. Asha and Om's happiness and respect and friendship towards each other was so good. Roopa and Asha finding each other after what they had experienced were so cathartic. There are so many moments and instances that tug at your heart.
I kind of wish, the parts from after their marriage, childbirth and life were not as rushed because I kept wanting more and more but that's a much minor qualm to an overall really good reading experience. I just didn't want to say goodbye to the characters tbh. This book had been on my list for so long and it didn't let me down at all :)
There are so many dimensions to this book apart from just romantic love. The heaviness but warmth I felt when she got the balis from Nargis was a different feeling entirely. I'm so glad Lana and Hussain get to enjoy and savor their love in a way that Firoze and Asha couldn't. Asha and Om's happiness and respect and friendship towards each other was so good. Roopa and Asha finding each other after what they had experienced were so cathartic. There are so many moments and instances that tug at your heart.
I kind of wish, the parts from after their marriage, childbirth and life were not as rushed because I kept wanting more and more but that's a much minor qualm to an overall really good reading experience. I just didn't want to say goodbye to the characters tbh. This book had been on my list for so long and it didn't let me down at all :)
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May 30, 2016Like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun, Where the River Parts takes us inside a conflict that most of us know only from newspaper headlines and historical reports. And like Kamila Shamshie’s Burnt Shadows, it spans half a century and two continents.
The novel opens in the days before Indian Independence in 1947, when the country is about to be divided into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. Mistrust is in the air and a season of madness is about to sweep across the country.
Asha and Nargis have grown up next door to each other in what will soon be the Pakistani part of Punjab. They are best friends, even sharing each other’s fast days – but Asha is Hindu and Nargis is Muslim. Neither can believe that anything will ever come between them. Even when the violence reaches to Suhanpur and Asha’s family are forced to flee to Delhi, everyone believes the separation is only temporary.
In fact, it will be half a century and half a world away before Asha sees Nargis’s brother, Firoze, – the man she was once secretly in love with - in New York. The wounds of Partition still run deep. Pakistan and India are now implacable enemies, and even away from the sub-continent mistrust between Hindus and Muslims is an ever-present shadow. Can old love and friendship build a bridge between the two communities, or will it be up to a new generation?
Swarup paints a picture of what life was like for two middle-class, educated young women in the Punjab between the end of WWII and Independence. Asha and Nargis bubble with mischief and fun, like any teenagers. Their lives are circumscribed by tradition, but not stifled. And there is a sense that they are the verge of new freedoms. All of which makes the senseless violence that erupts all the more shocking.
Where the River Parts is a tender tale that never takes sides. Kindness and generosity is found on both sides of the Partition, as is prejudice and cruelty. Swarup does not try to explain what triggers people who have lived side by side as neighbours to turn on each other – a pattern repeated in India, Nigeria, Bosnia, Rwanda... As, no doubt, it could almost anywhere. Wisely, she understands that the heart of the story lies not in the why or the how – but in the impact the brutal events have on families and communities, and how they continue to resound through succeeding generations.
Towards the end of the book, Asha meets a Muslim woman her own age who fled the other way, leaving Delhi for Pakistan. The woman asks her what Delhi is like now.
“It’s still a village at heart,” Asha tells her, “noisy and intrusive. There are still narrow lanes that cross the magnificent boulevards, still the shanties beyond the grand circuses. It’s still impossible to keep things secret.”
“In that case,” says the woman, “all is well.”
The novel opens in the days before Indian Independence in 1947, when the country is about to be divided into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. Mistrust is in the air and a season of madness is about to sweep across the country.
Asha and Nargis have grown up next door to each other in what will soon be the Pakistani part of Punjab. They are best friends, even sharing each other’s fast days – but Asha is Hindu and Nargis is Muslim. Neither can believe that anything will ever come between them. Even when the violence reaches to Suhanpur and Asha’s family are forced to flee to Delhi, everyone believes the separation is only temporary.
In fact, it will be half a century and half a world away before Asha sees Nargis’s brother, Firoze, – the man she was once secretly in love with - in New York. The wounds of Partition still run deep. Pakistan and India are now implacable enemies, and even away from the sub-continent mistrust between Hindus and Muslims is an ever-present shadow. Can old love and friendship build a bridge between the two communities, or will it be up to a new generation?
Swarup paints a picture of what life was like for two middle-class, educated young women in the Punjab between the end of WWII and Independence. Asha and Nargis bubble with mischief and fun, like any teenagers. Their lives are circumscribed by tradition, but not stifled. And there is a sense that they are the verge of new freedoms. All of which makes the senseless violence that erupts all the more shocking.
Where the River Parts is a tender tale that never takes sides. Kindness and generosity is found on both sides of the Partition, as is prejudice and cruelty. Swarup does not try to explain what triggers people who have lived side by side as neighbours to turn on each other – a pattern repeated in India, Nigeria, Bosnia, Rwanda... As, no doubt, it could almost anywhere. Wisely, she understands that the heart of the story lies not in the why or the how – but in the impact the brutal events have on families and communities, and how they continue to resound through succeeding generations.
Towards the end of the book, Asha meets a Muslim woman her own age who fled the other way, leaving Delhi for Pakistan. The woman asks her what Delhi is like now.
“It’s still a village at heart,” Asha tells her, “noisy and intrusive. There are still narrow lanes that cross the magnificent boulevards, still the shanties beyond the grand circuses. It’s still impossible to keep things secret.”
“In that case,” says the woman, “all is well.”
February 29, 2016
Really enjoyed this heart-warming drama following two families, one Muslim and one Hindu, as they live through Partition in 1947 India and how it impacted the future generations of their respective families. I gave this book four out of five as there were a few niggles I had with the writing, which I’ll cover first.
At times the dialogue is slow to the point of stagnant; luckily there were not too many pages of dialogue. I wish the editor had cut out the repeated phrases that didn’t move the story along or help us understand our characters any better. On the subject of dialogue I thought the use of foreign words was too much. I’m sure the writer thought it added authenticity but when the words were not always explained, and we could only guess at their meaning, it became too much like hard work and a bit annoying.
One other gripe I had was with pace. Sometimes, especially at the beginning, it was too slow for me. I also thought the last few pages were rushed, especially as the writer had built up tension towards the end with family conflict going on for the last 25 per cent of the book and then resolving that tension in one paragraph.
Now to the things I loved. A great premise for a story. Recent history always intrigues me, especially when we are still so close to it. This was a book about emotions and strength of will and I was with the characters every step of the way. I loved the sense of helplessness and vulnerability some of them had as they were not able to avoid the inevitable consequences of their lives.
I enjoyed the atmospheres created by Swarup which appealed to all the senses and were never overdone.
Asha is the main character and I found her a genuine, well crafted character who was easy to believe and relate to. There was nothing forced, fake or contrived about her.
Sometimes the language was quite poetic and I liked those touches throughout the book. The last few lines were particularly well crafted in my opinion.
I enjoyed that this story was told chronologically from beginning to end and didn’t jump around in time as I don’t think that would have added anything to the telling and I was totally satisfied by the outcome.
I hate to give spoilers in a review so I’ll leave it there and just say that I would recommend you read this book and I will certainly like to read more from the writer in the future.
At times the dialogue is slow to the point of stagnant; luckily there were not too many pages of dialogue. I wish the editor had cut out the repeated phrases that didn’t move the story along or help us understand our characters any better. On the subject of dialogue I thought the use of foreign words was too much. I’m sure the writer thought it added authenticity but when the words were not always explained, and we could only guess at their meaning, it became too much like hard work and a bit annoying.
One other gripe I had was with pace. Sometimes, especially at the beginning, it was too slow for me. I also thought the last few pages were rushed, especially as the writer had built up tension towards the end with family conflict going on for the last 25 per cent of the book and then resolving that tension in one paragraph.
Now to the things I loved. A great premise for a story. Recent history always intrigues me, especially when we are still so close to it. This was a book about emotions and strength of will and I was with the characters every step of the way. I loved the sense of helplessness and vulnerability some of them had as they were not able to avoid the inevitable consequences of their lives.
I enjoyed the atmospheres created by Swarup which appealed to all the senses and were never overdone.
Asha is the main character and I found her a genuine, well crafted character who was easy to believe and relate to. There was nothing forced, fake or contrived about her.
Sometimes the language was quite poetic and I liked those touches throughout the book. The last few lines were particularly well crafted in my opinion.
I enjoyed that this story was told chronologically from beginning to end and didn’t jump around in time as I don’t think that would have added anything to the telling and I was totally satisfied by the outcome.
I hate to give spoilers in a review so I’ll leave it there and just say that I would recommend you read this book and I will certainly like to read more from the writer in the future.
February 22, 2016
This book was bold in scope and narrative and it did not disappoint. An epic story that spanned decades and showed some of the brutalities, desperation and sadness, and the ruining of the families and lives of so many. A story of a period of history that I am ashamed to say I knew nothing about. The Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 and what it meant then for a Hindu girl to fall in love with a Muslim Boy.
Told from the perspective of Asha we follow her life in India and how she has to escape her home and life as she knows it, with her family as it was no longer safe. How alone and frightened she arrives in Delhi and has to settle to a life that maybe not of her choosing but the best she could have hoped for.
I have to admit it took me a couple of chapters to settle into the story. However once I did I was swept away to that time and place. The writing was beautiful and the story seamlessly flowed, considering the timespan that was covered. The descriptions of the places and the landscapes allowed me to imagine I was right there.
A story of love and survival but also of friendship. A story that shows that despite hardship, you should never give up on your dream.
I don't read much historical fiction but this story was as beautiful as it was shocking and I would highly recommend it. A very accomplished debut that had an almost cinematic feel to it, where I felt invested in the characters and the outcomes and where I had to gasp a few times as the events unfolded.
Told from the perspective of Asha we follow her life in India and how she has to escape her home and life as she knows it, with her family as it was no longer safe. How alone and frightened she arrives in Delhi and has to settle to a life that maybe not of her choosing but the best she could have hoped for.
I have to admit it took me a couple of chapters to settle into the story. However once I did I was swept away to that time and place. The writing was beautiful and the story seamlessly flowed, considering the timespan that was covered. The descriptions of the places and the landscapes allowed me to imagine I was right there.
A story of love and survival but also of friendship. A story that shows that despite hardship, you should never give up on your dream.
I don't read much historical fiction but this story was as beautiful as it was shocking and I would highly recommend it. A very accomplished debut that had an almost cinematic feel to it, where I felt invested in the characters and the outcomes and where I had to gasp a few times as the events unfolded.
August 15, 2016
4.5 Stars
I would like to Thank NetGalley and the Publisher for this book.
It is the Partition, told through the story of Asha a Hindu girl and Firoze a Muslim boy, the love they shared and how, eventually, they found themselves on different sides of the new border.
Asha and her family fled from Suhanpur, a part of Pakistan, to Delhi, and through that journey we can feel the loss, the torn lives of families from both sides.
As both countries celebrate 50 years of independence and of Partition, Asha and Firoze meet again, in New York. I think this was the most touching part, that feeling of un-lived lives and wasted chances, of regrets and also possibilities.
The last scene was very interesting, it was about Hope!
The book was amazing and depressing in the same time. It is always horrible to read about human cruelty, about unnecessary pain, about leaving everything behind. But i liked it, and it is one of the good books i read about that period.
Another thing i liked was the use of Hindu words. I was familiar with most of them, so it made me feel the story more, be into it really. But, i guess at some points it can get a bit confusing.
It was a well written story, a very interesting topic and i would recommend it to my friends.
I would like to Thank NetGalley and the Publisher for this book.
It is the Partition, told through the story of Asha a Hindu girl and Firoze a Muslim boy, the love they shared and how, eventually, they found themselves on different sides of the new border.
Asha and her family fled from Suhanpur, a part of Pakistan, to Delhi, and through that journey we can feel the loss, the torn lives of families from both sides.
As both countries celebrate 50 years of independence and of Partition, Asha and Firoze meet again, in New York. I think this was the most touching part, that feeling of un-lived lives and wasted chances, of regrets and also possibilities.
The last scene was very interesting, it was about Hope!
The book was amazing and depressing in the same time. It is always horrible to read about human cruelty, about unnecessary pain, about leaving everything behind. But i liked it, and it is one of the good books i read about that period.
Another thing i liked was the use of Hindu words. I was familiar with most of them, so it made me feel the story more, be into it really. But, i guess at some points it can get a bit confusing.
It was a well written story, a very interesting topic and i would recommend it to my friends.
May 15, 2017
This story beginning around the time of the partition of India and Pakistan is a bitter-sweet tale of love beween a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy. The obstacles to their union are immense. Initially there are the parents' objections. But as the couple live next-door and the families mix, these might eventually have been overcome. However, during the turmoil and bloodshed which followed, Asha and her Hindu family are forced to flee while Firoze remains in Pakistan.
We follow Asha's journey and then life in Delhi but fifty years will pass before she meets Firoze again.
At a time when we witness refugees from various countries fleeing persecution, Swarup gives us an insight into the heartbreak of another conflict which affects innocent people,
We follow Asha's journey and then life in Delhi but fifty years will pass before she meets Firoze again.
At a time when we witness refugees from various countries fleeing persecution, Swarup gives us an insight into the heartbreak of another conflict which affects innocent people,
May 25, 2016
This is a beautifully written story about a love between a hindu girl, Asha and a Muslim boy Firoze. It's an historical piece set around the time of the British Raj in India, the last days. Partition comes in 1947 forcing Asha and her family to flee Pakistan as it wants to become a Muslim nation. This book tells the story of how the act of partition caused heartache, destruction, and the brutalities of what it caused. Families and friends ripped apart with repurcussions lasting for decades. A hauntingly beautiful novel that stays with you long after you've read the last page. Absolutely brilliant and highly recommended
August 10, 2016
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
In 1947, India's partition changed many lives and defined them. Asha's story started here, and it only became more and more exciting as the story went by. A love story that placed me in that time, being able to live and feel it, as if I was Asha. How it was everything she went through, making her a strong and wise woman, and how is that love can remain throughout the years.
From all the books I have read regading India's history, this was my first one about the partition. I truly recommend it, it is a story full of love, adventure, friendship and family.
In 1947, India's partition changed many lives and defined them. Asha's story started here, and it only became more and more exciting as the story went by. A love story that placed me in that time, being able to live and feel it, as if I was Asha. How it was everything she went through, making her a strong and wise woman, and how is that love can remain throughout the years.
From all the books I have read regading India's history, this was my first one about the partition. I truly recommend it, it is a story full of love, adventure, friendship and family.
February 18, 2016
Although this harrowing story is set during Partition of India in 1947 you could liken it to the atrocities to modern day problems. It's a great story spanning over many decades and proving that prejudices never change!
February 28, 2016
This one surprised me. My blog is here: http://worncorners.com/2016/02/28/whe...
February 19, 2019
You can read all of my reviews on my blog -> Cover2CoverMom Blog
*4.5 Stars*
I’m ashamed to admit this, but I did not have high expectations going into Where the River Parts. I requested it from NetGalley back in 2016 because the premise sounded interesting, but I found that I kept putting it off as I wasn’t seeing people reading it. With under 100 ratings on Goodreads, I worried that this book was going to be a disappointment. Since I decided to participate in #YARC2019 and this book is set in India/Pakistan, I decided I would kill two birds with one stone and finally pick it up.
Where the River Parts is a historical fiction about the partition of Indian in 1947 into India & Pakistan and explores the tensions between the Muslim & Hindu people during that time. I know I sound like a broken record, but one of my favorite aspects of historical fiction is learning about events in history that I knew little to nothing about. Is it embarrassing to admit that I did not know that Pakistan was part of India prior to 1947? Probably. I had no idea about the animosity between the Muslim & Hindu people during this time. I was appalled to discover how these two religious groups treated each other: mass murders, mobs, abductions, rape. Hundreds of thousands (potentially millions) of people on each side of this conflict were affected. The exact numbers are not clear, but it is estimated that up to 2 million people total were killed during this time. After the partition, the Muslims occupied Pakistan while the Hindu people flocked to India.
Where the River Parts follows Asha, a Hindu girl, as she is forced from her home with her family leaving behind everything she knows. We watch as Asha must overcome one hardship after the next. My heart ached for Asha throughout the majority of this book, but Asha found a way to keep moving forward. She was a very sympathetic character, so I was very invested in Asha’s plight.
A big aspect of the plot line is the forbidden romance between Asha, a Hindu girl, and Firoze, a Muslim boy. While this book is part historical romance, it was so much more than that. If you’ve followed my reviews for a while, you probably already know that I don’t typically tend to enjoy books where the romance is central to the plot. Despite the fact that romance was a decent chunk of the story, there was plenty of substance to the rest of the story that kept me satisfied.
The plot of Where the River Parts had a little bit of everything: forbidden romance, religious conflict, historical context, cultural framework, family drama, etc. The pacing of the book was well done. There was never a point in the book where I felt the story was lacking or dragging, I was entertained the entirety of the book. I really enjoyed that this story followed Asha as a young girl and progresses throughout her adult life, and into her advanced years. I also appreciated how things seemed to come full circle at the end of the book with Asha & her Granddaughter.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the writing was excellent in Where the River Parts. There is not a lot of information on the author, but I’m fairly sure this is her debut novel. When you see a debut novel with not many ratings on Goodreads, I think the assumption tends to be that the writing is going to be amateur… Again, I’m ashamed that I misjudged this book based on preconceived notions.
I only had one small issue with Where the River Parts. Towards the second half of the book, there is a pretty substantial time jumping going on. While I totally understand this was necessary for the story, the way the story transitioned was a bit jarring & abrupt. I think the author could have added a little more to the story to smooth the transitions a bit.
Where the River Parts is truly a hidden gem. I am baffled that there are only around 90 ratings on Goodreads for it. I really do wish this book had more attention and that more people would give it a go.
Trigger/content warnings: rape, mob violence, murder, infertility, PTSD, and miscarriage.
*Big thanks to Sandstone Press for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*4.5 Stars*
I’m ashamed to admit this, but I did not have high expectations going into Where the River Parts. I requested it from NetGalley back in 2016 because the premise sounded interesting, but I found that I kept putting it off as I wasn’t seeing people reading it. With under 100 ratings on Goodreads, I worried that this book was going to be a disappointment. Since I decided to participate in #YARC2019 and this book is set in India/Pakistan, I decided I would kill two birds with one stone and finally pick it up.
Where the River Parts is a historical fiction about the partition of Indian in 1947 into India & Pakistan and explores the tensions between the Muslim & Hindu people during that time. I know I sound like a broken record, but one of my favorite aspects of historical fiction is learning about events in history that I knew little to nothing about. Is it embarrassing to admit that I did not know that Pakistan was part of India prior to 1947? Probably. I had no idea about the animosity between the Muslim & Hindu people during this time. I was appalled to discover how these two religious groups treated each other: mass murders, mobs, abductions, rape. Hundreds of thousands (potentially millions) of people on each side of this conflict were affected. The exact numbers are not clear, but it is estimated that up to 2 million people total were killed during this time. After the partition, the Muslims occupied Pakistan while the Hindu people flocked to India.
Where the River Parts follows Asha, a Hindu girl, as she is forced from her home with her family leaving behind everything she knows. We watch as Asha must overcome one hardship after the next. My heart ached for Asha throughout the majority of this book, but Asha found a way to keep moving forward. She was a very sympathetic character, so I was very invested in Asha’s plight.
A big aspect of the plot line is the forbidden romance between Asha, a Hindu girl, and Firoze, a Muslim boy. While this book is part historical romance, it was so much more than that. If you’ve followed my reviews for a while, you probably already know that I don’t typically tend to enjoy books where the romance is central to the plot. Despite the fact that romance was a decent chunk of the story, there was plenty of substance to the rest of the story that kept me satisfied.
The plot of Where the River Parts had a little bit of everything: forbidden romance, religious conflict, historical context, cultural framework, family drama, etc. The pacing of the book was well done. There was never a point in the book where I felt the story was lacking or dragging, I was entertained the entirety of the book. I really enjoyed that this story followed Asha as a young girl and progresses throughout her adult life, and into her advanced years. I also appreciated how things seemed to come full circle at the end of the book with Asha & her Granddaughter.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the writing was excellent in Where the River Parts. There is not a lot of information on the author, but I’m fairly sure this is her debut novel. When you see a debut novel with not many ratings on Goodreads, I think the assumption tends to be that the writing is going to be amateur… Again, I’m ashamed that I misjudged this book based on preconceived notions.
I only had one small issue with Where the River Parts. Towards the second half of the book, there is a pretty substantial time jumping going on. While I totally understand this was necessary for the story, the way the story transitioned was a bit jarring & abrupt. I think the author could have added a little more to the story to smooth the transitions a bit.
Where the River Parts is truly a hidden gem. I am baffled that there are only around 90 ratings on Goodreads for it. I really do wish this book had more attention and that more people would give it a go.
Trigger/content warnings: rape, mob violence, murder, infertility, PTSD, and miscarriage.
*Big thanks to Sandstone Press for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2021
Out of all the Partition literature stories I have read, this was the weakest. It is a feel-good story which does not truly capture the horrors of the partition. While it addresses the Hindu-Muslim conflict, she does not truly delve into it. The protagonist Asha gets lucky at every turn: she is safe from rape, from homelessness, from starvation and poverty and from the bad reputation of being a woman who cannot bear a child. Even though she has faced the massacre of her family and forced migration, it does not reflect in the second half to the extent it should. The trauma she would have faced is conveniently absent. I do not recommend this book for anybody.
December 2, 2021
This book witnesses the lost yet most cherished loved memories of lovers before partition and after. The relation of a Muslim beau named Firoze with a docile girl , Asha. Not only their beloved bonding came to a happy ending together but also Asha loosing her own family members as well as her very dear friend Nargis. It really feels so emotional to read through the pain each people might have gone through in Suhanpur ( now in Pakistan). How the reculmination of her granddaughter's lover Hussein comes to reality. Where this Hindu and Muslim muse succeed in reaching there destined final stage.
A great read!!
A great read!!
February 20, 2018
70 years have passed and we now only talk about Partition in terms of statistics and figures. This beautifully written book talks about the scars that Partition left on the so-called lucky ones who survived the tragedy. Specifically, it follows the life of Asha from the days of her first love to the time she is a great grandmother.
The writing is simple, and has a lot of depth to it. It is heartening to stumble on Radhika Swarup, after being jaded by some overrated, best-selling Indian authors.
January 10, 2025
Read the author’s newest book – The New New Delhi Book Club, and really liked it hence picked this up next. Was a DNF for me, but that might be more because of I have “partition” books fatigue. I had picked this nonetheless because the blurb promised a multi-generation story, but two-thirds of the way into the book it was still at the partition, at which point I gave up.
I do still like her writing style though – simple, accessible, easy, and the way she fleshes out her characters.
If “partition” books are your jam, give this a shot.
I do still like her writing style though – simple, accessible, easy, and the way she fleshes out her characters.
If “partition” books are your jam, give this a shot.
January 5, 2018
This was an enthralling read. Set in 1947 at the division of the Indian sub continent, it captures the mood of despair, mistrust and religious zealotry perfectly. As thousands find themselves displaced and begin the long trek to their assigned homelands, many do not make it. Victims of mistrust and the assassin's knife. This is not a book of happy endings, but rather a tale of acceptance. Well worth the reading.
April 23, 2020
Very touchy story
Simple writing style which beautifully manages to make us relate with the emotions of the protagonist. Kudos to the writer.
Simple writing style which beautifully manages to make us relate with the emotions of the protagonist. Kudos to the writer.
March 29, 2023
Taught me a lot about partition, and the formation of Pakistan through the division of the Punjab. Ultimately a love story, with some very difficult and graphic parts.
February 19, 2025
The most heart wrenching love story written during partition . Hope and helplessness creates magic through words . This is an under rated gem .
June 14, 2025
A love story in the context of India independence and Pakistan formation. Muslims, Hindus, their war and issues that remain to this day. Brutal and quite sad.
August 31, 2016
Deeply moving story of love torn apart by religious tension
Where the River Parts tells the story of Asha, a young Hindu girl living in Pre-Partition Punjab between India and Pakistan. Growing up, she spends most of her time with her best friend and neighbour Nargis, a Muslim, and eventually falls in love with Nargis’ brother, Firoze. Unfortunately her happiness is short lived, as the violence and discord between Hindus and Muslims grows and Asha’s family is forced to flee their home to safety, leaving her friend and lover behind. After encountering tragedy on the way to Delhi, Asha eventually settles down and manages to move on from the horrors she has experienced and forge a new life for herself, making sacrifices and changes to adapt and survive. When her past resurfaces many years later, she discovers that whilst much has changed some things remain very much the same and she must make one final, difficult choice.
This was a truly excellent book which I read rapidly over a few days as I was so keen to find out how it would end. The writing is engaging, the characters authentic and the subject matter – innocent, young love torn apart by religious tension and political turmoil – brutal and engrossing. I know very little about the Partition in India and yet found myself drawn into this tumultuous time with all its horrors by the author’s vivid descriptions and captivating storytelling. It was both intriguing and devastating to imagine the effect that this massive change had on millions of families, and this tale provides an excellent portrayal of what it must have been like for those living in Pakistan or India at the time. A detailed atmosphere is created through vivid descriptions and I felt as if I could visualise some of the scenes that were presented in the novel – both the colourful, exotic food, clothes and rituals of Hindu life and the devastation of crowded refugee camps afflicted with poverty and violence.
Emotionally, this was a very moving book. I was extremely upset by Asha and Firoze’s parting and continued to feel for Asha’s suffering throughout the story. The characters are believable and easy to empathise with and I felt all the more invested in them and saddened by their losses due to the knowledge that very similar situations occurred in real life less than a century ago and are probably still occurring in parts of the world today. The ending of the book was heartbreakingly poignant but not depressing or pessimistic, and ultimately showed that hope and love can survive despite impossible odds – truly moving, and definitely worth reading.
I have very little criticism to make about this story. Some readers may find some of the foreign terms used in the novel a little confusing and at times the narrative moves rapidly between present and past in a way that occasionally made me need to go back and re-read, but this was probably due to the fact I was rushing through desperate to see what happens next! Overall, I would highly recommend this book but be prepared - it is impossible not to be moved by it.
Daenerys
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.
Where the River Parts tells the story of Asha, a young Hindu girl living in Pre-Partition Punjab between India and Pakistan. Growing up, she spends most of her time with her best friend and neighbour Nargis, a Muslim, and eventually falls in love with Nargis’ brother, Firoze. Unfortunately her happiness is short lived, as the violence and discord between Hindus and Muslims grows and Asha’s family is forced to flee their home to safety, leaving her friend and lover behind. After encountering tragedy on the way to Delhi, Asha eventually settles down and manages to move on from the horrors she has experienced and forge a new life for herself, making sacrifices and changes to adapt and survive. When her past resurfaces many years later, she discovers that whilst much has changed some things remain very much the same and she must make one final, difficult choice.
This was a truly excellent book which I read rapidly over a few days as I was so keen to find out how it would end. The writing is engaging, the characters authentic and the subject matter – innocent, young love torn apart by religious tension and political turmoil – brutal and engrossing. I know very little about the Partition in India and yet found myself drawn into this tumultuous time with all its horrors by the author’s vivid descriptions and captivating storytelling. It was both intriguing and devastating to imagine the effect that this massive change had on millions of families, and this tale provides an excellent portrayal of what it must have been like for those living in Pakistan or India at the time. A detailed atmosphere is created through vivid descriptions and I felt as if I could visualise some of the scenes that were presented in the novel – both the colourful, exotic food, clothes and rituals of Hindu life and the devastation of crowded refugee camps afflicted with poverty and violence.
Emotionally, this was a very moving book. I was extremely upset by Asha and Firoze’s parting and continued to feel for Asha’s suffering throughout the story. The characters are believable and easy to empathise with and I felt all the more invested in them and saddened by their losses due to the knowledge that very similar situations occurred in real life less than a century ago and are probably still occurring in parts of the world today. The ending of the book was heartbreakingly poignant but not depressing or pessimistic, and ultimately showed that hope and love can survive despite impossible odds – truly moving, and definitely worth reading.
I have very little criticism to make about this story. Some readers may find some of the foreign terms used in the novel a little confusing and at times the narrative moves rapidly between present and past in a way that occasionally made me need to go back and re-read, but this was probably due to the fact I was rushing through desperate to see what happens next! Overall, I would highly recommend this book but be prepared - it is impossible not to be moved by it.
Daenerys
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.
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