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Two Virgins: A Novel
Saroja lives in a village with her parents, aunt and beautiful elder sister Lalitha. Saroja's life is uncomplicated, and simple things give her joy like the birth of a calf or a taste of one of Chingleput's sweets. Lalitha, on the other hand, believes she is too good for the village. Ambitious and spoilt, she has dreams of being a movie star that are fulfilled when a film-maker casts her in his documentary on village life. Overnight Lalitha becomes the talk of the town; her latent sexuality manifests itself and she uses her elevated status to her advantage. Basking in Lalitha's reflected glory Saroja tries to imitate her womanly wiles, which results in confused ideas about sexuality and ambition. But when the family is faced with a scandal, Saroja emerges with a practical outlook on life.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1973
10 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Kamala Markandaya
19 books113 followersPseudonym used by Kamala Purnaiya Taylor, an Indian novelist and journalist. A native of Mysore, India, Markandaya was a graduate of Madras University, and afterward published several short stories in Indian newspapers. After India declared its independence, Markandaya moved to Britain, though she still labeled herself an Indian expatriate long afterward.
Known for writing about culture clash between Indian urban and rural societies, Markandaya's first published novel, Nectar in a Sieve, was a bestseller and cited as an American Library Association Notable Book in 1955. Other novels include Some Inner Fury (1955), A Silence of Desire (1960), Possession (1963), A Handful of Rice (1966), The Nowhere Man (1972), Two Virgins (1973), The Golden Honeycomb (1977), and Pleasure City (1982/1983).
Kamala Markandaya belonged to that pioneering group of Indian women writers who made their mark not just through their subject matter, but also through their fluid, polished literary style. Nectar in a Sieve was her first published work, and its depiction of rural India and the suffering of farmers made it popular in the West. This was followed by other fiction that dramatized the Quit India movement in 1942, the clash between East and West and the tragedy that resulted from it, or the problems facing ordinary middle-class Indians—making a living, finding inner peace, coping with modern technology and its effects on the poor.
Known for writing about culture clash between Indian urban and rural societies, Markandaya's first published novel, Nectar in a Sieve, was a bestseller and cited as an American Library Association Notable Book in 1955. Other novels include Some Inner Fury (1955), A Silence of Desire (1960), Possession (1963), A Handful of Rice (1966), The Nowhere Man (1972), Two Virgins (1973), The Golden Honeycomb (1977), and Pleasure City (1982/1983).
Kamala Markandaya belonged to that pioneering group of Indian women writers who made their mark not just through their subject matter, but also through their fluid, polished literary style. Nectar in a Sieve was her first published work, and its depiction of rural India and the suffering of farmers made it popular in the West. This was followed by other fiction that dramatized the Quit India movement in 1942, the clash between East and West and the tragedy that resulted from it, or the problems facing ordinary middle-class Indians—making a living, finding inner peace, coping with modern technology and its effects on the poor.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 5, 2015
An unabashedly feminist novel from Markandaya. I already loved her work, and this moved her even higher in my estimation. Saroja is a wonderful narrator, and her often-unusual insights into the world around her resonate. The final chapter drags a bit--and it is a bit reminiscent of the Mysore sections of Nectar in a Sieve--but even then, the interactions between characters, particularly Saroja and Lalitha, jumps out.
Also, the village scene and the city scene Markandaya creates make me imagine that there's an entire rich world here--we're just seeing a fragment. From the beginning, even, she darts around to Chingleput and the Manikkams before settling in on Saroja's family. And in Chennai, we meet Curly, who clearly has more going on than his conversations with a teenager.
Also, the village scene and the city scene Markandaya creates make me imagine that there's an entire rich world here--we're just seeing a fragment. From the beginning, even, she darts around to Chingleput and the Manikkams before settling in on Saroja's family. And in Chennai, we meet Curly, who clearly has more going on than his conversations with a teenager.
January 21, 2022
Just lovely.
Read
March 25, 2013it is a good book.
February 13, 2015
Innocence. Wonder. Beauty. These words come to mind when I think about the story, the characters and the setting. Reading this, I regressed back to childhood. It was good feeling.
June 28, 2020
Brilliantly feminine and unsophisticated in its message, the plot revolves around the story of two sisters - Lalitha and Saroja and takes the readers through a journey as the girls mature into womanhood. The story is set in an unknown and remote Mysore village. The central theme is the disintegration of the rural way of life under the impact of modernity, and the sustaining power of the spirit as evidenced by those who live in Nature.
Lalitha and Saroja’s father leads an austere life of a retired freedom fighter. Two Virgins unabashedly tells the tale of two sisters who, despite residing in the countryside dream high to accomplish their goals.
Lalitha is enamoued by glitz and glamour while Saroja is a simple girl. Their village is visited by one Mr Gupta, the film director. Lalitha chooses to elope with him.
Her family members do not care to search for her. She returns disillusioned and pregnant. She wants to commit suicide. She tells this to Saroja. Saroja stops her from doing so.
The family goes to the city where Mr Gupta disowns any responsibility for the unwanted pregnancy. They arrange an abortion and Lalitha again runs away.
The fraudulent and uncongenial city ends up swallowing the victim who decides not to return to the village where she will not fit.
Two different worldviews have been juxtaposed by the author. Saroja’s simplicity and her delicate straight-forwarding nature bring her closer to the natural surroundings. She has a feeling of contentment when she finds herself in village. Her sister Lalitha has high dreams for his life and wants to become a cine star but loses her chastity and is hoodwinked by the crooked people.
Thus, the novel can also be characterized as a romantic tale of love, life and relationships.
Lalitha and Saroja’s father leads an austere life of a retired freedom fighter. Two Virgins unabashedly tells the tale of two sisters who, despite residing in the countryside dream high to accomplish their goals.
Lalitha is enamoued by glitz and glamour while Saroja is a simple girl. Their village is visited by one Mr Gupta, the film director. Lalitha chooses to elope with him.
Her family members do not care to search for her. She returns disillusioned and pregnant. She wants to commit suicide. She tells this to Saroja. Saroja stops her from doing so.
The family goes to the city where Mr Gupta disowns any responsibility for the unwanted pregnancy. They arrange an abortion and Lalitha again runs away.
The fraudulent and uncongenial city ends up swallowing the victim who decides not to return to the village where she will not fit.
Two different worldviews have been juxtaposed by the author. Saroja’s simplicity and her delicate straight-forwarding nature bring her closer to the natural surroundings. She has a feeling of contentment when she finds herself in village. Her sister Lalitha has high dreams for his life and wants to become a cine star but loses her chastity and is hoodwinked by the crooked people.
Thus, the novel can also be characterized as a romantic tale of love, life and relationships.
January 2, 2014
it was ok ok book is what I felt ....
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews