The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi

Synopsis from http://www.goodreads.com/.

From the acclaimed author of A Breath of Fresh Air, this beautiful novel takes us to modern India during the height of the summer’s mango season. Heat, passion, and controversy explode as a woman is forced to decide between romance and tradition.

Every young Indian leaving the homeland for the United States is given the following orders by their parents: Don’t eat any cow (It’s still sacred!), don’t go out too much, save (and save, and save) your money, and most important, do not marry a foreigner. Priya Rao left India when she was twenty to study in the U.S., and she’s never been back. Now, seven years later, she’s out of excuses. She has to return and give her family the news: She’s engaged to Nick Collins, a kind, loving American man. It’s going to break their hearts.

Returning to India is an overwhelming experience for Priya. When she was growing up, summer was all about mangoes—ripe, sweet mangoes, bursting with juices that dripped down your chin, hands, and neck. But after years away, she sweats as if she’s never been through an Indian summer before. Everything looks dirtier than she remembered. And things that used to seem natural (a buffalo strolling down a newly laid asphalt road, for example) now feel totally chaotic.

But Priya’s relatives remain the same. Her mother and father insist that it’s time they arranged her marriage to a “nice Indian boy.” Her extended family talks of nothing but marriage—particularly the marriage of her uncle Anand, which still has them reeling. Not only did Anand marry a woman from another Indian state, but he also married for love. Happiness and love are not the point of her grandparents’ or her parents’ union. In her family’s rule book, duty is at the top of the list.

Just as Priya begins to feel she can’t possibly tell her family that she’s engaged to an American, a secret is revealed that leaves her stunned and off-balance. Now she is forced to choose between the love of her family and Nick, the love of her life.

As sharp and intoxicating as sugarcane juice bought fresh from a market cart, The Mango Season is a delightful trip into the heart and soul of both contemporary India and a woman on the edge of a profound life change.

My Comments:

I like this book. It's rich with Indian culture and  tradition. On one side, "Priya" was Americanise but her root kept pulling her towards obeying the family tradition. I can understand why she kept delaying or unable to tell her family about her American "fiance".

The plot had kept me in suspense throughout the book. Even at the ending, the author still managed to knock me off my feet by the secret that she revealed. The author have pretty good sense of humour too. At some parts I can't help chuckling at the jokes that she slotted in especially Priya's brother whom deliberately avoid the family gathering by giving all sorts of excuses.

To me, this book is a light-hearted sort of book. Not one of those heavy and emotional novel. There is no killing the bride for not being a virgin and stuffs like that. It portray a middle class family where they are starting to open up to modern days influence and even the family Patriarch is not excluded.

A gem find for me from the BBWS 2011.

I rate this book 4 stars out out 5.

Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet by Kashmira Sheth

Synopsis from www.goodreads.com

Jeeta’s family is caught up in the whirlwind of arranging marriages for her two older sisters, but the drama and excitement leave Jeeta cold.

Even though tradition demands the parade of suitors, the marriage negotiations and the elaborate displays, sixteen-year old Jeeta wonders what happened to the love and romance that the movies promise?

She dreads her turn on the matrimonial circuit, especially since Mummy is always complaining about how Jeeta’s dark skin and smart mouth will turn off potential husbands. But when Jeeta’s smart mouth and liberal ideas land her in love with her friend’s cousin Neel, she must strike a balance between duty to her tradition-bound parents, and the strength to follow her heart.

My Comments:

I like this book. It's written in the voice of Jeeta and it have a very innocent ring to it. She is just beginning to discover life and that there is something more in life than getting married and having kids.

The author have put in many scene where Jeeta's character can bloom. There is very strong reference in the tradition and I love to read about the traditions in other country.

It's a very clean book. No inappropriate sexual reference not violence involved.

I would recommend it to young adults.

Monkey Bridge by Lan Cao

The moment I saw this book on display at BookXcess and noticed the author's unique name, I said to myself "I've gotta have it".

Didn't even see the synopsis to check what's the story is about. Moreover, it's cheap at RM14-90.

When I came home I noticed it's a story written by Lan Cao, Vietnamese who left Vietnam and is now residing in New York

The story is about a young girl, Mai, who left Vietnam on the very day which Saigon fell. She was joined by her mother Thanh a few months later. Her grand father, Baba Quan was supposed to join her mother on that trip but for some unknown reason he did not made it.

This issue had haunted Thanh and Mai. Mai had tried several avenue to locate her grandfather. Through this effort she somehow dug up some dark secret of her family.

It's really lovely to read how the story unfolds chapter by chapter. The author is brilliant in keeping the tale hanging till the very end.

The character, Mai, was very vivid. The way she portray the contrast between living in Vietnam and America is real eye opening. Somethings that seems normal to most people could be offensive to others . For example the part where Mai and her mother in a supermarket and the way the cashier summon them to a newly open counter. The cashier meant well, but Thanh thinks the gestures was rude. This is what makes this novel seems so real.

Love it

Sifu : An Unusual Teacher In The Turbulence of The Malayan War by Khoo Kheng Hor

This is another terrific read from the author Khoo Kheng-Hor which I have bought from MPH at MidValley

Story was set just after the Japanese Occupation. Mao Dong Po was just a small child when he witness the murder of his father by an overzealous British Officer who was determine to root out all communist and those who help the communist.

He was determined t seek revenge but even at his young age he knew enough that he had to learn more before he to execute his plans.

As fate has it, they were moved to a new village and subsequently his mother was force by situation to move again to stay with her brother who was a shop owner in Padang Besar. It is at the border to Thailand.

There he come across a Siamese man who subsequently become his "Sifu"(Teacher). The chosen profession? ....Assassin.

If this does not makes you sit up then...I have nothing else to say.

A very exciting book to read. It incorporated some of characters from his previous books. Don't worry. This will not hinder the story flow of this book. To me this is another MUST READ type of book and I love this genre of book very much.

The Four-Sided Tower : Tales From Penang's Underworld by Khoo Kheng Hor

I was blog hopping when I came across blog post by Nightwing on this book.

This book intrigue me. I have fell in love with this author's work since I first read "Mamasan" and later "Taikor". That was why when I was at Midvalley the other day, I pop-over to MPH to look for more of his books. I found two. One of which is this book.

There are 12 short stories in this book. It tells the tales of the people who somehow been 'invited' or come in touch with  "Four-Sided Tower".

It was very interesting read. There are some hint of horrors, humour and moral in these stories.

Stories are told in an easy going manner. The flow of the languge was prefect though Mamarazzi spotted two typo error in the book. It did not hinder the joy of reading this book.

Yes, this is a must read.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Story revolves around the life of two woman who are of different generation in Afghanistan.

Mariam was a harami (illegitimate child). From early on her mother have told her that the life as a woman is hard. Her mother warned her about her father but she still sided with her father more than her mother.

Then her mother pass away and her father was forced to marry her off to a man who is older than her by 30 years.

Laila  is the beloved child of an educated couple. Theirs were a love match and they brought up their children to be open minded.

When there was a war, Laila's two brothers were drafted. Her mother was heart broken and taken to her bed. Her father in turn pour all his love to Laila. He had wanted Laila to have an education.

Laila have a childhood friend Tariq. They are as close as two peas in a pod. one of Tariq's leg was blown off by a mine when he was a kid. Nevertheless, he was Laila champion.

All went well till a tragedy happen. Mariam and Laila were thrown together. Both their fate were link together.

This is indeed a splendid read. Yes, the story was sad but it was not depressing sort of sadness. It's more of missed opportunity type. Lives wasted.

Mr Khaled Hosseini is very good at bringing u the right emotion and reaction in this book. The story have ring of truth instead of fiction.

Kitchen Chinese by Ann Mah

Isabelle Lee is an American girl. Her parents were from China. In her heart she is an American but people around her viewed her differently.

She can speak only "kitchen Chinese" not proper Chinese.Her mother and Aunt, the typical Chinese, are forever pressing her to get marry and have children

When she lost her job and dumped by her boyfriend, she was at lost on what to do. Her best friend suggested that she need a change of scenery and among the suggestion was that she goes to China for a change.

At first she thought it was a crazy idea but when the situation become too pressing, she decided it's not too crazy after all and decide to go to China. After all, her elder sister, Claire is in China and  is a big shot lawyer there.

Hence starts her adventure in China. Claire found her a job in a Expat Magazine. She venture into the realm which she loves - food review. At first she was doubtful whether she could handle the work as her Chinese is not the standard Chinese. It's more of kitchen Chinese which she pick up from listening to her parents and aunts talking informally.

Nevertheless, Ed, the editor was willing to help her out. From there she rebuilt her life bits by bits. She got to know more about Claire. Seems that Claire have turned into a beautiful swan in China but is she truly happy?

Meantime, Isabelle love life seems to bloom too with two amazing guys at her heels. Who would she choose.

Usually, the books that I pick up which relates to China involves a lot of heartache and tears like The Good Earth and Peony's Love. I was expecting a similar type of story for this book. I was surprised that this is not such book

Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it very much. It's refreshing. This story seems to be so normal, in a good way. The flow of the story was smooth and the plot were interesting.

The scene and characters felt authentic. It's like taking sneak a peek into the life of a real person. Ya, ya ..am a "Kaypoh" (busybody). It's fun to read about Claire and Isabella .

People say loves is blind and it was actually so here. There are times when I felt like reaching into the book and give Claire and Isabella a shake to wake them up.

Yes, this book certainly give a fresh breath of live on books related to China. There are just too many tearful books in the market right now. Maybe this will be a new trend for coming books that relates to China. Chinese descendants from all over the world going back to China and experiencing China. Stories being told from their point of view instead of the from Maoist Era.