#debaratimukhopadhyay

[thegirlbythefirelight]

As I begin to write this, I'm trying to pin down what this story is about- India's first lady doctor or child marriage? Does it catch the Indian women emancipation movement in its nascent stages or capturing the downfall of the last nawab of Awadh is its aim?  It's all this. Which is part of its charm & also the reason why it overpowers you. But let's start from the beginning.  Krishnosundor & his family leave their village with a promise of better days but life sells them off as plantation slaves. His sister, Bhubonmoni, his two daughters & his wife- their lives form the crux of this story. The first 150 pages pulled me in; the story took off immediately but I found myself emotionally overwhelmed. I asked @pepperandpetals the one who loved this book and gifted it to me, if things get better. She encouraged me to continue reading & I am glad I listened to her.  The story is well-researched & apart from the protagonists there are others who held my interest- I mean, Rabindranath Tagore is practising his poetry & Kadambini Ganguly is studying to be a doctor here. The tapestry is rich with memorable characters, sewn with the silk of the Indian history.  @arunavasinha has done a fantastic job with the translation and I wish @debarati.mukhopadhyay more success with her book. The Indian historical fiction scene is richer because of her work.   Trigger warnings: Child marriage, rape, gender & caste issues.  #chroniclesoflostdaughters #bengalitranslatedliterature #debaratimukhopadhyay #delhibookstafam #delhibookstagrammer #indianbooks #historicalfiction #translatedbooks #indianreader #indianbookstagrammer #bookstagraminda #translatedliterature #alwaysreading #bookblogger #bookishthoughts #bookdragon #2023readingchallenge #readingchallenge2023 #januaryreads #delhireaders (at India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnoYS4Vr1MC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=