The Rice Mother

I bought this in a lot of 3 used books, all dealing with female characters of South Asian descent. The other two are more fluffy chick-lit and the ones I bought the lot for--but when I picked up this novel and browsed through it, it immediately sucked me into its world and kept me there. The central character is Lakshmi, and we see the wondrous and often frightening world of Malaysia in the first half of the 20th century largely through her eyes and experiences. She marries and raises six children, fighting fiercely for them and facing terrible struggles and tragedies. She is a fascinating character telling her story forthrightly. At times I loved her and at times I wanted to reach into the book and shake her, but she and her world were 100% real to me as I read the book. But she isn't the only narrator, and this is where the book became really fascinating to me. Her husband, sons and daughters and eventually grandchild and great-grand child (as well as a few secondary characters) tell portions of the story through their eyes, adding perspective to the overall narrative and enlightening the reader on portions of the story that the other characters didn't directly observe. Each of the characters had a very distinctive voice and the shifts in tone and narration added dimensions to the story. Although the first half of the book is stronger with Lakshmi front and center, and loses some focus and steam once her grand daughter and great-grand daughter move to the forefront, events and themes ultimately come to a satisfying conclusion. While the story can be at times quite harrowing and sad, it made for a great read and kept me completely engrossed in its world as I read. I look forward to other books by this author. Although I didn't read this as part of a reading group, the additional reading group materials in the back, including an interview with the author and discussion questions, enhanced my personal reading of the book and are worth a look as well. If you remember fondly the generational sagas of 1970s and 1980s women's fiction (early Barbara Taylor Bradford, Belva Plain, etc) in which stories that start with one female character ultimately play out and resolve through her descendants, and like reading books set in lesser-known settings (I think this is the first book I've ever read set in Malaysia), check this out!

This was a great novel. You are immediatly wisped away to a far off land so much different from anything you have ever experienced. At the back cover it say that you should savour this book and readit slowly. I was so in love with the book that I read it in three days and then again.The book keeps you reading. There is never a dull moment! A must read!

A member of my Book Club suggested this for our next book, so I figured I'd give it a try. Within the first few pages I was engrossed and hated to put my book down! I loved how the author used different "voices" for each chapter, enabling the reader to get different perspectives on events that happened to this family. I found myself having wishes and dreams for the characters as if they were my own children. I enjoyed this book so much I'm planning on reading it again before my book club meets. Also recommend: The Kite Runner

I bought this book when I was in Mallorca on my vacation, and I must say this was one of the best purchases in my life. This book is about one family's faith through the generations. How the choices in your life can affect the outcome of not just your destiny but even your loved ones. While reading this book you become an unseen family member of the characters, you share their happiness, pain, disappointment and so on. The book is extraordinarily well written with sophisticated vocabulary and leaves no one untouched. I don't want to reveal too much of the story, you just need to read the Rice mother to be able to understand what a great book this is! I strongly recommend it.

This book took me on an extraordinary journey through the minds and hearts of several characters. The author's writing was so descriptive and imaginitive that I could feel the characters' pain and feel it deeply. As I was reading the novel, and even now after just finishing, I feel deeply connected to the characters, and I loved hearing "their story." As the voice of the story changes to different family members, we get to see things from different perspectives, and hear new apects of the situation. Through every story prevades a love so heartbreaking it can't possibly be returned. There is much sadness in this book, yet I wouldn't say it was a sad book. It reflects the realities of happiness and tragedy within a family. I bought this book randomly and was pleasantly suprised. I wanted the book to never end! I'm truly looking forward to Rani Manicka's second novel.