Book Review 5
Name Of The Book : Mahashweta
Author : Sudha Murty
Publisher : Penguin Books India
Year : 2005
Category : Fiction
Review:
In this book ‘Mahashweta’, the protagonist Anupama’s fairy-tale marriage to Anand falls apart when she discovers a white patch on her foot and learns that she has leukoderma. Abandoned by her uncaring in-laws and insensitive husband, she is forced to return to her father’s home in the village. The social stigma of a married woman living With her parents, her stepmother’s continual barbs and the ostracism that accompanies her skin condition force her to contemplate suicide. Determined to build her life against all odds, Anupama goes to Bombay where she finds success, respect and the promise of an enduring friendship.
This is the first book that I have completed in 2018. It is a small book and I was able to finish it in a day. The book points to the stigma attached to leukoderma as well as about the plight of women who have to face many challenges with respect to their marriage. It also gives us the message that it is not someone's outer beauty, but their character which we should look at. Anupama had to face a lot of difficulties in her life but she overcomes all of them with her determination,optimism and willpower. We can see a transformation in her character as the book progresses. However, the story is predictable and highly dramatic. I feel that this could have been better as a short story so that there would have been no lag in the plot. There is a postscript at the end which really touched me. I hope that this book makes more people aware about leukoderma and eliminate the social stigma attached to it.
Rating : 3.5/5
Name Of The Book : Mahashweta
Author : Sudha Murty
Publisher : Penguin Books India
Year : 2005
Category : Fiction
Review:
In this book ‘Mahashweta’, the protagonist Anupama’s fairy-tale marriage to Anand falls apart when she discovers a white patch on her foot and learns that she has leukoderma. Abandoned by her uncaring in-laws and insensitive husband, she is forced to return to her father’s home in the village. The social stigma of a married woman living With her parents, her stepmother’s continual barbs and the ostracism that accompanies her skin condition force her to contemplate suicide. Determined to build her life against all odds, Anupama goes to Bombay where she finds success, respect and the promise of an enduring friendship.
This is the first book that I have completed in 2018. It is a small book and I was able to finish it in a day. The book points to the stigma attached to leukoderma as well as about the plight of women who have to face many challenges with respect to their marriage. It also gives us the message that it is not someone's outer beauty, but their character which we should look at. Anupama had to face a lot of difficulties in her life but she overcomes all of them with her determination,optimism and willpower. We can see a transformation in her character as the book progresses. However, the story is predictable and highly dramatic. I feel that this could have been better as a short story so that there would have been no lag in the plot. There is a postscript at the end which really touched me. I hope that this book makes more people aware about leukoderma and eliminate the social stigma attached to it.
Rating : 3.5/5