Pages: 301
Genre: Fiction
Available in: Paperback and E-book Format
The Plot: 20-year-old Nikki is an Indian-born London-bred daughter of Indian parents. She does all that her Punjabi parents think she shouldn’t. She moves out of home, lives alone above a pub she works at, has a mind of her own, and views she refuses to sugar coat. The biggest disappointment, she distances herself from her Sikh community and everything connected to it.
Her father’s sudden death leads her to start looking for a job, any job. At the local Gurudwara to put up her sister’s Matrimonial advertisement she chances upon a wanted notice and impulsively takes up the job offered, that of teaching a creative writing course at the Gurudwara.
On her first day as a teacher, Nikki is shocked to realize that the handful of women, elderly widows mostly, are barely literate or completely illiterate and have signed up to learn the alphabet instead.
Her temporary absence in the class for a while leads one widow to rummage through Nikki’s bag where she finds a book, an adult book meant to be gifted to as a joke to Nikki’s prudish sister.
The discovery of the book leads to a Pandora’s Box opening, bringing out the secret desires, fantasies, and the wild imagination of the simple widows in white. Then secrets tumble out as does the ugly face of the community and humanity. Lives are endangered as are reputations.
My Thoughts:
The bold and controversial title, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows, first piqued my curiosity. What would the book be about I wondered? Then rave reviews of it by my fellow bloggers followed. That is when I couldn’t stop myself from buying the book.
A refreshing, unputdownable read is what it turned out to be.
Balli Kaur Jaswal’s writing is easy, confident, and straight from the heart. The premise of the story is novel. As you go through the book, you also go through a range of emotions. As you are introduced to every new character, you can’t help but pick your favorites and scowl at the ones you dislike.
I love the compassion with which Balli has highlighted social issues, the hypocrisy of people and society, expectations of parents, and the emotional dilemmas immigrants go through.
It teaches us how never to judge a woman by her age, her appearance, and her status in life. This book is also a story of true female empowerment and shows us what wonders can happen when women come together.
You’ll find yourself smiling, you’ll find yourself guffawing. You’ll find yourself blushing and you’ll find yourself misty-eyed. Also, you’ll never be able to look at vegetables and fruits in the same way ever again.
***** 5 Stars to Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows – Balli Kaur Jaswal
My rating chart;
*Use it as a doorstop.
**Read it if you have nothing better to do.
***You may like it if you like this particular genre.
****Must read!
*****What! You haven’t read it YET?!
Ordering this book online after reading your review Mayuri.
— Anagha Yatin (@anagha_yatin) July 30, 2018
The plot does seem intriguing. Is it on the lines of Ratna Shah’s character in Lipstick under my Burkha? The subject is indeed novel and hardly spoken about. Would like to give this book a shot.
I haven’t watched Lipstick Under My Burkha, Varsha. Here the main character is 20 years old though. Thanks for reading.
Seems it has covered the psychological facts with other issues.
A must read one.
I was shocked to read the title of the book. Thought how callous the author can be towards widows? Another thought that prevailed was the fact that its you who were reviewing the book and thus has to be something special about the book. The second thought proved it merit once read your review, Mayuri!
Will lay my hands on the book ASAP.
Do read it Anagha. It will move you and you’ll understand the title. Thanks for reading.
interesting story telling keep rocking
I loved this book too Mayuri. Found it to incorporate a whole lot is social issues, bringing it under one blanket with subtle humor.
I am reading this book currently and loving it! It’s fun, funny and yet subtly talking about serious issues. I picked it up after rave reviews on so many book groups too!