Starting in 1896, the story follows Sivakami, a Tamil Brahmin girl, from her marriage at the age of 10 through her long widowhood that starts when she is 18. Before he dies, Sivakami's astrologer husband, Hanumarathnam, foresees his death through astrology - a weak link between his stars and his son Vairum's. Before he dies, he trains a trustworthy servant to assist Sivakami until their son comes of age and can look after the family lands. During her widowhood Sivakami is not allowed any human contact between sunrise and sunset (including not touching her children), must shave her head and wear white. She does not leave the family home except for three occasions during the novel.
The book covers a vast array of characters but doesn't delve too deeply into why they make decisions they do or more details of their lives (I thought there could be a lot more written about the servant, Muchami and his life). The book focuses of Sivakami's life, her trials, her children and grandchildren's interactions, loves and heartbreaks.
There were many chapters of the book that I didn't want to end, but there were also several that I had to plough through - very detailed accounts of Brahmin life or lengthy descriptions of traditional / religious events and festivities. I did however learn more of a completely different side to India (the relationships between the different castes and the impact of the movement towards independence from Britian) that was fascinating. More amazing is that this is Padma Viswanathan's first novel (based on her grandmother's stories) and that they way she writes with such beautiful language allows you to taste, smell and visualise a time and place that many of us have not known.
It was a lovely novel but I was a bit worn out by the end and ready to read something a bit lighter.....
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