My actual rating: 3.5 Set in Bombay during the years 1928-1930, this story of three young women who travel to India for different reasons and form a bond of friendship is a very enjoyable read. The backdrop to the story is the unrest brewing at the time and the emergence of Gandhi. This story brings to light the conditions in India and the plight of its children. India itself is definitely a force in this tale of three women who come to love it, and find themselves. Lots of big problematic stuff here, such as racism and class divides in British-controlled India and the stigmatization of mental illness. The author definitely tries to deal with these humanely, but doesn't succeed very well. The entire cast was a passel of stereotypes of one sort or another. Nearly all their actions and motivations rang hollow in the end.I found the story to be only so-so and often inadequately connected. There are a few unduly tell-y and portentous lines which turned out to have payoffs not compelling enough to justify them. Some pieces of the story were unceremoniously dropped for no reason after much build-up; some earlier unimportant pieces came back into the story much later, also for no reason. I'm not impressed.
I read this book a few years ago but remember loving it and blowing right through it
—drolle
Vacation book, a lot of story, bought on bargain shelf so was not expecting much.
—ColKot
Set in a beautiful era....a wonderful easy read...a girls adventure to India...
—kitkat123
3 1/2 stars.
—pw35559
