First off I am warning you there are spoilers. Don't read any further if you plan to read.......Flowers in the Blood, is a book that was written over 20 years ago. I picked up this book because of the book discussion next week. I doubt I would have picked up this novel. But, that is why that is why there is a book club. Books you would not have picked up.The story takes place in the late 19th century, in India during the Industrial age. Where Britain has taken power over the countries, for the products they have, in India, and China it is Opium. Her family is very rich, successful, and powerful Jewish family in India. Her father is the owner of his opium business.His daughter, Dina is a 7 year old girl. She witnesses her mother's murder. Her father is away on business. Her mother is carrying on a affair with another man, and is using Opium. They catch the man that murder's her mother, but for some reason he gets off. When Dina gets older, her father takes her to far away places to learn about the Poppy flower. The traveling with her father, and her curiosity about the business of Opium leads her to learn the business, and become business savy. When she gets of age, it is time to arrange a marriage. The tradition is a large dowry is offered to the new husband. But, unfortunately, Dina's reputation is tarnished because of her mother. No one wants her, except one man, Silas. Her family agrees to the marriage. The dowry, is never given to Silas. This the arrangement he has agreed to with Dinah, and her father. He doesn't want the money. He has he's own wealth, he has he's own tea company. He only marries Dina to please his father. Unfortunately it is discovered that he likes to be with men.He feels bad that it has come to this, and she leaves him and goes back to her family.Again, another marriage is arranged. She is absolutely, head over heals over Edwin. They marry, and live outside of Calcutta with he's family. While Edwin is away, one of he's friends trys to seduce her. She refuses. She takes it, that he is out of he's head with taking Opium. They leave, and go back to her parent's home, and live there. He has taken the money of her dowry, and he's money and invested it in a ship. Unfortunately, they loose all their money. They are forced to move to Dina's parent's home.One thing you have to realize is that Opium is legal as you read this. Because as you read, some of the things that are done, you would think twice now. But, in the late 1800's it was legal to grow, sell, distribute, and find buyers.Dinah's father gives Edwin a job, and discovers that Dinah's uncle is skimming the books of billions of dollars of Opium. During this time, Silas, her ex-husband dies. He leaves her everything, a large income, the business, everything he owns. Dinah, has a hard time knowing the business he's father is in. Especially since her mother was using Opium. Edwin for years was denying ever using Opium, but then one day she catches him and gives him a ultimatum.The rest you will have to read your self, how she saves the company from ruin. Does she go back to Edwin?This is not my type of book to read. I love historical fiction. But, not when it is bogged down in facts. I like a novel, that is historical when it is not based on people. I like to read on different places and time periods when I have to do my own research. Besides, I am not the type of person that reads long books. It gets tedious to me. The last part of the book was about the business end and the financial part of the business. Which I was not interested and lost interest. I was getting irritated, it was tedious till the last few pages. Then she tied the string together for a happy ever after.Just too drawn out. The book captivated me for the first 350 pages and then lost steam.
I absolutely loved this book. It was a book club choice and I really wasn't interested in reading it. However, I started it, and before long it was difficult to put it down. It's a lengthy book, filled with wonderful details, and I learned more about the opium trade in late 19th century India than I ever knew I would be interested in. I am very impressed with the author's in depth research of Jewish family lives in Calcutta during this time. The story is based on an actual murder in Calcutta, and the characters are developed around this shocking event. The reader is immersed in Dinah's life as we journey with her from her lonely childhood to her eventual head of a very successful family. We see her being rejected as a suitable wife for the sons of Calcutta's desirable Jewish families, to an unsatisfactory marriage ending in divorce, to her finding the love of her life. It is a book that stays with me, even now. Today I ordered several more books by this author and look forward to reading more of her work.
Do You like book Flowers In The Blood (2002)?
My husband and I read this 600+ page book aloud while we were traveling and enjoyed it very much. We enjoyed learning about the Baghdadi Jewish community in Calcutta, Cochin and Darjeeling in India in the late 1800's; the customs, the history, the relationship with the Hindu population and the role that the Sassoon family played with the opium trade to China. The main character, Dina is a very fascinating figure. We laughed at the Harlequinesque scenes of sex and romance: "his bronzed body and chiseled chin", etc since it was not effective nor necessary for the likability of the characters and plot. We enjoyed the intimate portrait of the events which unfolded in India and China. They were vividly drawn and compelling.
—Shira Reiss
Gay Courter's "Flowers in the Blood"is a well-researched novel about India's lucrative opium trade during the 19th century, and a powerful Jewish family in the business.Based on actual events, Courter tells the story of the Sassoon's family through the eyes of eldest daughter Dinah. Beginning with the murder of her mother when Dinah is a small child and wending through adolescence, a disastrous arranged marriage and subsequent divorce, another marriage and becoming a successful businesswoman in her own right, Dinah's story is universally appealing.There are some frank discussions of the opium trade, which was legal at the time, and addiction, and some sexual situations. Nothing was gratuitous, and the situations advance the story line well.Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction.
—Sharon
