Synopsis of The Space Between Us from inside flap:
The Space Between Us is an intimate portrait of a distant yet familiar world. Set in modern-day India, it is the story of two compelling and achingly real women: Sera Dubash, an upper-middle-class parsi housewife whose opulent surroundings hid the shame and disappointment of her abusive marriage, and Bhima, a stoic illiterate hardened by a life of despair and loss, who has worked in the Dubash household for more than twenty years. This extraordinary novel demonstrates how the lives of the rich and poor are intrinsically connected yet vastly removed from each other, and how the strong bonds of womanhood are eternally opposed by the divisions of class and culture.
Chapters 1- 12 in pictures:
Slum in Bombay
Inside of home
Parsi Wedding
Market place
Food
Family
This passage sums up my reading perfectly:
The generosity of the poor, Sera marveled to herself. It puts us middle class people to shame. They should hate our guts, really. Instead, they treat us like royalty. The thought of how she herself treated Bhima- not allowing her to sit on the furniture, having her eat with separate untensils--filled her with guilt.
p.115
What great photos you selected. I so Loved this one; hope you love it as well.
ReplyDeleteI should have joined in with this one! It sounds wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great review!! i loved the visuals you included. Brava!!
ReplyDeleteI just bought this book last Saturday and am really looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds awesome! And the pictures are so colorful; even the "poor"households display lovely colors. The food is colorful, too.
ReplyDeleteA friend's daughter lived in India for awhile and met her husband there. Now they're living in the states, but my friend learned to cook Indian food and even created a cookbook of her favorites.
I do love that there are pics as well, that gives a real insight
ReplyDeleteThe pics really put things in perspective don't they? There is such a huge difference between the middle class and the lower classes.
ReplyDeleteIn the U.S., middle class isn't all that great but in India...servants are a given for the middle classes since labor is so cheap.
Umrigar has a lovely way with words. I feel as if I am right there while reading the book.
I like they way you did this post in pictures. In this case the saying - One picture is worth a thousand words - is quite true. This story has my attention. I look forward to your next installment of the book.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos. Some of my favorite books are about India so I understand what you are saying about the fascination.
ReplyDeleteHave you read The Blue Notebook?
I'm really enjoying The Space Between Us.
Very creative way to tell a story! The pictures and quote were a perfect review.
ReplyDeleteMy company owns center over in India...and I got a lot of insight when trainers came over to learn certain functions in my building....the classes there are very divided...i like the photos you chose...shows the way its divided! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
ReplyDeleteInteresting you have mentioned A Fine Balance, after finishing that book, I have discovered this one. I'm looking forward to reading it. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! It really makes you want to try to find something to do to help them, but really there's only so much we can do.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through Julia. She said you'd post about the Pine Ridge Book Drive. Just wanted to say thank you in your interest in participating.
Also wanted to add that when I saw the name of your blog I knew exactly what it meant! Not sure why I knew immediately, but I've spent lots of time in Michigan. The UP and Detroit. LOVE Michigan, lots of great memories!
I'm stopping by to see your thoughts for the readalong! I really like how you used pictures to convey bits and pieces of the plot - so creative. I'm loving the book so far and can't wait to see where it goes!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to read this one for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I have to admit defeat in this one. I'm just having the reading blahs right now and struggling to read what I have to.
ReplyDeleteI love how you included photos - I did a couple with my post too- but you included the market which is a scene from this part of the book that has stayed in my mind!
ReplyDeleteGreat post--love the pictures; they really do sum up the story.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and I can see why you are doing the read-a-long. The pictures really bring it home. I look forward to your future posts about this book.
ReplyDeleteI cannot fathom why I haven't read this one yet.
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