"Mango cheeks, Metal teeth" by Aruna Nambiar. This book is published by Tranquebar in 2013 and has 233 pages.
Geetha, a teenager, goes to Ambalakunnu near Trivendrum, Kerala in 1940s. This year is different than previous years. She has fights with her cousins and siblings. She befriends the house hold staff, does unconventional things and witnesses something that changes her point of view.
What adventures does she do? What does she witness? How does it change her? Is she justified in her way of thinking?
It's a long winding story of Nair house hold, the staff, their interrelations, marriage of daughter if one of the former staff, friendship, sibling fights and scandals.
Geetha goes to vacation as a girl, but returns mostly mature with some pre conceived notions. It's 'coming of age' story without any amorous relationship for the protagonist.
The story has many characters. Each with its own characteristics. Nair family matriarch and patriarch with six children, their spouses and their children. Four- five household staff. Two other families in the village that are going to be unified by marriage. It would have gotten confusing as to who's who, had the author not provided three family trees at the beginning of the book consisting of 33 characters.
For a large part, about 70% of the book, the story drags on and on. Gradually it becomes a torture. I was tempted to abandon, but some how I managed not to. It resulted in one month to complete this book. However the story picks up in last 30% where a number of things happen. Suddenly the reader wakes up, sits up and take notice.
The book is neither exciting nor enticing.
Why did I read this book? The title.
What I didn't like? The high price and disproportional return.
What did I like? Depiction of Kerala village.
Give it a miss.
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