"Oleander girl", latest novel of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. This book has about 300 pages.
This is the story of a girl called Korobi derived from Bengali word for Oleander (कण्हेर or कणेर), a flower bearing poisonous plant.
Korobi, an orphan, is raised by her maternal grand parents. They are one of the important khandans in Kolkata. Korobi shares a special bond with her stubborn grandfather. She is engaged to Rajat, who comes from a rich family that owns art galleries in Kolkata and America.
Her grandfather suffers a heart attack on the day of her engagement and dies, thereby releasing her grandmother from the oath of secrecy. When Korobi learns the secret, her world turns upside down. She doesn't know who to trust and embarks on a quest to America.
What was the secret? Why is she confused? Why does she go to America? Why everyone is trying to discourage her from traveling? How will she raise money? What will she face in America? Will she get what she desires? What realization dawns on her? Can she digest the shock? Will her love stand test of time? Will Rajat go back to his old flame?
Author has shown the differences and similarities between Korobi's family and Rajat's family, between India and America, between the nuovo-rich and the khandani's. The pendulum in Korobi's mind, how she is torn between two lives, how she wants both and almost loses both.
Korobi demonstrates the qualities of Oleander, fragrant & beautiful but sturdy and capable of taking care of herself in hostile surroundings. Exactly what her mother wanted her to be.
Author has shown her versatility in portraying emotions and action in traditional Indian as well as American surroundings. Some of the things in the book look either unrealistic or probably they lack the requisite justification like the financial status of Korobi's grandfather or Bose's, Korobi's America attraction, personality change of Bhattacharya etc.
Apart from these, the book keeps you interested, although you can guess the end. This book is not a thriller. It's a family drama but it had enough twists, excitement and emotions to hook the reader.
A good book. Recommend reading.
Thanks Mandar.
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