Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee
Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee was recommended to me by Stellascript. Not one to turn down a recommendation that sounded interesting, I promptly put this one on my reading list. I was not familiar with Mukherjee or her books. I now know that she was born in Caluctta and is now an American citizen, in fact the first naturalized American citizen to win the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction for her book The Middleman and other Stories. “Mukherjee’s works focus on the phenomenon of migration, the status of new immigrants, and the feeling of alienation often experienced by expatriates” as well as on Indian women and their struggle,” says Shilpi Pradhan at Emory University.
At first, I was really confused at the beginning of this book. What was this Indian woman doing in Iowa by way of New York, pregnant with a invalid’s baby, and the adoptive mother of a Vietnamese refugee, and who is this Taylor that she keeps referring to? This story began at the end thus we learned how she came to be as the story unfolded. At one point, I finally thought, okay, now I’m into this story and made a point in which to look at what page I was on. Page 70 of a 241 page book.
Jasmine is about one womans’ struggles as she immigrates to the United States in search of a better life after she is widowed in India at the young age of 14 (I think 14, I could be wrong here). America isn’t what she thinks it’s going to be and she has a whole new set of problems. After many difficulties she creates a life for herself as a “day mammy” and feels as though she is finally happy when that too is torn apart and she must create another life for herself. Throughout the book, she calls herself different names for different parts of her life. I didn’t care for the way the book ended. Won’t reveal it, but I’m not sure what I was supposed to do with it or the point that she was making.
Jasmine was an interesting and enlightening read, but I’m not sure if I’d call it a favorite or a must read. You may just have to find out for yourself if you like it or not. As for me, I’m still trying to decide.
In the many years that I spent in US, reading similar books of nostalgia, alienation, I found some comfort in them. But now that I’m back in India, I have completely stopped reading them. In fact I don’t enjoy them at all anymore :). I guess you need to be in a time and place to read some books.
on February 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pmGlad you took my recommendation!
It was also difficult for me to figure out how I felt once I’d finished. (I think I’m with you there on the ending…) I was so impressed at the way she weaves everything together, the assortment of characters, and the way she dealt with their emotions. I think the difficulty in saying you enjoyed it is because it’s so saturated in sadness.
on February 13th, 2008 at 2:10 amI think this is a book that I will forego. It sounds very deep and a little depressing.
on February 16th, 2008 at 10:15 amChica - There are definitely certain reads that appeal to me at certain times of my life. Never have I read so many parenting books.
Stella - I’m not one to turn down a direct recommendation. My TBR is so long now, I surprised myself that I read it so quickly.
Framed - I’m not sure if I would read this one again myself.
on February 18th, 2008 at 9:57 amHmm. Thought about reading this one…
on April 11th, 2008 at 10:17 amI am a sophmore and I chose to read this book over The Color Purple. I am so happy i did. The book was increadibly well written. There was a wonderful rhythm and it almost seemed poetic. It had its confusing moments, if you read it I reccomend you read-up a little on Indian culture. It was helpful for me to know about their caste system, religion, and fudes with other sects. This characters life is packed full of action and there was never a dull moment, so i would reccomend it to anyone who is looking for a riveting story.
on April 17th, 2008 at 8:53 amWidowed at 14 - isn’t it amazing how different cultures are really very different at times
on April 27th, 2008 at 5:01 am