Scan barcode
A review by sara277
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This has easily become one of my favorite books ever. Definitely the best I’ve read this year.
Both the writing and the characters are witty, sarcastic and touching, but most of all, empowering.
I loved Geeta and her interactions with every other character, specially Saloni and the other bonobos. Her story manages to be comical, hopeful and very dark while providing lessons on friendship, marriage, community, politics and the impact of female bonds.
Her character development is iconic, and the empowering ending so well earned.
Something that also played a big part in me being obsessed with this book was the sincerity when depicting India. It wasn’t sugar coated at all, there were many hard realities depicted and I think all of them contributed to the charm of the book. For instance, the way the author explained Phoolan Devi’s story through the narrative; making her someone Geeta admired and having gone through so much, I thought she might be fictional. I had to look her up to check if it was a real person and, of course, yes, she is.
Loved every bit about this book. I have recommended it and will force it on others through gifts because this story truly deserves all of the attention.
Can’t wait to see what the author will do next, after this brilliant first novel.
Some quotes, because it deserves:
Both the writing and the characters are witty, sarcastic and touching, but most of all, empowering.
I loved Geeta and her interactions with every other character, specially Saloni and the other bonobos. Her story manages to be comical, hopeful and very dark while providing lessons on friendship, marriage, community, politics and the impact of female bonds.
Her character development is iconic, and the empowering ending so well earned.
Something that also played a big part in me being obsessed with this book was the sincerity when depicting India. It wasn’t sugar coated at all, there were many hard realities depicted and I think all of them contributed to the charm of the book. For instance, the way the author explained Phoolan Devi’s story through the narrative; making her someone Geeta admired and having gone through so much, I thought she might be fictional. I had to look her up to check if it was a real person and, of course, yes, she is.
Loved every bit about this book. I have recommended it and will force it on others through gifts because this story truly deserves all of the attention.
Can’t wait to see what the author will do next, after this brilliant first novel.
Some quotes, because it deserves:
“You know, female bonobos band together to protect themselves from males. That’s not karma, though, that’s just nature, right?”
“You don’t have to love the assholes oppressing you, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
She loved him no longer, it was true, but often the memory of love was more powerful than the love itself. For a short while that had felt like a long while, he’d been her world. But her world was bigger now.