Review: A thought provoking, gripping read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 27, 2014
Making a stand against those who seek to control her, Manasa leaves her home after giving birth in secret to the child of the man who promised to marry her and then forsakes her. Taking her baby daughter to Calcutta she is determined to provide for them both but the only option open to her is to sell the one thing she has left – herself. Manasa faces conflict in every type of relationship she has – family and personal – but despite it all she finds a way to keep herself and those she cares for together as one.Manasa’s story is a difficult one to read at times. Some of the book is quite harrowing. However, I stuck through those parts and upon reaching the end was very glad I had.  It is a powerfully emotive book with disturbing imagery on many levels. Some of the content must have been difficult to write but Catherine Kirby has done an excellent job of it and has produced a descriptive taste of Calcutta and the life of one Indian girl who despite poverty, hardship, abuse and loss came through with strength, fortitude and an open maternal heart to those around her whom she sees need to be cared for. Showing the huge gap between poverty and wealth which exists in parts of India, Catherine Kirby shows us what it means to be Sari Caste and the women who suffer by living with it day by day.Thought provoking and a gripping read, this book is one which will stay with you for a long time.