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Independence
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
20 posts | 18 read | 9 to read
"Divakaruni tells the story of India's independence through the eyes of three sisters, each of whom is uniquely different, with her own desires and flaws. I cheered for them and cried with them as they move through the history of their country that is at once devastating, inspiring, and triumphant. You will, too." -- Lisa See, #1 New York Times bestselling authorSet during the partition of British India in 1947, a time when neighbor was pitted against neighbor and families were torn apart, award-winning author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's novel brings to life the sweeping story of three sisters caught up in events beyond their control, their unbreakable bond, and their incredible struggle against powerful odds.India, 1947.In a rural village in Bengal live three sisters, daughters of a well-respected doctor.Priya: intelligent and idealistic, resolved to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, though society frowns on it.Deepa: the beauty, determined to make a marriage that will bring her family joy and status.Jamini: devout, sharp-eyed, and a talented quiltmaker, with deeper passions than she reveals.Theirs is a home of love and safety, a refuge from the violent events taking shape in the nation. Then their father is killed during a riot, and even their neighbors turn against them, bringing the events of their country closer to home.As Priya determinedly pursues her career goal, Deepa falls deeply in love with a Muslim, causing her to break with her family. And Jamini attempts to hold her family together, even as she secretly longs for her sister's fiancWhen the partition of India is officially decided, a drastic--and dangerous--change is in the air. India is now for Hindus, Pakistan for Muslims. The sisters find themselves separated from one another, each on different paths. They fear for what will happen to not just themselves, but each other.Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni outdoes herself with this deeply moving story of sisterhood and friendship, painting an account of India's independence simultaneously exhilarating and devastating, that will make any reader--new or old--a devoted fan.
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review
IndianBookworm
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Follows the lives of three sisters, Priya, Deepa, and Jamini. Entirely different personalities and dreams. It's interesting to read how their lives take a 360° turn with the events of a single night. It's also interesting to see how independence and the political unrest were characters in themselves. It has all the elements to become a great Bollywood movie but not that great of a book actually. I don't really like ending. Just unfair.
4/5🌟

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sblbooks
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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#BookedInTime 1946/7 India's Independence August 2024

@cuilin @dabbe

4🌟
The historical aspect of this book was super interesting. It was an emotional read. I was not thrilled with the ending, am I the only one?

dabbe Got your pick on the spreadsheet! 🤩 4mo
Cuilin I didn‘t care for the ending either. 4mo
IndianBookworm Agree with you on the ending thing! 2mo
33 likes3 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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#bookedintime @Cuilin @dabbe
This took me a bit to get into, there are a lot of names and often people calling others by multiple names at once. But it really picked up in the second half and I flew through it. I liked how the girls own growing up and independence reflected that of the country. I do wish the book had gone a bit deeper into the state of the nation at the time. We are aware of the chaos but it is definitely a periphery idea.

ChaoticMissAdventures It is hard not to compare it to a similar book of family in a tumultuous time, I think this author did a better job making the country and the political unrest a character compared to Independence. Which I prefer. 4mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Overall though I really enjoyed the story, l loved how different the girls were and how they each grow into their own lives, through sorrow and trauma. I think this is a book for people who want conflicts but not too deep. All of the feelings and unrest felt a bit far away. Even as I felt propelled along in the story. 4mo
Cuilin ✅🎉I read this one too. I thought it started strong and I got into it immediately, but then it got a little too dramatic towards the end for me. I would like to read more about this time in India. 4mo
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dabbe Recorded your pick on the spreadsheet! 🤩 4mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @Cuilin I would too, I don't see many books centering this time and place. I would love if it was more focused on the politics and division going on (even if that seems very dark and deep) 4mo
Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures despite its size I wish now I had chosen 4mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @Cuilin oh yes, that one is so intimidating! But everyone who gets through it really seems to like it. 4mo
IndianBookworm @ChaoticMissAdventures @Cuilin Try this, guys! I'm sure you'll like it. 2mo
Cuilin @IndianBookworm Thanks for the recommendations. Train to Pakistan is on my TBR. I‘ll add Midnight‘s Furies 2mo
IndianBookworm @Cuilin that's great😍 2mo
31 likes12 comments
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Itchyfeetreader
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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My #bookedintime read for Indian independence that I really loved. It‘s great historical fiction but also has a really strong family story with excellently rendered female relationships. Following 3 sisters through the violence of independence and partition it was both profoundly sad and incredibly hopeful. Also more thoughts below ⬇️ My copy came from India last year and so is also my twentieth for #readaway2024 @Andrew65

Cuilin ✅ 🎉I read the same book. Though yours has a nicer cover. 4mo
sblbooks I have 2 hours left in the audiobook, and I'm loving it so far. 4mo
Itchyfeetreader @Cuilin I have another of hers sitting in the pile of hopeful reading plans and it‘s the same style of cover to yours. Mine is the India hardback imprint and I kind of love it 4mo
Itchyfeetreader It‘s particularly powerful to read against a backdrop of a terrible crime against a female doctor in Kolkata and the powerful protests on the eve of this Independence Day 4mo
51 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Deblovestoread
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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#Two4Tuesday

🎙️Podcast about books from home
📚 tagged plus a few others

Want to play @Arvena @PageShifter @MariaW

@TheSpineView

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 4mo
38 likes1 comment
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Cuilin
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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#AboutABook #NewToMeAuthor

Reading for #BookedInTime #IndiaIndependence It‘s really great writing and has me hooked. The subject matter is difficult but I would read other books by this writer.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful cover 💛 4mo
52 likes1 comment
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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@thearomaofbooks @Cuilin @dabbe

My #bookspin is #bookedintime and I am going to read the tagged for Indian Independence, this has been on my list for a long time, I enjoyed her Mistress of Spices book.

#doublespin is one I have been wanting to read forever, and August vacation feel like the perfect time The Talented Mr Ripley (want to watch the Andrew Scott tv show after I read this!)

Cuilin My husband just picked this up at the Library for me today!!! 5mo
dabbe On the spreadsheet! 🤩 5mo
julieclair I‘m reading Independence this month, too. I‘ve not read any of her other books, so it‘s good to hear you liked her. 5mo
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ChaoticMissAdventures @julieclair she isn't super loved on Goodreads...... But I have only read the one, andit looks like a lot of us will be reading it so if it is bad at least we will have something to talk about! 5mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 5mo
julieclair I love your positivity! 😘 And… I often don‘t agree with the Goodreads opinions. On we go! 😀 4mo
sblbooks Well, I hope it's good because I'm reading it, as well. 4mo
25 likes7 comments
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KT1432
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Be transported to the days of Partition! Three sisters with secret desires. Priya wants to be a doctor like her father & still have love, but ambition may cost her everything. Deepa‘s forbidden romance may also cost her everything. And forgotten Jamini, faithful yet overlooked, jumps at the chance to secure her own fate with love. They all must cope with death, political unrest, religious intolerance, & sexism. #BOTM #India #Pop23 Love triangle

IndianBookworm Great review! I've been meaning to read this since so long. After reading your review, hopefully super soon.😊 2y
KT1432 It was sooo good @IndianBookworm! The dreamy atmospheric descriptions, but also the violence and heartbreak, but somehow still inspirational! I‘m a big fan of Indian lit in general, but Chitra is definitely an auto-buy for me now! Thankfully she has an extensive backlist I‘ll be diving into very soon! I‘d love to hear your thoughts on this when you get to it! 😊 2y
IndianBookworm I am a huge fan of Indian lit too. And the books about Indian history, be it colonization of India (one of the darkest times in world history), partition, various empires and dynasties, etc are my personal favourites. I've hardly read a few and have so many lined up!🙈 2y
IndianBookworm Would definitely keep you updated whenever I get to this or others by Chitra!😊 2y
29 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AReedCollett
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Next row of my #readinglogsnake is Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. I read this book in honor of #InternationalWomen'sDay. This story follows the lives of 3 sisters from Bengal, India, during the partition of India in 1947. This was a very powerful read. Highly recommend. 4/5 ⭐️ #ARRCReads #BooksandCrafts

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MaggieCarr
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Historical fiction set more than a half century ago in India. Instantly I felt a part of the family almost chuckling as three daddy's girls quarreled with their traditional mother's while being enamored by their fathers heroic stories. And just as suddenly he is dead and those that remain are thrown into the tailspin that sets off the journey of each as they mourn, fight, resist, excel, fail, and regroup without a male head of household.

30 likes2 stack adds
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ashw21
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Independence, the latest novel from , is a historical fiction book done well set during the time of India's partition. This is a story of three sisters, all different from each other, and how their lives were touched and scarred by events around them. I really enjoyed this story on how the sisters balanced their love of family with their own aspirations. This story is so complex and was unputdownable!

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Cathyloves2read
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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I learned a lot about the holy wars in India while reading this book. One of the main themes centered on the conflict between the Muslims and the Hindus. The story told of three sisters who lived during this time. I liked and respected one of the them, but disliked another. The story also told of the struggles that Indian woman faced when trying to get into the medical profession.

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Bibliophile004
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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This book is a historical fiction piece following 3 sisters in the late 1940s during India‘s struggle for independence. Heart breaking but powerful.

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KimchiPiglet
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Wowzers! A beautifully penned tale about three sisters who persevere tragedy by arming themselves with the most powerful of weapons, love. Breathtakingly amazing! 4.5/5

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KimchiPiglet
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Woo hoo! Completely determined to kick my physical TBR‘s gluteus maximus!

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KT1432
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Got some reading in early this morning while my work laptop updated. I just returned from a 3 week adventure in #India and this book is taking me right back! I was pleasantly surprised to see two #IndianLit picks from #BOTM this month, and I got them both along with Lunar Love.😅 Happy Friday!

Reggie Omg!!! I had no idea she had a new book out. I love her! 2y
KT1432 She‘s new to me but I already looked her up and think it‘s cool she lives here in Houston and teaches creative writing at U of H. I‘m definitely going to be reading her backlog @Reggie! 2y
Reggie @lele1432 she‘s wonderful. Sister of My Heart is one of my all time favorite books. And she has some short stories from The Unknown Errors of Our Lives and Arranged Marriage, her collections, that I still think about today. 2y
jlhammar @Reggie @lele1432 I loved Before We Visit the Goddess and added her newest to my Jan #BOTM box. I have The Unknown Errors waiting on my shelves. Now I‘m even more excited to get to it! 2y
24 likes4 comments
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ErikasMindfulShelf
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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A great start to 2023.

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HardcoverHearts
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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Here‘s my BOMC choices. This year has felt very lackluster in terms of options, but I think so much of that has to do with the cover art that had made everything seem so flat and similar. After reading Tomb of Sand this year I am more drawn to Partition stories. And Age of Vice has gotten some good buzz. I know people adore Lessons in Chemistry, my other option, but that cover makes we want to check it out from the library instead. Is it just me?

LeahBergen I was just saying this in a comment on here a few days ago … I hate the North American cover of Lessons in Chemistry SO MUCH that I‘m going to have to order the UK one if I want to read it. 😆 2y
HardcoverHearts @LeahBergen 👯‍♀️ It‘s so bad! 2y
jlhammar I also went with these two! I loved Before We Visit the Goddess so have high hopes for Independence. 2y
HardcoverHearts @jlhammar you have great taste. 😄 2y
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jlhammar
Independence | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
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My picks for #BOTM January! I loved Before We Visit the Goddess so had to go with Divakaruni‘s newest. Age of Vice is getting a lot of hype so couldn‘t resist throwing that in. And taking a chance on the thriller. A couple of good reviews for it here on Litsy so seems worth a try.

Lauriezp I made the same choices! 2y
jlhammar @Lauriezp Yay! Hope they‘re good. Look forward to your thoughts. (edited) 2y
50 likes2 comments