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The Space Between Usby Thrity Umrigar |
Dale Israel: Typically I either like a book...or
I don't. Having just turned the last page of The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar,however,
I'm conflicted about how I feel. On the one hand, I can certainly understand why the majority of
people on Amazon rated it 4 1/2 stars out of 5. It was engrossing and a beautifully written story
that kept my attention and allowed me to escape and learn something about life. It was powerful
on so many levels. On the other hand, it was one of the darkest, most depressing books I've
ever read in my life: physical abuse, dire poverty, mental abuse, loss of limbs, alcoholism,
loss of children, loss of a husband, loss of a close relationship...I could go on and on.
And while loss is certainly a universal theme, there simply wasn't a glimmer of hope anywhere
in this book. The more I read this book the more depressed I became. I hated picking it up
because I knew I would be confronted with more sadness...would it ever end? Yet, I had
to pick it up again and keep reading because it was so well written. Though
I'm not a member of a book club, I would love to discuss this book with other people
and perhaps contrast it with The Help. So my dilemma is, what rating do I give it? I
understand why most people would give it a 5 but I'm going to have to give it a 3.
This was the most difficult book I've ever had to review.
Rating: ***
Sherri Soriano: The Space Between Us,
Thrity Umrigar's poignant novel about a wealthy woman and her
downtrodden servant, offers a revealing look at class and gender roles
in modern day Bombay. Alternatively told through the eyes of Sera,
a Parsi widow whose pregnant daughter and son-in-law share her elegant
home, and Bhima, the elderly housekeeper who must support her orphaned
granddaughter. Umrigar does an admirable job of creating two
sympathetic characters whose bond goes far deeper than that of
employer and employee. I could not put down this book.
I love books about different cultures.
Rating: *****
