The Space Between Us: A Novel (P.S.) by Thrity Umrigar
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Book Reviews of The Space Between Us: A Novel (P.S.)
Book Review: Haunting...
Summary: 5 Stars
Thrity Umrigar's The Space Between Us focuses on the quiet strife suffered by the main character, Bhima, and the disparity between Bhima's difficult life and that of her long-time employer Sera. The incredible social dichotomy between the two women is interesting, yet sad - Sera considers the slum-dwelling Bhima to be her close friend and confidante, yet she still will not allow Bhima to sit on her furniture or use her utensils. Umrigar succeeds in making the reader feel uncomfortable as the strange (to us) relationship between the two women unfolds. Both women know tragedy in their own lives - Sera, while wealthy, privileged and educated, suffers an abusive marriage and responds to situations with caste-appropriate knee-jerk reactions that are not necessarily in her own best interest; while Bhima has endured blow after blow, landing her and her daughter struggling in a stinking slum. As the story progresses, we learn of the devastating chain of events that led to Bhima's low station in life - a sad, painful situation that she feels powerless to fight against financially, caste-wise, and as a woman. Her beloved daughter, for whom she toils in order to provide her with a chance at a better life, is quickly on her way to undoing everything Bhima has managed to achieve for her. Bhima bears her pain and the injustice leveled at her with stoic resignation, while feebly clinging to hope. As the story progresses, Sera's selfish devotion to her caste overrides her loyalty to her friend, delivering a final condemnation to Bhima and her daughter, and forcing Bhima to realize the futility of her situation. The reader feels Bhima's emptiness - and at times it is infuriating that Bhima does not appear to stand up for herself. Umrigar has succeeded in writing a touching story that explores the sad implications of loyalty, friendship and social standing. The story is thought provoking, vivid and heartbreaking - I think about it often, even though at this point I read it over six months ago. "The Space Between" makes you wonder why certain things happen to some people and not to others.Book Review: The Past is Always With Us...
Summary: 5 Stars
Bombay (Mumbai) is the third most populated city in the world. Umigrar captures its beauty, its poverty, and most vividly its women... Bhima is Sera's servant of many years. They are closer to one another than anyone else, yet unable to ever cross the chasm their distinct social classes create between them. Though they have seen each other through sickness and death and unimaginable grief, Bhima still eats on the floor from separate utensils, so as not to "dirty" her mistresses'. The story is a page-turner, but it is an incredibly difficult story to read; it is steeped in the reality of what Umigrar herself experienced while living in Bombay. The sense is injustice and unfairness her characters face is overhwelming. Umigrar does not write a book about finally getting what is right and fair. She writes about strength of character, perseverance in the face of adversity that I as an American woman cannot fathom. Although it is certainly a story about differences in class, gender, education and religion, it is also a book about reconciling the past with the present. Bhima tells her granddaughter, "The past is like the skin on your hand- it was there yesterday and it is here today. It never goes anywhere." Because she is poor, her memories are her legacy and the inheritance her granddaughter will receive. And somehow we see that because of Bhima's interminable spirit, her legacy is as valuable as tangible riches, and that there may yet be a sliver of hope even in the slums of India.
Umigar's interview at the end of the book was insightful and interesting. The book also includes her advice for aspiring writers. Her writing is beautiful and raw and true... I eagerly anticipate her next novel.
Book Review: couldn't put it down
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book in about two days, despite all the other work I had to be doing. The look into the lives of India's have-nots was enlightening. Umgar's descriptions of the slum were so vivid that I felt like I could see it: a trademark of good writing. Brief character descriptions
Bhima: proud, loyal, poor maid
Maya: Bhima's beautiful granddaughter, major surprising twist in the plot regarding her.
Sera: snobby lady Bhima works for. The one downside of this book: it was obvious Umgar wanted readers to sympathize with her, but I didn't. some people are just so shallow, and it really isn't an excuse if you yourself were treated poorly.
Dinaz: Sera's daughter, kind to Bhima. A cool person. Gave hope to the future of India: with people like her in the upper class, there could be less of how Sera treated Bhima in the future.
Some reviewers who gave this book one or two stars commented on its depressing nature or lack of plot, but I think they need a reality check: not everything is happy, and, sometimes, there isn't even hope. Those of us raised in the United States with plenty of advantages would like to think so, but it's not true. As for the "lack of plot" comments, I would like to know what those people were thinking. The plot of this book progressed in a logical and coherent manner, gently unfurling like a flower to the sun, for lack of a better simile.
Final Verdict:
Read this book. If you're having tough times of your own and are looking for something upbeat, save it for later, but read it eventually.
Book Review: A shallow furrow or a yawning chasm?
Summary: 5 Stars
The place is Mumbai (aka Bombay); the time is the present day. The "Us" referred to in the title are two Indian women, a middle-class Parsi widow, Sera, and her house-servant Bhima. They have grown close in the way of women who have known each other's secrets for a long, long time. Bhima knows that Sera's late husband beat and abused her throughout their long marriage. Sera knows that Bhima's husband deserted her and took their son with him. Each woman has helped the other through these and other trials familiar to women in modern-day Mumbai. So why does Bhima still squat on the floor while Sera sits at the table when they drink tea together? Why do Bhima and her pregnant granddaughter survive in one room in a squalid slum without plumbing or electricity while Sera reclines in comfort in her spacious home?
Although the caste system has been legally outlawed in modern India, it's not difficult to sense its 2000-year long shadow hovering in the space between Sera and Bhima.
So the question is: suppose events conspire to put the two women in the unenviable position of having to choose between their long relationship and their family ties? The answer to this question is a riveting book that I could not put down and that continues to preoccupy me several weeks and several books later. The two protagonists are beautifully drawn and the reader is invited to view Indian society from both points of view. It's a marvelous book you won't soon forget.
Book Review: Extremely thought-provoking on several levels
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a movie buff and find that the BEST movies leave me pondering the characters in them for many weeks after seeing the movie. This is how I felt upon reading "The Space Between Us". I continue to think about Sera and Bhima, the two primary characters in the book, on a DAILY basis! Not only was the relationship between these two women very thought-provoking but the insight into their culture was fascinating.
There were so many times with both characters that I felt the author was an absolute genius in how she explained the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of these characters. I cannot read fiction unless it sounds as believable as nonfiction. This book was/is my favorite kind of fiction; the kind that seems so very real...as if the author has actually written something autobiographical! The relationships between the characters, the feelings of the characters and the dialogue between the characters all made sense! There was never one of those moments that my brain came to a screeching halt thinking "wait a minute, this doesn't sound realistic at all". Just the opposite! Those people seemed SO real!
Being the movie buff I am, I could certainly see this being a great movie!
Last but not least, one of the great things about this book was the suspense; there was nothing predictable about the outcome of the lives of the characters. I will definitely read more from this author!