Vine of Desire- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Chitra has a unique style of writing, Indian touch with a rich vocabulary,a story-teller of our granny's time.

Plot and Narration.

Sudha and Anju are childhood friends. The two young women are the center of Divakaruni’s bestselling novel Sister of My Heart.

1. Sudha- is a character to which you can relate easily. Beautiful, bunch of admirers and suitors waiting at her door-step to woe and marry her, but she chooses to marry a man of her mother’s choice who later divorces her as she traitors to give birth to Dayita her less fortunate daughter, runs away from her in-laws place later coming to America to stay with Anju her Best, Bosom friend who lives with Sunil her better-half.

Sudha depicts restlessness, passion, greed, unspoken anger, a true-misunderstood friend, unsuccessful as a wife, seductive lover.

2.Anju- Anju loves Sudha more than herself. She trusts her and wants her to lead a better life at the same time manipulating her for her lost son after her Nightmarish Miscarriage which leaves more scars on her mind than her body.

Anju depicts the good-will, hope, despair, friendship, infidelity, love which we all seek and despise at some point of our lives.

3.Sunil- He is a husband that all woman dream of. Caring and loving. Earning well.Sunil secretly loves Sudha but was never able to express for the fear of hurting Anju. Now when Sudha joins them in America his nocturnal, manly feelings are aroused and they finally make love to each other later repenting it bitterly. Sunil wants to leave Anju for Sudha.

Sunil depicts our never ending-unsatisfied desires.

Dayita- she is cute, innocent, and bubbly. Daughter of Sudha. Sudha tells her stories, plays with her and wishes a bright future for her but at the same time feels she is a thorn in her life,jailed with responsibilities.

4.Dayita depicts our innocent childhood. You would adore Dayita.

5.Old man- Not an important character but it reminds us that one day we would face this.
Death and Old age. Youth would not remain with us forever.
Vine of Desire as the name tells you…it’s the desire we seek and it’s the desire that destroys or flourishes us.

USP....

1. she has this habit of asking riddles and jokes which draws a semi-curve on your face.

Whats the difference between a soilder and a wife?
Answer- the soilder faces the powder and the wife applies powder on the face. things like that.

2. She writes a lot of conversational Letters which is absorbing and entertaining.

3. Each character narrates his/her own story. you feel like you are listeining to a close friend.

4. Pishi, sudha's grandma lends her annecdotes,remedies and past experiences which wants you to meet pishi-the woman making Til laddos and advising you to drink Ginger tea for a bad cold. That kind of woman.
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I rate this Book as
****/10.

Refreshing and Entertaining! A Must Read for all bookworms and not-so ones.