Before We Visit the Goddess
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A beautiful, “deeply affecting” (Kirkus Reviews) novel from the bestselling, award-winning author of Sister of My Heart and The Mistress of Spices about three generations of mothers and daughters who must discover their greatest source of strength in one another. Sweeping across the twentieth century, from the countryside of Bengal, India, to the streets of Houston, Texas, Before We Visit the Goddess takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the lives of three unforgettable women: Sabitri, Bela, and Tara. As the young daughter of a poor rural baker, Sabitri yearns to get an education, but schooling is impossible on the meager profits from her mother’s sweetshop. When a powerful local woman takes Sabitri under her wing, her generous offer soon proves dangerous after Sabitri makes a single, unforgiveable misstep. Years later, Sabitri’s own daughter, Bela, haunted by her mother’s choices, flees to America with her political refugee lover—but the world she finds is vastly different from her dreams. As the marriage crumbles and Bela decides to forge her own path, she unwittingly teaches her little girl, Tara, indelible lessons about freedom and loyalty that will take a lifetime to unravel. Told through a sparkling symphony of voices—those of the women themselves and the men who loved them—Before We Visit the Goddess captures the gorgeous complexity of these multi-generational and transcontinental relationships, showing the deep threads of love and hope and bravery that define a family and a life. This is a “gracefully insightful, dazzlingly descriptive, and covertly stinging tale [that] illuminates the opposition women must confront, generation by generation, as they seek both independence and connection” (Booklist, starred review).
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Interconnected stories of three generations of women across India and the USA. I wish the writing could have been better. I feel like the beginning of the book was good, but not subtle enough ; the middle of the book rushed and stereotypical ; the last third more diverse and alive, as if the author felt very passionate writing it. I enjoyed the introduction of colorful side character, such as the Grandma discovering the new world of thrift shops, the warm and kind friendship with Ken, the colliding worlds of a man and Tara on a trip to the temple... So many rich moments that kept me reading to learn more about them and what impact they will have on the main characters. A poetic ending, which still leaves me with many unanswered question. Could have been longer and more satisfying.
Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a captivating exploration of family, identity, and the intricate web of life's experiences. Through nine interconnected stories spanning generations, Divakaruni deftly crafts a novel that resonates quite deeply.
What impressed me the most about this novel was its exploration of womanhood and its complexities across diverse cultures and historical periods. From the challenges faced by women in traditional Indian society to the struggles of immigrants forging new lives in America, each story felt like a window into a richly textured world.
The characters are beautifully nuanced and relatable, each of them flawed in their own unique ways. I was drawn to their hopes, dreams, and struggles, particularly Bipin Bihari's selfless love and devotion. His story felt like something my mom would have told me about an old relative, such a simple yet wonderful life.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its portrayal of family dynamics and how generational legacies shape our lives. The drive of each parent to prevent their children from repeating their mistakes is so universal, it was explored well in this novel.
Another amazing novel by master-of-the-emotions Divakaruni. Her stories always have me feeling like the gods are watching the happenings of the world with a wry “you just wait” attitude, and this one is no exception. The characters are doomed to suffer with just enough little sprigs of happiness to keep them from leaping off a high building. Oh how I love this writing.
