The Full Moon Bride
By: Shobhan Bantwal
Published: July 26, 2011
Format: Paperback, 352 pages
ISBN-10: 0758258844
ISBN-13: 978-0758258847
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Environmental lawyer Soorya Giri has achieved success in her career, but in her thirties, she feels the desire to have a husband with whom to share her life. A second generation Indian-American, Soorya considers the traditional practice of arranged marriages an outdated and even absurd concept. Despite her misgivings, she is introduced to Roger Vadepalli, with whom she shares an attraction. Soorya is still uncertain as to the value of a marriage conducted as a business arrangement, and withdraws to explore other possibilities in the fascinating novel of culture and values clash, The Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal.
Shobhan Bantwal explores the difficult cultural questions in all of her novels, and this one is no exception. The main character Soorya Giri represents the modern Indian-American internalizing the values of North American society, while her more immigrant parents provide a glimpse into traditional Indian society and customs. The unmarried Soorya Giri collides with that tradition when her parents decide an arranged marriage is best for their daughter. For Soorya, the concept of arrangements makes no sense to her, as she believes a marriage should be about love and passion. An arranged marriage is more about pragmatism, business, and societal standards which leave Soorya repulsed by the idea, despite her interest in aspiring film maker Roger Vadepalli. While he is in a hurry to finalize the nuptials, he faces other inter-generational culture clashes of his own.
Shobhan Bantal (photo left) moves deftly between the cultures of India and America, expressing sympathy and compassion for both worldviews. The very attractive and intriguing character of Soorya Giri provides a crucial bridge between the two cultures, along with the internal conflicts that the vast differences create for her. Modernity offers Soorya the personal power to determine her own destiny, both romantically and financially. Tradition offers a different form of marriage partnership and financial security. The wisdom shared by Shobhan Bantal is that neither culture is entirely right or wrong. They are only different paths toward the same goal of fulfilling and secure marriage bonds. While she focuses on Soorya Giri, Shobhan Bantal recognizes that cultural change offers different challenges for men, even within a traditional society. Roger Vadepalli meets with obstacles in his quest to succeed in a modern industry, rather than the more traditional family career path set out for him
Shobhan Bantal creates a magical yet very real world, where people live partly in modern America, and partly within the centuries old traditions of India. Along with presenting a captivating love story, Shobhan Bantal touches on some very critical social issues. She addresses head on the concept of how arranged marriages can work in the twenty-first century. For the author, if arranged matches are to survive, they must change dramatically to reflect gender equality, and the ability of both men and women to earn either an independent or shared living.
The concept of the empowerment of women, equal in rights and privileges to men is put to the test, with Soorya Giri providing evidence that even matches considered attractive and satisfactory in the traditional sense are open to the the woman making the final decision. Shobhan Bantal understands that as India, and the people of that amazing country become an even more integral part of the global community, traditions and the modern world will both be forced to make some compromises on values, with fresh new ideals emerging as a result.
I highly recommend the delightful and compelling novel The Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal, to anyone seeking the powerful combination of a love story filled with some important cultural issues that call into question both the traditional and modern worldviews. The author treats her memorable and captivating characters with respect and compassion, and provides powerful and realistic character studies that transcend culture, time, and place.
Read the enjoyable and idea challenging novel The Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal, and discover how and why traditional and contemporary cultures have much to offer to one another; as well as much to learn. As with all of the novels by Shobhan Bantwal, this story contains a strong and well drawn female character, who remains with the reader long after the last page is read and contemplated.
**************
For much more information about Shobhan Bantwal and The Full Moon Bride, you can visit her website shobhanbantwal.com and you can order your own copy at Amazon.com.
About The Full Moon Bride:
What makes a marriage—love or compatibility? Passion or pragmatism? The Full Moon Bride is a compelling story that explores the fascinating subject of arranged marriage, as young Indian-American attorney Soorya Giri navigates the gulf between desire and tradition.
In choosing between two very different men, Soorya must reconcile her burgeoning independence and conservative background. And she must decide what matters most to her—not just in a husband, but in a family, a culture, and a life.
About Shobhan Bantwal:
Award-winning author Shobhan Bantwal calls her writing “Bollywood in a Book”—romantic, colorful, action-packed tales, rich with elements of Indian culture—stories that entertain and educate. Shobhan has five published novels by Kensington Publishing, with a sixth slated for 2012. Shobhan can be contacted through her website: shobhanbantwal.com or Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment