Hi Ashim,
I read your book soon after returning from India and thoroughly enjoyed it. It gave great insight into life in India and particularly the difficulty for children to create a life outside the structure and religion of the family they grew up in. Heartbreaking to read of dreams unable to be fulfilled because of circumstances. It must have been very difficult for you to even consider imagining you could pursue an artistic dream growing up in your family. I guess this is the situation for so many children the world over where money just is not there to enable children to fulfill their potential.
I was born in 1949 and grew up in the 60s, however life was very different for me. So many choices were available. I am what is called a "baby boomer" - a child born very soon after the war when our parents knew it was important to have lots of children to populate Australia... So lucky am I by accident of birth to be born white in a first world country. I guess parents the world over want the best for their children but this is not always possible.
The characters in the book were highly credible and I found myself caught up in the life you all led with its discrimination, victimization, difficulties and restrictions - imposed and imagined. Such a contrast to my childhood. In many ways yours was a very free and uncomplicated life and I loved your descriptions of places and events. I found the book easy to read with not too many characters or plots to keep track of. I could almost hear you telling the story.
I will do my best to publicise your book - won't be hard as it was such a good read especially for anyone who has been to India.
Regards
Helen Bills
I read your book soon after returning from India and thoroughly enjoyed it. It gave great insight into life in India and particularly the difficulty for children to create a life outside the structure and religion of the family they grew up in. Heartbreaking to read of dreams unable to be fulfilled because of circumstances. It must have been very difficult for you to even consider imagining you could pursue an artistic dream growing up in your family. I guess this is the situation for so many children the world over where money just is not there to enable children to fulfill their potential.
I was born in 1949 and grew up in the 60s, however life was very different for me. So many choices were available. I am what is called a "baby boomer" - a child born very soon after the war when our parents knew it was important to have lots of children to populate Australia... So lucky am I by accident of birth to be born white in a first world country. I guess parents the world over want the best for their children but this is not always possible.
The characters in the book were highly credible and I found myself caught up in the life you all led with its discrimination, victimization, difficulties and restrictions - imposed and imagined. Such a contrast to my childhood. In many ways yours was a very free and uncomplicated life and I loved your descriptions of places and events. I found the book easy to read with not too many characters or plots to keep track of. I could almost hear you telling the story.
I will do my best to publicise your book - won't be hard as it was such a good read especially for anyone who has been to India.
Regards
Helen Bills
