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A review by _askthebookbug
The Dark Holds No Terrors by Shashi Deshpande
4.0
Actual Rating - 3.8/5.
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| Book Review | The Dark Holds No Terrors.
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"A wife should always be few feet behind her husband. If he is an MA you should be a BA.If he is 5'4'tall you shouldn't be more than 5'3'tall. If he is earning five hundred rupees you should never earn more than four hundred and ninety nine rupees.That's the only rule to follow if you want a happy marriage...No partnership can ever be equal.It will always be unequal, but take care it is unequal in favor of the husband. If the scales tilt in your favor, God help you, both of you." - Shashi Deshpande.
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I finished reading this book sometime in early March but wasn't sure how well I could come up with a review. This may partly have to do with the fact that it was a terrifyingly dark novel and also because of the complex characters that Deshpande brought out. This was my very first book by the author and I was blown away by her honesty. It's not subtle but something that stares right at your face. Another fascinating aspect of the book was the underlying presence of feminism. The protagonist is a feminist through and through and this shines all along the story. Although I liked the book, I can't be too sure if it's everyone's cup of tea.
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Sarita is a successful doctor who lives a comfortable life with her husband and two children. The family which seems normal from the outside, has problems of its own that only Sarita is aware of. Having had to lead a distant life from her parents, she decides to visit her father on hearing about her mother's death. Her stay extends for months as she comfortably falls into a routine that works well with her father and the young student who lives with him. It is here that she recalls her traumatic childhood, the cold shoulder she received from her mother all her life, her younger brother's death and finally, the memories of her leaving behind her parents to marry her husband. Her dreams of having a beautiful marriage now seems distant to her as she struggles to give her husband's occasional violent behaviour a name.
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When it comes to story and structure of the plot, there's not much to hold on to. But Deshpande makes up for it with her brilliant narration. Albeit it's hard not to like her stories, there's a subtle presence of darkness that lurkes throughout the book. In this story, Sarita's character is written fiercely, often making her seem more human and relatable. It addresses mental health and many other societal problems that are shrugged off easily even today. Sarita seemed familiar, almost like a next door neighbour and her affliction towards her past is almost painful to witness. This book is one of self discovery and goes to show it's never too late to realise or relive one's choices. This novel might even seem depressing so I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. But if you truly seek comfort from narration and the power it holds, then please do read it.
•
| Book Review | The Dark Holds No Terrors.
•
"A wife should always be few feet behind her husband. If he is an MA you should be a BA.If he is 5'4'tall you shouldn't be more than 5'3'tall. If he is earning five hundred rupees you should never earn more than four hundred and ninety nine rupees.That's the only rule to follow if you want a happy marriage...No partnership can ever be equal.It will always be unequal, but take care it is unequal in favor of the husband. If the scales tilt in your favor, God help you, both of you." - Shashi Deshpande.
•
I finished reading this book sometime in early March but wasn't sure how well I could come up with a review. This may partly have to do with the fact that it was a terrifyingly dark novel and also because of the complex characters that Deshpande brought out. This was my very first book by the author and I was blown away by her honesty. It's not subtle but something that stares right at your face. Another fascinating aspect of the book was the underlying presence of feminism. The protagonist is a feminist through and through and this shines all along the story. Although I liked the book, I can't be too sure if it's everyone's cup of tea.
•
Sarita is a successful doctor who lives a comfortable life with her husband and two children. The family which seems normal from the outside, has problems of its own that only Sarita is aware of. Having had to lead a distant life from her parents, she decides to visit her father on hearing about her mother's death. Her stay extends for months as she comfortably falls into a routine that works well with her father and the young student who lives with him. It is here that she recalls her traumatic childhood, the cold shoulder she received from her mother all her life, her younger brother's death and finally, the memories of her leaving behind her parents to marry her husband. Her dreams of having a beautiful marriage now seems distant to her as she struggles to give her husband's occasional violent behaviour a name.
•
When it comes to story and structure of the plot, there's not much to hold on to. But Deshpande makes up for it with her brilliant narration. Albeit it's hard not to like her stories, there's a subtle presence of darkness that lurkes throughout the book. In this story, Sarita's character is written fiercely, often making her seem more human and relatable. It addresses mental health and many other societal problems that are shrugged off easily even today. Sarita seemed familiar, almost like a next door neighbour and her affliction towards her past is almost painful to witness. This book is one of self discovery and goes to show it's never too late to realise or relive one's choices. This novel might even seem depressing so I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. But if you truly seek comfort from narration and the power it holds, then please do read it.