Thrity Umrigar brings the reader into the life of women in modern day India, wealthy and poor, which is such a huge contrast to the modern day lives of women in America.

An interesting story of two Indian women in different classes, how their lives intersect, the problems they both have and the events that fate hands them and how they deal with it. Very compelling and deftly written. Good for discussion.

Subject difficult at times but a wonderfully written book. We're looking forward to reading more by this author.

Was not a happy book, but had a lot of points for discussion.

Beautifully written. Thought provoking because it describes a life, a culture and moral values in India that are very different to our way of life and thinking yet at the same time eerily similar

Set in contemporary Bombay, Umrigar's second novel (Bombay Time, 2001) is an affecting portrait of a woman and her maid, whose lives, despite class disparity, are equally heartbreaking. Though Bhima has worked for the Dubash family for decades and is coyly referred to as "one of the family," she nonetheless is forbidden from sitting on the furniture and must use her own utensils while eating. For years, Sera blamed these humiliating boundaries on her husband Feroz, but now that he's dead and she's lady of the house, the two women still share afternoon tea and sympathy with Sera perched on a chair and Bhima squatting before her. Bhima is grateful for Sera, for the steady employment, for what she deems friendship and, mostly, for the patronage Sera shows Bhima's granddaughter Maya. Orphaned as a child when her parents died of AIDS, Bhima raised Maya and Sera saw to her education. Now in college, Maya's future is like a miracle to the illiterate Bhima-her degree will take them out of the oppressive Bombay slums, guaranteeing Maya a life away from servitude. But in a cruel mirror of Sera's happiness-her only child Dinaz is expecting her first baby-Bhima finds that Maya is pregnant, has quit school and won't name the child's father. As the situation builds to a crisis point, both women reflect on the sorrows of their lives. While Bhima was born into a life of poverty and insurmountable obstacles, Sera's privileged upbringing didn't save her from a husband who beat her and a mother-in-law who tormented her. And while Bhima's marriage begins blissfully, an industrial accident leaves her husband maimed and an alcoholic. He finally deserts her, but not before he bankrupts the family and kidnapstheir son. Though Bhima and Sera believe they are mutually devoted, soon decades of confidences are thrown up against the far older rules of the class game. A subtle, elegant analysis of class and power. Umrigar transcends the specifics of two Bombay women and creates a novel that quietly roars against tyranny.
I did like this book....well written but there were spots that were a bit slow and agree with most reviewers that the ending left something to be desired.

"Blood is thicker than water"
In spite of Sera's helping Bhima all through, when ti came to a point when she had to choose between believing Bhima or her s-in-law, she chose family. And was wrong.
Shame shame
all in all, a gripping page turner.

This is such a beautifully written book. It centers around the life of Bhima, an old grandmother of low class in India. The story provides much insight into the lives of women in India and how class differences shape their world. #opencanonbookclub