A Good Indian Wife – A Novel

Really enjoyed reading A good Indian wife, love that a village girl has more class, cultural and guts. Takes her family values to the USA and don't disappoint. Totally related to the facts of this novel.

The story was interesting. I bought this book before I went abroad to my homeland. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I just couldn't stop until I finished.

The book is well written and entertaining. However, there are lot of stereotypes about white people in this novel, particularly white women. There isn't a single good white woman in this novel (well except Oona but because she's the devoted wife of an Indian man and learnt Indian cooking and the language of her husband). Caroline : a gold-digger, not too intelligent or educated, manipulative and let's say it : a 'b*tch'. Her family : a bunch of stupid racist people who won't like Neel because he's 'colored' ! Savannah : Hmm well educated but wouldn't marry Neel because of his Indian origin ! Another bad white woman. It is also sad that Leila would end up with Neel. She's a good woman and she obviously deserves better than a liar and cheater. I wish she had a bit more nerve and left him ! Not a single strong female character in the book. Interesting insights into Indian society.

I love this book. It is easy to read and intriguing as you get to read from all perspectives. Stereotypes are challenged but not in the obvious ways. I hope the author writes more novels.

Great

No clichés. Very realistic. Entertaining, intellectual, original, beautifully written. Exciting story with no prejudices, only facts. Reveals a lot about the clash of culture

This is the story of Suneel and Leila. Suneel is an Indian doctor practicing in S. Francisco craving to marry a white girl but one with status. In the meantime carries an affair with a secretary who hopes to marry him and elevate her own status. Leila is a barely thirty year old who in risk of remaining a spinster as her family is too poor to provide a dowry essential to bag a decent husband. She is English teacher at the local college a job that is considered a temporary assignment till egging bells ring and she can fulfill her true vocation as a woman - that of a wife! Suneel (Neel) comes to India to visit his grandfather and is trap into marrying Leila, a wife that he does want or desire. Leila thinks her destiny has been fulfilled. They come back to America and Neel carries on with his affair with the white woman but never promising to marry her even if he manages to get his divorce from the Indian wife. Leila realises that Nell is having an affair but instead of breaking up with him she displays all the qualities of a proper Indian wife, patient, forbearance, capacity to take immense emotional stress without displaying it. Eventually her display of Sita like qualities pay dividends, Suneel realises that he loves Leila not Caroline, breaks up with her and lives happily ever after with his indian wife and looking forward to the extension of the family as Leila is expecting. This book tries to explain the merits of arranged marriages as a valid alternative to loved ones. And if you have to put up nonsense behaviour from from your husband so be it. In the end all ends up well. I wonder how many young girls in India would identify with Leila. I suspect not many among educated urban crowd. The book is dated but is an easy read. If you have noting else to read give it a go but do not waste your time otherwise.

I loved this book, couldn't put it down. It made some interesting points about the different cultures. I thoroughly recommend it.

Loved the book. Well written and good story. Good for the first book. Looking forward to reading more. Thumbs up

Interesting, well written and succinct book which sticks to the plot without diverting from it. Good use of humour without overdoing it or being sterotypical.

Not bad, but the subject could have been "exploited" more by writing more about the differences in the 2 cultures. All in all a good read though.

Well thought out a jolly good read, highly recommendable.

I loved this book and I got it for a decent price. You can really relate to the characters. I really liked the way that Anne had written this book!