The Space Between Us

Compelling, emotional read!

This book is a glimpse into a world which describes the Indian culture, set in Bombay; a story of Sera Dubash, an educated and wealthy widow and Bhima, her illiterate maid. The story explores the challenges women face in their relationships with men and how the consequences of these difficulties are starkly different depending on education and class. The women have surprisingly similar lives and struggles. Both have experienced love and loss. They have suffered greatly because of their mistakes and because of the misfortune of being born a woman. Each has an unhappy marriage. Bhima's husband has abandoned her after an accident robs him of three fingers and his manhood. He leaves her and takes Bhima's son, whom she never sees again. Sera has a vindictive mother-in-law and a husband who abuses her physically. There are many layers and was a wonderful source of a many layered discussion in my book club, class and culture, struggle to cope, loyalty, abuse, prejudice and much more. This is truly eye-opening, emotionally wrenching, a compelling, engaging read! I recommend!!

Others I recommend, some from reading in my book club, others I read on the side and loved, I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE, PERFECT, EXPLOSION IN PARIS.I, personally, LOVE books that glory in the woman's triumph, fight for womanhood.

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

A twist of fate ...

In The Space Between Us, Ms. Umrigar takes us to the world of modern-day India, a land with many internal differences and conflicts. What she presents us with is the basic class divisions between two worlds: namely, the upper middle-class and the poor. These divisions are depicted through the everyday interactions of the two main female characters, Sera and Bhima, respectively. Ms. Umrigar has deftly created two wonderfully complex women and has given them life. You will identify with and feel compassion for each woman as she struggles in life and ultimately, decides her own fate. You will come to see that there are some bonds that outweigh class and/or culture divisions - that kindness and mercy know no divisions.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and found it to be beautifully written. I recommend it to those looking for a taste of India, interested in great character development or anyone else who wants a good book.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Beautiful and moving

"The Space Between Us" is the story of a middle-class Parsi woman, Sera, and Bhima, her servant. Bhima's home in the slums sharply contrasts Sera's sparkling, large home. The two women have forged a connection through their years together, their families linked inextricably. The story brings into focus the vast chasm between the haves and the have-nots of India, exploring with gorgeous subtlety the meaning of loyalty and of freedom.

Umrigar's language is lush and descriptive but not a word is wasted. She is able to create a detailed world and to place the reader in the shoes of several different characters. A fascinating story carries her timeless message about the need to further question class divisions and the other lines we construct that separate us from each other. A gorgeous novel; highly recommended.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

very enjoyable read

would ask the Anonymous reviewer from March 30 where the servant / worker storyline has been portrayed with more flair, skill, or panache ??
Perhaps The Remains of the Day....pls cite examples...for my additional reading pleasure
Have begun Ms. Umrigar's new novel "The Weight of Heaven" and from the very beginning it pulls us into a new vibrant world. For me, the hallmark of a piece of fiction is its ability to lift me out of my seat and transport me to destinations unknown, and then return me to my seat a changed person....

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Couldn't put this novel down for a second!

Thrity Umrigar has done a wonderful job of bringing the characters in this novel to life. You will cry with them, laugh with them and be shocked as they are. With Bhima and Sera and Maya, the reader gets a taste of life in modern India and the realization of how connected all humans are in the struggle we call 'life'.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

beautiful

I highly recommend this novel. The author has a beautiful writing style and is able to transport the reader into the lives and surroundings of her characters. I definately recommend this book!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A PAGE TURNER

I loved this book. It was both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. THANK YOU THRITY! I look forward to reading more of your work.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I was transported to India!

This is a very interest story of two women whose lives are intertwined, yet so seperate. This novel provides an excellent glimpse into the culture of India, and the complex issues of women all around the world. My only criticism is that I felt the book had too many flashbacks, whereas it was informative and allowed us to better understand the characters, at times I found it a bit distracting. This is just my personal opinion, based on my preference. I also felt there were parts that seemed to drag. But overall, it was a good novel that captured my attention, and I would recommend. Especially for people who enjoy reading about the lives of women around the world.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A wonderful read

I couldn't put this book down. I loved the relationship between these two women and their families and, even though they claim to be so close, the reality is there is a large space between them. I recommend this book to any woman who likes a story about women and friendship--you will enjoy this.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

graceful

This was a wonderful read! I really couldn't put the book down once I started it. The characters, the words, the themes were all filled with such depth. You will truly feel like you are living in Bombay with Bhima and Sera. Their stories, the pain, the happiness - we can all share in this. What a gracefully told story!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of the best on contemporary India

This novel is beautifully written. Umrigar potrays two different worlds one being the world of genteel parsis while the other is that of India's poor and the downtrodden. Although, these worlds exist, literally, a few feet apart, the enormous figurative gulf between them and Umrigar's evocative potrayal of this distance and closeness between these two worlds makes this book an instant classic.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent Read

The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is because I didn't like the way the ending left things unfinished. Other than that, it was a very powerful read. I learned alot about the Indian culture and grew to really love the characters and didn't want to see this book end.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very wel written! A good read.

I love books about other countries and customs and this one certainly covers that

. A poor housekeeper hired by a rich woman who helps her in many ways (pays for her granddaughter's college) many stories happening at one time in the main story.

I hated to finish it. If this author writes more about her country I would definitely read it.

Good story

Captivating read,well written however needed footnotes to translate some of the phrases. At times it was difficult to judge the characters emotions because the reader could not tell what they were feeling.

Rich with detail - won't want to put it down

Where's my sequel, Mrs. Umrigar?! One of the most memorable and gripping works I have ever read...and read again and again. A fabulous, very realistic look into rich India and beyond-our-Western-imagination-poor India. The character development is beyond compare and left me wanting to know what happens next to each and every character. The author paints the character in such detail that each character's action is perfectly credible and plausible. One of Mrs. Umrigar's best novels; among the top five novels about Indian families and culture; and one of the best all around stories anywhere, anytime.

Wonderful

The author seamlesly weaves the stories of an upper middle class woman and her servant together. She is able to give both women depth while exploring the secrets and experiances that influence who they are. A highly reccomended read that does mot shy away from reality or loose sight of story.

More than just a good read

I really enjoyed this book and it painted a very vivid and often heartbreaking picture of poverty in India and the remnants of the caste system. I didn't want to put the book down, but I thought the beginning and middle were stronger than the end. The message it communicated about the underprivileged was very powerful.

Beautiful story

Read it some years ago, but I remember the storytelling and characters' relationships were compelling.

Such culture!

I enjoyed this nove very much. The ending really brought everything about caste systems into perspective. Such a culture lesson that i enjoyed through and through!

Brilliant but tragic

Well written.