The Space Between Us (ARC)

by Thrity Umrigar | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0060888156 Global Overview for this book
Registered by morsecode of Woonsocket, Rhode Island USA on 12/23/2005
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6 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by morsecode from Woonsocket, Rhode Island USA on Friday, December 23, 2005
This novel is sad, but more than that it is beautiful, simple, and real.

Set in contemporary Bombay, The Space Between Us is the story of two women. Sera Dubash is an upper-middle class Parsi housewife who seems to have a perfect life. Bhima is a servant in the Dubash household (as if to reiterate Bhima’s status in society, her surname is never mentioned). She lives in a slum with her pregnant seventeen year old granddaughter.

Despite their outward differences, the women have surprisingly similar lives and struggles. Both have experienced extreme love and loss. They have suffered greatly because of their mistakes and because of the misfortune of being born a woman. And, most importantly, each of them has been able to turn to the other in her greatest time of need.

Although it is a split narrative, the text flows smoothly and is eminently readable. Umrigar effortlessly weaves the stories of the two women together, using the past to inform the present. Her characters are so well written that even when you are appalled by their actions you can understand why they could --why they had to-- do what they did did.

In this novel Umrigar is showing us the true India of today, in all its glory and all its shame. She is telling a story and at the same time giving a subtle social critique. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the dedication, which reads: “For the real Bhima and the millions like her.” As such it is eye-opening. All the characters in the book, including Bhima, have deep seated prejudices. As a reader you are forced to confront your own prejudices and to realize that, just like the characters in the book, you cannot justify them.

Journal Entry 2 by CdnBlueRose from Steinbach, Manitoba Canada on Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Received today in my Cupid package - thank you morsecode!!!!

Journal Entry 3 by CdnBlueRose from Steinbach, Manitoba Canada on Thursday, August 17, 2006
Reserved for LastEdition!

Journal Entry 4 by CdnBlueRose from Steinbach, Manitoba Canada on Sunday, November 5, 2006
Very good read - loved the strong characters!! Sending out tomorrow in LastEdition's mbag! ENJOY!

Journal Entry 5 by LastEdition on Tuesday, January 2, 2007
My very first ARC .. I am so looking forward to reading this ..

Journal Entry 6 by LastEdition on Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Ohhh ... I so loved this book. Right from a few pages in and all the way through. My only reservation was the lack of a Hindi vocabulary in the back (but maybe that has been added to the "real" published book) - as I would have loved to know that they were eating all the time.

Journal Entry 7 by LastEdition at RABCK in A RABCK, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 21, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (4/23/2007 UTC) at RABCK in A RABCK, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

To be mailed sometime this week as a surprise rabck to a very nice person - enjoy!

Journal Entry 8 by wingAceofHeartswing from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Monday, May 7, 2007
received in the mail today. What a lovely surprise!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!

Journal Entry 9 by wingAceofHeartswing at Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Sunday, March 24, 2013
In modern-day Bombay Bhima is an illiterate servant to an upper middle class Parsi woman, Sera. Bhima has worked for her for twenty years and shared in her sorrows and joys. Bhima lives in a slum with her pregnant granddaughter.

Both of these women have suffered at the hands of their husbands. Sera was abused and Bhima's husband became an alcoholic after an industrial accident.

Umrigar shows the unfortunate facts of being born a woman. Further there is the social stigma associated with class. Sera is so prejudiced that Bhima must use her own glass and cutlery when in Sera's house.

Bhima is trying so hard to improve her lot in life and is beaten down time and again. Umrigar shows how resilient she is and how she gets up and goes on.

I did enjoy the story but felt unfulfilled at the end and after reflection realize I just wasn't invested in the characters. It was an interesting story but the characters were 'flat' for me.

Journal Entry 10 by HoserLauren at Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Sunday, April 7, 2013
This book is with me now.

Journal Entry 11 by HoserLauren at Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Sunday, August 11, 2013
Social classes in modern-day Bombay are wildly different between each class. This book gives us the story of middle class Sera and her long-time servant Bhima. The two have become quite close over the years, despite the fact that they shouldn't be according to social customs. They each were married and both had troubled marriages in different ways. They each had children and either have or are about to welcome grandchildren to the world. It seems that despite the troubles they have experienced, they are still close. This novel explores their past and the recent pregnancies of Maya, Bhima's grandaughter and Dinaz, Sera's daughter.

Despite the different classes, both women have experienced more than their share of heartbreak and grief during their lives. It makes for a rather depressing story, though very elegantly written. The characters and their stories draw you in and there are knots in your stomach as they are treated with such injustice.

The only flaw in this book is the ending. There is just no way, given the years of misery that the characters had to endure, that this ending could ever have happened.

Journal Entry 12 by wingAceofHeartswing at Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Saturday, August 17, 2013
This book is back with me :)

Journal Entry 13 by HoserLauren at Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Monday, January 13, 2014
My mom, AceofHearts, passed away from breast cancer on September 17, 2013. Aside from being one of the best people I know, she was an avid reader and took immense pleasure in Bookcrossing, her book club, and reading many great books.

I will be releasing this in my mom's memory.

Journal Entry 14 by HoserLauren at PATH (Toronto's downtown walkway) in Toronto, Ontario Canada on Thursday, September 3, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (9/2/2015 UTC) at PATH (Toronto's downtown walkway) in Toronto, Ontario Canada

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

To the finder of this book: I hope you enjoy reading this book. Please keep it or set it free when you're done. If the book is of no interest to you, please release it into the wild for someone else to find and enjoy. I hope you will make a journal entry so its journey can be tracked and to let me know the book has been found. You can remain anonymous if you wish, but if you join BookCrossing, you are in for a great experience and I do hope you will use my mom, AceofHearts, as a referring member. 

Journal Entry 15 by wingAnonymousFinderwing at Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, September 29, 2015
What a lovely little surprise... found this book resting on the condiment stand at my fast food job and on the cover was a sticky note that said "free book... see inside" so naturally i picked it up and asked my boss if i could take it home with me. am going to start reading it tonight and although i've never heard of this program before it certainly has me interested!!

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