Picked up today at the Montgomery County, Maryland thrift shop--TBR

I really enjoyed this book about two women who are in many ways closer than sisters, whose friendship is tested by long hidden secrets and unexpected tragedies. Anju and Sudha couldn't be more different in temperament and outlook on the world, but they share a bond that began with the day they were born, the same day they lost their fathers.

I loved the way the author told the story from the alternating point of view of the two characters, and how she wove fable and legend into the plot without quite succumbing to magical realism (which I'm not crazy about). The author is also a poet, and it shows in the lovely, lyrical quality of much of the writing. She imbues single gestures, glances, expressions with sufficient meaning to change lives, but the novel also has a suspenseful and intriguing plot.

All in all, an excellent read.

A simply luminous book...I couldn't put this down. Divakaruni's portraits of the eccentric family, the bond between Anju and Sudha, and the various marriages (happy or not) are painfully honest, yet with a mystical quality. The book is reminiscent of the ancient (and modern) stories that appear throughout it. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I think I'll keep this for a friend (if she ever gets around to reading all the books I push on her!) and eventually release it.