Before we visit the Goddess

This is the third book I am reading of this author.  This book is as good as her first two books (One Amazing thing, Palace of Illusions).  Being a Bengali author this novel too revolves around a Bengali family with three generation of mothers.  Their hardship, though melodramatic, is the very epitome of the novel.  One mother's resolve will shape the life of the next mother.  It is wonderful that the author has portrayed every mother with their own weakness, battles and regrets that seeps through to the next generation. 

The story set in India, quickly marches forward to the life in America.  Each character has a say through their chapters and we try to understand the many shades which substantiate their actions.  The mother-daughter bond forged in this novel, is very down to earth practical.  Though every daughter or mother loves each other and are the cause of their existence, not everyone has a smooth relationship.  The plight of an estranged daughter is caught very well. 

From start to finish the author does not keep the chapters in any order of events which whet our interest as to how the end will be tied together.  The author has chosen Point of views that are told either in monologues or narrations.  But since the story was gripping enough I did not account if a particular character has been given a particular style of narration.  The characterisation of Sabithri was very strong and Tara's and Bela's were a bit flat compared to hers.  Though there were a lot of
travel between times, the author captures our imagination very apt to the era.  She paints a picture carefully including every small detail.  All in all a very beautiful book capturing the importance of blood relations and the inheritance of talent.