Wednesday's Pick!

The Hindi Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan

This is a charming novel focusing on two different generations of Indian women. The older generation consists of three Indian born women, who became life long friends upon their immigration to the States, 40 years earlier. In turn, each of these women has daughters, who have become friends, and are now adults themselves. The story is told in turn by these 6 major characters, giving the reader personal insight and perspective into each of their life experiences. The book delves into cultural differences, stereotypes and century old traditions from the Indian culture. The reader learns a lot about Indian history and comes to understand some of the differences and conflicts that these immigrants face when confronted with North American morals and beliefs. The author even includes traditional Indian recipes throughout the novel, which gives us a real sense of authenticity. For readers who liked The Joy Luck Club or The Red Tent.