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Salaam, Paris
Tanaya Shah longs for the wonderful world of Paris, the world that she fell in love with while watching Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina —so when a proposal comes along for an arranged marriage with a man who is living in Paris, Tanaya seizes the chance. But once she lands in the city, she shuns the match. A stroke of luck turns Tanaya into a supermodel, and soon the traditional girl is cavorting with rock stars and is disowned by her family. In her new whirlwind life, she is reintroduced to the man she was supposed to marry, the man she now realizes she should have never walked away from, the man who is her only connection to the family she longs to reconcile with, if only it’s not too late.
273 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
9 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
Kavita Daswani
24 books92 followersKavita Daswani is an American author who started her career as a journalist for South China Morning Post when she only seventeen. She lived in Hong Kong before moving to Los Angeles.
Now in her thirties, she has written several novels for grown-ups and young adults that represent her passion and love for the Indian culture. In her books, we see how young Indian girls are trying to break away from their tradition in pursuit of their dreams. She also brings some of her own life's experiences into her books.
She has been a fashion correspondent for CNN, CNBC Asia, and Women's Wear Daily, has written for the Los Angeles Times and the International Herald Tribune, among many other publications, and has been the fashion editor for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong.
Now in her thirties, she has written several novels for grown-ups and young adults that represent her passion and love for the Indian culture. In her books, we see how young Indian girls are trying to break away from their tradition in pursuit of their dreams. She also brings some of her own life's experiences into her books.
She has been a fashion correspondent for CNN, CNBC Asia, and Women's Wear Daily, has written for the Los Angeles Times and the International Herald Tribune, among many other publications, and has been the fashion editor for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 6, 2015
This is a fast read, very much in the chicklit genre but at its core has the problem of how far an Indian Muslim girl should determine her own life and how much she should remain true to the traditional way her family are trying to enforce. The problem is compounded by the fact she becomes a top model and although the supposed baggage of lovers, drugs and a wild life are not true in her case, who would believe that, especially not her family. What is also interesting in the book is the very obvious branding involved in building up a model to be a star. None of these issues are dealt with in any depth but needless to say, I really enjoyed the book.
March 29, 2008
Salaam Paris is about a 19 year old Indian Muslim girl, Tanaya Shah, from a conservative family. She leaves Mumbai to go to Paris under the guise of meeting the man she has been promised to. Once in Paris, she breaks away from her family. Ignoring the gnawing guilt of behaving unlike a good Muslim and to find the her individual freedom that she romantically links with Paris, having dreamed of achieving Zen-like satisfaction a la Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina.
She goes on to become one of the most sought after models in the Paris fashion industry. The book follows her rise and super stardom and her time amongst the rich, beautiful and famous in Paris and New York. Sounds promising for a quick fun read, doesn't it. I thought so. I was wrong. Its an absolute bore.
For a book with so much to play around with, there is no flavor or pizazz to it. It gives no more insight into the orthodox Muslim world than the 2 words themselves "orthodox Muslim". The same goes for the "fashion industry".
For a story that revolves around exciting and beautiful cities, Mumbai, Paris, New York, the book is a real drab. I was hoping it would be full of insights into the fashion world, or maybe some tender thoughts of a young Muslim girl abandoned by her family for wanting to be an individual. Instead it reads more like a Women's Era story. It may sound harsh but there was not a single line which made me laugh, enjoy the moments or cheer for her in her quest for freedom.
Do I even have to say what happens in the end. Like every unimaginative Hindi movie, this too ends with Tanaya leaving her (pretty cool, I think) job for a husband. All that rebellion for nothing! Don't get me wrong, I am not against her choice, just that somehow a lot of books/movies tend to focus and preach on the struggle of a woman to prove herself and then show her ending up with the very life she was rebelling against. As if a woman is only truly satisfied with a husband and kids. The only thing I agreed with was when she slightly redeems herself in the end by trying to live her own life finally and not be bogged down by guilt passed on by her family.
Kavita Daswani tries to pull off a compelling let-me-live-my-life book but it's very weak. I think I had high expectations seeing that she had been a fashion editor.
I would have been better off reading one of the raunchy Shoba De books.
You'll find this and more reviews at http://ireadokay.blogspot.com
She goes on to become one of the most sought after models in the Paris fashion industry. The book follows her rise and super stardom and her time amongst the rich, beautiful and famous in Paris and New York. Sounds promising for a quick fun read, doesn't it. I thought so. I was wrong. Its an absolute bore.
For a book with so much to play around with, there is no flavor or pizazz to it. It gives no more insight into the orthodox Muslim world than the 2 words themselves "orthodox Muslim". The same goes for the "fashion industry".
For a story that revolves around exciting and beautiful cities, Mumbai, Paris, New York, the book is a real drab. I was hoping it would be full of insights into the fashion world, or maybe some tender thoughts of a young Muslim girl abandoned by her family for wanting to be an individual. Instead it reads more like a Women's Era story. It may sound harsh but there was not a single line which made me laugh, enjoy the moments or cheer for her in her quest for freedom.
Do I even have to say what happens in the end. Like every unimaginative Hindi movie, this too ends with Tanaya leaving her (pretty cool, I think) job for a husband. All that rebellion for nothing! Don't get me wrong, I am not against her choice, just that somehow a lot of books/movies tend to focus and preach on the struggle of a woman to prove herself and then show her ending up with the very life she was rebelling against. As if a woman is only truly satisfied with a husband and kids. The only thing I agreed with was when she slightly redeems herself in the end by trying to live her own life finally and not be bogged down by guilt passed on by her family.
Kavita Daswani tries to pull off a compelling let-me-live-my-life book but it's very weak. I think I had high expectations seeing that she had been a fashion editor.
I would have been better off reading one of the raunchy Shoba De books.
You'll find this and more reviews at http://ireadokay.blogspot.com
October 8, 2018
This was a last minute, need-for-fluff read. And it was ok. But just that, ok. The characters are lovely and you kinda sympathise with most of them, but the whole story was just too light. Beautiful girl, runs away to foreign country, can’t speak language, yet manages to become a top model, who still has ethic, morals and principles... right. Just a little too far fetched. Oh and she ends up with the guy who was judging her and her choices only moments earlier. Sigh.
January 17, 2013
Maybe because I'm muslim, I loved the film Sabrina, I seemed to get the gist of the book's message. Although it is very un realistic, the way was written does have heart. It's not terrible, but not everyone can relate to it, or it's hard to relate to in some aspects of growing up and getting married.
I still want to go to Paris one day and have my own adventure!
I still want to go to Paris one day and have my own adventure!
July 7, 2007
Entertaining for when you're bored but it was kind of dumb and really unrealistic because its about an Indian girl that becomes a supermodel overnight and it was just kind of stupid. But I read it in like a day and it was sort of entertaining. You don't really have to think when you read it.
December 19, 2020
2.5/5.
This isn’t that great, but it also isn’t terrible. It’s not really about tradition vs, modernity, or east vs. west, etc., as the blurb in the book and reviews below would suggest. The main character has no idea of self or what she wants, stumbles into various fortuitous situations, and realizes ultimately that what she wanted was a gentler, less conformist version of what she had with her family.
She impulsively decides to live in France with no job, no place to live, no work visa, no money, no knowledge of French, no education, and no marketable skills at all. This ruptures her relationship with her family who view her act as defiance and transgression. She then stumbles into a modeling career, but expresses no interest in learning about the industry, or how to manage her own career/finances, and is not depicted as making choices. It’s more like she traded one set of people planning her life for her (her mother and grandfather) for another (her handlers). In both worlds all she can do is commodify her body for either marriage, or a form of economic independence. By the end of the novel she realizes that the life she has via modeling is not one she wanted - her vision of a good life worth living is closer to what her family wanted than what she is living. She, older and more sure of herself, marries the individual originally selected for her, both of them breaking ties with family to do so. It is unclear if she keeps her modeling/brand career after marriage, but she also did not leave them for marriage (if she left them, she did so for herself).
My read of this text is that behind the veneer of implausible circumstances and kind strangers who do not take advantage of you, the text is about the limited options you have when all you can do to survive is commodify your own body (this is particularly binding for women). While the options available to you can lead to material comfort, all of them are based on this fundamental commodification that is alienating and produces psychic discomfort. The text achieves this critique by juxtaposing her modeling career, her family control of her life for marriage, and her interactions with an escort, all of which are suggested to be facets of the same process.
Other texts that are not as linked to genre tropes like a happy ending make this critique more sharply (e.g., woman at point zero, masooma) but it’s still nice to see it developed here.
This isn’t that great, but it also isn’t terrible. It’s not really about tradition vs, modernity, or east vs. west, etc., as the blurb in the book and reviews below would suggest. The main character has no idea of self or what she wants, stumbles into various fortuitous situations, and realizes ultimately that what she wanted was a gentler, less conformist version of what she had with her family.
She impulsively decides to live in France with no job, no place to live, no work visa, no money, no knowledge of French, no education, and no marketable skills at all. This ruptures her relationship with her family who view her act as defiance and transgression. She then stumbles into a modeling career, but expresses no interest in learning about the industry, or how to manage her own career/finances, and is not depicted as making choices. It’s more like she traded one set of people planning her life for her (her mother and grandfather) for another (her handlers). In both worlds all she can do is commodify her body for either marriage, or a form of economic independence. By the end of the novel she realizes that the life she has via modeling is not one she wanted - her vision of a good life worth living is closer to what her family wanted than what she is living. She, older and more sure of herself, marries the individual originally selected for her, both of them breaking ties with family to do so. It is unclear if she keeps her modeling/brand career after marriage, but she also did not leave them for marriage (if she left them, she did so for herself).
My read of this text is that behind the veneer of implausible circumstances and kind strangers who do not take advantage of you, the text is about the limited options you have when all you can do to survive is commodify your own body (this is particularly binding for women). While the options available to you can lead to material comfort, all of them are based on this fundamental commodification that is alienating and produces psychic discomfort. The text achieves this critique by juxtaposing her modeling career, her family control of her life for marriage, and her interactions with an escort, all of which are suggested to be facets of the same process.
Other texts that are not as linked to genre tropes like a happy ending make this critique more sharply (e.g., woman at point zero, masooma) but it’s still nice to see it developed here.
August 6, 2018
I must confess, I have a weakness for this kind of book where a young girl discover a new world, getting completely out of the mold of what was expect of her. I specially enjoy this kind of book when it comes label as chick lit.
Tanaya, a Muslim girl from Mumbai, just wanted to be in Paris, she wanted to be Audry Hepburn in Sabrina, it was a dream for her, an imposible dream to accomplish, but when her grandfather arrange her a marriage she accept to go with it, stating as her only condition that she will meet her husband to be in Paris... She travels to Paris and meet Tariq, the man with whom she had to marry, but of course the wedding didn't take place... Instead, and by accident, Tanaya becames a super model while, of course, she is dead to her grandfather and mother for going against all the rules...
Tanaya, a Muslim girl from Mumbai, just wanted to be in Paris, she wanted to be Audry Hepburn in Sabrina, it was a dream for her, an imposible dream to accomplish, but when her grandfather arrange her a marriage she accept to go with it, stating as her only condition that she will meet her husband to be in Paris... She travels to Paris and meet Tariq, the man with whom she had to marry, but of course the wedding didn't take place... Instead, and by accident, Tanaya becames a super model while, of course, she is dead to her grandfather and mother for going against all the rules...
August 17, 2023
I just loved this book, and I have come to love KD's books in general. This is another book from KD where you will find yourself connecting with the main character and rooting for her until the end. This was another page turner for me.
June 23, 2021
A refreshing story about a young girl breaking free from her family and stifling traditions to live on her own as a model
October 10, 2016
Fantastic! A quick read with many emotional roller coasters..It's like watching a Bollywood movie but with substance:-)
October 22, 2016
Salaam, Paris traces the journey of a young Muslim girl, Tanaya Shah, who hails from a conservative family in Mumbai. All her life she had been expected to fit into the cliched role of a housewife, learning how to cook and look after her husband. But Tanaya's secret dream is to achieve a zen-like satisfaction like Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina.
She finally gets a chance to leave Mumbai and go to Paris under the pretext of meeting the man she is promised to. Once in Paris, Tanaya breaks away from her family to live her dream. Although she has a rough start, life changes dramatically when Tanaya is spotted on the streets of Paris by a modelling agency. Her life takes a turn when she is thrown into the world of fashion and glamour.
She goes on to become one of the most sought-after models in Paris and soon moves to New York to get ahead in her career.
As expected, the usual 'Bollywoodish' drama takes place with Tanaya's family disowning her and she falling in love with the man she was promised to.
Although this book seems to promise plenty of insights into the world of fashion and pizzazz, in reality, the book is quite dull. Indeed, there are several instances where you cheer for Tanaya and applaud her decisions but the whole book is, unfortunately, not so good.
The end becomes quite predictable, with Tanaya eventually getting married to whom she had been promised to and giving up her glitzy modelling career to become a devoted wife (this was her choice).
Although the basic genre of this book is chick-lit the book has a lot of depth and emotions. Tanaya is portrayed as a strong woman (except at the end where I felt that her character wavered). The way Tanaya juggled her life and the multicultural aspect of this book is quite interesting making it a worthy read.
She finally gets a chance to leave Mumbai and go to Paris under the pretext of meeting the man she is promised to. Once in Paris, Tanaya breaks away from her family to live her dream. Although she has a rough start, life changes dramatically when Tanaya is spotted on the streets of Paris by a modelling agency. Her life takes a turn when she is thrown into the world of fashion and glamour.
She goes on to become one of the most sought-after models in Paris and soon moves to New York to get ahead in her career.
As expected, the usual 'Bollywoodish' drama takes place with Tanaya's family disowning her and she falling in love with the man she was promised to.
Although this book seems to promise plenty of insights into the world of fashion and pizzazz, in reality, the book is quite dull. Indeed, there are several instances where you cheer for Tanaya and applaud her decisions but the whole book is, unfortunately, not so good.
The end becomes quite predictable, with Tanaya eventually getting married to whom she had been promised to and giving up her glitzy modelling career to become a devoted wife (this was her choice).
Although the basic genre of this book is chick-lit the book has a lot of depth and emotions. Tanaya is portrayed as a strong woman (except at the end where I felt that her character wavered). The way Tanaya juggled her life and the multicultural aspect of this book is quite interesting making it a worthy read.
July 11, 2012
Now I did like for Matrimonial Purposes and Indie Girl, written by Kavita Daswani. Neither is the though provoking depths of Vikram Seth, but they were enjoyable stories, with likable characters and a nice peek into the Indian culture for those who were knew to the culture.
And while it was obvious from Indie Girl that the fashion world in relation to traditional Indian values is a favorite theme of Daswani, I have really no clue what this book was about. At first from the prologue I thought it was going to be a look at how a Muslim girl balanced her traditions and religion against the debauchery and cut throat world of fashion and modeling.
But then it simply started reading like small-town-girl-big-city chick lit book with a twist and taste of Muslim culture. But it wasn't even that. The story just meanders for the first 100 pages, and even when I skipped a head and skim-read it seemed to be the same thing over and over. The main character had no soul or presence. Half the time I couldn't even remember her name. Everyone is just an echo of archetypal characters without humanity to them.
If you want to read about the clash of tradition and new world success I suggest Serving Crazy with Curry.
I have to say, Fashion with Priyanka Chopra, the movie did a look at the fashion world much better with a much more interesting plot and likable characters.
And while it was obvious from Indie Girl that the fashion world in relation to traditional Indian values is a favorite theme of Daswani, I have really no clue what this book was about. At first from the prologue I thought it was going to be a look at how a Muslim girl balanced her traditions and religion against the debauchery and cut throat world of fashion and modeling.
But then it simply started reading like small-town-girl-big-city chick lit book with a twist and taste of Muslim culture. But it wasn't even that. The story just meanders for the first 100 pages, and even when I skipped a head and skim-read it seemed to be the same thing over and over. The main character had no soul or presence. Half the time I couldn't even remember her name. Everyone is just an echo of archetypal characters without humanity to them.
If you want to read about the clash of tradition and new world success I suggest Serving Crazy with Curry.
I have to say, Fashion with Priyanka Chopra, the movie did a look at the fashion world much better with a much more interesting plot and likable characters.
September 20, 2015
Well as the story began i thought the protagonist was living in a sexist patriarchal muslim society. But then as the story progressed she wanted to do more than be just a "bride". She becomes a model and achieves enormous name and fame. But still, i guess, it had been instilled in her that the whole reason of her existence was to serve her husband. So she just abruptly leaves her career for a male chauvinistic pig who at one point confesses his love and then the next moment his cowardly act of just desolating her for some weird reason. I get that its important to listen to our elders. But, when you are an adult and have lived 30 years of you life already don't you have a little bit of thinking power of your own? At least to not agree when you know that someone is not right. Then, trust his guts, he comes back to her and actually accuses her for going back to her career? Like seriously!! And yet still the girl leaves her career, yet again. The career that helped her be independent, the career that helped her to not be shattered the day some coward decided that he cannot be with her cause of what his "grandfather" thinks and says, the career that was well pretty much the entire book except the last 5 pages where it suddenly ends. The ending pretty much sucked!
I had high expectations from this book and was honestly disappointed.
I had high expectations from this book and was honestly disappointed.
November 3, 2009
Salaam, Paris centers on Tanaya Shah, a nineteen-year-old Muslim girl living in India, who is about to enter into an arranged marriage...or so her family believes. However, Audrey Hepburn has made Tanaya long for something more. After seeing the movie Sabrina, Tanaya is desperate to see Paris and be "of the world", just like Audrey's title character in the movie.
Under the guise of meeting with her future husband, Tanaya is able to leave for Paris with the blessing of her family. But, once there, she manages to drop her marriage engagement and also, her plans to return to India. Tanaya's life begins to look pretty unrecognizable as she continues to search for the "Sabrina moment" that she desires.
The book had plenty of great suck-you-in moments, but unfortunately, a lot of the plot was pretty flimsy. A decent, quick read...not much more. I really think it would work better as a movie.
Under the guise of meeting with her future husband, Tanaya is able to leave for Paris with the blessing of her family. But, once there, she manages to drop her marriage engagement and also, her plans to return to India. Tanaya's life begins to look pretty unrecognizable as she continues to search for the "Sabrina moment" that she desires.
The book had plenty of great suck-you-in moments, but unfortunately, a lot of the plot was pretty flimsy. A decent, quick read...not much more. I really think it would work better as a movie.
September 12, 2017
Most of Salaam, Paris is like a fine French macaroon--a bit puffy, a bit sweet, with just enough substance to make it toothsome. The end, however, falls as flat as a communion wafer. It's clear that despite the glamour, this is at heart a religious romance, and little more: the heroine leaves her conservative upbringing to sow her "wild" oats (no sex, no drugs, hardly even any rock and roll), has a good time but misses home too much to bear, and ends up back where she started, married to the man her family picked and putting her independent life behind her. The only twist is that the heroine is Muslim, which is not as interesting in and of itself as I expected, since most of her Muslimness is expressed by turning down champagne at multiple opportunities. While Salaam, Paris aspires to be chick lit, the lack of any real depth and halfhearted feminism puts it more into the "inspirational" category.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2017
This is a book which echoes my thoughts. It felt like Tanaya and I shared the same soul. The author weaves a story so rich and interesting that it leaves you spellbound. A beautiful girl bound by the ropes of tradition and chafing against it finds herself in Paris to meet a man found for her to marry, what ensues is the story of a determined girl who will attain her dreams, come what may. She stays true to her faith in spite of all the temptation thrown her way. Abandoned by her father and disowned by her family for her choices, she trudges on bravely till she's conquered her dreams. All because of Audrey Hepburn's "Sabrina".
There is not much drama happening here, no fantasy edge and it's definitely not a toe-curling romance (in-spite of the happy ending). It's according to me a realist's view point with just a bit of embellishment.
If you enjoyed Kangana Ranaut's "Queen", you'll definitely enjoy this.
There is not much drama happening here, no fantasy edge and it's definitely not a toe-curling romance (in-spite of the happy ending). It's according to me a realist's view point with just a bit of embellishment.
If you enjoyed Kangana Ranaut's "Queen", you'll definitely enjoy this.
October 27, 2016
This book was silly. That's the only way to describe it. Despite the fact that it was well-written with a straightforward writing style, it's incomprehensible how dim the lead character is. "Tanaya" (a name that is described by the character as being "Urdu" - it most certainly is not, it's Sanskrit!) is an empty brained girl who dreams of being Sabrina and does whatever it takes to get there, including wrecking her family. What's hilarious is that she has no real aim in life - what's important to her? Ok I want to be Sabrina. Now I want my family back. Now I want to be a model again. Now I want to abandon it all for a guy. What on earth is this? You can't like this character even if you try (and by you, I mean ME), because she's completely unrelatable. Interesting story, terrible execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2024
I liked that she maintained her moral standards throughout, and the book avoided a lot of "overnight success story" clichés. I also liked that Tanaya missed her family, that she missed India, and she wasn't wholly enamored of this new lifestyle--she didn't turn overnight from a shy, obedient granddaughter to a Paris Hilton, or a western-style feminist.
But the movie that makes Tanaya want to go to Paris is Sabrina, so I was surprised when the author didn't give her a transformation. She remains the same person throughout. And I never understood why someone who's conservative, and dreams of living in person, would rebel against an arranged marriage to a Parisian.
I loved the book for the first three quarters, but the rushed ending was a disappointment.
But the movie that makes Tanaya want to go to Paris is Sabrina, so I was surprised when the author didn't give her a transformation. She remains the same person throughout. And I never understood why someone who's conservative, and dreams of living in person, would rebel against an arranged marriage to a Parisian.
I loved the book for the first three quarters, but the rushed ending was a disappointment.
March 2, 2009
This is my "romance" selection for the WBC. I like learning about
Muslim culture so I can understand better where they're coming from and what traditional values have been established.
This book leans heavily on the woman's connection to her family and the choices that she makes to affect that relationship. At some point the woman falls for the man with whom she had an arranged marriage but refused to marry. (Don't worry, that spoiler is on the cover!) It's fun to read about the author's imagined life of an accidental supermodel, which made the rest of the story bearable. I felt the writing was at least as good as any other chick-lit- maybe better because I actually finished it. :)
Muslim culture so I can understand better where they're coming from and what traditional values have been established.
This book leans heavily on the woman's connection to her family and the choices that she makes to affect that relationship. At some point the woman falls for the man with whom she had an arranged marriage but refused to marry. (Don't worry, that spoiler is on the cover!) It's fun to read about the author's imagined life of an accidental supermodel, which made the rest of the story bearable. I felt the writing was at least as good as any other chick-lit- maybe better because I actually finished it. :)
November 14, 2010
Mi sono appassionata alle storie della Daswani: donne indiane profondamente legate alla propria terra di origine, alla propria famiglia, alle tradizioni. Donne che vogliono con tutto il cuore uscire da quei legami familiari che spesso sembrano le sbarre di una gabbia. Donne che si "emancipano" e scelgono, seppur con sommo dolore, di andare a vivere da sole all'estero, lavorare ed affrontare un mondo diversissimo.
Il legame della scrittrice con la sua India deve essere molto stretto, se comunque tutti i libri finiscono in modo canonico con un bel matrimonio indiano secondo tutti i sacri crismi...
Il legame della scrittrice con la sua India deve essere molto stretto, se comunque tutti i libri finiscono in modo canonico con un bel matrimonio indiano secondo tutti i sacri crismi...
February 7, 2012
This is an enjoyable enough light read. The main character, Tanaya, is naive and new to everything, having spent her whole life in India, and this is portrayed well in the writing style. It makes it easy to follow along with her on her journey, discovering who she really is. Whether this is intentional or not, I don't know. It is an interesting point of view - not just a new model but a Muslim model, not used to being any part of that world. I think so much more could have been done with this aspect, though.
August 15, 2014
I usually enjoy Daswani's light hearted tales of cultural confusion and Salaam Paris was no exception, however, I felt it was one of her weaker efforts. Tanaya is an innocent Muslim girl thrown into the glamorous world of high fashion and modeling after escaping an arranged marriage. I think I enjoyed this one less as usually, Daswani's heroines are average Indian transplants who luck into unusual opportunities.
The characters in this book are more over the top and less sympathetic. That said, this is yet another fun, read by the pool summer novels and worth a read just for that!
The characters in this book are more over the top and less sympathetic. That said, this is yet another fun, read by the pool summer novels and worth a read just for that!
September 9, 2007
The story's slightly farfetched. There's quite the emphasis on beauty and the naivety of a sheltered woman coming from India. There's the fulfillment of a dream but the dream seems too much for the dreamer to handle. It's a good story, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't one of the greatest and I wouldn't mind recommending it but it wouldn't be one of those books that jumped off the shelf for me to suggest. It's a story, worth looking into.
January 17, 2012
After reading this book, I am honestly disappointed. From the blurb, I had so many high expectations and in the end I was bored. I kept reading hoping the story would get better, but it didn't. This book was so boring and the plot was overdone, it felt too bollywood; overly dramatic. I'm surprised Tanaya (the main character) did not stop in the middle of knowhere to sing a song. Maybe that would have made the story a bit bearable, who knows?
November 25, 2012
I was really disappointed in the character's so-called religious beliefs. She gave up nearly every shred of morality she was raised with in her new life and when she finally decided to stand up for herself with the guy she was supposed to marry - she completely caved to his ridiculous behavior toward her. It was like the author decided she had to compromise the character at the end just to make sure she had a happy ending.
August 21, 2014
there is the never-ending focus on looks. One is ugly and worthless, or beautiful, like Tanaya, and strong, successful, even if challenged when it comes to sense of direction.
But, then this is a fanstasy. No bearing to the real world or real people whatsoever. I had to keep that in mind and cringed.. and had to ignore the inaccuracies, the clichés, and…well, the plot. The good news is that I was finished with the book quickly.
But, then this is a fanstasy. No bearing to the real world or real people whatsoever. I had to keep that in mind and cringed.. and had to ignore the inaccuracies, the clichés, and…well, the plot. The good news is that I was finished with the book quickly.
October 5, 2015
A young Indian Muslim girl battles against the traditional roles that have been placed on her. She becomes modernized and gains independence, but remains unfulfilled. She travels around the world, but still feels the pull of her family obligations. The ending felt like the conclusion to a cliche Bollywood movie. I had hoped the main character would stand her ground and relish in her new life as a self-sufficient woman.
March 29, 2016
Like the other Kavita Daswani books I have read, this one too started off well enough. Just when I can't take the curiosity anymore, the writer crashes the book for me. The main character is made too emotional and without any depth. At some point I hated the book for making it seem like women can't do certain things or be certain ways. The book also starts to pass judgments on too many lifestyles without needing to. The ending was very off for me. This had such a nice start though!
July 11, 2008
A young woman from India goes to Paris (inspired by Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina) supposedly to meet the man her family has arranged for her to marry. She begins to live a life very different from the one her conservative family would have her choose. I found the multicultural aspects interesting and enjoyed this lighthearted romance.
November 15, 2010
No, decisamente no. Mi erano piaciuti moltissimi gli altri due della Daswani e ho atteso questo con ansia, ma non ci siamo. Intanto scorre troppo velocemente, sembra il riassunto di un romanzo più che un romanzo vero e proprio. Poi tutta la storia è talmente improbabile che in confronto i romance che leggo sono neorealisti.
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