The Home and the World (Penguin Classics)

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  A complex and beautiful story about a woman in 1900s India. Bimala is a beautiful married woman who struggles between the traditional culture she was raised to follow, and her husband Nikhil's ideas about individuality, equality, and knowledge. When a young revolutionary-thinking man named Sandip comes into their lives, Bimala discovers feelings and thoughts that she had not previously experienced.
  I really enjoyed reading this book by famous Bengali author Tagore. The rich culture and exot... (show more)

  A complex and beautiful story about a woman in 1900s India. Bimala is a beautiful married woman who struggles between the traditional culture she was raised to follow, and her husband Nikhil's ideas about individuality, equality, and knowledge. When a young revolutionary-thinking man named Sandip comes into their lives, Bimala discovers feelings and thoughts that she had not previously experienced.
  I really enjoyed reading this book by famous Bengali author Tagore. The rich culture and exotic setting of the novel was interesting and well drawn, and I liked the three main characters. The book is written so that in each chapter, all three of them give an account of the story from their differing points of view. It makes Bimala, Sandip, and Nikhil unique and realistic, and it fills in the story perfectly.
  I especially liked the ending of the story, and the character of Nikhil. I hated Sandip's arrogance, and related to Bimala's confusion.
  A very good book. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Feb 18, 2009 at 09:59PM

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  This book portrays the issue of good v. bad influences on an Indian woman with her "freedom" to live outside strict Indian customs. Nikhil, her husband wanted her to get an English education. He paid for her to have a private tutor come and live with them while she learned. A politician, Sandip catches Bimala's attention and she gets drawn into a cause of keeping foreign materials out of Indian markets. Sandip literally worships Bimala and associates her with the love he has fo... (show more)

  This book portrays the issue of good v. bad influences on an Indian woman with her "freedom" to live outside strict Indian customs. Nikhil, her husband wanted her to get an English education. He paid for her to have a private tutor come and live with them while she learned. A politician, Sandip catches Bimala's attention and she gets drawn into a cause of keeping foreign materials out of Indian markets. Sandip literally worships Bimala and associates her with the love he has for his country. He starts to rely on her and mold her like you would something pliable. In Bimala's new freedom her husband wants her to experience she starts on a path toward self exploration. She does eventually realize that Sandip is just using her for his own ends. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Feb 06, 2009 at 04:28AM

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