Sister Of My Heart

Sometimes a book comes along that is absolutely exquisite. Divakaruni's novel is one of those. The story is of the deep and abiding love and devotion between two girls who grow to womanhood in the same household. Beyond that, it explores the complexities of women's emotions and relationships with each other and those they love. Point of view switches back and forth between the two main characters but the reader is never confused about whose voice we are hearing. We see through their thoughts the conflicts, the sacrifices, and most importantly the life-long connection binding them together across time and oceans. I thought at first the book might be somewhat predictable but I found that it had the power to surprise me with wonder throughout. I do not lightly give 5 stars but this such a beautiful novel it deserves every one. The language is lyrical and contemplative but always intensely real and true to each of these young women.

This book is a continuation of my love affair with Indian literature. Divakaruni delivers in a sublime fashion, developing a story that is rich not only in Indian setting, culture & lifestyle, but also in multi-dimensional characters whose strengths and weaknesses are understandable and relatable. How many young women, growing up in a generation rife with privilege and (Western) influence, do not seek to find their own places in the world, even if it means stretching (perhaps to the breaking point) the constraints, cultural requirements (and even taboos) of previous generations. Anju & Sudha both try to do this in their own ways, and yet, when they are faced with making a decision to pursue happiness, they find the personal cost too great.

In some ways, I found both of these women ridiculously frustrating. I thought Sudha was weak and selfish. I I thought Anju was rebellious and smart-alecky. That Sudha would not allow herself the happiness of marriage to her only love was something that made me nearly scream in frustration...until (at the end) he proved to be unworthy. That Anju followed through on an arranged marriage when she learned her betrothed loved someone else equally frustrated me...because he was untrustworthy and she knew it. In the end both of their lives were nearly shattered by these decisions. And yet, it was very obvious that these (naive) decisions were (eventually) the catalysts that gave them strength to change their lives...to protect their loved ones, to reconnect with each other, and to allow for understanding and forgiveness to take root and grow.

Reading this a second time for a book club. Equally disappointed this time. India is portrayed as dark, mystic and exotic. A very cliched picture. The "dark" secret is revealed early on in the book with no follow up except almost as an afterthought. The two main characters are shown as modern and rebellious, each in her own way, till they get married and turn into the universally portrayed Indian wife, an embodiment of obedience.
They have a ruby the size of an ostrich egg (or bigger) but won't even try to sell it. Instead they marry off the daughters right after high school in what turn out to be predictably unsuitable marriages.
I would recommend Amitav Ghosh (some of his books) or Vikram Seth if you want to read about India.

This beautifully written book is the story of two young women who are born on the same day, in the same home, to newly widowed mothers. The women are cousins, but grow up with a bond that makes them linked like sisters. The two have very different lives, as Anju, the witty and smart one, is truly a member of the Chaterjee family(a family of wealth and privilege), where as Sudha, the beautiful one, is a distant cousin. The story of how Sudha came to be, and who her father really is, is one of the many sub-stories that weaves its way into this intricately developed book.
This book is about love, relationships, and about the fragility of life. It is also about things not always being what they seem. For Anju and Sudha are both forced to enter into arranged marriages. Poor Sudha's heart belongs to a man she met only once but was instantly drawn to, as he was to her. And the man she is led to marry answers none of her prayers. He is tied to his mother whom Sudha is never able to please. That story develops in ways I do not want to give away, but Sudha's character is one of strength and conviction.
Anju is set with a man who she is instantly taken by, and at first he is taken by her, until he meets Sudha. He lives in America, and in time Anju leaves India to become an American wife as well. The complexities of the relationship between Anju and her husband Sunil are never quite revealed, leaving the reader to imagine what is truly going on. However, the tension is obvious, and Anju always remembers the way Sunil looked at her cousin with longing.
Years pass and so do experiences, and Anju and Sudha do not share how they truly feel through letters or phone conversations until finally Anju truly needs her. Sudha's marriage does not quite go as planned, and he life takes unexpected twists and turns. As does Anju's. Ultimately leading them back into each other's arms and hearts.
But can things ever be the same? This is basically where we are left, and then it is time to go on to the sequel!!! Fortunately I have it and cannot wait to dive into it. Ms. Divakaruni is an incredible writer who delves deep into the construct of human relationships and of the heart. This book is a treat, amazingly written and with a beautifully story of friendship and love.
I highly recommend it.

This story of two "sisters" growing up in a crumbling, traditional Indian household, sheltered from the modern world around them, is a real page turner. Divakaruni creates a world of 5 women, the three older ones widowed, the two younger about to embark on marriage, in tiny detail--we experience the food they eat, the lushness of the overgrown garden, the delicate saris, the dust of the streets, the giddy passion of first love and strength of real love. The plot, concerning several dark family secrets, is riveting in its many twists and turns. The relationship of the sisters is beautifully drawn.
From a cultural standpoint, the picture of a world where women's lives are so totally dictated by their relationship to a man is fascinating. We all know of arranged marriages, but equally important is the power a mother-in-law wields over her new daughter, not to mention her son. No aspect of the newly married couple's lives are beyond her influence, from dress to family visits to travel to childbearing. And even in modern India among middle class people, the weight of tradition in valuing sons over daughters is enough to ruin lives.
The plot may be a bit fanciful in spots and one can quarrel with the choices some of the characters make, as well as the feminist sentiments that suddenly start to drive the sisters' actions. But the story is wonderful--the scene where Sudha wakes her sister from the depths of despair and depression with a story, reminiscent of their childhood, moved me to tears. This one is well worth your while!

This is a wonderful book about the bonds between women, young and old. First, let me say that this is an excellent book, and I will read more by this author! She has a gift for writing with feeling and her use of adjectives makes the reader actually "sense" and "smell" India. Great book!
Anju and Sudah are girls that were born on the same day to mothers that just received horrible news about their husbands and then went into premature labor.
The 2 girls grow up closer than sisters and have a secret sense between them, very similar to identical twins. As the girls grown up, one of them moves to the USA and becomes more "Americanized" while the other stays in India and holds on to the "old traditions". A lot changes, but their love and bond between them stays strong.
I highly recommend reading this book. It will be enjoyed and easily relatable by any woman. The interaction of grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and aunts is wonderful to read and watch.
There is a nice little surprise in the story to give it a touch of suspense and wonder.
Arranged marriages and life's circumstances test the connection between Sudha and Anju, which keeps the reader thoroughly engrossed.
This is a novel that can not be put down, once you start reading. SISTER OF MY HEART is a treat to read and a story not easily forgotten. These characters will stay with you for a long time.
Don't pass up the chance to read a terrific book like this!

I read "Mistress of Spices" which introduced me to Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's work. Then I got a recommendation from another Indian author to read "Sister of My Heart." That was a good deed, (Thanks, Sharon) because I loved this novel, too.
The plot is very intricate and full of surprises. Sudha and Anju are two girls born in the same house on the same day, to different mothers, and from different fathers. Their fates are thereafter intertwined, and the two girls consider themselves sisters, if not actually twins. But their fates ultimately diverge--or do they?
Author Divakaruni can create surprise with a single word or short phrase. Her introduction of the word "ruby" in the first chapters stands out on the page as if it were a loud trumpet call. Her use of small, well-chosen words at JUST the right time can wake you up. Pay attention, something very interesting is about to happen. I just love that! And, just like Mistress of Spices, the author knows how to mix a fable or fairy-tale like story with an everyday drama. I love that, too.
This is one novel you should not miss if you love Indian fiction, if you love women's fiction (for any woman can enjoy this, I think) and if you loved Mistress of Spices.

The person who recommended this book to me described it as "Delicious". Having savoured the lyrical and enormously entertaining writing style of Ms. Divakaruni, "delicious" is an excellent description! Entertwined in this powerful story is so much wisdom and so many lessons to live by, not to mention an eye-opening introduction to Indian culture. We are allowed to look into the world of Ms. Divakaruni with all its warts; with its arranged marriages and lack of respect for females; with its caste system and dowries and all else that we find "unusual" if not downright appalling; yet we come away with a feeling that love always wins out, and in the final analysis is the only thing that matters.

I actually borrowed this book from the library, but I was so impressed that I will order it immediately for my home library. I'll also recommend it to all the serious readers I know! It's just that good!!

Wonderful, wonderful book! The best I've read all year, and probably since a long time, even from my go-to authors.
Divakaruni's prose is gorgeous without being ostentatious, flowing without bogging down, and imploring the readers to engage with the characters without trying to pull pity from them. The story is extremely well-written, and the narrator for the audiobook, Julia Whelan always wins me over with whatever she reads.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants a heartfelt story without the typical cliches!

Though it may not be the most remarkably compelling book you will ever read, you will enjoy the lushness of Divakaruni's writing. And do not rush to judgment about the characters. After you have finished the book, savor them a bit and let the qualities of each of them emerge. You may find that your initial conclusions of each of the characters changes a bit. Though there are some contrivances in the text, there are not many. My college students were most unhappy that several loose ends were not resolved, but they loved being able to comtemplate what happens after the end of the story. The book gives you some wonderful insight into the relationships and situations of somewhat contempoary Indian women, and may encourage you to read other such novels to compare the India Divakaruni presents to that of other Indian women writers.

Sister of My Heart was recommended to me by several people in my Book Club, and it came with brilliant reviews. Once I started it I could understand why. It was so eloquent, and beautifully written. I found myself reading for hours just absorbing the surroundings when I had meant to only read for a bit.
The author's review of Indian culture, both in India and in the US is full of insight. Many things that are not privy to non-Indians are made known to the reader. It is both a lesson and a wonderful jaunt through Indian society and culture.
This novel is an incredible delight through the good times and the bad times of the Chaterjee women. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Once again, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has written a book that is lyrical, informative and keeps the reader enthralled. Sister of My Heart is part adventure, part romance, mixed in with old world traditions. Anju and Sudha, the two main characters, grow up fatherless in a house with "three mothers" - each one's birth mother and their aunt. One mother is hard-working, another is melodramatic, and the aunt is a master storyteller. Divakaruni kept my interest up all throughout the book. The relationship between Anju and Sudha is one of powerful love; a bond that could not be broken, in spite of jealousy, love and tradition. I highly recommend this book!

I have read many many Indian authors...but Divakaruni just stole my heart with this book. The premise is so simple, but she writes in such a beautiful eloquent way, that we as the reader are simply drawn to the magnetic personalities she presents in her writing.

There were parts that I abolutely adored and will keep in my heart forever because they touched me so much. For example, when Sudha was describing her gentle, childlike feelings towards their driver [who had a face that was marred by a fire and had lost his family], I found myself tearing up. The writing was so simple yet so profound.

Divakaruni did an absolutely magnificent job of bringing us all back to situations that we have gone through in our lives--close friends, betrayals, fights with mothers, seeing the beauty in things that are not immediately obvious...

This book is a spectacular read.

I picked up this book after finishing the "Hunt Sisters". So I guess I was in the mood for family stories. This book is one of the best. The relationships in this book between the two cousins and their families are deeply intertwined, even if it becomes only clear after all unravels. Divakaruni is excellent in her story telling and I was captured by the characters, there struggles and victories. It is a very honest book and I found that a lot of what I read I have either experienced myself or thru others' lifes.
I also read the Vine of Desire and recommend it as highly as Sister of my Heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story told alternately through the perspectives of two cousin who were spiritually conjoined. It was an elegant study in culture, tradition, feminism, problem-solving, and persistence. While it could be said that this book addresses problems that are unique to women, I felt that its most important message applies directly to both men and women - find your strength and answers inside yourself. External forces can never satisfactorily meet your needs.

P.S. And I should have mentioned that it's an interesting book that is hard to put down!

I found out about this book through my online bookclub. Without them I never would have picked this up on my own. It is an incredible tale of two cousins who are born on the same day and who both lose their fathers at the same time. The girls grow up to learn about life in their Indian culture while at the same time giving the reader a wonderful glimpse into their own secret world.
The author is a phenomenal storyteller and the writing is simply beautiful. The story stayed with me for quite awhile. It is a great book to pass on to friends and family. They will be sure to appreciate its moving story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story told alternately through the perspectives of two cousin who were spiritually conjoined. It was an elegant study in culture, tradition, feminism, problem-solving, and persistence. While it could be said that this book addresses problems that are unique to women, I felt that its most important message applies directly to both men and women - find your strength and answers inside yourself. External forces can never satisfactorily meet your needs.

P.S. And I should have mentioned that it's an interesting book that is hard to put down!

I found out about this book through my online bookclub. Without them I never would have picked this up on my own. It is an incredible tale of two cousins who are born on the same day and who both lose their fathers at the same time. The girls grow up to learn about life in their Indian culture while at the same time giving the reader a wonderful glimpse into their own secret world.
The author is a phenomenal storyteller and the writing is simply beautiful. The story stayed with me for quite awhile. It is a great book to pass on to friends and family. They will be sure to appreciate its moving story.

I always enjoy a novel that transports me, and Sister of My Heart certainly does just that. The intimate look at the lives, loves and hardships of two "sisters", Sudha and Anju makes for poignant and entertaining reading. Whenever I read a book about Indian women, even in modern soceity, it always re-emphasizes how different and difficult the lives of women in other cultures can be. While some themes are universal to all women(love, marraige, children), the expectations, rules and traditions that govern women's worlds are vastly diverse. This is a great story to curl up and get lost in.

I am only halfway through this wonderful novel, but I had to stop and share my thoughts about it in hopes they'd encourage otehrs to not pass by this novel. The author's writing is enchanting and full of colour and texture - making the novel an experience and not just a read. Her portrayal of growing up under the conflict between traditional Indian values and "modern" Westernized thought is remarkably able and thought-provoking. Her characters are engaging and alive. This novel is absolutely enchanting, and I can't wait to see what Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni will offer in the future.

This is an amazing novel about two "cousins" living in India: Anju and Sudha. Anju is outspoken and corageous, Sudha is a quiet beauty. You watch them grow, best friends the whole way. Anju marries and moves to America while Sudha stays in India. They both have struggles along the way.

I loved this book so much. It's heartfelt and I really feel sad or happy depending on the mood of the book. Chitra did an amazing job capturing India and I felt like I was really there.

Now I think this is supposed to be an adult's book, but I read it and I'm 11. I am an above-level reader, so this may be hard for some girls to read, (I don't recomend it for boys). I think that girls of all ages will love it, even if somebody has to read it to them.

This is a story full of love, magic and care. DO READ IT!!

Starting with her Arranged Marriage collection, Ms. Divakaruni once more offers her simple solution for unhappy Indian women residing in India -- leave for the US. It's that easy!
Like her other writings, this novel too is sprinkled generously with indigenous words to create that exotic-feel that makes her writings so popular. And insofar as exoticism is concerned, the ruby cave takes the cake.
This novel is a reworking of a previous short story "The Ultrasound." Not only is there a thematic correspondence between the two, but also several sentences read like the author just cut and pasted them from her earlier work; names of some characters also remain unchanged. There isn't anything promising about her language either. Readable but disappointing.

I read Mistress of Spices, swallowed the schmaltz and applauded the style and insight. I used to follow her Salon columns with a touching fidelity--and she never let me down. And then I opened Sister of my Heart. Why would a novelist of such talent resort to the worst sort of cliches? Ruby mines? Mysterious (and scarred) drivers turning up shortly after the mysterious death of a father? A completely unimaginative take on marriage-in-India gone wrong, on marriage-in-the-US turned sour, and the final, completely predictable denouement. Say this isn't true, Divakaruni, say it was a momentary lapse of reason and get back to the kind of writing we all know and love.

I decided to read this book after I heard writer’s interview in the local radio station despite the fact that I hadn't read fiction in quiet some time.
When she read few lines from the book with her Indian accent, it was like a music to my ear.
The book is very well written that you could imagine yourself being present in Anju and Sudha’s (main characters) life. The idea of having two narrator was very unique too.
I have been always fascinated by Indian culture , and this book made me to appreciate the people even more. Nowadays whenever I see an Indian women, I feel so close to their heart that I can’t stop smiling at them.
I hope that other good writers from other culture including mine (Persian) start introducing their culture and people by the art of story-telling.

Sudha and Anju are cousins born on the same day - they are as close as the closest of sisters and the best of friends.

Set against a background of tales, traditions and customs of India, `Sister of my Heart' lets us get a glimpse into Indian culture, but as with `Mistress of Spices' it's the author's obvious love for each of her characters that makes this book really shine.

This is a heartwarming, unusual and beautifully written story and I'd definitely recommend taking the time to read it.

Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, will make a wonderful addition to many of our college's course offerings. It is the story of sisters, raised together in India whose paths diverge when one goes off to America while the other remains at home. It is a moving exploration of the depth and value of women's friendships, whether the sisterhood is of the blood or of the heart. This novel, like her previous novel, The Mistress of Spices, is a delight to the senses as well as to poetic sensibilities. We find ourselves wrapped in a rich profusion of images, enveloped in the perfumes, colors, sounds and tastes of India. The spell of the ancient myths woven into the fabric of the plot have power to enchant us today, and we are carried along through the twists and turns of the story to the last. One of the special strengths of Sister of My Heart derives from the insights made available through the trans-Pacific visions of the narrators. The novel sheds light on a number of relatively unexplored themes and issues our own culture has often swept aside. We are so enchanted with our scientific and technological advances (which is itself a kind of faith) that we are unable to see the possible negative consequences of these advances. Often it is on women's lives--indeed, on their bodies--that the impact is most severely born. For example, amneocentesis, valued in our culture for its potential to free women, is shown in the novel being used to further traditional devaluation of the female. In Sister of My Heart, as in many of her short stories and poems, Divakaruni pulls aside veils which commonly blind us to the narrow range of our usual vantage point. She treats with delicacy and power the depth women's feelings surrounding those mysteries: childbearing, childbirth and the passion of mother-love. Finally, this is a novel of family relationships. The thread running through it all is the thread of the love that binds.

I had read Divakaruni's Arranged Marriage which I thought was just okay, so I wasn't really expecting much, but this book was certainly very impressive. Its worth all its five stars!! I didn't want to stop reading after I started. I had never read a book before with alternating narrators, i thought it was handled very well. I really liked the way she portrays the central characters of Sudha and Anju. The story is very life-like, very true...there are still millions of homes in India where you can find the exact same situation. This book should certainly help give hope and courage to all those people.
And after completing the book, you just can't help feeling better! The doors to happiness aren't always closed, you just have to muster the courage to open them! Good job Chitra!

I recently read this novel in my high school english class, as the title was one of the choices for our multi-cultural literature circles. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was interesting enough that I finished it far in advance, unable to stop reading even after my allotted "homework sections" were completed. Though it has a definite element of fairy tale (the fathers killed in a mysterious ruby hunt, etc), Sister of My Heart's modern characters are realistic enough that the book is relatable. I feel that through this story one can acquire a heightened understanding of Indian culture and society. Though it does not instantly dazzle you with the first few pages, I'd say its the type of book that you get drawn into. Sister of My Heart is an easy read, yet rewarding in that its' pages are full of insight and explore different concepts of love with what I found to be an overall feminist message. There are several amazing twists at the end! For all the "fairy tale and love-orientedness" of this novel, Divakaruni does a good job of avoiding cliches. I would recommend this book, and am definitely planning on reading the sequel, The Vine of Desire.

Sister of my Heart is readable but disappointing.
Ms. Divakaruni presents once more her simple solution for unhappy Indian women residing in India -- take off for the US. It's that easy!
This novel too, like her earlier works, is sprinkled generously with indigenous words to create the exotic-feel that makes her writings so popular. However, speaking of exocitization, the Ruby cave takes the cake.
She recycles a previous story from the Arranged Marriage collection, which is fine. However, not only are the names of some of her characters unchanged, but even several sentences seem to have been cut and pasted from there. There is nothing strikingly beautiful about her language either.

After "Arranged Marriage" I picked this book to read. I was mesmerized by Chitra's ability to take me to a city I've never been to, where I could smell and taste and visualize and understand everything Bengali... a culture I've barely known personally.

Chitra's ladies in the book: Sudha & Anju are women that we will never forget. The strength of their relationship is awe-inspiring and it makes a loner like me want a sibling or a best friend of that calibre!

I have recently come into the possession of the sequel called "Vine of Desire" and I can't wait to plunge into the worlds of Sudha & Anju again! :)

This was the first book I read following the death of my younger sister - and it is without a doubt one of the best novels about sisters (related or not) I have ever read. A fantastic author, and about 12 months later I had a chance to meet Divikaruni at the Kentucky Women's Writers Conference in 2004. She signed my books, and I told her how much this book meant to me at that moment in my life ... although I became choked up, her empathy was very touching. Her kindness to a stranger was incredibly sweet, and she was such a class act. She signed this novel, "...In sisterhood."

I would recommend this novel to anyone who has ever had a friend or a sister who have been a very important part of their lives. It is beautiful and touching.

Divakaruni's compelling tale of two young cousins explores the struggle of women to survive in India's patriarchal society where they have no voice, no value, and few choices. Each chapter is told in the voice of Anju or Sudah, fatherless cousins raised by three strong women, and the changes in tone and focus reflect their growth and exposure to the hardships of life. Divakaruni's beautifully poetical prose becomes the rhythmical heartbeat of this novel, and the hearts of her readers will be touched by her quiet portrayal of generational bondage versus indomitable will. Full of surprising plot twists, Sister of My Heart is a magical love story destined to become a classic.

I started to read this book condensed in a magazine & loved it so much I stopped & bought the book - I didn't want to miss anything! I love her style of writing, the vivid descriptions brought the Indian culture to life for me. The author is familiar with all the highs and lows of human emotions and portrays them excellently. Sudha and Anju seem real to me although I myself have never had such a close relationship with another woman.

"Sister of my Heart" is a wonderful, colorful portrait of two women growing up in India and the turns their lives take when they sacrifice their own wishes for each other's good. It is so vividly written that you can almost smell the dishes and touch the people she writes about. The lives she's created on paper will linger with you long after you've read the book like sweet gulabjamun lingers on your tongue, leaving you wanting more.

I would like to say that this novel is breathtaking in its simplicity, however, it is the complexity and depth of the characters that draws you in. The relationship between the two main characters (and their families and culture) is arresting and beautifully drawn. I especially appreciated how the story provided a glimpse into the world of women whose lives are often bound by traditions that our modern culture often dismisses. With its solid writing and emotional depth, this book makes you feel what these women experience. I left this book feeling as though I had known these women and through them, learned something about a culture that I previously knew little about.

Although the author is a good story-teller, important pieces of the novel are unrealistic like for eg: character of Ashok does not make sense. She potrays him as a strong and mature person but in the end unmercifully lets down his character. Is she trying to potray that all men are biased and immature in a typical false feministic manner. Also, unbelievable was Sudha's father hiding in disguise as a driver. And what about those ruby mines!

Recomiendo este libro bastante. La historia es rica, los personajes son interesantes, y la forma en como está narrada la historia es peculiarmente magnífica: los personajes principales son Anju y Sudha, y cada una va narrando la historia intercaladamente en primera persona, lo cual genera un efecto bastante bueno. La historia permite aprender mucho sobre el estilo de vida en la sociedad Hindú de una forma entretenida.

Interesting, imaginative, poetic, but unrealistic. Ruby caves in the Sunderbans? Give me a break! The plot line imitates Mrs. Henry Wood's East Lynne where the wife reappears disguised and becomes nanny to the family. Poetic prose is alright in small doses but extravagance can cloy. Sudha's stories are unrealistic, even bizarre, and there is little to distinguish the characters' dialogue. They all talk the same way. In fact, do people actually speak in such long poetic paragraphs? The author should beware of a characteristic in contemporary Indian women writers that smacks of exaggeration: larger-than-life women, weak/imperfect men. It looks like feminism is finding its balance in the West, but Indian women writers have just discovered it.

Alas, the story comes to the same thing...sisters, marriages...wing dings-whoops I meant weddings...pleated and braided hair...etc etc. Still, it was a great read and despite Chitra's wonderfully evocative language, I found it really easy to read. The transition from them being young to them becoming old and mature is amazingly fluid and it's wonderful how Chitra can manage to tell a normal day to day story in such a wonderful manner. That's the real beauty behind this book. Simple story, wonderfully told.
Chitra's language is yummy but it's hard to believe that a youngster could think so maturely. It seems Chitra's language skills are a bit too good for her own sake. The real cheesy bit at which I yelled, "how could you spoil it all" was when Sudha finds out that the driver is...naaah you can find out yourself...but be prepared for the cheese factor...more cheesy than Doritos.

Chitra Divakaruni writes of an unbreakable bond between two women, Anju and Sudha, cousins born on the same day. Set in both India and America the old ways meet the new when both women learn just how much a heart can endure. Not only is this a love story but a mystery as well, as each woman rediscovers the truth about their past. A beautifully written book that I did not want to end.

This book is an absolute pleasure to read...the writing is so lyrical you are transported to India, wearing a sari of gossamer cloth, hearing the tinkling of ankle bracelets, feeling the heat, smelling the spices, taking part in the day to day life of the five women who live in the Chatterjee household.
Even tho' the scenario about the ruby mine was rather hokie, I loved the story of the two girls/women, Anju and Sudha and the close, unbreakable bond they share, unbroken by time, distance, and marriage. I especially liked that there were surprises...I was delighted to find them.
Some books are like appetizers, some are like main courses, this one is dessert...savor it with a nice cup of tea and cake. It's scrumptious. Then recommend it to all your friends.
Jesse

Divakaruni has an art, which I cannot seem to describe in words(my words are feeble compared to the author's), to feel the emotionsof South Asian women towards life, love (of all kinds: familial, parental, platonic, errotic, etc.), and happiness. I found "Sister of My Heart" to be very moving and profound in its exploration of Sudha and Anju. The story of the ruby cave and the fathers may seem ridiculously transparent to some, but it is not the crux or heart of the novel - it is not the theme of the novel. It is only the lie, the deception, that brings forth the theme: the love between female sisters, friends, cousins, whatever - the bond between women that can fray due to our pathetic society that tells us that we need a man in our lives; we must have a man in our lives, and to be beautiful - physically - elicits that ever empowering heterosexual bond in our lives; that without that bond, that penis in your life, your worth is little.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend not only "Sister of my Heart" to readers, but Divakaruni's collection of short stories: "Arranged Marriage" whose various images are haunting. END