The Forgotten Daughter

I started this book with a lot of interest and anticipation because I usually love books that deal with other cultures. The story premise was good, but the author belabored the story with way too much poetic description. I got tired of reading about the environment, humidity and light and wished to just end the story. I skimmed a lot just to see how she would finish what could've been a better book.

Predictabe and boring read. Pages and pages of repetitive descriptions. I skim through a lot of pages to finish it because I finish all books I start reading. It felt mostly like the never ending soap, only you knew how it would end. Wasn't worth my time.

She did not focus on her ending and completed it abruptly . She described the beauty of Mangalore in detail ( good) but should have written more about the land marks, sites , name of temples and streets.

Renita D'Silva inspires her readers to slow down and taste life. Her chapters shimmer with the colors and scents of the Indian neighborhoods where her characters live, replete with the spices of foods (recipes included) and the fabrics of saris the women wear.

THE FORGOTTEN DAUGHTER is an insider's look at Indian customs, yet it still carries a heartfelt story. The lives of three women--Nisha, Shilpa, and Devi--are untangled as Nisha seeks to know more about her parents and herself. Told in alternating chapters, we encounter Nisha's shield against the world: numbers; Devi's traditional Indian upbringing, and Shilpa's desperate plight as a mother.

So the story is common enough, the sense of past secrets and family ties. What separates THE FORGOTTEN DAUGHTER from other such books is D'Silva's faith in the power of words. As an author, she does not let a word-count back her away from attempting an exact description. The words flow on and on, a river of words, a moment in time.

Some readers may grow impatient with the word flood. I encourage them to take the book chapter by chapter, page by page, not biting off huge hunks and choking on the overload, but delighting in each scent, texture, color, and taste.

Nisha’s parents are scientists who have never shown much love to their daughter but instead taught her to find solace in numbers. She is a successful statistician in a Canadian university, but her world is about to fall apart. After her parents’ death in a tragic car accident, Nisha receives a letter from them that was left with the family lawyer. “You are adopted!” Words that are like a tsunami breaking down her secure world and awakening her emotional side that she never knew existed, since that part of her being was repressed for years. Now, the pivotal question in her life is “Why?” She’s even reticent about her lover, Matt, who could not be more perfect if he tried. Yes, she’s in love with him but can’t get the words, “I love you” out without feeling like she is choking. So she says nothing and instead enters this new world of turmoil and gnawing ache as she wonders if she’s ever been loved!
Shilpa and Devi are in another part of the world, India, where they are preparing for Shilpa’s death. Devi finds her mother’s journal full of delicious recipes and the diary-style journal of her mother, Shilpa. Devi reads to her mother as she is lying in a hospital bed, slipping in and out of consciousness, the chances of her slipping into a coma and dying very, very real! No more spoilers – suffice to say this is a story that is both tough as nails and soft as feather down. The essence of it is yearning to be a woman, a wife, a mother, a connector of generations, with all the mental, physical and spiritual anguish that entails, especially as mother and daughter age and experience transitions in their relationship. They understand each other so well and yet in many ways don’t have a clue about each other’s hopes and dreams, their respect for the aspects of Indian culture that is shared in this journal in the form of luscious recipes the reader will want to try for sure.
Nisha decides to travel to India to find her “roots” and hope it will give her some grounding to fill her life that feels so barren and empty, that yearns for love that only real family can provide. Readers will not be disappointed at all and will be shell-shocked with surprise as the story progresses to a gracious, beautiful end!
The Forgotten Daughter is SUPERB contemporary fiction. The descriptions of the food, drink, and fruit are presented with the art of one who truly loves food and knows how to sensually present it it to enliven the guest’s hunger, thirst, and more. Adopted children often feel abandoned and forgotten by their real parents, but what a very different discovery lies ahead for each of these fascinating characters.

Did I enjoy this book: Yes, I did.

If there was an Olympic event in Sochi this winter for writing, I imagine we'd see Renita D'Silva sanding atop a podium, gold medal glistening around her neck, a rivulet spilling onto her cheeks from moistened eyes, and her national anthem playing in the background.

Ok, I confess: I stole the word "rivulet" from the book. I had to look it up, along with "bedeckled" and "sobriquet." And I'm still not sure how to pronounce them.

This isn't a quick, easy story to blow through in an afternoon. It's more a work of art meant to be read, re-read, and savored. She tells the story primarily through a series of diary entries. The characters begin their journey separated by continents and decades. Through flowery descriptions and emotional discoveries, they are brought together in the end.

Would I recommend it: I would.

Will I read it again: I'll re-read parts of it again.

As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.)

After starting the first chapter late last night I decided I'd take my time and enjoy the language over a few days, but then the characters sucked me in and I binged on the rest today. The sensory imagery was so vivid I actually feel like I've made 3 new best friends and returned from a daytrip to India. A wonderful story and beautifully written.

Fingerprint Publishing House is slowly becoming my favourite source of review copies. They have been consistently publishing really good books. The Forgotten Daughter by Renita D’Silva only adds to their collection.

The Forgotten Daughter is the story of three women – Shilpa, Devi and Nisha. It is the story of their lives, their choices and their ups and downs in life. On one hand we have Nisha whose life falls apart after her parents’ death with a simple note. The words ‘You were adopted’ breaks down everything that Nisha thought she knew about her parents and challenges everything that she thought she knew about herself. On the other hand we have Shilpa and Devi who are trying their best to hold on to each other. With Shilpa’s life close to flickering out, Devi finds her mother’s journal filled with snippets of her life. Devi too tries to convey her side of the story. Three different women and three very different voices brought together in a plot woven by Renits D’Silva.

The book is just perfect in every way. The author has done a lovely job of bringing these women to life through her words. The characters are well developed with many hues to them. The connection I felt to them is not because of familiarity but something else on the whole. It was as if I felt their joys, their pains and lived their lives with them. The story itself invoked so many emotions in me that a person like me, who reads captivating books in one sitting, was forced to put down the book at intervals. It was so that I could reflect on the experiences or memories of the characters and actually separate my emotions from theirs. The author lyrical language and engaging narration style only adds to the beauty of the book. I have to admit that it did take me 15-20 pages to get comfortable, but once I was settled, there was no turning back with this book.

This is the story of three woman, Nisha, who finds out she's adopted, Devi, who has moved away and left her mother in India, and Shilpa, Devi's mother who lies unconscious in a bed.

Things I liked about this book: The author chose to narrate Shilpa's character through her diary, and Devi is reading it to her. Devi then writes letter's to her mother that unfold her own story. I thought this was a wonderful method of telling their stories. The character of Devi is an impetuous woman who feels very strongly and doesn't allow others to shame her into conforming to the role of demure woman in a small town where that is the expectation. I enjoyed her voice and even understanding later where it may come from didn't change the refreshing voice of this character.

I also liked Shilpa's voice as she told her story. The author portrayed the duties and sacrifices the mother makes as mostly believable and inevitable. I admit there were times that I wondered if she could have found better alternatives to her choices, but, I eventually conceded that her situation was most likely not that changeable. I enjoyed much of the story, it moved along and there was enough left unknown to keep me reading. In my own life there is a very intriguing adoption story in my family that hasn't completely unfolded. For this reason I am drawn towards books that have this theme.

I had a very hard time with the metaphors in the book. It seems to me that I have heard them all before, or they are at least similar enough that I wasn't excited by the language. The author also layers them onto each other in a way that made them meaningless for me. Somewhat like when you eat one more bite of sugary-sweet wedding cake than you really should have. I think the author should have entrusted the story more to her readers, and allowed them to form some of their own images through imagination rather than explaining exactly how each person felt. What I mean is, instead of using dialogue to convey an emotion, she often states how the person was feeling as well.

Nisha's character could have been much more interesting. I think her pages were too long and I became bored with her. I wanted to sympathize with her, but the more she repeated the same sentiments through multiple pages, the less I was interested in the story. This is where a good editor comes in.

The character of Matt was a romanticized, and 2-dimensional man, I think the author added him to appeal to chic-lit or romance genre readers. His relationship with Nisha was very flat and the dialogue between them grated on my nerves. I found myself wanting to skip over it, as it added almost nothing to the story.

Possible Spoiler: The ending of the story is almost exactly how you expect it will be. I hoped for some twist that would make the story feel real, but that was not to be. And because the story itself was mostly predictable it's probably good that the author left this as a "feel good" story.

I read a lot of crime and thrillers, so it was a lovely change to read this on holiday. Set in the UK and India, it's one of those books you sink into and just want to keep reading. The author has a great writing style that carries you along and makes you feel as though you're right there with the characters. You can almost smell the jasmine and taste the food - the food! (There are recipes). The story itself was intriguing and heartbreaking and yet, in the end, you could understand why it all happened. Each of the characters was strong in their own way. I'm so looking forward to reading more of Renita's books. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'll be reading them all.

This is one book that has surprised me with its content, writing style and just the evocative images that Renita D’Silva’s writing evokes. I picked the book due to its blurb about the changes the truth about being adopted would evoke.

I was fully prepared for it to be a tear jerker with the story from the point of view of a child but I was in for a pleasant surprise. This book is not about tears, loss or sadness. The Forgotten Daughter is a story about life, love and longing and a lot more. The author spins a sweetly worded tale of the quest of a daughter in search of her parents and a daughter looking for her mother.

All of this is through the eyes of three ladies, Nisha, Devi and Shilpa. The book moves through the thoughts and diaries of these three women and each presents their own side of the story, how they are involved yet separate. I found this extremely moving as page by page the story unfolded with each woman’s tone, language and thoughts being so different from the other. Initially I had thought that the father must be the reason of adoption, then I blamed the mother, eventually I blamed the sister.
Yet, Renita surprised me with the ending and the way the story progressed. I savored the soft, graceful language; descriptive yet emotive. She created images and evoked nostalgia with her words. Nisha, practical and technical one with her lists, numbers and reasons. Devi, the fiery one who spoke and lived with the anger she knew not how to snuff out. Shilpa, the demure one, love overflowing yet still inadequate.

Three ladies as different as can be and their men who we somehow exactly what they needed. This book renders a whole new meaning to fate and its mysterious ways. I enjoyed reading about the tenacity of life and how it manifests in the unlikely of times. The book has a steady flow, neither too fast nor slow with each chapter unraveling the mystery and bringing a family to where it must be.

I could go on and on but suffice to say I loved the book. If you are looking for a book with depth, a good solid story, a yearning to read how our world and life plays out in the mysterious ways, why we all surrender to a greater power this is a book for you. And a bitter sweet happy ending to boot!

This book is full of prose that evokes surreal visual imagery, words that connect to the heart and language that makes it a pleasure to read. The Forgotten Daughter will find a place in your heart as a mother or daughter or sister as you will definitely find a reflection of yourself within its pages.

(I received a copy of the book from Fingerprint Publishing, the review is my own honest opinion.)

I received this book for free for review purposes. All opinions are completely my own.

I loved Renita D'Silva's debut novel, Monsoon Memories, so jumped at the chance when offered this novel for review as well. I am skeptical when I love the first book from a particular author so much because I'm afraid anything I read of theirs subsequently will be disappointing. Thankfully, I loved the Forgotten Daughter just as much as Monsoon Memories.

Nisha, Devi and Shilpa have very unique voices in telling their version of the story. Renita D'Silva writes beautifully and develops the characters so well that I felt like I was experiencing it with them, their joys, sorrows, trials and tribulations. As the daughter of Indian parents and now a mother myself, I could empathize with each of the characters in a deep and meaningful way. This book made me cry, it touched me so deeply.

I have a much more detailed review on my website. This was a book that stayed with me for weeks after reading it and it took me awhile to articulate my thoughts and all the questions it had me contemplate. I truly loved this book both for how it made me feel and what it made me remember of my own amazing childhood. It's my quest for books like these that connect with me on an emotional level that keeps me an avid reader. Thanks Bookouture for the opportunity to review this wonderful book.

Hello Renita,

Dear Renita

I am a prolific reader and have always wanted to write also, have done in my younger years but too afraid since then.

I just want to say that I absolutely LOVED your book "The Forgotten Daughter" !!
It touched me deeply, as I travelled through India back in about 1972-1973, after travelling from London UK, to India through the middle east, and when I finally arrived in India, everything changed ! It was so beautiful and rich in colours and fragrances.....your book just brought all those memories back of the so very colourful and interesting country....I really loved the book and descriptive colours, smells, people and cultures there. Of course it would be so different now, and I just loved the story, so beautiful, well done lady, from me, an aspiring writer, from Western Australia.
ps, I read a lot, in this really made me do a review for the first time ever. xx keep those books coming, please.

One thing I loved about this book is the portrayal of both the adoptive parents and the birth mother in a positive light.

I have read books set in India before, but this one really gave me a love for the culture. The recipes included have inspired me to take a trip to the city where there is an Indian restaurant because I just have to try it after reading about the preparation.

Ultimately though the portrayal of the complexities and depth if mother-daughter relationships transcends culture and can be appreciated by everyone.

I experienced so many emotions reading this story...being a mother myself, I couldn't imagine experiencing what Shilpa did or making the choices she had to. Such strong woman characters in a colourful and touching story - I laughed and cried while reading it. First Monsoon Memories and now The Forgotten Daughter - I can't wait for her next story! Thank you for some pleasurable hours of reading.

This beautiful story of a pair of twins separated by the poverty of their Indian mother touched my heart. It is so well written, I could barely put it down. It has been a long time since I have read such poetic descriptions of a place like India, which is more often described in a brutally harsh way, with the emphasis on the grinding filth and poor people. To be told of the scents in the air and tastes of the foods is a welcome change. Loved the book.

Wow. I was adopted as an infant and found my birth family when I was 35. When Nisha and Devi finally met, all the emotions of MY meeting came flooding back to me. Thank you for writing this from the different angles. I have recently done a DNA test - hoping to find information about my birth fathers’ family.

This is a mesmerizing tale of a family in India. The authors command of the written word is amazing. I felt the pulse of a family. I could almost taste the food and breathe the air. I will remember this book for a long time. I will recommend this book to my friends.

This tale of the differing fates of twin sisters subtly raises issues not only of the importance of nature versus nurture but also of the relative values of emotional warmth versus physical/economic well-being. It also well describes the world of rural south India, its attractions and deficits.

If there had been a little more in the beginning to paint the picture for the end would have been better. Not at all a bad read. Sometimes in mid paragraph the author changes things up. The flow could have been so much better but overall story was good.

This is a beautiful story of Love. Filled with vivid pictures of India and recipes you can taste even though you have never known the ingredients, and with characters emotionally and intellectually accessible in their humanity, The Forgotten Daughter made this Reader's journey one to savour.

One thing I loved about this book is the portrayal of both the adoptive parents and the birth mother in a positive light.

I have read books set in India before, but this one really gave me a love for the culture. The recipes included have inspired me to take a trip to the city where there is an Indian restaurant because I just have to try it after reading about the preparation.

Ultimately though the portrayal of the complexities and depth if mother-daughter relationships transcends culture and can be appreciated by everyone.

I experienced so many emotions reading this story...being a mother myself, I couldn't imagine experiencing what Shilpa did or making the choices she had to. Such strong woman characters in a colourful and touching story - I laughed and cried while reading it. First Monsoon Memories and now The Forgotten Daughter - I can't wait for her next story! Thank you for some pleasurable hours of reading.

This beautiful story of a pair of twins separated by the poverty of their Indian mother touched my heart. It is so well written, I could barely put it down. It has been a long time since I have read such poetic descriptions of a place like India, which is more often described in a brutally harsh way, with the emphasis on the grinding filth and poor people. To be told of the scents in the air and tastes of the foods is a welcome change. Loved the book.

Wow. I was adopted as an infant and found my birth family when I was 35. When Nisha and Devi finally met, all the emotions of MY meeting came flooding back to me. Thank you for writing this from the different angles. I have recently done a DNA test - hoping to find information about my birth fathers’ family.

This is a beautiful and moving book. Renita D’Silva skilfully weaves together the distinct voices of three women into a compelling, bittersweet story of the joy, pain and complexity of the love between a mother and her daughters. Sumptuously described, the lyrical prose paints a vivid picture of the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of India, evoking the beauty and the richness of culture alongside the poverty and the mystery. A highly recommended read.

This is a mesmerizing tale of a family in India. The authors command of the written word is amazing. I felt the pulse of a family. I could almost taste the food and breathe the air. I will remember this book for a long time. I will recommend this book to my friends.

This tale of the differing fates of twin sisters subtly raises issues not only of the importance of nature versus nurture but also of the relative values of emotional warmth versus physical/economic well-being. It also well describes the world of rural south India, its attractions and deficits.

If there had been a little more in the beginning to paint the picture for the end would have been better. Not at all a bad read. Sometimes in mid paragraph the author changes things up. The flow could have been so much better but overall story was good.

This is a beautiful story of Love. Filled with vivid pictures of India and recipes you can taste even though you have never known the ingredients, and with characters emotionally and intellectually accessible in their humanity, The Forgotten Daughter made this Reader's journey one to savour.

So so good!! Heart felt in so many ways!!
Took my time reading it and it still went fast, I didn't want it too end.
Loved the characters, how it was written, the perspective of the mother and the daughters. Didn't want it to end!!!

The story line keeps you interested until the end and three main characters are well-developed. It made me crave Indian food. But, alas, I skipped over a lot of the food parts because I am not that familiar with the various dishes. Lovingly written.

This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. Renita D'Silva creates wonderful and believable characters and her descriptive narrative is beautiful. I finished the book and am now re-reading because I so wanted to know how it ended that I skimmed through parts and now want to read every word again.