A Tapestry of Tears by Gita V. Reddy

32799334

Title: A Tapestry of Tears
Author: Gita V. Reddy
Published: Nov. 2, 2016
Publisher: Self
Review: ebook provided by author
Genre: Women, Short stories
Pages: 204
Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk 



Set in the early nineteenth century, A Tapestry of Tears is about female infanticide, and the unmaking of tradition. If a woman gives birth to a female child, she must feed her the noxious sap of the akk plant. That is the tradition, parampara. Veeranwali rebels, and fights to save her offspring.
The other stories span a spectrum of emotions and also bring to life the varied culture and social spectrum of India. Woven into this collection is the past and the present, despair and hope, and the triumph of the human spirit.


“When I look at the trophies that line the walls of the haveli, at the stuffed heads of boar and stag, and the tiger with its mouth opened in a futile snarl, I wonder. I am a woman, only a midwife. I don’t know what it means to be a man and a zamindar. I don’t know what it is to ride into the jungle with attendants, to chase an animal, to corner it, and to kill it. It must be an act of courage because the man is praised for his bravery.
“But can you imagine what courage it takes to pour those two drops into the mouth of a babe? And the child you have carried yourself, one who is a part of your own body, whose heartbeat was a resonance of your own? Just as a man is not allowed to show fear on a hunt, women are not expected to waver in snuffing out that tiny life. Does a man remember the look in the eyes of a dying deer? Perhaps he does. A woman does not forget the face of the dead child. The child lives on as a phantom, clutching at her heart, and troubling her sleep.”



I received this book to give an honest review. 

Some of these stories were a bit heartbreaking especially the way the women were treated or what they had to do. I think the two stories that bothered me the most out of all of them was the first story A Tapestry of Tears and Her Only Daughter. Those two tore at my heart strings just because of the death that happens within them and what the mothers had to go through.
What is really neat about these short stories is that they show how strong women become in tough and sad situations, also these are Indian women. I don't think I have really ever read anything that had to do with Indian women so to read about the talent they have in making things, how they do not back down but become stronger especially with heartache is amazing in my eyes.

I have read this author before through her children's books and she always had lessons within her pages so when I saw this book I did wonder how it would go. I was very surprised with how real the stories felt and I think the author did a great job!




Gita V. Reddy
Gita V.Reddy is a writer of fiction for middlegraders and adults. She enjoys thinking up tales of different genres. She has written mysteries, adventure, fantasy, science fiction, and even an animal tale for children.
She wrote and illustrated her first picture book for kids in August, 2015. She plans to write a few more because the experience was very satisfying.
Ms Reddy was born in India, is a post graduate in Mathematics, worked in a bank for twenty-six years, is married to a physics professor, has a son doing research in neuro-electronics, and loves literature. Yes, her life is as mixed up as the multiple genres she writes. 
She enjoys painting and spending time with her family, and LOVES walking in the rain.
She also writes under the name Heera Datta




Visit her website: www.gitavreddy.com and facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gita-R...

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Interview and Giveaway with Author Teri Polen

Spreading Some Love Indie Blog Hop 2016

Review: The Ouija Board (Paranormal Adventure #1) by Shelby White