The Bandit Queens - Parini Shroff
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Fiction
Rating: 8.5/10
Geeta grew up both penniless and impudent, a combination that led to very few offers of marriage. She had to take what she could get. And while she initially looked at the bright side, soon enough she discovered that the bottom of the barrel had been scraped for her no-good husband. When he disappeared one day, and stayed gone, she was thrilled. That is until now.
Everyone thinks Geeta is a diabolical killer, often referred to as a self-made widow. That she did away with her abusive husband in some vicious and bloody fashion. And they all secretly applaud her for it.
When another in the loan group she belongs to approaches her to take care of her own groom, she finds herself pulled kicking and screaming into some surreal murderer-mentor role. The problem is, she never killed him. Never harmed a hair on his violent, misogynistic head.
On the surface, the plot of this novel may seem immensely sad, but even while suffering these women find ways to stand up for themselves. The dialogue is acerbic and full of quips that play out as a delightful match of wits. And the deep dive into the complexities, and often absurdities, of female friendships is as insightful as it is hilarious.
Just a sample of the hilarity I refer too…
Advice was a cousin of caring; apathy was Geeta’s mantra.
Geeta’s peers afforded her the respect deserved, giving her the wide berth bestowed onto any social pariah.
Why all the rumors? …it’s a small village. Not everyone has a TV; people make their own entertainment.
Here she was, coerced into yet another half-cocked murder plot.
Footnote: hovering in the background of this story is the lore of The Bandit Queen. Born poor, born low caste and worst of all, born a woman. Despite that, she could never be silenced or quelled. So, her parents married her off to a man three times her age and a cycle of horrific abuse began that would repeat throughout her life. Until she decided she had had enough and set out to get her vengeance.
Book Pairing(s): Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel, The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
