Author- Sujata Massey
‘The City Of Palaces’ by Sujata Massey is a mingled flavor book,which traces out the life of Puma,the protagonist of the story, covering different facets of her life.A tale laced with love, lust, suspense, betrayal, amour and shadowing.
As the back cover says-‘Bengal,1930.Young Pom’s life changes forever when her family is wiped out in a devastating flood.She becomes a maidservant in a British boarding school where she discovers her gift for languages.Amidst the drudgery of her duties,she finds unexpected friendship and experiences the stirrings of first love.However, tragedy soon strikes,and our heroine is forced into hiding.Alone and desperate,she makes a dangerous journey from the secretive,decadant world of an exclusive brothel to the grand metropolis of Calcutta,the city of palaces.Swept into the rising tide of the Indian freedom struggle,she creates a new life for herself,one that holds the promise of happiness and true love…until her past returns to haunt her.’
This book is like water ,and I’m sugar ,who dissolves completely in it ,as time paces. From the very beggining, it clutches the aura to cuddle me in its arm. Exemplar’s character is so marvelously portrayed that I felt I myself is narrating the story. Rabindranath Tagore’s versus are adorned before each chapter to give a warmth feeling.Ups and downs of Pom’s life are stitched in a lucid and balanced way.Neither of the flavor sleeps from its place.
The cover itself draws attention of many readers. From the physical appearance to the ambiance its content creates makes this book a unique historical saga.Authoress has the prowess to cast the magic of his words around the readers’ mind.Even the minute details of the exemplar’s life never bore you. This book holds the epitome to engross you and grippens your attention.
An appealing content which let you taste the spices of love, lust, suspense, betrayal and the expenditure full journey of a lady.Thick book lovers this is indeed a book written for you.And also,if you are looking for a spicy book which wooes you with a multi-flavored tale,this book is surely for you.
Rating- 4.8/5
Reviewer- Shweta Kesari