Customer Reviews

Climbing the Stairs

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Have you ever wondered how it might feel to have your marriage arranged for you by your parents and relatives? Have you ever imagined permanently living under the same roof as your extended family? Have you ever known the desperation of living without rights or a voice of your own? If so, Padma Venkatraman's "Climbing the Stairs" is the book for you.

This book gives readers a glimpse into what it means to live in a traditional Indian joint family and of the restrictions imposed on people due to social and cultural norms. It speaks to the searing pain of oppression and the struggle for independence, both national and personal. Vidya, the protagonist of this story, is a curious girl who tries to make sense of the changing world in which she finds herself. India is in the midst of its freedom struggle against British rule and there are strong opinions on how this must be attained. Vidya grapples with the question of "means and ends" and "love and loyalty," while trying to remain true to her still formulating beliefs. Despite circumstances that unalterably change the course of Vidya's life, this courageous spitfire of a girl navigates her circumstances to uncompromisingly reach for her goals. Venkatraman's "Climbing the Stairs" is a fast paced book full of memorable characters, a strong story line, and a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend readers accompany Vidya on her journey; they will be changed just as she is.

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman is a YA historical fiction about a fifteen-year-old girl named Vidya that takes place in India during the struggle for Indian independence and WWII. Outspoken and willful Vidya is excited about her future, but when her father is injured in a freedom rally, Vidya's hopes of entering college are shattered when her family is forced to move in with her grandfather and his straight-laced, traditional household. Her only way to escape is to climb the stairs to her grandfather's library where she is forbidden to go.

Vidya is a delightful protagonist, but at first she seems a little naïve and immature for her age. For example, in a strange scene in the first chapter, she is unable to identify a stain on her father's shirt as blood, despite the fact that she is fifteen years old and the daughter of a physician. However, after witnessing a British officer brutally beat her father, she becomes a much more believable character as she struggles with guilt about her role in her father's injury and shame about her father's resulting brain damage. I also thought that a few of the interactions Vidya has with her love interest, Raman, are sometimes very awkward and her uncle's family comes across as a little too mean to be realistic.

Despite these shortcomings, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in in Indian history. The setting and time-period covered by this book are not often covered in American literature and especially not in such a truthful, open way. Sometimes I find that Indian-American authors tend to romanticize India and their novels read as odes to a perfect country where problems such as caste-based discrimination and sexism don't seem to exist. However, through Vidya's eyes, the author unflinchingly shows us her view of what it was like to live in a male-dominated society and where oppression was a fact of life. We see shocking events and difficult social problems portrayed honestly, and this important time in India's history comes to life in a believable and interesting way.

CLIMBING THE STAIRS is a wonderful, well written, and thought provoking book that navigates the historical and political context of India during WWII, commenting and using it as a backdrop without letting it overwhelm the story. There are so many threads beautifully woven together. The book also shows the devastating consequences of pride, something modern teens don't think about too much. The ending was so satisfying, as well, the way Vidya learns and grows.

This book is targeted at young adults, but I really enjoyed it as an adult reader. It took me back to a time when my parents would have been teens, pre-teens and really captured their daily life, as well as the larger arena of events. I was a teen nearly a half century after the protagonist Vidya was, but her situation, the choices she has to make and how differently the same events shape different members of her family and lead them down different paths was captured brilliantly. I enjoyed that Vidya was feisty, independent and even a bit feminist. Like most Indian novels, this one is wrapped around a family tragedy -- Usually, that would mean I'd pass on the book, but the very real, empathetic characterization pulls you in through to the end.

This book was just okay. The story was fine, but I was significantly annoyed with the main character's actions a lot of the time. The way she responded to certain situations didn't make sense to me. I felt like the author was trying way too hard to make a point about feminism and liberation a lot of the time, and dragged it out much farther than was necessary. I know a book is good if I'm willing to read it more than once, and this is a book that I wish I would have checked out at the library instead of purchased, because it will never be opened again. I won't recommend this book to anyone I know.

In this multi-layered novel, Padma Venkatraman weaves together the themes of colonialism, feminism and pacifism without sacrificing story or character. Young adults will read it and understand it; adults will find the story line entertaining as well as thought-provoking. This would be a great book club selection and is sure to inspire spirited discussion.

I picked this book because I was looking for a light read to pass time. It was not only an easy read but it also provoked thought and I learnt something about traditional Indian culture and history. I am not sure why it is classified as 'young adult', that label always makes me think the book is very simplistic, unsophisticated. Nothing is farther from the truth with this one, adults will enjoy the story, I identified and empathised a lot with Vidya. Her struggle to realise her dreams rings true for everyone irrespective of whether they are in their teenage years or well into adulthood. Highly recommended for all ages

Climbing the Stairs is a very absorbing, but unflinching look at life in India during the 1940's, and especially highlights the hardships and restrictions women faced. I learned a lot from reading this book, but yet the writing was never boring or slow--this is an engaging, suspenseful, and moving read about one girl's journey that will truly make you feel unworthy.

I liked this YA book very much. Though it is Vidya's story - her hopes and dreams - it also shows those of the other characters, bringing them in and adding interest and depth. All of the characters are believable - even horrible Periamma and her daughter. It was a nice touch when austere grandfather became gentler to Vidya during story - reminiscent of her own father.
The story flowed well and held my interest. It portrayed problems and stumbling blocks with action and dialogue as well as through telling. Physical settings were described well and were vital to the story - the house in Madras where women were not allowed upstairs in the men's domain, the protest march, and later violence in the streets, also the descriptions of their clothes--all projected a strong sense of place.
Vidya's struggle for knowledge and independence was admirable. I thought the book appealed to the reader's intellect and emotions about equally. It was a good mixture of facts and feelings. I thought the author did a good job showing the British dominance of the Indians, and the fact that some Indians fought for them anyway, and also reminded the reader that they were the largest volunteer group in WWII. It was a good story, well told.

This is a beautifully written book which tells the story of a young and courageous Indian girl, who grows up, confronts many challenges, and finds herself, during the tumultuous times of World War II and India's struggle for independence. I had to stay up late to finish the book at one sitting because I could not put it down!
The author paints a vivid picture of life in a orthodox, Brahmin family in south India in the forties. The descriptions of day to day life and the festivals are very detailed and very authentic. As I read the book, it brought back memories of stories that my parents told me, about their childhoods in similar extended families in India.
I was moved to tears by parts of "Climbing the Stairs". It reminded me of
the unique courage of Indians who lived during those difficult times, and especially, renewed my appreciation for the women of that generation who fought so hard for the things that we all take for granted these days.
The story of Vidya's struggle to rise above her circumstances is universal, and she is a great role model for girls even today. Their "stairs" may be different, but they must climb them, if they want to go where others have not gone before....