Customer Reviews

The Forbidden Daughter

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Isha Tilak is happily married with a small daughter and pregnant with her second child. She lives with her husband, Nikhil, and his parents in Palgaum, a small town in southwestern India. Her life begins to change, though she doesn't know it, with a visit to her doctor for an ultrasound. As she and her husband watch the test, the doctor tells them that the baby Isha is carrying is a girl. Then he says "We can fix that."

Isha and Nikhil are stunned. The doctor is suggesting terminating the pregnancy because the child is not a boy! They are both aware that in the past boys had been much preferred to girls in Indian culture but are shocked that a modern doctor would be so nonchalantly suggesting an abortion on the basis of the baby's sex, which is against the law in modern India. They refuse, of course, but are deeply disturbed.

A short time later, tragedy strikes the Tilak family. Nikhil is found dead at the family business. It looks as if he was robbed and stabbed while he was in the process of closing for the evening. He was the only son in his family and his parents' grief is overwhelming. They start to take their anger out on Isha and her small daughter. They say the baby girl she is carrying is a curse on the family and was the cause of her father's death. They make it obvious that they think she should have had the abortion. Isha finds that she cannot continue to live with them and subject her child to their animosity. Despite the fact that she has nowhere to go, no status as a widow and no way to earn any money, she takes her daughter and leaves.

Thus begins Isha's journey to finding herself, finding out what really happened to her husband, and creating a future for herself and her two beautiful daughters. She surprises herself with her own strength and ability to adapt and grow despite the challenges that she encounters.

I really liked this book. The characters felt real, were interesting and well written and the story was engaging. Though the idea of using abortion as a means of sex selection is disturbing, I think the author right to bring it to light in this way. I look forward to reading future books by Shobhan Bantwal.

While this story about the practice of aborting female fetuses in India because of the cultural desire for male offspring is timely, the book is not particularly well written. The evolution of the story is very predictable and the author just cannot help herself, it seems, from constantly stating the obvious. We readers are capable of drawing those simplistic conclusions ourselves.

Isha Tilak is distraught. Her beloved husband, Nikhil, has been murdered under suspicious circumstances, and she is heavily pregnant with their second child. To make matters even worse, Nikhil's parents are pressuring her to abort her unborn baby - not because the child would be a burden, but because it is a girl. Isha has witnessed their mistreatment of her older daughter, Priya, and refuses to subject her second child to that harshness simply on the basis of her sex. When her in-laws' request for an abortion becomes a demand, Isha leaves their home and sets out on her own, not knowing where she can go or who she can turn to. All she knows is that she must protect her children, her beautiful daughters.

Shobhan Bantwal has a history of writing about controversial Indian subjects. Her first book, The Dowry Bride, was about bride-burnings in India; specifically, it was the story of a woman who wasn't producing children in a marriage and uncovered a plot by her mother-in-law to kill her so she wouldn't have to return the dowry (which she would have to do if there were a divorce). This second book is about female abortions and infanticide. These topics, while uncomfortable, do take place in India (female abortion much more so than bride burnings, if I am not mistaken), and it is important that people become aware of them. Bantwal writes her novels in a manner that is easy to digest and, while shocking, brings important issues to light. Her resolve to educate others is admirable.

The story of the novel, while a bit stilted in places, is sweet. We follow Isha's story and watch her develop from a pampered girl into a strong, independent woman. She is very human - guarded and careful, not quick to forgive others. Sometimes in stories of adversity, the protagonist is written as a superhuman, someone better than the rest of us. Isha isn't like that; she is very real and only does what she must do to protect herself and her children. The end of the story is a little crazy and unbelievable; one of the characters remarks that he feels like he is in a Bollywood movie. However, it is still an extremely worthwhile and enjoyable book.

Though the controversial subject of female infanticide doesn't receive much publicity in the United States, it is a real problem in India. It is now illegal in India for a doctor to discuss the sex of a child with its parents before birth, though as we see in The Forbidden Daughter, that doesn't prevent many doctors from doing it anyway. It is important to note that this isn't a general mindset - my parents, who are Indian, have two daughters and have always been more than thrilled to have us. While a reader shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that this is the mindset of all Indians, it is a serious and very heartbreaking problem.

The Forbidden Daughter is a wonderful story that defies genres. It is a daring book, bringing to light a problem that has been hidden just beneath the surface in India for quite some time. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in controversial issues, or anyone simply looking for an engaging story.

The topic of "The Forbidden Daughter" sounded interesting, which is why I bought the book. Unfortunately, Bantwal should stick to romance novels and not try to tackle a serious subject. Not only are the sentiments sappy, but the writing itself is just painfully bad. Examples: "And the heart that beat under that sensible blue-and-white striped shirt? Surely it was much too generous and much too large to fit into that average-sized chest." or "The warm, urgent pressure of his hands on her was like a balm and an aphrodisiac combined--a promise of sustenance for her starved heart and body. His eyes, without the glasses, were burning laser beams. She was willing to bet he could see all the way into her soul." AUGH! Seriously; she said his eyes were like laser beams.

Remember 10th grade English class when your teacher taught you to "show it, don't say it"? Well, apparently Ms. Bantwal was absent that day. Writing in short choppy sentences, she never misses an opportunity to pound the reader relentlessly over the head with exactly what the characters are thinking and feeling rather than letting it be apparent from context.

I noticed--too late--that the reviews published on the inside cover for the author's previous novel, "The Dowry Bride," included one by Harriet Klausner, "Amazon's #1 Book Reviewer." Ha.

I picked this book up at the airport. The cover art and subject had caught my attention. I had anticipated the subject of selective abortion in India to be approached in a similar quality manner as the problems of Afghan women in "A Thousand Splendid Suns". The difference though is immense. The book starts feeling like the literary version of a soap opera. Halfway into the book I noticed that the first page explained the target audience. The radiant reviews came from Romantic Time, RomanceReviewsToday.com etc. With this in mind I lowered my expectations and enjoyed the book as a quick, easy and relaxing romantic book that also (briefly) touched on the shocking subject of selective abortion.

My book group and I were disappointed with this book. It was too simplistic and the writing was weak. Yet it was still a page-turner because of the important subject.

I was sorely disappointed by the book. It turned out to be no more than mindless fluff: a cheap romance with some thrills thrown in. there is no development of the characters, no insightful discussion.. nothing. The plot had a lot of potential. However, the writing; the tendency of the writer to explain everything, the annoying translations after every single indian word or phrase (this is what glossaries are for!!!), the stilted, amateurish conversations just get on your nerves after a while. i also found I can safely skim through he book and not miss anything.

the writer is an amateur and I am VERY ANNOYED that I wasted money on it!! i wish I could return it. But one cannot return books on the kindle!!! argh. Oh and by the way, Selective abortions are not SO commonplace in India..

I am from East Indian{Hindu}desent but we don't have this type of belief. I like to read and learn about the traditions of India and this is one I don't agree on. Girls, are beautiful children and they are considered the
Lakshmi in the family. I am the mother of two girls and one boy, they are all treated equally. The Dowry Bride and The Forbidden Daughter was a
learning experience.

The Dowry BrideWhen I started this book, I had no real idea of what women went through in India. It is the story of Isha and Nikhil Talik, they are expecting their second child and very happy. The go to their doctor for an ultrasound and it's revealed, it is another girl. Their first child Priya, was a girl, and treated as if she did not exist as Nikhil's sister had two boys and all the attention went to them. The doctor casually mentions that it can be taken care of, Isha and Nikhil are horrified at the suggestion and leave. His parents are very angry and want them to abort the child, both stand steadfast in their decision. Nikhil is murdered and the in-laws blame Isha and the unborn child. They both suffer at the hands of her in-laws. She does the best she can and having grown up in a traditional Indian family, she respects them and does her best each day, until one day, something happens and she knows she can no longer stay there, so she packs and with Priya leaves. Isha goes through many trials and tribulations but does not let it stop her, though many times her heart is heavy but she keeps doing what must be done to survive. Her courage is amazing, she is living a life that is unfamiliar and alien as to how she grew up.

I read The Forbidden Daughter in one sitting, it was that good and I just had to know how Isha's life turned out. Her story is a journey of love, loss and determination in a world where she has no status or money and is sure to touch your heart. This is a book all women should read and stand up for our sisters in other countries. The murdering of innocent children, just because they are girls, is horrible. Shobhan Bantwal tells the story very well, her characters are believable and real and you immediately feel kinship with Isha and wish you could jump into the book to help her. It is because of authors like Shobhan Bantwal, the story comes out and now that it is out, we should try and figure out, what we as women, can do to change things. My eyes have been opened and can never be closed again. I also ordered her first book, The Dowry Bride, I loved this one so much, I ordered it without even looking to see what it is about. I can't recommend The Forbidden Daughter enough. It will move you and touch your heart. I am thrilled to have found this author and look forward to her future writings.

In this heart-wrenching drama, Shobhan Bantwal gives us a captivating glimpse into contemporary Indian culture, including the emerging dark side of gender selective abortions. Tackling this difficult subject head-on, Bantwal presents Isha, a young mother given a horrendous choice-her unborn daughter or her family, wealth, status and security.

Isha's decision to keep her baby ultimately leads to a dreadfully treacherous life. Shunned by her family and cut off from her entire social network, Isha is forced to fend for herself and her daughters in a society that no longer acknowledges her.

In the second half of the novel, Isha finds herself ensnared in the dark world of selective abortions. Holding evidence which could expose a prominent doctor's illegal and immoral acts places Isha in the center of a dangerous target, threatening to harm her and all those close to her. Bribery, blackmail, kidnapping, murder-this thriller turns fast-paced and heart-stopping until the exciting final conclusion.

Bantwal peppers the story with romance and Indian culture, creating a clear vision of the complex life in modern small-town India. She portrays the tremendous pressure on young Indian married women to produce a male heir, even now in 2008. Though Isha's life and culture are probably very different than that of the majority of readers, we are drawn to her, struggle along with her and cheer for her until the very end.

Though the subject of The Forbidden Daughter is a difficult one emotionally, we are compelled to keep reading, to stand as a light with Isha against this dark world. Emotionally charged and poignant, this novel forces us to examine the fate and future of women in contemporary India.

Armchair Interviews says: Powerful story for powerful subject.