Customer Reviews

The Full Moon Bride

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

 

 

Soorya Giri is a smart, educated, young woman. Soorya Giri went to college and became a lawyer. Though Soorya Giri may seem like she has everything, there is one thing that she desires more...a husband.

The Full Moon Bride is the latest novel from author, Shobhan Bantwal. If you like Indian culture and stories than you have to check this author out. I have been reading Mrs. Bantwal's books for a while. Each one brings something different to the table but almost always Mrs. Bantwal sticks to her roots of being raised in India and adds her influence to her books and characters. The women in each book are strong and independent. This is not something you would probably typically associate with the women of this country but being strong does not always mean being loud. I must admit that the last book I did not care for but this book is a step in the right direction again as to why I like this author.

After seeing how much trouble Soorya Giri went though to find a husband, she was almost better off having an arranged marriage. If she had, she would have avoided all the drama and losers she had to meet. Of course, if this had happened than I would not have gotten to know Soorya Giri as well as I did. As I was reading this book I could not help but notice how much detail Soorya Giri got when she explained things. Soorya Giri tells the story from her perspective. The Full Moon Bride is a book that you will say "I Do" to over again and again!

Love the story and love the idea of reading about another culture. I would read this author again and I am sure enjoy it just as much. Love the main character and love how she tells us of tradition and how a woman raised in this country deals with it. Three cheers for a lovely story.

I usually love books about the Indian culture and was excited to start this one.

But the writing, the style, and the main character were so silly and trite I was actually amazed this book made it past the editor and was published.

First off-its nice that she lives with her parents and grandmother but to mention how she's a 30 year old virgin again AND again seems pointless and unnecessary.

Especially since she's an environmental lawyer who obviously went to college and probably had her share of parties. Also in American today-highly unlikely.

Then her strange diet of eating only white, red and green colors is so lame and bizarre it got annoying. Then she doesn't drink coffee -why? Then she'll allow herself a sip of champagne at Rajesh's opening night of the play -one sip? Live a little dear. Just so annoying.

And let's get started on the whole Rajesh/Roger thing. So he lies about his name--ok. A couple weeks call him by it but after that it's Rajesh. Her character was truly annoying.

The dialogue was trite and silly including a phrase the main character utters which I don't think has been uttered by ANYONE in the last 100 years "Unhand me, Roger."

Unhand me? Seriously?

Maybe "release me this absolute instant" would have been more 1900. Nitpicking? Perhaps. But the point is that a book with dialogue out of date and trite that could have been written by a 10th grade English class annoys me.

And let's not even START with the whole "Lou" fascination of should she-shouldn't she be with.......(GASP) a Black man -but NAHHHHHHHHHHH let's stay with Roger errr Rajesh.

I would pass on this one -but what the hell. You have a couple of hours to kill on a Sunday - go ahead.

I am a big fan of this genre and this story had potential. The writting was awful however. The characters were unlovable. I was bored and didnt care how it ended. Try Good Indian wife, Secret daughter, or Good son insteas.

The Full Moon Bride by Shobhan Bantwal was the first Indian-culture book I have read, and I was fascinated by it. The heroine is Soorya Giri, a thirty-year old environmental lawyer who lives in New Jersey with her parents and grandmother--who desperately want her to be married. Arranged marriages are the norm in the Indian culture, but Soorya is appalled by them. Living in America, she has seen how other couples marry for love and not just tradition, and she wants the same for herself. When Soorya is introduced to Roger Vadepalli, she doesn't want to like him. He is arrogant and egotistical, but at the same time quite charming and intelligent, with dreams outside his tradition as well. But there is also Lou, a colleague who her family will not approve of, but who seems to enjoy Soorya's company as well. As Soorya faces these decisions, she realizes what it means to be independent from her family and how to finally find what is right for her.

First off, I think the cover is exquisite. Second, like I mentioned above, this was my first time trying out a book with an Indian heroine, and I would like to think I learned a lot from it. From the culture, traditions, food, roles of men and women, etc., there is a lot to take in. I thought Soorya was a fine heroine, someone who has obviously been very sheltered along her life by her family. Even though she was somewhat hesitant about certain topics, she was still a strong and smart character, and I enjoyed reading her story. Sometimes things did seem a bit old-school to me: Soorya being a thirty-year old virgin who absolutely cringes at the thought of sex, and the fact that she thought she couldn't flirt with Lou because he was black--but those were smaller details to me. The story as a whole was a welcome one, and I would recommend this book, especially if you have an interest in the Indian culture.

I received this book from the publisher for a review without compensation.

This is Ms. Bantwal's latest book and as with all her previous books, she delives a story all women can relate to as well as introducing us to more of the Indian culture, which is rich and colorful. Soorya is a 30 year old virgin who lives at home with her family, they are well off and Soorya's father is a prominent plastic surgeon and she is an environmental lawyer for a New York firm. She deals with low self esteem and an ongoing weight problem, which I can relate to. In India, most marriages are arranged and they have what is called bride viewing,Soorya agrees to this as she really wants to have a husband,home and family but after being rejected so many times she no longer feels this will happen and along comes Rajesh Vadepalli, he's a handsome, laid back young man. Soorya fears rejection and behaves in such a way that it would discourage anyone, she is also taken back by his remark about looking for a wealthy bride. So, despite his trying to get to know her, she puts up a wall, letting her fears take over. I finished this in one evening, I could not put it down. While the characters are Indian, all women can relate to Soorya's feelings about herself and the desires she has. You'll have to read the book to see how the story progresses, I don't want to give too much away. You will learn a bit about Indian culture and food and some of the dishes mentioned, I have eaten and I can tell you, they are wonderful. So, sit back and dive into a very good story as well as learning something of Indian culture and food, it's a journey you won't want to end.

Wonderful book. I cant wait till book is made in to a bollywood movie! I strongly recommend to all romantic book lovers1

Look, this isn't great literature but it's a lovely, sweet read. Written in the first person, the author conveys nicely the prickly external demeanour of the heroine as well as her internal debates and struggles. The characters are for the most part well rounded and the situations recognisable.

Kudos too for managing to convincingly pull off a thirty-year old virgin!

The voice is quite (and rightly so) American and for a good while, I wasn't sure which guy she was going to end up with, which adds a nice note of suspense to the story.

If you're looking for a light read with an American/Indian flavour, I'd happily recommend this book.

While I'm not very familiar with the Indian culture, I think Shobhan Bantwal completely captured what must be the essence and contradictions of Indian-American life. Soorya is a second generation Indian-American, privileged, educated and successful. Not a classically beautiful woman, she has never really dated and finally desiring marriage and family, she agrees to bridal viewings in the hope of finding a young man willing to accept an arranged marriage as well. She soon discovers that meeting a young man is only half the battle.

I have always been intrigued that the concept of arranged marriages still flourishes, even here in America. The exploration of arranged marriages in this novel was fascinating. These are real, flawed people with desires and feelings and a love and loyalty to family and culture. Shobhan Bantwal's descriptions are colorful and rich. I enjoyed the portrayal of strong women and while I didn't love Soorya at first, she did grow on me towards the end.

Soorya Giri, an Indian-American, living in New Jersey and working in bustling Manhattan has everything going for her. She has a good educational background, is a successful lawyer in a prominent law firm, loving family and friends and the security of her childhood home. Everything, that is, but a husband! Soorya has been through the traditional "Bride-Viewing,"(which is part of an arranged marriage,) several times, with silence and rejection as the sad result. When all seems to be lost, she is introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Vadepalli and their charming as well as handsome son, Rajesh. As much as she was drawn to Rajesh by his good looks and politeness, Soorya's insecurities, caustic behavior and distrust came to call. In her own eyes, she will never be attractive enough for anyone and, even as laid back and likable as Rajesh (who had decided to be called Roger back in his home state of Kansas) is, Soorya had immediate reservations about him, especially when he candidly expressed his wish for a rich wife who would monetarily help with his Broadway aspirations. You will follow Soorya on an emotional roller-coaster ride as she deals with her duty to her heritage, family, the demanding career that includes proving herself as an important part of the firm and you will be introduced to the interesting individuals she meets through her case load, plus follow along on her constant strive for a lifetime of happiness. Her desire to be more carefree and fun-loving as her girlfriends , cause all sorts of frustration and, at times, anger and jealousy. You will cheer on Soorya as she wins some battles and embraces her South Indian Teluga upbringing. You'll be ready to take a hold of her shoulders and shake her as well, when she doesn't realize how blessed and truly special she is. Soorya is one who is admired and loved by many and finds it is either "feast or famine" where love is concerned. Will Soorya be disappointed after the "Bride-Viewing" with the Vadepallis? Will handsome actor, Satish make his feelings known? Will Soorya succumb to the suave and unbelievably handsome hunk/DEP Atty. Lou Draper--much to her family's dismay? Will Rajesh's determination in both the dramatic and romantic worlds succeed? By reading "Full Moon Bride", you will be swept into the Giri Family and learn much about Indian culture. I truly enjoyed the colorful descriptiveness and the attention to detail. I sincerely hope Ms. Bantwal has a sequel continuing Soorya's saga, planned in the not too distant.

Nancy Narma