Customer Reviews

The Groom to Have Been

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This story is so well told and interesting that it was difficult to put down. I sent a copy to my 19 year old college freshman and she also enjoyed it immensely.

This book draws a rich picture of a 30-year old Indian man who goes back and forth between modern American life and his extended Indian family and culture. The main plot line is his choice to seek a wife through an arranged marriage, and the contrast between how he proceeds through that process and his tempestuous relationship with a female cousin/friend similar in age to him. The book raises questions about the various forms love takes and the implications. Can you grow to love your spouse in an arranged marriage? Is that process more effective in producing a "successful" union than a love match? What of the relationships of your childhood? Can you see them for what they are, and what they may become? Along the way, there are side excursions into the life of the Muslim community in America post-9/11 that are also very thought-provoking. All in all, I liked this book very much and recommend it highly.

I am not an expert on the Indian culture or the Muslim religion, so I felt a little lost at times. However, the themes of family, love, and living in a small culture outside your country (while being influenced and judged by the larger community) were fascinating. I really recommend it.

This book seems too preachy for an Indian or Muslim audience, but assumes the audience has too much background knowledge of Indian language/history/culture to be anything but. Many of the scenes are the main character's family sitting around the living room discussing the effects of 9/11, Islam, etc. It reads more like an explanation of Indian-American struggles, with very little story and very little character development. I could never really figure out or sympathize with the main character--his motivations and character were never obvious, nor explained. His longtime friend/love interest and arranged-wife were equally mysterious.

Basically there was too much political discourse and very little story. The plot just seemed like a vehicle for the author to discuss modern events and Indian-Americans.