Sisters of the Sari [Paperback]

Brenda L. Baker (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 7, 2011

A debut novel about an American woman and an Indian woman who are about to dramatically change each other's lives-along with the lives of those around them.

While vacationing in India, Kiria Langdon, the opinionated and driven CEO of a major company, meets Santoshi, a former slave who now works as a cleaning lady and lives in a shelter for homeless women in Chennai. Appalled by the conditions in the shelter, Kiria becomes obsessed with the idea of building decent housing for poor working women in India. Santoshi reluctantly agrees to help, even though she thinks Kiria's ideas are too crazy to succeed.

Embarking on a rich journey of personal discovery, both women will learn invaluable lessons about themselves as they forge a powerful bond of sisterhood across the barriers of language and culture-a bond that makes anything possible.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After 35 years working as a computer programmer, Brenda L. Baker moved to India where she volunteered at the Madras Christian Counsel of Social Service in Chennai, writing funding proposals and teaching English to women residing in shelters. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; Original edition (June 7, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451233212
• ISBN-13: 978-0451233219
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,296,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Toronto, Brenda spent her working life writing computer programs in Canada, the United States and the Netherlands. Her passion is exploring new cultures, with knitting and reading tied for second place. She likes cats, but resists owning one herself, since everyone knows little old ladies can't just stop at one. Visit her at http://brendalbaker.com/

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down... July 11, 2011

By rainbowbrite

Format:Paperback

This is such a wonderful book. It was funny, heart warming, and heart breaking all at the same time. The author grabs you right from the start as the main character Kiria deals with one calamity after another upon her arrival in India and she doesn't let you go until the last page. Sisters of the Sari takes you deep into the lives and culture of it's characters in such a touching way. Definitely add this book to your summer reading list!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet touristy read July 26, 2011

By J. Wolf

Format:Paperback

This summer seems to have been the summer of reading in this house and I couldn't wait to read this book. In the same vein of going on a trip and having a life experience that I found in "Eat, Pray, Love," Sisters of the Sari by Brenda L. Baker is one of those books that will grab you and transport you off to India to live in someone else's shoes for a little while.

Kiria is a Canadian CEO who decides to take a vacation to the non-touristy spots in India. What she finds is that people are all too willing to fleece a white tourist and, after losing her luggage, what she really wants are clean clothes and a little bit of understanding. She finds it in Santoshi, an Indian woman who gives her the last of her money so she can travel back to her hotel. In her quest to repay Santoshi, she discovers that her life has not been as cut and dry as she imagined and that there is much left to be discovered about herself and about others.

First, let's hit the plot. I was intrigued and entertained by the plot throughout the story. Ms. Baker winds a tale nicely and vividly. Both the setting and characters were well drawn and secondary characters were nicely used to help flesh out the important aspects of the novel. My one complaint is that I feel like I ended the book not knowing or understanding Kiria any better than when I started. In other words, her dynamics didn't feel like they changed much to me nor did I think she came to much understanding of herself. Yes, she absolutely went to huge lengths (without giving away too much of the plot here) to help others and do great things, but when we end the book, I feel like she herself has changed very little, quite honestly. Elements of who she was were there from the beginning and her growth was not strong. Nor was that of Santoshi. Perhaps the greatest growth came from Laxmi, who was a secondary character who realizes that even in a culture that does not support women's liberation, you can have it all and you can be happy.

Overall, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It hit on the cultural issues I found lacking in other books regarding Indian tradition and culture (fiction novels, that is) and I enjoyed the characters. More depth in them would have been nice, but not everyone wants a character who goes beyond the surface level to scratch deep. A very nice summer read that went by quickly.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in order to review it. Thanks!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! June 16, 2011

By Linda C. Wright

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kiria is a middle aged, savvy business woman who wants to do something more meaningful with her life. She takes a trip to southern India, and in a time of need in an unfamiliar country she becomes the recipient of unexpected kindness of a poor Indian woman, Santoshi. Forming a tenuous bond, Kiria sets out to change Santoshi's circumstances. Santoshi is not aware that her circumstances are in need of a change.

Ms. Baker did a wonderful job of depicting the clash of cultures. A western woman who expects life to be clean, cool and orderly struggles to come to terms with the poverty and plight of women that they accepted as normal. Kiria has a few skeletons in her own closet that when added to the mix help to propel her and Santoshi into new views of life.

Sisters of the Sari is a wonderful modern story full of rich and interesting characters. The well detailed clash of cultures make this book a page turner that you won't be able to put down.

Linda C. Wright
Author
One Clown Short