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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great first novel, July 27, 2002
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR by Amulya MalladiA BREATH OF FRESH AIR is the story of a young woman, Anjali, who lives through a major disaster and changes her life for the better because of it. The book opens with Anjali waiting for her husband Prakash to pick her up at the train station to take her home. Prakash is very late. On that fateful day on December 3, 1984, the gas explosion from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, India, only a few miles away from the train station, spews out gas fumes for miles around, killing or physically harming anyone that comes in contact with it. Hundreds die or are taken ill. Anjali feels a horrible pain in her lungs as she tries to breathe. She cannot fathom what is happening to herself and to those around her. She loses consciousness, and wakes up to find herself in a hospital bed. The events from this day have a dramatic effect on Anjali's life. Not only does she develop a horrible debilitating asthma that stays with her for the rest of her life, but also she finds out that the reason her husband was late in picking her up at the train station was that he was busy with a lover. Despite Indian customs and traditions, and the fact that her parents strongly disapproved her actions, she divorces Prakash. Years later, we find Anjali happily married to another man, her second husband Sandeep. Her life with Sandeep is very complete. They are still in love after 15 years of marriage. They have a son, Amar, who is their pride and joy. But there is one problem --- because of the effects the gas explosion had on Anjali, Amar was born with so many birth defects that the doctors did not think he would live. He's had numerous surgeries to fix his ailing heart and lungs, but these surgeries are only temporary relief for this poor boy who is destined to live a short life. Despite his ill health and his inability to live the life of a normal healthy boy, Amar seems happy enough, enjoying each day as it comes. Anjali and Sandeep are very proud of him. A chance meeting with Prakash one day changes Anjali's life once again. She loves Sandeep, and nothing will ever change that. But because of doubts that have been planted in her mind by her parents, she soon begins to wonder if she had made a mistake by not trying harder to be the good wife of Prakash. On the other hand, she still feels deep anger at him and blames him for her poor health and the poor health of her son Amar. Prakash as well finds himself angry that Anjali had left him. He had also remarried, and he loves his wife, but now he finds himself comparing her to Anjali. Who was the better wife? Sandeep starts to doubt Anjali's love for him, thinking that she has loved Prakash all along. He keeps these feelings to himself, afraid to voice them. Anjali senses something wrong, and becomes frustrated knowing that there is something big troubling Sandeep. A BREATH OF FRESH AIR by Amulya Malladi is a great first novel. Malladi uses the backdrop of India of the 70's and 80's to tell the story of a woman who was born to a society of strict morals, but learns to be independent and march to her own drummer. It is the story of how a major tragedy changed the life of one naive girl, and helped open her eyes to the real world. It took a life-threatening event for her to see what true happiness was all about. I recommend this book, especially to those who have read other fine fiction that has been set in India. Having just read A FINE BALANCE by Rohinton Mistry, I was very eager to read Malladi's book. I was not disappointed.
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by Thrity Umrigar
by Amulya Malladi
by Amulya Malladi
by Amulya Malladi
by Amulya Malladi
