Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: A Five-Star Book Review

Today I’m happy to share my review of Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, a Book of the Month backlist book from my stacks. This is a gorgeous novel from the start, and it hit all the right notes for me. Here’s why.

Why I Loved Independence

• Historical Fiction. As I’ve explained before, historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read. A good book from this genre takes me into a specific period of history and teaches me something new while engaging me with the story. Independence did just that. Set in 1947 British India, the novel explores partition and the political climate of the day, and the impact of the conflict and resolution on three sisters. With an exploration of Hindi and Muslim religions and traditions, Ms. Divakaruni shows how similar yet different the cultures are, and how the partition divided not just India but families and friends. I learned so much as I read Independence, and I loved the interwoven histories throughout the book.
• Family Saga. Another of my favorite types of story is complicated family relationships. Priya, Deepa, and Jamini are sisters who love each other but in complex ways. By telling each sister’s point of view, Ms. Divakaruni brings the family’s bonds and tensions to life. Youngest daughter Priya was my favorite character as she yearned to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor, but each sister had redeeming qualities and I enjoyed all three stories, especially as the resolution revealed itself.

Independence is an excellent historical fiction read for those of you looking to learn more about India or who are in the mood for a book with complicated family relationships. I highly recommend it!