Review: The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka

Please use this sub-forum to discuss any fiction books or series that do not fit into one of the other categories. If the fiction book fits into one the other categories, please use that category instead.
Forum rules
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
Post Reply
User avatar
Betty56
Posts: 11
Joined: 27 Nov 2014, 21:48
Bookshelf Size: 0
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-betty56.html

Review: The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka

Post by Betty56 »

5 Stars
This book is beautifully written. If you liked "In the Shadow of the Banyan", you will love "The Rice Mother." Manicka's descriptions are captivating. Example, describing Ratha's cooking - "In the kitchen Ratha set about turning the market produce into exotic meals. She was like an alchemist. She took some meat, spices, and vegetables and turned them into sumptuous meals that clouded your senses and drugged you into asking senselessly, "Is there any more?" Her genius was undeniable. She prepared jars of ginger marmalade and tomato chutney that followed you into tomorrow and next week. Unflinchingly, she beheaded adorable wood pigeons and unsuspecting wild fowl, marinading the dark meat in papaya skins to tenderize them. They melted in the mouth like butter." ...And you should read about the desserts...decadent!

Lakshmi is a young Ceylonese girl who is married to a Malayan man at the age of 14 and goes on to have six children by the age of 19. It starts in the 1930s. This is the story of the strengths of families and how families can destroy, of strong women and weak men. There are several narrators throughout the book but it is pretty easy to keep them straight.

The book goes through the Japanese occupation of Malaya and the atrocities inflicted upon the natives. The land was changed forever after their occupation.

The book was hard to put down after about the first half. There is little rejoicing but lots of heartache. Malaya came alive for me, as did the characters.
Post Reply

Return to “Other Fiction Forum”