Nectar in a Sieve

For my Gender Studies class, we were given a list of books to choose from to review. I chose Nectar in a Sieve. At times the kindle edition is a bit strange in formatting but the book itself was a fantastic, quick read that follows the life of an Indian woman and the struggles of her family.

Everybody has choices and challenges during their lives. Which path to take? What attitude to keep? What we need to work on? This book inspired me to reframe and accept the good and difficult in my life with grace. Loved it.

Wonderful and rich story ! Charming read. Enjoyed reading very much . Sad in parts, but redemptive too.

This story is one of love, loss, plenty and deprivation. Characters were well developed and the story drew you in to see what happened next.

Book for school

Poignant, but relentlessly depressing. A useful period piece of the modernization of rural India. Assigned as part of 10th grade Odysseyware English curriculum.

Read this as 14 year old student. Disliked. Re read as an adult and found so much meaning and joy among the heartbreak and sorrow. Couldn't put it down.

Good book

This novel had great success when published in 1954--perhaps because it appeals to western views of 3rd world victims--a story of unrelieved suffering. It has many similarities with the later popular film, Mother India, portraying the struggles doomed to failure of a young Indian woman who loses her land, her sons, her husband, and even her daughter (to prostitution). Nevertheless she is portrayed with sympathy and one admires her resilience.

An Urgent and important account of poverty. This is set in India but it is a universal story, well written

A slice of poor peasant life simply told, in the same way that the main character lived it. I was torn between frustration and admiration at her acceptance.

J'ai lu ce livre (en Français) des dizaines de fois quand j'étais jeune et c'est avec un grand plaisir que j'ai pu le retrouver, en Anglais cette fois. Une vie au jour le jour, avec ses joies et ses peines. L'évolution d'un village et les conséquences sur la vie des habitants lorsqu'une entreprise s'installe.