THE BANDIT QUEENS BY PARINI SHROFF

THE BANDIT QUEENS BY PARINI SHROFF

I don't gravitate toward books that take me to another culture. I think it's because my own culture intrigues me enough. But occasionally I go there. And afterward I always wonder why I don't visit more often.

This is the one about Geeta, a late-30's, seemingly widow, in a small village in India where young girls worry about being accosted on their morning trip to the fields to relieve themselves. It seems like it's another century, yet other women watch crime shows on TV and have picked up an understanding of fingerprints and shell casings.

I said 'seemingly widow' because everyone in the village presumes Geeta killed her drunk, abusive husband five years ago. Since then she's been an isolated outcast 'mixed with dirt'. But now her reputation is drawing requests for help to get rid of other drunk, abusive husbands. Seeing as she has a knack for it and all.

The story weaves in Indian mythology and ideology and is heavily salted with its terminiology. Words like su-su, pallu, kabaddi, Ram, Dalit, thara. But what kept me turning pages, was the wit. There's nothing I like better than reading sharp-tongued women deal with, well, anything.

And that's what's at the heart of this book. Smart women making shit happen.
Loved it.