Take a photo of a barcode or cover
_askthebookbug 's review for:
A Plate of White Marble
by Bani Basu
• r e v i e w •
.
One can always count on @niyogibooks for bringing underrated translated gems to the readers. A Plate of White Marble, which comes with a gorgeous cover was originally written in Bengali and published in 1990. Translated to English for the first time, I had a wonderful time enjoying Bani Basu's storytelling ability. Like a cherry on the cake, Nandini Guha's translation was brilliant and to the point. It's amazing how even in the early '90s, Basu boldly points out the discrimination carried out against widows. Through the protagonist, Basu breaks stereotypes but not without making the character go through several trials. By highlighting the hypocrisy and gender based discrimination that is still being carried out in the society, Basu gives us something to think about.
.
House number 45 Shyambazar Street may be brimming with educated individuals but when their eldest son dies at a young age, his wife Bandana is made to go through rituals that comes with one becoming a widow. She is immediately made to wear white and crude clothes, stripped off her jewelry and made to eat food that seeps out her health. An invisible barrier comes up instantly, cutting off Bandana from the rest of the family. When things at her in-laws house turns sour, her Kaka comes to her aid. She moves back with her son Abhiroop to her maternal home where Kaka nurses her back to health. With no support from her in-laws, Bandana takes up a job and slowly sheds all the absurd rituals that marked her as a widow. Although she puts up a brave face, she is critiqued and ridiculed behind her back, sometimes by her own son and daughter-in-law. But Bandana outshines them all.
.
Society has always been a cruel place for women and Basu lists down all the ways in which it draws a line between a man and a woman. While a widower can remarry and live an unmarked life, a widow is conditioned to leave behind her material comforts and even basic needs. A Plate of White Marble is an important read in many ways but mostly in assuring women that they too have the right to live and dream as they want to. I definitely recommend this.
.
Rating : 4.4/5.
.
One can always count on @niyogibooks for bringing underrated translated gems to the readers. A Plate of White Marble, which comes with a gorgeous cover was originally written in Bengali and published in 1990. Translated to English for the first time, I had a wonderful time enjoying Bani Basu's storytelling ability. Like a cherry on the cake, Nandini Guha's translation was brilliant and to the point. It's amazing how even in the early '90s, Basu boldly points out the discrimination carried out against widows. Through the protagonist, Basu breaks stereotypes but not without making the character go through several trials. By highlighting the hypocrisy and gender based discrimination that is still being carried out in the society, Basu gives us something to think about.
.
House number 45 Shyambazar Street may be brimming with educated individuals but when their eldest son dies at a young age, his wife Bandana is made to go through rituals that comes with one becoming a widow. She is immediately made to wear white and crude clothes, stripped off her jewelry and made to eat food that seeps out her health. An invisible barrier comes up instantly, cutting off Bandana from the rest of the family. When things at her in-laws house turns sour, her Kaka comes to her aid. She moves back with her son Abhiroop to her maternal home where Kaka nurses her back to health. With no support from her in-laws, Bandana takes up a job and slowly sheds all the absurd rituals that marked her as a widow. Although she puts up a brave face, she is critiqued and ridiculed behind her back, sometimes by her own son and daughter-in-law. But Bandana outshines them all.
.
Society has always been a cruel place for women and Basu lists down all the ways in which it draws a line between a man and a woman. While a widower can remarry and live an unmarked life, a widow is conditioned to leave behind her material comforts and even basic needs. A Plate of White Marble is an important read in many ways but mostly in assuring women that they too have the right to live and dream as they want to. I definitely recommend this.
.
Rating : 4.4/5.