I dont know why but I could not bring myself to finish this after loving all the other books in the series.

Borrowed from ten-year-old Niece. A fun tale for that age group. I have told her to ask for the second volume for her Birthday. We need to know what happens next.

Well this was a fun and interesting read. This is my very first book having Punjabi and/or Sikh characters as the main protagonists.

Nikki is British born of Punjabi parents and to their consternation is single, lives alone, works in a Pub and embraces Western values. Her older sister on the other hand has more tradition Punjabi values and is looking for an arranged marriage. Like the child of most emigrants Nikki finds herself caught between the two worlds (India and England) and never quite belonging to either. In a lot of ways this book is about Nikki reconciling this conflict within herself so she can choose her own direction in life.

Then one day Nikki takes a job teaching writing to older women in the Southall Sikh Temple and helping them tell their stories. However these ladies have their own ideas as to what stories are important to their lives and need telling (thus the title 😊). To answer the obvious question, yes the Erotic tales the Widows tell in the classes are threaded throughout the narrative (so be warned if you are listening on audio). They are beautifully written and crafted; sometimes wickedly funny and in one or two quite poignant and even a little sad. Storytelling is used a method to enable to women to become more confident, and to give a voice to women who had had their marriages arranged for them at very young ages. The empowering nature of this story telling with have consequences for the men of the Southall community before the end of the tale.

Then there are other elements to this story too. There is a “murder mystery”, a potential love interest and a dark threat of backlash from the more traditional males in the community.

Overall it’s light, funny, entertaining and fun.
Recommended to anyone fancying a light read that is just a little bit different.

Okay 5/5 for sheet entertainment value.

The book is written in an epistolary format mostly as a series of interview by an unnamed yet very influential person. You will know whether you like or hate him by the end but you could be wrong in that assumption. The narrative is fast paced, full of plot twists and will have you at the edge of whatever piece of furniture you like to occupy when reading. Also I love an author who happily kills off characters just as you become attached to them.

This is not literary fiction but it is bloody good fun. Recommended to people who enjoy summer blockbusters and roller-coasters.

The audible version of this book comes highly recommended.

Looking forward to waking gods !