![Photo de l'auteur](https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/82/5d/825dc294c46be8765494c7441514330414c5141_v5.jpg)
Melody Razak
Auteur de Moth: A Novel
Œuvres de Melody Razak
Ascolta la pioggia (Italian Edition) 1 exemplaire
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Membres
Critiques
Prix et récompenses
Statistiques
- Œuvres
- 2
- Membres
- 76
- Popularité
- #233,522
- Évaluation
- 3.3
- Critiques
- 2
- ISBN
- 11
- Langues
- 1
Set in 1946-47 during the tumultuous end of the British Raj, Moth traces the fortunes of a liberal Brahmin family. Ma and Bappu teach at the local university in Delhi, and they have brought their daughters Alma and Roop up to be independent. Also in the household is the malevolent mother-in-law Daadee Ma who resents her son's choice of wife and adheres strictly to the old ways; and the faithful servants. Dilchain is an exemplary cook who was rescued at seventeen from an abusive husband who accidentally set himself on fire instead of her. Fatima Begum — after her husband was killed in a grotesque traffic accident — came into the household as a wet nurse and stayed as an ayah who has cared for the two girls since they were infants. She is Muslim, and her presence in the house has to be defended against Daadee Ma who is furious about it.
According to the traditions of the time which still persist today, these three widows can never marry again. Widows are expected to withdraw from the world as if their lives are over, even if they are widowed very young. Daadee Ma is very unsympathetic to Fatima Begum still mourning her only child who died a week after her husband. She herself lost many children in their infancy but Bappu and his sister Cookie Auntie survived and she has grandchildren. She also has strength and agency.
This agency extends to a dubious role as matchmaker for Alma. Alma is only fourteen and still a very bright student at school but as the extent of atrocities triggered by Partition become clear, her parents' liberalism is revealed to be limited. A distant cousin is tortured, mutilated and killed and they naïvely think that marriage will protect Alma from dangers to come. A girl's reputation for purity is essential to make a good marriage, so Daadee Ma is authorised to find a suitable match and when the novel opens, preparations for the marriage are under way. Cookie Auntie (who married unhappily for money) turns up from Bombay with deep pockets for wedding jewellery along with the trousseau sewing skills that Ma lacks. Alma, too young to realise the implications of leaving one household for another not necessarily as congenial, is enthusiastic and indulges herself with romantic dreams about the young man. (Who is 22.)
The character of Roop, aged about five, is very interesting.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2023/02/25/moth-2021-by-melody-razak/… (plus d'informations)