Set in modern-day Mumbai, The Space Between Us is about the relationship between an affluent Parsi woman and her Hindi maid. They have shared more with each other than with anyone else in their lives and have connected through the hardships common to many women in India. Yet, their different class creates the unbridgeable space of the title.
I guess there are two ways to approach The Space Between Us: on one hand the impact and widespread domination of the oppression of women in Indian society, on the other the impact and widespread domination of the class system in Indian society.
The book delves deeply into the sufferings of women of any cast at the hands of men. Male characters who are not “mean” are merely weak and anything good they do is just not enough to make up for the hurt other men caused. These men (rich or poor, educated or illiterate), by their abuse or neglect, make the lives of every woman in The Space Between Us a trial.
It’s this common ground that apparently creates a real bridge between them, despite their different backgrounds. At points the story threaten to go the melodramatic way, but Umrigar managed to keep me grounded and thinking “horrible, but you know it happens all the time.”
As the story develops and we start knowing more about the past and present of these two women, there seems to be real love and loyalty between them. They also seem convinced they have conquered, at least partly, the unavoidable distances that money, education and station can create. How could it not be so when the maid Bhima nursed mistress Serabai after her husband brutally beat her? Or when Serabai paid for Bhima’s granddaughter’s education? Yet, when family and class loyalties put the relationship to the test, the results are unforgiving.
Despite Umrigar’s wonderful ending (cried like a baby), underlining the inexhaustible spirit of poor and continually-broken women, there’s still the message that the next generations of Indian women will still be doomed to the careless whims of men. However, unlike Out (which I read just before), although there is no redemption in The Space Between Us, there is resilience, and that’s something very human to hold on to.
I enjoyed the book very much even though it kept breaking my heart into tinier pieces as the story moved along. Men are all bastards and the plot borders on the soap-opera-ish at times, but all was balanced by the wonderful writing. I was fascinated by how a narrative voice so poetic created such a realistic book, and how, being so spare on descriptions, it still managed to convey such vivid images of place. I could smell the slums and hear the chapattis frying.
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This was the last of the five books Joanna recommended I read during 2011. The others were: Star of the Sea, The Vanishing of Katharina Linden, Kindred and Out. I hope to have as much fun with the 2012 ones!
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Other thoughts: S. Krishna’s Books, Ramya’s Bookshelf, Stiletto Storytime, Book Chatter, A Guy’s Moleskin Notebook, Caribousmom, Shona’s Book Shelves, Musings, Lotus Reads, Katarina’s Reads, The House of the Seven Tails, Books in the City, At Pemberley, Lit and Life, Rebecca Reads, She is too fond of books, Fizzy Thoughts, Book Splurge, A Writer’s Pen, Bibliophile Support Group, Bibliophile by the Sea (yours?)
9 comments
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January 17, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Scribacchina
This sounds similar in content to Anita Nair’s Ladies’ Coupé (although Nair’s was much more… ideal? Hopeful? Positive? I’m not sure). Thank you for sharing!
January 17, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Joanna
I knew you’d like this one! But seriously, you cried? I’ll have to tease you about that sometime! 🙂
January 17, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Roisin Mc Cormack
“Men are all bastards”!! I love it 🙂 Will be going book shopping soon so think I will keep an eye out for this, sounds good
January 17, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Ti
I enjoyed this one, but there was something in it that held me back from absolutely loving it. I can’t seem to remember what that was but it must not have been too significant since I read another novel by her right after finishing this one. Or maybe it was the other way around. Hmmm 🙂
January 17, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Kailana
I am thinking I will add this book to my wish list. I am curious about it now.
January 17, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Steph
What a wonderful and passionate review! India is a place that really intrigues me (I think it all started with my love of the food!), so I was happy to read that you felt this book really made the country and its cities come to life. I’ve never read anything by this author, but you’ve made me really eager to do so. Lately my brain has been sooooo tired that reading has been too effortful, but something that is well written and has a strong plot is probably a book I could handle!
January 17, 2012 at 11:28 pm
nomadreader
After really enjoying her latest book, The World We Found, I’m excited to read more Thrity, and I think I’ll start with this one. Thanks for the reminder (because quite a few have already recommended it!)
January 18, 2012 at 2:06 am
Diane@BibliophileBytheSea
I loved this book, and honestly, every book I’ve read by this author has been amazing.
Thanks for the wonderful (refresher) review. It’s been a while for me.
January 20, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Shannon (Giraffe Days)
I would love to read this someday, though I take your warning about the soap-operaishness quality it has at times. I haven’t read anything by Umrigar, actually, though I always notice her books because they get such lovely covers!