A Good Indian Wife by Anne Cherian is a fictional book about an “accidental” arranged marriage.
Suneel (Neel, as he’s known in America) is an American doctor, who has shunned his Indian roots since coming to the states for school. He’s been having a mainly sexual relationship with a blonde, all-American secretary at the hospital where he works.
When his grandfather’s sickness propels him to India to visit, Neel is kind of tricked into accepting a wife.
He tries to get out of it, in many ways, but seems to be stuck and has to bring his new wife back with him to America.
Neel’s a jerk, cheating on Leila (the new wife) and treating her badly.
Will he change his ways and appreciate his Indian wife? Or is the relationship going to crash and burn?
This isn’t a love story. Even though there’s an arranged marriage, it’s more about relationships, friendships, adapting to new situations, and being true to yourself.
A Good Indian Wife was a quick read for me, because of the interesting storyline and because of the culture exploration. I’m a sucker for books set in other cultures!
Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon & Indiebound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.
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I notice I learn much more when I read book set in other cultures. Especially if I read a few in a row.
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I agree with you! It’s kind of like when you were recently on your Asian book kick.
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I love books that show other cultures, too. This sounds great!
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It was really good, an easy read about a modern arranged marriage.
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This sounds interesting! I don’t know why, but arranged marriage books always fascinate me.
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And this one being a modern arranged marriage was good, too. Because he was kind of tricked into it, and Neel is more of a modern American man.
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This looks like a good one. I love books set in other cultures too and have been doing the Around the World in 80 books challenge. Probably half the books I’ve read though are set in India, since that is where my family is from. Marriages of my parents generation are typically arranged with only a couple of love marriages. It is certainly a different dynamic in the relationship in the arranged marriage, the sense of duty and the greater hurdles the couple must face as they get to know their spouse better. What amazes me still is how those marriages do work and my parents have always had a love and respect for one another that you don’t see in too many marriages today. When I was of marrying age, my parents gave me a choice and while they hoped it would work out for meand a brilliant, nice Indian man, I chose love in the end and got my happily ever after.
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I think it seems strange to Americans that there are still arranged marriages, but at the same time, sometimes it works well. Do you think it’s the arranged marriage part of the culture part that leads to better working marriages and perhaps less divorces than when people choose on their own?
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Wow, this sounds fascinating. Books set in other cultures some of my favorites too 🙂
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I’m a sucker for books about Asian culture, but I’ve read a few about India. Have you read A Fine Balance? It is one of my favorite books of all time and it’s set in India, actually.
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This sounds like an interesting book — and also really informative. Great review!
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Thanks!
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This sounds like one I’ll add to my list… The idea of being torn between modern life in the U.S. and old cultural traditions is very interesting. Great review!
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Yeah, those kind of books are always interesting – tradition versus modernity.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am not sure it would be something for me but the fact it is a quick read and you found it interesting might make me pick it up at a point I am looking for a quick read.
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There probably are much better light reads for you, then. 😀
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This sounds like something I would really like. Thanks, Rebecca!
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This sounds like an interesting read. I cannot imagine what it is like to be in an arranged marriage.
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I am glad I got to make my own choice as well!
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Yay for different cultures! That’s totally my thing. I’ll add this to my TBR (though my TBR is so high right now I don’t think I’ll be able to read this anytime soon, but who knows..)
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Haha, everyone’s TBR is overflowing. . . that’s how TBR works, right? 😀
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It sounds a good book and I kind of like that it’s not a love story, there must be more time for the subject exploration due to that.
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I agree. It is more like a story about finding yourself.
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Many thanks for every other wonderful posting. The area otherwise could any individual obtain that types of information and facts in these an excellent method of writing? I get a display in a month’s time, and I’m to the hunt for similarly info.
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I love learning about new cultures and I find the Indian culture to be interesting. The arranged marriage thing is something I don’t think I would ever accept and I don’t always understand it, but the rest of their culture is so interesting and colourful! I’m making a note of this book.
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It’s not too new, either, so you could probably find it at the library.
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