The Book Cafe'

So, today is my first Book Cafè post. To say you the truth, I'm a little bit nervous...I just hope that the link tool will work, it's the first time I use it!







I want to talk about the book I've just finished:

The  Rice Mother, by Rani Manicka
Madre del Riso, for my italian friends.




This book is about a family epic saga set in lushious Malaysia which takes place during the last century.

Lakshmi marries Ayah at the age of 14 and goes to live in Malaysia from native Ceylon. Soon after the wedding celebration, Lakshmi discovers that she hasn't married a rich man, as her mom has tought giving her to a man who is so much older than Lakshmi is, but just a humble poor clerk full of debs and without ambitions.
With strong determination Lakshmi faces all the difficulties of living alone in a completely new country and works hard to give her and her six kids a better life.


Yes, Lakshmi and Ayah has 6 kids: the twins, exquisitely beautiful Mohini and smart Lakshman, caring Anna, sensitive Sevenese, ugly and unhappy Jeyan and quite and calm Lalita.

The book follows the story of the family through World War II and the Japanese occupation, past violence, drug abuses, marriages, births, losses and family secrets.



It's the story of 4 generations of women: form fierce Lakshmi to her frail great-granddaughter Nisha, who will finally discover all the family history and secrets.


This book takes you into a different evocative world with its fascinating culture, religion and tradition: a combination of powerful colours, lushios forests, tasty culinary delights, tradition and modernity, joy and sorrow, happiness and unfullfilled dreams.
It's written from all the characters' point of view, so every character adds a piece to the big puzzle and reveal more about the entire story.

I don't want to tell you all the details of the story, I just want to tell you why I liked it. Well, I love family saga, and this is a powerful multigenerational story. I loved the character of the Mother, Lakshmi, a formidable matriarch, determined to get a better life for her daughters and sons and to face every new challenge with strength. Lakshmi is that kind of strong woman that wants the best for her kids, but doesn't realise that her strenght personality may also choke them.



I loved all the colours, the feelings, the smells described in this book.


So, now it's your turn, what is the book you have just finished to read? Or, what is the book you will like to talk about?

RULES TO ENTER THE BOOKS CAFE':
1. Link up a post of yours talking about a book;
2. Link back in to this Books Cafè post, so that people can find out this little books friends corner!






12 commenti

  1. Ciao Mara! Ho linkato un mio precedente post, è uno dei miei libri preferiti...non ho avuto tempo di crearne uno nuovo mi spiace. Spero vada bene lo stesso!!

    Buon weekend xx

    RispondiElimina
  2. Ciao Mara!!
    mi sa che questo libro è molto bello ci farò un pensierino !!
    buon week-end!!
    Paola.

    RispondiElimina
  3. Ciao Mara! il libro sembra davvero bello,,io adoro le saghe familiari!! Purtroppo con il pc sono un disastro :( e mi devi dare un po' di tempo per capire come creare il link, spero di raggiungerti fra 15 giorni ;)
    Buon weekend
    paola

    RispondiElimina
  4. Dear Mara, today I found your blog via Zaira. It looks lovely and I have become a follower already. I love to talk about architecture, construction, decoration, art and travels. I just came back from Italy and now I am writing about it on my blog, little by little, because the experience is very long!
    Hope you will stop by to visit me sometime.
    Take care.

    RispondiElimina
  5. Mara, you are so creative. This is such a great idea. I will have to pin down what book I want to talk about and come back. Perhaps someone has already started a conversation on something I have loved. xo

    RispondiElimina
  6. Che bello!!!
    Le donne in gamba come Lakshmi sono sempre una grande ispirazione per me...credo che il mondo, senza la forza e la volontà delle donne, sarebbe davvero brutto.
    Un bacione,
    Fra

    RispondiElimina
  7. Mara che bella idea !!! Vorrei partecipare ma sono sicura che ci metto una vita a parlare di un libro.. che dici, ho un pò di tempo per prepararlo? Mi piacerebbe e ed è sempre interessante scoprire nuovi libri da leggere consigliate dalle amiche. Mi piace proprio!!
    Buon weekend tesorino
    xxx

    RispondiElimina
  8. Those spices looks amazing! Have a gorgeous weekend xx

    RispondiElimina
  9. I am also book mad so will definitely be back. I have a bookreview site as well as my one about our life in Italy, so maybe I can join The Book Cafe, what do I need to do? Sorry if I am asking the obvious, must read more of your blog and find out.

    RispondiElimina
  10. coucou,mara je decouvre ton post café tres sympa ,mais comment faire pour en faire parti,je n'est pas eu une bonne traduction!!!désolé!!à bientot kate

    RispondiElimina
  11. le-calepin-de-kateblogspot.com30 gennaio 2011 alle ore 19:17

    coucou,je decouvre ton post"café" tres sympa mais je ne comprend pas comment faire ,pas eu une tres bonne traduction!!!desolé,à plus tard ,kate

    RispondiElimina

Thank you for visiting me! All your comments make me happy! I will read each one carefully and respond to them!