I loved this book.

That said, love aside, I cannot realistically give 5*. I turned the last page of this book over a year after I turned the first. For me, to give 5* doesn't necessarily mean that the book was a 'page-turner' (how I hate that term!), but I do think it requires some level of continuous interest that I lacked here.

It was those darned zamindari abolition act sections! At points I really did think they may be the death of me!

The rest of the novel was vibrant, layered, and thoughtful. The book's length allowed me to know the characters. Not just Lata or Maan, but Rasheed, Meenakshi, Bhaskar, Tasneem...

World building at its finest, and I'd recommend as long as you feel tough enough for a little endurance along the way.

I thought the ending was perfect.

Spoiler

Not a happy ending, but a perfect ending. I'm sure Lata's final decision was a disappointment to many, but that was the point, right? The choices we make in life often concern so much more than just ourselves, and the truth is, sometimes the costs of a decision outweigh love.

As the book progressed, I found myself realising that there was no choice for Lata that would make me happy. Any of the three suitors came with significant flaws. For it to have been Amit would not have satisfied me. As Lata herself reasoned, she was unsuited for a life as a poet's wife.

For it to have been Kabir would have been unrealistic - either it would come at the cost of her family, or they would have miraculously come around, which would have been entirely unbelievable. Of course, the fact that this 'problem' still exists is it's own tragedy. Lata deserved better than to settle for Haresh's stability.

The ending was perfect because it was unsatisfying! As unsatisfying as real life often is :)