The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka
May 9th, 2009 by Best Deals
The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka
Manickas first novel is a big, sprawling, absorbing multigenerational saga set in Malaysia. At the age of 14, Lakshmi is married off to Ayah, a man more than twice her age. Led to believe Ayah is rich, Lakshmi is surprised to learn he is actually a clerk wholly lacking any sort of ambition. Lakshmi makes the best of her situation, bearing six children, including a set of twins, in five years. But Lakshmi is dogged by a prophecy that predicts heartbreak from her oldest son and the loss of one of her other children. She is a ferociously protective mother, and when the Japanese invade Malaysia during World War II, she hides her three daughters away. At the end of the occupation, part of the prophecy comes true, permanently splintering Lakshmis family. Manicka tells her story from many of the characters point of views; they tell each others stories as often as they tell their own. Graceful, engrossing, and peopled with memorable characters, this novel is sure to attract a wide audience. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Exotic, sensual, sometimes sentimental, often searing, and ultimately universal… Read this one slowly, to savor. — Kirkus Reviews –This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Why Buy A The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka?
At the age of fourteen, Lakshmi leaves behind her childhood among the mango trees of Ceylon for married life across the ocean in Malaysia, and soon finds herself struggling to raise a family in a country that is, by turns, unyielding and amazing, brutal and beautiful. Giving birth to a child every year until she is nineteen, Lakshmi becomes a formidable matriarch, determined to secure a better life for her daughters and sons. From the Japanese occupation during World War II to the torture of watching some of her children succumb to life’s most terrible temptations, she rises to face every new challenge with almost mythic strength. Dreamy and lyrical, told in the alternating voices of the men and women of this amazing family, The Rice Mother gorgeously evokes a world where small pleasures offset unimaginable horrors, where ghosts and gods walk hand in hand. It marks the triumphant debut of a writer whose wisdom and soaring prose will touch readers, especially women, the world over.
Customer Reviews & Opinions
Thought provoking, insightful
This tale is wonderfully written from the point of view of each character in succession as the generations of a family carry forward through time. In first person, each character expresses his/her own hopes, assessing themselves and their actions, as well as reflecting on the events and the other characters with astonishing honesty. Exposed to both the good qualities and weaknesses in each character, the reader is engaged to appreciate each one and get a big picture of family dynamics.
As a family saga, this story realistically captures the characters and their relationships. Then there is also the historical setting and cultural perspectives to make this novel intriguing.
Couldn’t put it down
I LOVED this book. It is an honest, heartbreaking and heart lifting portrait of a family. This book spoke to me as a mother, a sister, a daughter and a wife. It was one of those books that you start to read more slowly as it comes to a close, just to savor the last moments and to keep it from coming to an end. Buy this book, read it, love it and share it with your family and friends.
Great Read!
I loved this book. What poetry this writer uses to describe the details of this family’s experiences! I like how she writes from many different points of view, and gives the reader a chance to feel what the characters feel in this delightful tale of love, trajedy, power, and objectivity.