I am one of some lucky few who could get an advanced copy of this book by Kanika Dhillon. Kanika grew up in the Amritsar region of India and her novel begins in one of the villages from that area.
The Dance of Durga!!! What a dance it is! Right from the start, the plot had me surrendering to its events, characters and environments. The narrative opens up like a shawl woven with many colorful characters, each color holding a story and sensibility of its own. Some sad, some funny, some ambitious, some dangerous, some religious, some rebellious…..
A baby girl is born, yet again, to a family in a village of India. Her gifted sixth sense paves way for a distinct disposition. She dreams of flying free. And, as she grows and makes bold choices, life unleashes its wrath via lessons, opportunities, friends, lovers and villains.
She accepts what is dished out to her but seeks something. Maybe retribution! She uses irony and cynicism to wreak devotion and bends herself backwards to reach her goals. She may even come across sometimes as ‘unbreakable’. But she is a woman, after all, with a heart, and does succumb to love’s goosebumps.
Her life comes full circle when strength, fame, fortune, treachery, jealousy and vulnerabilities become tangled together. Extricating herself from this mess does not look easy, to say the least.
Intrigue factor: The heroine manipulates the concept of her faith in God or rather her loss of faith in God.
Interest factor: Story feels like a staircase with suspense building at every other step.
Great job Kanika Dhillon! I am a great fan of Indian writers who weave stories around our villages, our numerous cultures, faiths, consistencies and inconsistencies. This book is a proud moment for me.
