Shobhan Bantwal

This book started out great. Soorya is a young, traditional Indian woman from NJ who is at the age where most of her friends are settling down. In the American tradition, she would probably join Match.com and go out on more dates, but in Soorya's family, couples are set up based on ancient tradition. The book open as Soorya is having a "bride viewing" with a young man from another reputable Indian Family. The book follows them as they get to know each other, but a wrench is thrown in when Soorya becomes attracted to a fellow attorney- who happens to be the wrong religion, and the wrong race ( not to mention a widow). I really enjoyed Soorya for the first 2/3 of the book. Then she became whiny and a annoying. I also kept hoping for something more with Lou- I just didn't like Rajesh and he didn't seem like a good match for Soorya. It just seemed so out there.

The first part of the book is great. I loved the cultural insights, but toward the end , it just lost steam to me.… (more)

The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal revolves around the issue of gender selective abortions. This is a practise that, although illegal, is not uncommon in India, where tradition and culture favors the birth of a male heir. In this story, pregnant with their second girl child, Nikhil and Isha are offered an abortion. They are incensed that the doctor, and Nikhil’s parents think this is an acceptable choice yet while Isha simply changes doctors, her husband gathers evidence against the abortionist but before he can go to the police he is murdered. We then follow Isha as she leaves her in-laws home and tries to make a life for herself and her children.

This is an excellent story that draws the reader into the life of this young mother as she tries to build a new life for herself and her daughters. She is helped along the way by a caring sister-in-law who goes against her parents wishes to help her and by a young doctor who becomes involved with the small family and grows to love them.

Set in contemporary India, the book becomes equal parts of a family drama and a murder mystery. With it’s poignant story line, well developed characters and intriguing setting, Forbidden Daughter is well worth a read.… (more)

The Forbidden Daughter is a novel about how the selective abortion of female fetuses has been used by those who care about the old ways in order to produce only male heirs.

Isha Tilak and her husband Nikhil have one daughter, Priya. Priya is treated abysmally by her grandparents compared to her male cousins but the family does not address the issue. When Isha becomes pregnant for the second time an ultrasound is performed to check the baby's health but also to check the sex of the baby. When Isha is found to be pregnant with her second daughter her ob-gyn offers to perform an abortion. In addition, her in-laws demand that she abort the child. Selective abortion is not legal in 2006 India and Isha's Doctor, Dr. Karnik, has broken the law by offering to perform an abortion. Nikhil is outraged and gathers information on Dr. Karnik but is unable to use it after he is mysteriously killed at the office. Isha's in-laws blame the death on a curse from the unborn baby but she is convinced that it has something to do with Dr. Karnik's solution to her problem.

This is a beautifully written novel about modern Indian culture. It gives an interesting look into the continued importance of having a male heir in today's society. The author took on a tough subject and made it a captivating read. I was pleased to see the main character forego her Brahman upbringing and go out on her own to raise her daughters. She overcame the notion of how a well-bred woman should behave and became an independent woman.… (more)