All is well now, because I am deep into my reading of Nectar in a Sieve and I see now why it was such a popular book in the 1960s and 1970s. It was published in 1954, and is the story of a poor farming family who must struggle and live by their wits to survive in a village in India.
It is a first-person narrative, told from the point of view of the fourth (and last) daughter of a middling family. A huge wedding and dowry for the oldest daughter, then a good match and smaller wedding for the second daughter, followed by an even smaller village wedding and a marginal match for the third daughter. By the time the narrator is to wed, there is no money and no prestige to be gained from having her marry well. Moreover, she is no beauty. So she must marry a poor tenant farmer. And given this fate, she discovers, at age 12, how very lucky she is to have a kind, honorable man like Nathan who deeply cares for her and values her.
This novel is fascinating and the prose is simply written but lyrical. I'm loving it.
So change of scene:
I wonder, where has Ruth Galloway been all my life?
Yesterday I started the first book of the Ruth Galloway mysteries, The Crossing Places (2009), by Elly Griffiths. (For those who don't know Elly Griffiths, she is the author of The Stranger Diaries, a standalone mystery/crime/suspense/thriller, which I recently lauded to the heights.)
I love Ruth Galloway the same way that I love Kinsey Milhone of the Alphabet mystery series by Sue Grafton. (A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, etc.) Both Kinsey and Ruth do not care one iota for what other people think about them. They are both as quirky as hell, both live alone by choice, and both have fascinating careers. Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist, a subject that greatly interests me. I have read only 50 pages, but I've been researching The Bronze Age in Britain, The Iron Age, henges and torques--oh, I am in rapture! Thank you, thank you, whoever pushed the Ruth Galloway series my way--I think that's Katrina of Pining for the West and Cath of readwarbler.
Nectar in a Sieve Has been on my radar for a long time. It sounds like something that I would like. I also need to read more books that take place in cultures other then my own.
ReplyDeleteHi Brian,
DeleteAnd to think it's been on my radar since the late 1960s--and finally in 2019 I'm read it. I think you would like it. First of all, it is not a lengthy book by any means, and the language is beautiful. I MUST read Arundhati Roy's books, but her first was published in 1989 and so was not appropriate for the Back to the Classics Challenge. Only books published in 1969 or earlier qualify. But I'm so very happy that I didn't let Nectar in a Sieve pass me by. I find novels set in India to be utterly fascinating.
This sounds like a series that I need to try. I love when there's some quirkiness to be found LOL
ReplyDeleteDiane,
DeleteYou know, I am being so utterly entertained by the first Ruth Galloway novel. I read it this afternoon for an hour and was utterly entranced! So very good. Set in England, in Norfolk, by the North Sea. Oh, and if anyone ever loved quirkiness, it's me, because, as Ken always tells me, I am quirky. And I know it.
Here's another book to add to my list! I'm not familiar with Nectar in a Sieve, but it sounds like the type of story I enjoy. Just downloaded a sample to my kindle... fingers crossed I can get to it soon. Thanks, Judith!
ReplyDeleteHi JoAnn,
DeleteNectar in a Sieve is not a long book by any means. And it's so beautiful, and I've been so drawn into the life of this family and its struggles. I think you will like it very much.
You know I'm dying to read the works of the Indian author Arundhati Roy. But her first book was written in 1989. I hope to read it soon, but it doesn't fit for the Back to the Classics Challenge.
Very relieved that you like Ruth, not everyone does, some don't like the present -tense narrative (that's not the right term but I'm sure you know what I mean). You have so many treats in store with this series. I need to get the next one for me, book 10, The Dark Angel, set in Italy. Oh... it's just occurred to me that that would do for the European challenge. Win, win!
ReplyDeleteCath,
DeleteSpent an hour late this afternoon (my tea time) reading the first Ruth Galloway. OMG--I simply love it! I'm sorry to repeat it, but where has she been all my life. I'm so glad that you encouraged me to read her. Ruth is right up my alley. I love everything about her. I read more about her, and I groove (how's that for a word!) on her even more.
And, Cath!!! I didn't even notice I was reading present-tense narrative. I'm just grooving along.
What I love most is she is an academic forensic archaeologist who teaches at a university, that she is single by choice, that she chooses her own path, that she is content with the life she has chosen for herself. Such a cut above the average mystery, to my mind. Yes, Cath, I am HOOKED.
Glad you found your bearings for the Back to the Classics category! Sound's like a good one.
ReplyDeleteIt is always exciting to find a new favorite author a la Elly Griffiths! I'd never heard of her either. I have The Stranger Diaries waiting for me at the library. I just need to leave work early enough to go pick it up. I'm excited!
Hi Ruthiella,
DeleteI do hope I haven't steered you wrong with The Stranger Diaries. I did so love it, but you never know how others will like it. So exciting thinking of you picking it up at the library soon. Best wishes with it!
Yes, Nectar in a Sieve is so good. With Easter Weekend coming up and a very rainy one at that, I hope to read on. Nothing like "Reading in the Rain," to be sung to "Singing in the Rain." !!
Oh please, Judith, stop! You're giving me so many books to add to my TBR list! I'm rushing to check if the library has either of these. Both sound awesome each in their separate ways. Now if only we could just sit and read all day, day in and day out, life would be complete! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Cleo,
DeleteI agree completely, especially if there is bad weather. I do like to mix outdoors hiking/nature time with reading when I can. And I still do work just a bit. As I recall, you do have a full-time job? While I had mine, I found it very challenging. I just had to limit my sights.
So, in that case, all I could suggest would be a very occasional "sorta sick--mental health day" to unwind and immerse in literature. BTW, I'm so loving the Ruth Galloway mystery. OMG.
Oh, Cleo!
DeleteI do wholeheartedly believe that reading immersion days can stave off a cold or illness that is "coming on."
I'm very rarely sick but you've given me the idea to pretend to be now and then. Yes, I work full-time and have various other responsibilities such as an aging parent so my reading time is certainly limited. I'm trying my best but I never read as much as I'd like. And then I see more and more books that I'd like to read. Sigh! One book at a time, right? :-)
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the Ruth Galloway book, she's a quirky character and at times I'm saying - Ruth you twit!- and worse, but she is very human I think. Of course you'll like the East Anglian setting too.
ReplyDeleteKatrina,
DeleteSorry to be late responding to your comment--Wed. and Thurs. were unusually busy days this week. I like life to ramble on at a more leisurely pace.
And Katrina, you're so right, I loved the Norfolk coastal setting immensely. P.D. James also uses East Anglia as the site of quite a number of her mysteries. I feel I'm beginning to know my way around and what to avoid (those rushing incoming tides that can catch you unawares, for example).
In this first book I really admire Griffiths' characterization of Ruth. She struggles with herself--she is not at all expert in her relationships with friends, neighbors, or family, and she puzzles and agonizes over some of her reactions. I find this quality so very human, yes, and if at times I groan, "Oh, Ruth!", it's totally because I see the same things in myself (that I do not like very much), if you know what I mean.
I found the relationships and the introduction to Ruth's character and personality fascinating. I finished the book this pm.
Nectar in a Sieve sounds very interesting and new to me. I am glad that you are liking the Ruth Galloway book. I am one of those that doesn't care for present tense and it especially bothered me in the first book. I have read four now and like the series better with each book.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy,
DeleteNectar in a Sieve was extremely interesting and heartfelt. Now I must write a review. And I'm still working on the one for The Woman in White! Also, Nectar in a Sieve is a relatively short novel (about 225 pages or maybe just a bit more).
It's so funny that I didn't even notice the present tense in The Crossing Places. I am amazed that I didn't because that is something I'm usually quite sensitive to. How odd!!
I'm glad to hear that you're liking the series more.
I wish I were reading On the Beach right now!
I am a big Ruth Galloway fan! Like others, I do not usually like books in the present tense (I often find it pretentious but it also distracts from the narrative) but I forgive her because I like this series so much. It is also nice to read about a heroine who is not effortlessly beautiful. On the other hand, Ruth never seems to be without male attention for long...
ReplyDeleteI started reading Jane Casey about the same time and like her heroine, Maeve Kerrigan, a lot too.
Constance
As I said to Tracy (above), for some peculiar reason I did not notice the present tense. It made no impact on me and usually I really dislike it in a book. I don't understand why I didn't notice.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look up Jane Casey right now. I don't know her at all. Thank you!