The Toss Of A Lemon

I will agree that The Toss of a Lemon gives an insight into the caste system, and from an academic perspective, I can see how this novel could be considered good. I however, was not looking for an academic lecture, I was looking for a captivating family saga, and I'm sorry to say, this book does not deliver. I found that as much as I wanted to, I just didn't care about any of these characters, and was bitterly disappointed by the end. Not recommended!

This book ,although a little slow at times is a very interesting
potrayal of an East Indian family, spanning several generations. A window into the culture of Brahmin traditions, it deals with characters totally engulfed in the caste system to those who are entirely against it. . An excellent book for someone interested in understanding India's history.

The Toss of a Lemon provides an excellent insight into Brahmin culture in the early 20th century spanning three generations. This is a compelling story of a family in the changing times of India through the fight for independence from colonial times.

The story begins in 1896 southeastern India with a marriage proposal, after careful astrological calculations, between Hanumarathnam, a young man with the ability to heal, and ten-year-old Sivakami, a girl who looks "capable of bearing great burdens." They are married "like everyone else, at an auspicious time on an auspicious day in an auspicious month," despite Hanumarathnam's warning to his in-laws that he may die in the ninth year of his marriage.

It is the horoscope that dictates the destiny of Sivakami, widowed at age 19, and her children: a girl, Thangam, and a boy, Vairum. Thangam is a beautiful child whose skin gives off gold vibunthi (dust) with healing properties-a result of her father's alchemist experiments; and Vairum is a math genius with a skin condition. Their world is one of rituals and superstition within their caste which undergoes a transformation through the social movements and political events of India. Within all this lies a layer of magical realism woven into peoples' destinies where there are undeniably forces beyond control that propel them forward.

Although the strict Brahmin caste traditions require Sivakami to shave her head, wear white and not contaminate herself with human touch between dawn and dusk, she rebels by choosing to raise her children in her husband's home rather than returning to her family's village to live with her brothers. Aiding Sivakami in this endeavour is Machumi, a non-Brahmin villager and closet gay man, who manages Hanumaranthnam's real estate properties and business.

The complexity of the characters with rich descriptions of their interaction in a changing world is a work of brilliance. Ms Viswanathan describes in subtle detail each situation as it unfolds, providing just enough information and touches of humour before moving to the next keeping a reader enthralled. The pace allows the reader to savour while losing themselves within, experiencing the life of Sivakami and her family.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to settle in a comfortable place to read a family epic filled with an intimate look into life in India.

I didn't want it to end. It tells a wonderful story of the caste system in India starting at the turn of the 20th Century. It certainly increased my understanding and knowledge of the culture.