What the Body Remembers

A beautiful, resonating book full of realized characters that linger with you long after you've finished reading. I loved how the story was told from different characters' point of view so that it was multi-dimensional. The description of the events surrounding Partision was chilling and haunting.

Baldwin's "What the Body Remembers" is the story of two women married to the same man. The author does an excellent job of developing the relationship between the reader and both women, leaving the reader feeling torn between the characters. This is a fantastic story and should be on every fiction lovers list of books to read!

Fantastic! Your jacket cover caught my eye, your storyline hooked me,
the story was delightful and I am a huge fan.
KP

Although Shauna Singh's main focus is on the position of women in pre-partition period (1930-1948) in the northeastern part of India, she accomplishes a lot more. My understanding about India's partition was refreshed from a different perspective. Increased my limited vocabulary by providing words to numerous vernacular expressions. Last but not least, this books gives an unbiased narration of the society, events and morals. A must for everybody, who has a slightest link to Punjab.

The contradictory role of women is seen through the eyes and bodies of Roop and Satya in Shauna Singh Baldwin's "What the Body Remembers".
As a second wife, Roop has to earn everyone's respect by producing an heir for Sardarji, her husband. The reader almost feels like screaming with the characters in frustration in this novel as the lives of these women are explored through their experiences. The evolution of India as an independent state is a very interesting sub-plot of book as the reader follows the separation of religion and the Indian sub-continent.

I picked this book up randomly in a bookstore, and after reading the first five pages, I knew I had to finish it. It's an excellent novel, full of rich characters set against a turbulent time in India. There's lots of action, romance, and emotion in here, and I found it difficult to put down. The plot drags a bit at the three-quarter mark, but then picks right up to wrap up with a spectacular, wrenching ending. Shauna Singh Baldwin doesn't disappoint at all -- I'll be looking forward to her future stories.

Simply put I loved this novel. Ms. Baldwin has done an amazing job at writing a compassionate contemporary novel on gender issues in Indian families (generally speaking of course)

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. So satisfying, the writing so descriptive, I could see everything happening! The emotions the characters experiences were so real, it left me stunned. I understand the Indian culture so much better than before, now that I've read this book. I couldn't get the characters out of my mind, and was so sad when I finished reading it. Can't wait for her next book!

One of the best books that I have read - will love to read it over.. and over! Once I started reading I couldn't stop! What I liked most about this book was that is was so full of emotion - it felt so real. I can't wait until her next book comes out...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's very well written. The story is engrossing from the start. I learned a lot about the differences between the Muslim, Hindu and Sikh religions in an easy to remember format. Also, the book is written from a female view. Quite an education.

I too heard excerpts on the CBC and I was not disappointed!This book gave me insight into cultural practices through the narrative of one family's life in India.It is set during a very turbulent time in this country, so through my reading I also learned more about this time in history!It's a wonderful read--I highly recommend it!

What the Body Remembers is an beautifully written book with a memorable and believable story. I listened to a number of the chapters read aloud on CBC radio and purchased the book based on what I'd heard. I was not disappointed!