tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post4943435872663280166..comments2024-03-27T22:25:42.129-05:00Comments on Reading the Past: Shona Patel's Teatime for the Firefly, a transporting novel of 1940s IndiaSarah Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-33743875719832527322013-11-23T09:48:50.212-06:002013-11-23T09:48:50.212-06:00I agree with you on the cover. My guess is it was...I agree with you on the cover. My guess is it was meant to attract readers who wouldn't ordinarily seek out a novel in a less familiar setting. It was probably successful in that, but I still think it doesn't fit the characters!Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-26482748345078643472013-11-22T08:45:37.231-06:002013-11-22T08:45:37.231-06:00This sounds like a great thought-provoking read an...This sounds like a great thought-provoking read and an entertaining one, as well; a combination not easily come by! Having known two young Indian women, one a work colleague and one an author, I can attest to the strength of Indian women. It is surprising how the old marriage customs still cling on in much of Indian society. Although "you can't tell a book by its cover" we all know that readers are swayed by the visual and much thought should be put into the design. A cover such as this one only demonstrates the irony of the title vs the characters if the reader already knows the story line. Perhaps some small detail could have been added to show this "steel magnolia/ iron butterfly" connection.Kate Louise Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14075969374291686407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-21943588918618774742013-11-20T18:12:58.901-06:002013-11-20T18:12:58.901-06:00I wish I lived closer so I could make it to that m...I wish I lived closer so I could make it to that meeting and hear the talk! Just found your wonderful review of Teatime on your blog.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-89961143328339654512013-11-20T16:48:19.373-06:002013-11-20T16:48:19.373-06:00I read this one, and loved it too, Sarah. I belong...I read this one, and loved it too, Sarah. I belong to the AZ chapter of the HNS and am very much looking forward to Shona's talk after the new year. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-5753000893238309872013-11-19T16:22:48.323-06:002013-11-19T16:22:48.323-06:00It really was a great read, and I loved spending t...It really was a great read, and I loved spending time in Layla's India. There are a few other historicals set in India that I'm planning to get to, also, including Indu Sundaresan's The Mountain of Light and Sujata Massey's The Sleeping Dictionary.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-30667112040293531322013-11-19T16:19:42.322-06:002013-11-19T16:19:42.322-06:00I hope you enjoy it just as much, Alex. I'd b...I hope you enjoy it just as much, Alex. I'd been meaning to read it for some time also. I recently saw a mention on Twitter that the author was speaking at a local meeting of the Arizona Historical Novel Society chapter, which jogged my memory about it and prompted me to pull it from the TBR.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-52620826686167545082013-11-19T16:18:11.139-06:002013-11-19T16:18:11.139-06:00I can see the cover working well for a novel that ...I can see the cover working well for a novel that was more formal in tone or uses a traditional English setting, and it may cause book club readers to pick it up - but it doesn't capture the setting of this one especially well. That's what I was trying to get at!Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-52118225063035964412013-11-19T10:26:46.040-06:002013-11-19T10:26:46.040-06:00As you imply, women's literature (and women) a...As you imply, women's literature (and women) are not so "delicate"!Shelleyhttp://dustbowlstory.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-50806009571699199452013-11-19T07:18:21.732-06:002013-11-19T07:18:21.732-06:00This looks like a great read! I want to read more ...This looks like a great read! I want to read more books set in India and Asia and the premise of this one is so engaging.MaryKatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16792891608730814606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-2540926732805840842013-11-19T06:44:16.423-06:002013-11-19T06:44:16.423-06:00Thanks for this great review. I got this book at ...Thanks for this great review. I got this book at BEA last June and have been meaning to read it. You have inspired me to finally do it. Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15988251415347075888noreply@blogger.com