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Book Review of Nectar in a Sieve

Nectar in a Sieve
Nectar in a Sieve
Author: Kamala Markandaya
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
achadamaia avatar reviewed on + 48 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10


This is the story of a peasant family living in a small village in India. The modern world is encroaching as a huge tannery moves into town.

The story is told through the voice of the mother of the family. Her family is very poor. They rent their land and try to grow enough rice and vegetables to make it through the year. It's a cruel life. However, the family considers themselves better off than others who don't even have the land to work.

This book is well written. It's is strangely uplifting despite the despair of such a harsh life. The style reminded me of Pearl Buck's The Good Earth.