Monsoon Summer

How often does a title and/or cover image for a book send the wrong messages to a reading audience?
 
In the case of this novel, both title and image are far removed from the drama of the content and I feel I must include comments on that in this review. The title is lightweight. A “monsoon” does make a fleeting appearance and the narrative covers several years, not just a “summer”.
 
Kit, the principal female character, does not have time to wander idly along the shores of a calm shore while twirling a parasol, she’s too busy trying to juggle the challenges of her new life in India after tough years nursing during the London Blitz. (See below for a couple of other images that are are likewise misleading. The symbolism of the face veil is lost on me – ditto the rowboat!)
 
Not only has Kit entered into a cross-racial marriage with Anto, an Indian doctor, in an era when such things were still frowned upon, she must deal with the antagonism of her husband’s family and the powder-keg politics of the sub-continent following partition in 1947.  Complicating her situation is an unfinished midwifery qualification that will become a major problem for Kit in her role as an aide at the Moonstone maternity clinic that was set up under the auspices of an Oxford charitable group.
 
While there are some romantic moments in this novel, the greater part of it is hard-hitting, with lengthy exposition on the trials and tribulations of women giving birth, plus Kit’s inability to fully understand the culture or language and having to tackle the inevitable suspicion and ignorance of poorer individuals and those intent on eliminating British influence, by sinister means if necessary.
 
The writing is accomplished and the flavours of India in every sense are well described. Characterisations are strong, especially those of the women. Kit’s indecisiveness and failure to take advice can make her seem flaky and irritating at times. Her mother, Glory, is intriguing with her contradictory behaviour that is partly explained towards the conclusion. The decision to make some chapters third-person seems an odd choice and detracts from the dynamism of Kit’s first person focus. 
 
Three-and-a-half stars

 
amazon.com
 
amazon.co.uk
 
Dymocks Australia

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