This book was absolutely gut-wrenching even though I already knew a lot of the things Janani went through—the way the story was written perfectly captured the suffering Janani and so many women went through not so long ago, and following Nila as she’s struggling to understand why her mother is the way she is was, and then finding out the horrors she lived through was almost worse. This book deals with several heavy topics that were unfortunately common in India’s recent history in a way that introduces all of the cultural nuances and complexities for those only learning about the epidemic of female infanticide, and that is also important for those who already know a lot about it—I was very familiar with many subjects brought up throughout the story and still, seeing them through the eyes of a woman who lived through them, and the eyes of her daughter who was affected in ways she didn’t understand was completely different than just learning about it.

My radio review will be broadcast on 88.7 WPCD FM 2:30PM (Central Time) on Friday, February 24th.

A dual-timeline family story about a mother and daughter and the secrets between them. Janani has always hid her past from her daughter, Nila, saying that her side of the family is not worth knowing. Nila, who is trying to open up to her parents about her relationship, feels that something is missing and she wants to know more about her family history. Janani's timeline unfolds with her struggle of being a poor, young mother and with the societal pressure of producing only male children and serving her husband and mother in law. Eventually she can't take it anymore and leaves her husband behind in order to protect her new daughter from suffering the fate of female infanticide. Then decades later, Nila can't understand why her mother is so secretive and while on a trip to visit her dad's family in India, she finally learns more about the difficult struggles her mother went through. Overall, a solid debut with many heart wrenching moments.

I give this novel a 3.5 star rating but will scale it up for the Goodreads rating system:

The synopsis called this a mystery, but I think "drama" would be a better fit.

In addition to the novel's captivating testimony about female infanticide in India, is an emotional story about parent-child relationships, and about the stress of meeting parents' expectations. In her mother in law's eyes, Janani failed her duty as a wife. Nila worried about how her secret will disappoint her mother and ruin their relationship. Even the secondary characters felt the pain of struggling to meet their parents' expectations.

It is through the characters' journey of finding self-worth separate from their parents' and cultural idea of success that they finally feel free to live their own lives, which I thought was very poetic and lovely to experience. Variyar did a wonderful job expressing the characters' emotions - sadness, grief, anger and desire. I felt like I was right there with them.

I loved how the dual timelines worked. I enjoyed the plot twist, but after the second half of the novel the plot became somewhat predicable. The ending of the novel was anticlimactic, especially with how big Nali's struggles and secrets seemed to be. And of the two timelines, I enjoyed Janani's story more.

Overall, it was a solid debut novel from Variyar. I look forward to seeing what else she has in store!

In rural India, Janani's daughters are faced with infanticide at birth. While she is allowed to keep her first daughter, others share a sad fate. Pregnant again, she is determined to hold on to this child. As we read about her life with a mother-in-law who refuses to let her bring another girl into the family, a drunk husband, and a family far away, we also read about her daughter Nila, who knows her mom's past includes many secrets. Nila also has one of her own. They travel from Australia to India where both will learn more about each other.
It's emotional, sad, hopeful, and beautiful.

“Having a daughter is a curse. It’s the same as watering your neighbor’s plants and never your own.” - Janani

This book focuses on the heart-wrenching practice of female infanticide; although illgeal in India since 1961, traditions persists and the practice continues in rural, isolated areas where such laws can not be enforced. The dowry system is a financial burden to the bride’s family and obviously more daughters equals more dowries or “gifts” to the grooms’ families. Instead of surrendering children to adoption; there are religious beliefs that advocate parental obligations to decide the fate of their children, rather than passing the decision to others.

Janani is a bright second-born daughter born to impoverished son-less parents. Following the norms of society, at a young age, she is forced into a loveless marriage to an abusive husband and vile mother-in-law. Steeped in ignorance, the blame of the child’s sex is seemingly (and incorrectly) placed on the mother/wife. Janani is forced into multiple pregnancies in an effort to produce a son. In a patriarchal system that shuns divorce (especially those initiated by the wife), female advocacy (returning home is a shameful act that would humiliate her parents), and financial independence (her husband collects her earnings as a cleaner); Janani has few options. This story offers a fairly predictable outcome - but a bit too unrealistic in a practical sense; however, I went along with it for the sake of the story.

Other aspects of Indian society regarding the caste system, arranged marriages, homophobia, and educating female children fold into the story. Characters grapple with honoring their parents, tradition, and obligations while attempting to claim their own independence and pursuit of happiness which are in direct conflict with the former.

Thanks to the publisher, Union Square and Company/Sterling Publishing, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

In 1993 Madurai, India, Janani prays for a male child. Having been allowed to keep her first daughter, she has had to bear the unimaginable grief of two baby daughters being killed by her mother-in-law as female children are viewed as worthless and expensive. Now she bears another child that she is determined to save.

In 2019 Australia, Nila knows nothing about her mother’s early life in Australia. When the family travels to India for one last visit with her dying paternal grandfather, both mother and daughter hold onto secrets.

Daughters of Madurai is a heart-wrenching story of courage, hope, and the love between mother and daughter. The dual timeline narrative works really well here as the author shows the ending while managing to keep readers engaged and curious as the backstory unfolds.

It’s truly terrible to think that female infanticide is not a horrific tradition of bygone days. Variyar tells about this truly unsettling practice without drowning the reader in despair. Instead, readers are treated with care and given an ample dose of love and hope without sugarcoating. I found both storylines compelling and enjoyed spending time with both Janani and Nila. Variyar is immensely talented, I look forward to future novels.

I knew going into it that this novel was likely to incite some painful emotions and indeed it did. I ached for Janani as her words caught my emotions and tethered them to the page

This complex mother-daughter story grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go! Although it’s set between the 1990s and present-day in South India and Australia, it has universal appeal. One timeline features a woman with an identity crisis, struggling to share her personal discoveries. When she hears of her grandfather’s illness, she sets off for India to spend time with him. Another timeline features a mother, who has been struggling with an abusive mother-in-law, a drunk husband and the loss of two baby girls. This riveting debut is beautifully written and the timelines, one working backwards and the other working forwards, crescendo to highlight the strength of women, the power of love and the secrets we keep to protect those we love.

The author’s exploration of the heinous widespread practice of female infanticide in India is eye-opening. Sparked from a memory during childhood, this book is a surprising debut. Not only is it well-written, but it’s also thought-provoking.

I was gifted this copy by Union Square & Co and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This was my first book to read by this author but won't be my last! The story and its characters will stick with you long after you finish the story. Highly recommend!

An endearing and emotional read about India's daughters. Of Janani, who kept losing her daughters to a horrific tradition of female infanticide. Of Nila, the only one Janani saved and raised in Australia.

Firstly, I must appreciate the subject the author chose for her debut book. There are countless stories of women who ran away from home with nothing except their daughter(s). And of those who fought tooth and nail to keep their little girls alive. Even today, the discrimination is evident. This one revolves around Australia and India - alternating in each chapter between Madurai of the 90s and Sydney of 2019. It isn't easy to write two contrasting scenarios. In this context, the author was impressive.

The writing is extremely straightforward and easy to read. Beginners who wish to read the dark and serious topics this book deals with should absolutely give it a try.

I read another book set in a Malayali household too, about the preference to a male child across generations. Still, in this one, I was confused with the plethora of characters and relations among them. This is embarrassing for me to say because I was born and raised in South India. But I didn't easily get through the Malayali relations and references.

I felt that the story could have elaborated certain areas, like, Janani's marriage, her move to Australia with her new family and the society's stiff opposition to her decisions. The story also has Shubha, a dear friend to Janani, another victim of dowry and male-child preference. I wish these were also talked about. Or may be, the author wanted to keep it simple. That was my only problem throughout, with this book. It is too simple even in the most shattering scenes.

My final take is, there is absolutely nothing bad or wrong about this book. But I didn't find it memorable or powerful either.

I am thankful to the publisher for giving me a review copy. My review is voluntary.

this was a great family mystery novel, I was hooked from the first page going all the way into the end. I enjoyed the way Rajasree Variyar wrote this book and the characters within. It was what I was hoping for based on the description and was never bored when reading this. I look forward to more from the author.

This was a great book. I was a little confused in the beginning with the various terms for family members, but I quickly caught on.