Cover Image: Under the Tamarind Tree

Under the Tamarind Tree

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Member Reviews

The story will interest those who like mountains made out of molehills.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC and all the best to the author.

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Nigar Alam's book Under the Tamarind Tree takes its title from a moment when two lovers are caught under the tamarind tree in a neighbor's beautifully dressed courtyard under night lights. What's wrong with that? This is in newly formed Pakistan, only a few years from Partition - that massive forced migration resulting in over a million killed in the wild rush to the designated corners of British maps for citizens of the retiring Empire - Hindus to one side, Muslims to another, to be done by a date certain; afterwards all hell breaks loose until those corners are reached. No plan, no assistance, no help. Just ready, set, go - or be killed by the lawless and self-appointed monitors of culture. Our two lovers? Each come from different parts of the caste system established by centuries of murderous imposition. Their families will not be pleased. Juliet? Romeo? Maybe. A little.

Add to the two lovers their two friends who are also quite fond of each other - these four friends are kept in their places through generations by the social systems that keep women in their place, workers in theirs, and the rich and powerful on top of them all. Even in a more modern day, with cell phones and internet, the inner structures of the ancient rules weigh heavy on those who dare to love outside the lines.

A transporting story, evocatively written with colors, smells, and tastes that almost convince a continental jump in space. But mostly this is a love story that lives in secrets held. Love. . .of a time gone by, of partners hoped for, paths exchanged in opposite journeys, and a time-stopping breath where love, joy and sorrow abide as one.

*A sincere thank you to Nigar Alam, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #Underthe TamarindTree #NetGalley

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I loved this beautifully told story of family, sacrifice, and secrets. Related to the India-Pakistan partition, it was eye-opening to me and I learned a lot. It was an accessible book, written for those who have less knowledge of culture in this part of the world and I really enjoyed it and the character development.

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Under The Tamarind Tree is a historical fiction like one that I’ve never read before. Learning about the history of the origin of Pakistan and India, that Partition and great migration and displacement of so many people was brand new to me. Rozeena was a strong & independent FMC in a time where that was incredibly uncommon and scoffed at. The build up between her and her three friends to the tragic night was well done mixed with the present day setting of the novel.

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An appealing saga that taught me much about the Partition and the aftermath. Rich-in historical detail and atmospheric. Rozeena’s story captured me in the beginning.
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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A historical fiction novel about the India-Pakistan partition.

This one was a bit slow for me for historical fiction. I think if it had been structured differently I would have been engaged.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this work in exchange for honest feedback.

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Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for accepting my request to read and review Under the Tamarind Tree on NetGalley.

Stars: 2.5

A miss for me. There are dual timelines that blurred and read like blah blah blah. Family honor and generational upheaval are at best mind boggling themes. The party when we are young, someone dies, we go our separate ways for forty years and then come together is a nuisance. Sadly, I let the prospects of 1964 Pakistan/India historical fiction as well as this being a debut novel sway me.

The cover and title will remain with me. The story is forgettable and will only briefly be remembered if skimming the synopsis is an option.

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I found this book to be very interesting and intriguing. I would recommend this a friend because this is a book for everyone. I really enjoyed emerging myself into this book and it was just wonderful.

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Sad....................................................................................................................................
Heartbreaking............................................................................................................
Beautiful........................................................................................................................

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Under the Tamarind Tree by Nigar Alam. Pub Date: August 15, 2023. Rating: 3 stars. In this debut, the author takes the reader on a journey through the Partition weaving the stories of 4 friends together. This book started off strong with an intriguing premise and a historical topic that is not widely written about in the historical fiction genre. Told through multiple POV, the reader gets to experience life through differing eyes during a time of strife, terror and unexpected consequences. I enjoyed this novel, but I did not love it. I felt it started to slow down the more I read and did not keep my attention as much as in the beginning. Overall, a solid debut. Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #underthetamarindtree

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What a great story! I really enjoyed the historical aspects of this book and learning how partition affected ordinary people. I loved Rozeena, the main character and was very invested in her story but there was so much going on that I think she became just a mouthpiece for the plot. This is a debut and I expect great things from Nigar Alam. I think she tried to do too much in the book. It could have easily been a lot longer and this reader would have been more satisfied. I didn't "buy" the close relationship between Rozeena and her friend, Haaris's granddaughter. Maybe some content was cut? I felt like I was told rather than shown how their friendship developed. The same for the four friends at the center of the plot. I didn't really see a friendship. When one dies at the end, it's so straightforward in the telling that I didn't feel a thing.

I will definitely pick up the next book Nigar Alam writes as I see incredible talent for pacing and plot. Now. just help us care for the characters! Thanks to all for the preview copy.

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“Under the Tamarind Tree” paints a vivid picture of post-partition Southern Asia in 1947, a tumultuous period marred by the British mishandling of the exit and the ensuing chaos as they left vague directives for partition implementation. While I had some prior knowledge of this historical event, I was unaware of the extent of the rioting, bloodshed, loss, and devastation that occurred as the Muslim population migrated to the new Pakistan and the Hindu and Sikh populations moved to India simultaneously.

In this historical fiction work, we follow Rozeena, her parents, and her older brother, Faysal, as they flee from India to Pakistan. Tragically, Faysal is lost and killed during the riots, leaving the family in stunned grief upon their arrival in Karachi. Fortunately, their existing relatives in the city secure them a house, sparing them from settlement camps. Thus, they embark on the journey of rebuilding their lives. The narrative unfolds in two distinct timeframes, one in 1964—a momentous period for Rozeena and her close friends—and the other in 2019, still seen through Rozeena’s eyes but providing some closure as life comes full circle for certain characters.

The shadow of the 1947 events continues to loom over the lives of many characters in this story, regardless of the years that have passed. The book encourages us to ponder the intricacies of ageing, the relentless march of time, and the bittersweet truth that life rarely adheres to neat and tidy conclusions. The ending, while not conventionally satisfying, mirrors life’s unpredictability—a genuine reflection of how we find solace and joy amidst the imperfections of our journey.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The unspeakable trauma endured by forced immigrants is hard for those of us deeply rooted in our comfortable communities to understand. Partition was an event that resonated down the generations, with secrets and lies distorting the lives of the survivors.

Nigar Alam's thoroughly researched novel "Under the Tamarind Tree" explores this generational trauma in a deeply loving and heartfelt way. The dual timeline story explores the lives of a group of young Pakastani neighbors in 1965, and then the lives of the survivors in 2019. Most have immigrated or died. Some have stayed and made successful lives.

This is a lovely story, and deserves a wide audience among those struggling to deal with modern day immigration and its impacts.

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Source: DRC via NetGalley (PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G. P. Putnam’s Sons) in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: August 15, 2023
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

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Why did I choose to read this book?

I was browsing the Most Requested Books list on NetGalley when I came across this book. When I read the description, it read like a thriller/mystery, kind of an “I Know What You Did Last Summer” vibe. A mistake in Rozeena’s youth comes back to haunt her in her final years – what will happen??

I also enjoy learning about places around the world through fiction, and this book happens during the Partition of India and Pakistan after British occupation and the characters are affected by the aftermath of the event. The description of the book also mentions the exploration of social castes, which is something I always have an interest in learning about.

What is this book about?

This book is not about what I thought it would be about. As mentioned above, I thought it would be a sort of murder mystery, and while there was a significant death that changes everything, what happens is super obvious to the reader. The stress comes from holding your breath waiting to make sure that the group of friends handles the aftermath in a way that prevents them all from getting burned. Luckily one of the friends is in a higher social circle and is able to help them keep everything under wraps.

What is notable about this story?

Nigar Alam does an excellent job with tension in this story. Everything always seems to be on the brink of collapse: the lower social class friends’ hidden identities, Rozeena’s young medical aspirations, all the families’ status and living situations, the love connections – all of it is threatened at all times and is reflective of the turbulent political climate that exists at the time.

I love it when an author tricks me and it is always notable when they pull it off. The accidental death of someone in the story is a distraction from the true mystery, and Alam makes you wait until the very very VERY end before it is revealed. Much respect to weave a tale that was able to keep me interested for that distance and then also surprise me with something that wasn’t even on my radar. Bravo and cheers to you, good author.

Was anything not so great?

I always consider a story’s purpose when I write these reviews. Which was more important, the story moving along quickly or our relationships with/depth of understanding of the characters? In Under the Tamarind Tree, the speed of the story was crucial to keeping you looking every which way except where the secret was, and so the investment in the characters and their relationships suffered a bit. But story vs. characters is always a balancing act, and some stories are best told as a series of events with the characters being pushed along by the current. I just tend to enjoy a character-driven story better, because if I don’t care about the characters, I tend to care less about what is happening to them along the way.

Alam did a great job of investing me in the story despite my lack of investment in the characters, and so while this is something that isn’t usually very great to me (and wasn’t here), the strength of Alam’s writing got me through to the end anyway, and that’s awesome!

What’s the verdict?

4 stars on Goodreads and a hearty recommendation from me. If your local library carries this one, definitely put it on your holds list to read at some point. Let me know if you are as surprised as I was by the twist!

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Well written, although I enjoyed the second half a lot more than the first. Rozeena’s story was quite intriguing as was Mansur’s beginnings. The author did a brilliant job of bringing the story together.

I loved how the story educates is on Pakistan’s history and the partition.

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Excellent read. A real page turner. Combined historical fiction of the times when Pakistan was formed. Out of drama, lawlessness and family saga. Adult subject material and hidden secrets. It was initially a little slow to start but then I couldn't put it down. Excellent use of description and cultural references, but accessible to those who aren't familiar with the culture as well.

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Thoughts

When I saw this I knew I really wanted to read it. I really want to learn more about the Partition.

This book had some really strong parts. I do feel like it was slow in parts but it was still a good story.

I think if this is on your radar it is worth checking it out.

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Partition Literature is an ever-growing sub-genre across South Asia. And this debut novel earns its place well alongside the other well-known, much-awarded works here. Alam's dual-time narratives are woven skillfully, although we can see some of the plot points coming. Still, we root for these characters as they try their hardest to deal with the cards they've been handed.

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This story is told in 2 timelines, both set in Karachi, Pakistan following the Partition. The first is set in 1964 when we are introduced to 4 childhood friends. The second timeline is set in 2019, and is mostly about Rozeena, a retired doctor, and her friendship with the American granddaughter of one of her old friends.

I am not a huge fan of dual timeline books, however in this case both timelines were interesting. Unfortunately, the constant jumping back and forth made for a disjointed and confusing reading experience. The author had a tendency to end chapters just as they got interesting, and then go to the other time period. I found that annoying. The 2019 timeline constantly hinted at big secrets from the earlier period, but the big reveals came too late in the book. I expected that the 1964 timeline would be more about the Partition, but it turned out to be more of a soap opera. I was hoping for more history, but that is my problem - I should have read a nonfiction book. This book was well written, and I would read more by this author, even though this book was not exactly what I was looking for. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

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