India Gray: Historical Fiction

Stories kept me riveted to the end

…. of historical accuracy and US/UK English. Readable but doesn’t give me the urge to find more from this author.

Beautifully narrated stories which made me feel a part of India of the olden days. I loved this book

Very enjoyable and each different.

I really enjoyed this collection of storues all featuring strong but utterly real and rwalistic women characters. They are well written and thoroughly enjoyable. I appreciated the posotive, hopeful endings. We already live in a world of horrors and injustice, we don’t need it in fiction as well. Thank you Ms Massey for delighing us with your writing

Had read The Widows of Malibar Hill and was introduced to Perveen Mistry character. Enjoyed the short mystery with her in Oxford and the other stories included in this book.

Unusual setting for excellent stories.

INDIA GRAY by Sujata Massey This collection consists of two novellas and two short stories. Both novellas, Outnumbered at Oxford and The Ayah’s Tale are peopled by well formed characters and have detailed and nuanced plots with introduction, plot development and conclusion. Outnumbered at Oxford introduces characters found in the full length novel, THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL. The two short stories are quite brief and include only one incident with little characterization. India Gray is the much more satisfying story for both character and plot. Bitter Tea simply leaves one wanting more. Outnumbered at Oxford gives the reader of MALABAR HILL the back story of what transpired during Perveen’s banishment to England and introduces Alice, Perveen’s good friend, who has a role in MALABAR HILL. Both women find themselves bending the strict rules at St. Hilda’s College to solve the disappearance of a mathematical paper and a young man. The Ayah’s Tale is a treatise on social class, including the vast social differences between Indians (in their own country) and English colonists during a time of growing desire for Indian independence. It leaves the reader wanting another tale to fill in the gap between the story and the epilogue. The writing and research involved for all four tales is detailed and gives depth and interest to each story. A good introduction to an excellent writer. 5 of 5 stars

I liked how the history of Banglades and India was told with the exemple of an INian family.