Tiger Hills is a historical fiction saga spanning three generations of a family of Coorg, India. In 1878, Devi is the first born female to the Nachimada family in over sixty years. She is a beautiful child and has the deep love and affection of her entire family.
When Devi was five years old a scandal came to her family. Gauramma leaves her husband and returns home with her boy, Devanna. Devanna follows Devi everywhere and they soon become inseparable friends. When Gauramma commits suicide, the family decides to raise Devanna instead of sending him back to his father.
There is a great ceremony in the village, called a “tiger wedding”. Devi doesn’t really understand what it is but is excited to go, none the less. When she arrives with her family she sees a big tiger hanging in the air. It is explained that the tiger was killed by Manchu and it was a ceremony to pay tribute to him as a “tiger killer.” Devi doesn’t see what the big deal is and says so, in front of everybody.
“this tiger doesn’t even have claws,” sad Devi.
It was explained to Devi that the claws had been removed to make jewellery out of them. She was quite embarrassed but Manchu was very kind to her about it. Devi then tells her mother that she will marry the tiger killer some day.
Soon after that it was decided that Devanna was to go to school at the mission and get a “white person’s” education. He showed great promise and Reverend Gundert took Devanna under his wing.
Devi and Devanna stayed close friends but as they got older, Devi started to get annoyed with Devanna. He was most interested in his books and education and Devi was not interested in that at all. Devanna had a crush on her and was convinced that the two of them would marry some day.
When they were older, Devanna went away to medical school and Devi grew closer to Manchu. They even met in secret. However, he had taken a vow with the monks and could not marry for 12 years. Devi promised to wait for him. However, the next time Devanna came home from school something happened to shake the foundation and reputation of the entire family and Devi was forced to quickly marry Devanna.
This book has been described and an Indian ‘Gone With the Wind” and “The Thorn Birds” rolled into one. I can certainly see the comparison. If you like both of those books, you are sure to enjoy Tiger Hills. Devi is quite spoiled by her family but is nothing like Scarlett O’Hara in ‘Gone With the Wind’. However, both characters are in love with a man that they can’t have.
Sarita Mandanna captures the reader’s attention from the first page. I felt a part of the village and cared deeply for what was to happen to Devi and Devanna. Mandanna’s elegant prose make the village, it’s flora and fauna, and even its weather important characters.
“Watery shafts of light spilled from behind the dark grey clouds, laminating the town in opalescence. As the morning wore on, the sun had gain in confidence, scattering the clouds and blazing forth in all its splendor.” Page 62, Tiger Hills
Tiger Hill’s is a book to drink in an savor. Highly recommended.
4.5/5
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for the ebook galley version of this book. The book was published in the UK in April, 2010 and is set to come out in North America on March 9, 2011.
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