“After reading “Serving Crazy with Curry, by Amulya Malladi I couldn’t wait to get into “Song of the Cuckoo Bird”. Well, I was not disappointed. This is a truly delightful book, which kept me turning page after page, and not wanting to put the book down.
“Song of the Cuckoo Bird” is the story of a group of people who live in an ashram called “Tella Meda” (The House with the White Roof). The people who live there are really poor and they do not have anywhere else to go. One of the main characters who lives there is a girl called Charvi. When she was born her father declared her to be a deity, and she looks upon herself as a deity. From the time she was born people in the village bring her offerings, in turn, her family give people a place to stay, with food and blessings from the goddess.
Another main character and my favorite is Kokila, whose name means "Cuckoo Bird". The story is mostly seen through her eyes. She comes to live at the Ashram, an orphan who is married at the age of 11. She is meant to stay until she has her first period, then she will be sent to her husband. However, she decides she does not want to return to her husband, she wants to stay at “Tella Meda”.
So many people come and go at the Ashram, some return, some never to be seen again. This is a story that will make you smile, and yes, it will make you cry. But is a beautiful story. Friendships are made, love is found, and all are wound up in the life of “Tella Meda”, The House with the White Roof”
tatra wrote this review Tuesday, August 14 2007.
(
reply |
permalink )