A novel of forgiveness and regret set in a time of turmoil and racism. The main character just makes you want to shake her, but the novel takes you to a place and time to look at racism that historical fiction rarely goes. D'Silva does place description well, putting the reader there without droning on. Recommend to readers of Kate Morton.

Guilt becomes a lifelong companion if you allow it to stay and unpack its bags.

Renita D'Silva creates a multi-tiered story that shifts from the years beginning in 1913 to 1926. It gently finds its way to 2000 in a hospice care room just outside of London. All roads, in this case, lead to India with an eventual headwind leading home to England.

I must admit as I entered into the initial stages of this novel that this storyline seemed to be simplistic and more geared to Young Adult. But there was a draw here in regard to Margaret, the main character. As I turned pages, I felt the depth settle in.

Margaret was the youngest of three daughters living on an estate outside of London. Her father was serving in WW I and he was determined to be missing in action. When a fire breaks out and tragedy visits this family, there is no other recourse than to send Margaret and her sister to live on her aunt and uncle's farm. Margaret feels deep remorse from not being able to protect her family. It is this heavy sense of loss and guilt that will become a second layer of skin for Margaret and will follow in her footsteps for much of her life.

D'Silva parallels her story now in 1915 in India. Radha and Archana live with their parents in a small village. Radha's life will be designed by her parents who are preparing an arranged marriage for her. Archana, born with a leg impediment, is constantly reminded that plans for her will be set to the side. But Fate has a way of stepping in unnoticed until it rears its head with harsh, penetrating eyes. Radha will be banished from her village. And more shocking developments are on their way.

The story pivots to 2000 and we will meet Margaret's granddaughter. Emma is caught up in a moral dilemma in regard to her own daughter's father. Margaret asks Emma to deliver a letter to someone in India from Margaret's past. Once she arrives there, Emma will see Margaret in a whole different light. A revelation comes to pass much like the shifting movement of a silken sari.

The Girl in the Painting reminds us just how treacherous our life journey can be. We are at the mercy of our own misguided mistakes and decisions and we bear the scars thrust upon us as we are caught in the receiving end of others' life choices and demands. One chess piece moved in error can forfeit the entire game. And Renita D'Silva shines a light on exactly that.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bookouture and to Renita D'Silva for the opportunity.

The Girl in the Painting takes us between England and India in the early 1900’s right up to the modern day. Margaret has a fairly comfortable life in England with her sisters and her parents until tragedy strikes changing her life dramatically. Archana is not so lucky with her life in India. Her family is poor and with her issues with her leg and the colour of her skin mean that her marriage prospects are not that good. Their paths will cross and this meeting will change their futures in ways neither of them would ever expect.
The book alternates between Margaret’s and Archana’s lives until they finally meet after Margaret marries and moves to India with her husband. This gave me chance to really get involved in their lives, making me want to keep picking up the book to see how their stories would eventually become one. Margaret was quite a strong character and despite everything that life had thrown at her in a short time, she was determined to find her own happiness and fight for the happiness of others. This belief ultimately backfired on her and cost her more than she would ever imagine. Her actions were ones that at some point we are all guilty of, where we think we know best, without actually considering those it will ultimately affect. It is this that makes her just that little bit more real. Archana spends most of her life trying to make up for her own shortcomings and the actions of her elder sister which resulted in Archana’s marriage to an older man whose parents thought that ultimately they were bestowing a great favour on her by consenting to this marriage. You could not help but feel for her and the way she was treated by her in laws doing only as they told her and almost abandoning her own mother.
I was a little confused at the start as to where the character of Emma really fitted in and for the most part she was only really a bit player. Towards the end however, the author showed why she was important and how she helped bring the story of Margaret and Archana to its conclusion.
Renita D’Silva has a way with her writing that manages to transport you to a different place and era, really giving the reader a sense of how things used to be. For me it gave me an insight into old Indian customs that I never knew existed. The practice of Sati was not something I was ever aware of and I think that some would even find it shocking. The book does go between the past and present but unlike with some other books I have read that use this style, it didn’t distract or confuse me. This is the first book I have read by this author but having now been introduced to her work I am sure it won’t be the last one.

I’ve read several of Renita D’Silva’s books. She has this amazing talent of bringing the book to life. The descriptions are so vivid that you can actually feel like you are there. This was such a good story. There were events toldib the past story that I had no idea about. As the story unfolds you just want things to turn out ok, and although they do in a way, it’s not how you expect.

Thank you NetGalley and Renita D'Silva for giving me the chance to read The Girl In The Painting and I really enjoyed reading this book.

Margaret grows up England before the first world war, she lives with her parents and her sisters in a wealthy upper class home.
Just before the start of World War 1 Margaret's life starts to fall apart, her baby brother George is stillborn, her mother is consumed by grief and she struggles to carry on.
World war 1 starts and Margaret's father joins up, a sudden decision and her mothers mental health declines.
Despite being warned it's not safe to stay in the family home, it's a huge target, she decides not to move to a safe place with her sister Helen and her husband George in the country.

One night the family home is destroyed by an air strike and burns to the ground. Margaret's mother and younger sister Evie die in the fire.
Margaret, and her sister Winnie are sent to live at their Aunties farm, they find the farm a shock after living in their genteel home, they find out that their father has also died in the war and they don't feel welcome at their Uncle George's farm. They are made to feel like a huge burden and their Aunt Helen tries her best to make them feel wanted.

Winnie and Margaret are invited to the village dance and Winnie meets the Baron Andrew Cohen, They fall in love and marry. Winnie is so happy in her new life as a Baroness she is content being a wife and mother.
Margaret decides to take the chance she is given and leaves the farm to study art at Kings College in London as she is a talented painter, she starts to paint to cope with her grief of losing her family and she's given a scholarship. At a party she meets Suraj, an Indian man who's studying law in England and due to his heritage is snubbed by most English people and he's very lonely.
They fall in love, Margaret and Suraj marry and soon leave England for India.

Margaret loves India, Suraj's parents are not happy with his choice of wife and they refuse to meet his new bride. Sadly before he can repair his relationship with his parents are killed in a car accident and he has to move back to his family home to sort out his parents affairs and Margaret's world is changed yet again.

Here she meets and makes friends with her Indian maid Archana, who reminds her of her young sister Evie..
Margaret is shocked not only by the poverty in India, but also the caste system and the practice of sati.
This is when a man dies he is cremated and his wife sacrifices herself as well, she is put alive on her husbands funeral pyre and they burn and go to heaven together.

When Archana's older husband dies, Margaret goes against the advice of her husband and saves Archana from her from sati but saving her brings with it huge consequences for both of them.
Her decision changes her life, her husbands and Archana's forever.

Years later Margaret sends her grand daughter Emma to India to deliver a message to Archana and also a painting. Emma discovers her grandmothers secrets, why Margaret wants to apologize to Archana and discovers Suraj has left his crumbling mansion in the Indian countryside to Margaret and why he's never got over his grief of losing the love of his life.
The Girl In The Painting is a brilliant book, it's a story with many layers, details, customs, secrets and tragedy. All tied together to create a very compelling and interesting story. I really liked The Girl In The Painting and I gave it 4 stars.

A Fabulous Love Story that reaches across the century!
Many of today's authors like to use a writing technique that takes us back and forth between the tales of two main characters but D'Silva has upped the ante by alternating her tale between THREE main characters. Naturally we have the old granny who is on her deathbed and the young, favourite granddaughter who is eager to please but, in The Girl in the Painting we also have the grandmother's best friend and nemesis from her glory days in colonial Indian. Each of these characters have a fascinating backstory and need to find closure in their lives.
The research and thought that D'Silva has put into each of her characters and their lives is remarkable. From the waste and destruction of WWI, rationing and shortages, the Bloomsbury Group, Indian's caste system, scientific research, racism both now and in the past D'Silva uses each of these themes flawlessly in a book that will capture your heart and leave you wanting more.
A Wonderful Historical Fiction Read!

<b>BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND EMOTIONALLY GRIPPING</b>

<blockquote><i>"Through our history, we make sense of who we are"</i></blockquote>

This was one of those books that I didn't have the biggest expectations for but that just took my breath away!

<b>Actual rating</b>: 4.5 ⭐

<b><u>Blurp</u></b>
Emma knows that her grandmother, Margaret, let an adventurous life when she was a yong woman - a painter, member of the Bloomsbury group, traveller and philantropist. However, it isn't until Margaret asks Emma for a favour that she truly realises just who her grandmother actually. In her bedroom, Margaret has a painting that she herself painted of a women with the saddest eyes. Now Margaret wants Emma to find this woman, Achana, in India and deliver her a message. What Emma finds there changes not just her own life, but that of the two estranged women as well.

<B>THE GOOD STUFF </B>

<u>The writing</u>: I don't usually get all that worked up about writing (unless it is really bad!). But here, there was just something so warm and colourful about the writing, it made the book so inviting and beautiful. I could almost trick myself into believing that I was actually in India.

<blockquote><i>"Her laughter is fake, a glassy tinkle tinged with mania"</i></blockquote>

<u>Indian culture</u>: One of my favourite things about reading is that I can immerse myself in time periods and cultures that I don't know anything about. Therefore I was a massive fan of the insight into Indian history and culture, that this book provided me with. I was especially enthralled with the notion of sati (i.e. when a widow is placed alongside her dead husband's funeral pyre to die with him), which was such a gripping and big part of the story. It was not the practice, however, that interested me (though it was interesting in itself, that this was actually something that people did and believed in), but more the sort of brainwashing that led up to it, how these women are guiltet and guiled into believing that this is something they crave for themselves.

<blockquote><i>"[...]they all hold each other, a family again, fractured by loss but, for the moment, together, bound by love, courage and war."</i></blockquote>

<u>Margaret and Archana</u>: The two MCs were amazing, wonderful and inspirings women in each their own way, but in one way in particuar they were so similar. They both dreamt of being able to make their own decisions and to take control over their own lives. But while that is what they both dream of, that is the core of who they both are, their upbringing and their circumstances are so vastly different, that they become totally different people. That was truly beautiful and a wonderful example of how much culture affect us.

<u>The ending</u>: While the ending might, to a certain degree, be a bit predictable, is was truly beautiful and I will gladly admit, that I shed a little tear. I would not have had it any other way.

<b>THE NOT SO GOOD STUFF</b>

<u>Emma's parts</u>: Emma was a character that was a little hard to care about simply because her parts (though there were quite few of them) were so repetitive. It felt as if the parts just repeated themselves, and that got a little boring.

<u>Slow beginning</u>: The book is narrated in the 3rd person from the view of the three main women, Margaret, Archana and Emma. Already from the prologue you know, that their stories are going to meet up. However, you have to go through more than half the book before that happens. It was a little annoying, because I knew it was going to happen, so I was just waiting for it. But once it happened, it was amazing!

<b><i>ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</i></b>

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The story is split between 2 time periods; 'present': 2000 and the 1920s, and centres around 2 women, Emma and Margaret her Grandmother.

Emma discovers her partner, her ‘much renowned’ former professor at University, has lied over the fundamental work that made his name in academia, fabricating facts and deceiving everyone. His weak, deceitful behaviour is a part of their personal relationship too. They have a young daughter, Chloe. Emma has to decide if she will make public the extent of her partner’s deception to the academic world, which in turn will destroy their family life…

Her Grandmother advises her to take time out to consider her decision at a distance; to take Chloe to the house she once lived in with the love of her life, in India. There, Emma discovers the part of her Grandmother’s life that she never divulged to anyone; how Margaret in the past did the ‘right thing for the wrong reason’; how she always felt that women should make their own decisions but how this philosophy can go wrong – particularly where cultural differences are involved; and how lack of forgiveness can cause such pain and sadness.

This is an amazing tale – of an “outrageous” marriage (at the time) between a bohemian from the Charleston community and an Indian academic - their life in India, helping with the Independence movement (echoes of Freda Bedi in the 30s), and experiencing cultural clashes. Forgiveness is a primary theme – but there’s so much more here, and you lament time lost… Fascinating,I loved it.

The Girl in the Painting is another wonderfully written book by one of my favourite authors. Her stories and the characters within them always touch my heart.

This is an emotional tale of love, friendship, motherhood, rejection, loneliness, sacrifice and betrayal.

I really connected with a couple of the characters. I’m going through a transitional stage in my own life, where I’m rediscovering my sense of self and the parts of me I’ve had to sacrifice for many years. Because of this I felt deep emotion and empathy towards some of the things these women had to go through.

I’ve never heard of ‘sati’ before, but it shocked me that women were expected to take their own lives at their husband’s funeral. Just the thought of it sickened me. I bet a woman didn’t come up with that idea, and I’m assuming men weren’t expected to kill themselves if their wives died before them. Absolutely horrific!

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys emotional stories and characters with depth.

My favourite quotes:

She thinks of the painting that was created beside the stream, swollen water glimmering starburst silver, the opposite bank dotted with saris singing in kaleidoscope colour as they dried on rocks, the spiced grit taste of humid heat, cinnamon tea and companionship. The painting of a girl, stark sadness in her eyes.

The sun peeps over the horizon, its perfect golden reflection on the glass of the water, the sky a kaleidoscope of pinks and reds, setting the clouds on fire, more beautiful than anything an artist could conjure, his arm on her shoulder, her body against his. They are quiet, but it is as if they have spoken volumes. The silence between them charged with unspoken assurances, a conversation conducted without words.

Darkness, intense black easing as a new day stains the sky pink and cream. The sun, a mellow turmeric ball, appearing in a soft golden haze.

"India, 1926: English Margaret arrives with her new husband Suraj at his family home, set amidst beautiful rolling hills, the air filled with the soft scent of spices and hibiscus flowers. Margaret is unwelcome, homesick and lonely, but her maid Archana, a young woman from an impoverished family, reminds her of her long-lost sister, a tiny glimpse of home in a faraway place.

As Margaret and Archana spend more time together, an unexpected friendship blooms. But in British India the divide between rich and poor, English and Indian, is wide, and the clash between Margaret’s modern views and the weight of tradition on Archana will lead to devastating results...

England, 2000: When Emma’s grandmother gives her a mysterious painting, and asks her to take a message of forgiveness to an old friend in India, Emma is relieved to have some time and space to make a decision about her future. But as she fulfils her grandmother’s wish, a secret kept for over seventy years is finally revealed - the story of a day spent painting by a stream full of water lilies, where a betrayal tore three lives apart forever..."

If you've been missing Indian Summers and like old family secrets, this is the book for you.

The characters of Margaret and Archana were so beautifully written and I really enjoyed that their relationship was a slow build rather than immediately jumping in to it. Seeing them as children was really interesting, especially their different fears and secrets growing up. I also liked their different relationships with their siblings – seeing Margaret’s grief over losing her sister and how this plays into her friendship with Archana was truly emotive.

Margaret as a child was a brilliant, inquisitive and headstrong character, and it was fascinating seeing the war and its effects from the perspective of a child. Her development as a person, and D’Silva’s in-depth investigating into her understanding of the world around her was brilliantly written. Contrasting this with Archana’s childhood, her heartbreak over losing her sister and her fear of sati further highlighted the stark differences between the two girls.

The descriptions of England and India were fascinating, and the juxtaposition between the two worked really well, and helped further define the difference between Margaret and Archana. Their lives and cultures were so different and it was fascinating watching Margaret project her own pain onto Archana while failing to understand her at the same time.

The ending of their story was genuinely quite heartbreaking to read. Archana’s desperation to fulfil her duty, even if it meant giving her life, was really touching. Margaret’s twisted version of heroism was understandable but simultaneously frustrating to watch the way she went about it. I loved that the focus of the story was on the relationship between the two women rather than Margaret and her husband Suraj – although it was interesting to read the reactions to their unusual marriage.

The chapters that focused on Emma were a great way to link the past with the present. The difference between her relationship with David and Margaret’s with Suraj highlighted the difference between eras, and I loved seeing the bond between Emma and her grandmother. There was a slight twist at the end which made total sense but I wasn’t expecting, and it really worked well.

I loved this story, and would 100% recommend this to anyone wanting to read something a bit different and really emotive!

Thank You Net Galley, Bookouture and Renita D'Silva for the chance to review this book.

I would like to begin by thanking Renita D'Silva for this wonderful book that actually brings the flavor of earth in India. Just like a saying from one of favorite movies, 'Le aayi Mitthi Ki Khusboo'. I haven't read any of her works before even though I have been looking forward to it for a very long time. The Girl In The Painting is a story that shows us about opportunities that may come knocking but that really needs a strong will to peruse it in spite of the obstacles and thorns in our path. It transported me back to my history classes when we did learn about the horrendous practices of 'Sati' and 'untouchability' which thankfully got eradicated. The writing style is rich and the prose really brings forth vibrant hues and colors thru the lives of Margaret and Archana. The love and betrayal faced by Margaret and the loneliness and despair faced by Archana is beautifully conveyed leaving me teary-eyed at many stages.
Hoping to read all by this author.

Another stunning and beautifully written novel that evokes many emotions and captures brilliantly the lives of the wonderful characters Renita has created.

The rich descriptive prose of this immensely gifted author will transport you through time and across the world from England to India as you witness the love, loss, sacrifice, betrayal, courage and lives of the intriguing and captivating main characters Margaret and Archana.

LOVE LOVE LOVED this fabulous novel - once started I couldn't put it down but as usual didn't want it to end either.

The Girl in the Painting comes highly recommended- I can't wait to see what Renita has in store for us next !!!

Renita D'Silva is the author of many books, but this is the first time I've read one. The story sound intriguing, so I couldn't wait to get started.

India, 1926: English Margaret arrives with her new husband Suraj at his family home, set amidst beautiful rolling hills, the air filled with with the soft scent of spices and hibiscus flowers. Margaret is unwelcome, homesick and lonely, but her maid Archana, a young woman from an impoverished family, reminds her of her long-lost sister, a tiny glimpse of home in a faraway place. As Margaret and Archana spend more time together, an unexpected friendship blooms. But in British India the divide between rich and poor, English and Indian, is wide, and the clash between Margaret's modern views and the weight of tradition on Archana will lead to devastating results... England, 2000: When Emma's grandmother gives her a mysterious painting, and asks her to take a message of forgiveness to an old friend in India, Emma is relieved to have some time and space to make a decision about her future. But as she fulfils her grandmothers wish, a secret kept for over seventy years is finally revealed - the story of a day spent painting by a stream full of water lilies, where a betrayal tore three lives apart forever...

‘Just like once before when she set aside her desire to study, go to college, in order to get married, do what was expected of her, once again she is felled by duty. That time she gave up her dreams, now she is giving up her life.'

Oh boy, this book did not disappoint. The story was so well thought out, intricate and full bodied. At the end of the first chapter, it leaves you with a question from one of the characters, that you want the answer to. That was me hooked right till the end.

From this question, it then goes into the back story of the two main characters, Margaret and Archana, where we read about their early years and the heartbreaking trials they both go through. You get such a sense of each character, and your heart breaks for both of them.

Like I said, it goes into their back story so the two main characters don't even meet until about halfway through the book. But it doesn't make the story slow, or the book feel long. It just engrosses you, so you go on the journey with them.
The descriptions, in this book are like no other. If this book doesn't make you want to go to India, I don't know what will? It's described so beautifully, in such detail, I think this is why the story never feels long, because you become so involved in the story and surroundings. Also, learning about the Indian traditions was absolutely fascinating. I had no idea, things like Sati actually happened. You know I love it when a book teaches me something.

'Leaves have started to turn, a riot of deep yellow, golden russet, blood orange. Blackberries ripen in the bushes beside the road, bees and flies drunk on them. The air is perfumed with Hawthorn, honeysuckle and wild garlic. Crab apples ferment in the sunshine.'

What really makes the book excellent, is characters, their relationships and how we relate to them. The relationship between Margaret and Suraj, is sweet and romantic. Archana and her family's relationship is a complex, yet deep love, marred by traditions. Margaret and her sister, their heartbreak bring them together. Archana and Pramila, a friend she desperately needed. Side note, grab your tissues for this bit. But the relationship between Margaret and Archana is so special, it's the heart of this book. They're connection just comes off the page, you can feel. So when the friendship becomes complicated your so involved and desperate for things to work out.
Even though Archana is in a very specific situation, I still found myself relating to her. I had such empathy for, I think everyone feels like she has felt, not being in control of her own life. I had such sympathy for these characters because the writing was just that good. The details, descriptions, heartbreak.
I can't recommend this book enough. Renita is such a talented writer, and a great storyteller. This may be first book I've read of hers, but it won't be the last. Now excuse me, I'm off to buy some more.
This book was given to from Netgalley and Bookouture, in return for a honest review. This book comes out April 11th and you can preorder now.

The Girl in the Painting by Renita D'Silva. Bookouture, 2019.

As this book’s setting shifts from pre-WWI England to India, the author’s elegant writing style paints a visual and emotional image of every scene. We share Margaret and Archana’s anguish as each struggles to overcome the physical, emotional and cultural frailties of their parents, the active dislike of their second families and the loss of a sister they love. And then we suffer with Emma as she decides what to do after discovering her partner has faked a fundamental piece of research.

I enjoyed this wonderful book more than any other work set in India that I’ve read.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Girl in the Painting via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the title.
I loved the cover of the book.
I said to myself, perhaps I can try this book, because it caught my attention.
The only thing I did not like so much is the fact that the story line was predictable, and it did not have "kick feeling" to it.
For that particular reason, I am giving it only 3.5 stars here.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is not normally a book I would have asked to review but how disappointed I would have been, it was brilliant.

4.5 stars.

The mere mention of India is always enough to pique my interest because, even though I saw a tiny amount of Andhra Pradesh on a work trip several years ago, I fell in love.
I can’t wait to go back one day but in the meantime, I live vicariously though books such The Girl In The Painting.
It’s a cleverly written tale that seamlessly weaves the stories of three women together.
The narrative jumps backwards and forwards in time and switches between India and England but is easy to follow and the time hops keep things lively.
Renita D'Silva does an amazing job of conjuring the sights, sounds and even smells of 1920s Bombay, now Mumbai, as well as a more rural area, which despite its wide open spaces definitely felt the more claustrophobic of the two.
What’s interesting is the themes, including duty, love, family and traditional roles, flow between the decades (and countries), which brings an added poignancy to the book.
All three characters were well developed and memorable for their own reasons. I enjoyed how the story unfolded and the ending really got me thinking (no spoilers).
Some points I felt were repeated but maybe most people wouldn’t read it in just a couple of sittings so it would be less noticeable – and maybe even helpful?
This might be the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last.

Im sorry but I really couldn’t get into this book. The characters seemedflimsy and the story slow and predictable.
Not one for me I’m afraid and I didn’t finish it.

Did not finish at about 40% - too disjointed, no actual connection of initial narrative voice doesn't seem to hold weight at least at this point without actually developing a story that provides something to grab on to.