The Vine of Desire

February 12, 2009 at 10:29 a.m.
The Vine of Desire
The Vine of Desire
By Jill Williams

Cousins Anju and Sudha were once as close as sisters, sharing everything they did and using one another for support as they grew up in India. Whenever one was in trouble, they ran for the comforting arms of the other. They loved each other so much, they thought nothing could come between them. But things change. Anju moved to America with her husband, and together they were starting a family. Anju was the strong willed one, and had always been able to stand up for herself and protect herself. Sudha was married in India through an arrangement, and when she became pregnant, her mother-in-law saw the results of the ultrasound and demanded Sudha end the pregnancy. Instead, Sudha left her husband and returned to her mother, a judgmental woman to say the least. This is one of the most disgraceful things she could do, yet the only thing she could do if she wanted to keep her baby.

Anju lost her baby, and Sudha is coming to America to help care for her cousin. This is very upsetting to Anju's husband, Sunil, because we find out he has deep feelings for Sudha from their time in India. The tension in the home is remarkable, and it's anyone's guess how they even functioned. Sudha also brought her infant daughter, which caused some additional feelings since Anju had just suffered a miscarriage. Now everyone in the home except the child is living a stranger's life. Nobody has control of themself; nobody has a clear plan for the future. Sunil only wants to divorce Anju and marry Sudha. Sudha only wants to get away from Anju and Sunil and have her own life not dependent upon anyone else. Anju doesn't want Sunil to love Sudha, and no longer feels comforted by Sudha's presence.

This messy web of emotions culminates in all 3 lives being shattered. Each goes their own way, down a path of their own choosing. After a time apart nursing their wounded hearts and pride, we begin to see them head down a path of healing. Through it all, are the ties that take the women back to their heritage. We are privy to letters exchanged with their mothers and aunts in India. We see how they present their struggles in careful words back home. We feel helpless alongside them when they are burdened with the choices they make. We triumph with them when they finally gain wisdom of who they are and what happiness is.

The author truly has a talent for beautiful writing. I've never read anything quite like it. It's like reading poetry, or tasting something delectable or looking at a painting that can make you cry; her writing is magnificent. I devoured this book in 2 evenings; I couldn't put it down.