The author certainly explores a new realm in Indian literature from the POV of a young woman (in high school) coming to terms with her own sexuality. For that the author is to be commended. It's still taboo to talk of sex in India--the thinking goes that sex happens, when you are old enough to learn about it, you will, until then you know nothing.
But there's something about the book, the writing itself, that could have been a little more sophisticated and refined. If the main protagonist is young (and she is) but obviously a somewhat confident (notwithstanding her physical appearance) woman, confident enough to sneak out of the house at night and make passes at classmates and servants (no spoiler here) she comes across also, through the author's handling of her character as somewhat sophomorish. I would have expected a little more depth of character, some thought invested in these enormous changes that she has to deal with in her life, some exhilaration perhaps...something. But the first foray into sex happens almost in the first chapter (well, at least the immediate awareness of it) and we seen nothing of doubt, of reasoning, of a little shame overcome by confidence and bluster. NO thinking at all. The protagonist seems to be carried through by some force that we are not privy to, and so she seems shallow. Not thoughtful.
3 stars for tackling with such confidence a touchy topic in India; I'd say more Indians should read this book just for that, but I stopped reading partway through the book because I didn't get a sense of anticipatin and tension in the plot. I didn't see where the author promised to take me in the book--just seemed like a slice of life, with most of the movement involving sex...still it doesn't seem like a foray into mere gratituous sex.
