- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; New Ed edition (2 Sep 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007118473
- ISBN-13: 978-0007118472
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.4 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 477,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Praise for ‘Of Marriageable Age’:
'A big book, big themes, an exotic background and characters that will live with you forever…unputdownable.' Katie Fforde
'Beautifully and cleverly written. A wondrous, spellbinding story which grips you from the first to the last page…I can't recall when I last enjoyed a book so much.' Lesley Pearse
'It's a wonderful panoramic story and conveys such vivid pictures of the countries it portrays I was immediately transported and completely captivated. A terrific writer.' Barbara Erskine
'From the first page I was hooked with this enchanting book…unputdownable.' Audrey Howard
'A vast canvas of memorable characters across a kaleidoscope of cultures…her epic story feels like an authentic reflection of a world full of sadness, joy and surprise.' Observer
Barbara Erskine
"A terrific writer who completely captivated me"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An exotic story full of mystique, romance, culture and goodies and baddies. The characters make a huge impression and stay with you long after the last page. You could almost say there is a fairytale-like flavour to the story - perhaps a bit like Cinderella, only the sister is impossibly beautiful - in fact she's just plain impossible! One thing Ms Maas does with this book is not only entertain, but also heighten the reader's awareness of certain brutalities facing children in India - namely, child abuse and prostitution. But these events are woven "into" the story rather than given centre stage. Still..it does get to you. I bought this book for something to read, instead I ended up being introduced to a whole new author whose other books I will now be looking to read.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Of Marriageable Age fans will be delighted with the maturing talent that Sharon Maas demonstrates in Peacocks Dancing. Her storytelling sense is even stronger in this new book, and her writing is sublime! The most appealing part of the book is the careful character development of the young people whose growing up is captured in the story. You will find yourself fascinated and sympathetic to all of them, and want to find out how their lives turn out.
The story takes place in both Guyana and India during the last 30 years. The book revolves around the life of Rita Maraj who grows up as a semi-orphan first with her father (after her mother dies in childbirth) and then with her father and social-climbing stepmother. Rita is treated like an unwanted child, but her great imagination and fierce determination keep her moving forward toward something that she cannot define. Throughout the book, she comes to understand that she must act more in congruence with her instincts, and that they will serve her well.
The book's structure provides a parallel tale of the childhoods and growing up of Rita, her half-sister Isabelle, Kamal (the heir of a princely Indian family), and Asha (a young girl who is taken on by a foster family). Their lives come to intertwine in unexpected ways, like vines growing up a trellis. By the end of the book, the trellis is covered with beautiful blossoms and leaves.
Readers who are offended by inhumanity and sexual exploitation may find the book to be strongly flavored in those regards. The circumstances described do not appear to be exaggerated above what is happening somewhere to many people in the world, and should serve to expand your awareness of abuses that need to be curbed.
A major theme of the book relates to what connects us to one another. You will see a variety of relationships, and develop your own ideas as a result. But the core is a selfless love that many people have trouble providing, seeking, or sustaining.
Those who are fans of Buddhist philosophy will recognize many parallels to the life of Buddha in Kamal's experiences. I found that connection made the book more spiritually significant relative to all of the characters.
The most powerful part of the book comes in the connection between Rita and her sister. You will be deeply moved by it. I can say no more without harming your enjoyment of the story.
After you finish enjoying Peacocks Dancing, I suggest that you think about where you are too inhibited to pursue providing selfless love. Then, consider how you might try letting your true feelings go. Hopefully, that taste of selfless loving will provide the joy to encourage you to do more.
Strengthen your capacity to love!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is one of the most beautiful books ive ever read..I know Illtreasure this book. I love how Sharon Maas takes us into a kalidoscope ofcultures.The book is quiet a read and does appear to be really huge in thesize of it ..but each page is such a joy to read ..its full of lively language and such detail...emotions...feelings..places.. andsences.....that i am immediatly drawn to another world...even the book can smell so exotic ..each page transports me to another plane....toanother...world...there is a lot of sadness, a lot questions that israised about how we live and about why we do the things we do in life. Iliked how the book allows us to travel to India ( my parents are southindian..im British born) and the sadness of child prostitution. This bookis realy worth picking up ..reading it and placing it on your favouritebook case...every so often i pick this book up read and skim through pagesand it makes me feel sooo sooo good.Ive never felt this warmth and touchedby a book in my life.Thank you Sharon Maas xxxx.Subha Sadasivan
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enjoyably magnetic
A jolly good yarn, sucking this reader into the sounds, smells, tastes, clothes, music and atmospheres of its locations. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. P. Long
A delight to discover Sharon Maas,
There's a fairytale quality to this story that immediately engaged me: I loved the sounds, smells and colours of Georgetown and I found it easy to identify with Rita, who doesn't... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Alison McVey
Pleasant Enuff
This just didnt hold me the way her other novel "of Marriageable age" did. The fundamentals of the story were weak and unbelieveable. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2010 by ladyday
A masterpiece
Sharon Maas has delivered a masterpiece of storytelling in the novel "Peacock Dancing". Whilst reading the novel, I was so absorbed in the story, as it is superbly narrated and... Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2006 by P. DATTA
Finding One's Life Role!
Of Marriageable Age fans will be delighted with the maturing talent that Sharon Maas demonstrates in Peacocks Dancing. Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2004 by Donald Mitchell
Trivial magic
Maas gives you a magical world of beauty and brutality. She paints a beautiful picture of India and Guyana. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2004 by Copenhagen girl
Finding One's Life Role!
Of Marriageable Age fans will be delighted with the maturing talent that Sharon Maas demonstrates in Peacocks Dancing. Read more
Published on 16 July 2001
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