One Hundred Shades of White: Amazon.co.uk: Preethi Nair: Books

Frequently Bought Together

+

+

Price For All Three: �18.17

Show availability and shipping details

This item: One Hundred Shades of White by Preethi Nair
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
Everything Happens for a Reason by Kavita Daswani
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
A Married Woman by Manju Kapur
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Everything Happens for a Reason

by Kavita Daswani

4.2 out of 5 stars (5) �5.49

Difficult Daughters

by Manju Kapur

4.7 out of 5 stars (6) �5.99

Home

by Manju Kapur

4.5 out of 5 stars (8) �5.99

A Married Woman

by Manju Kapur

4.5 out of 5 stars (2) �7.19

The Mango Season

by Amulya Malladi

4.0 out of 5 stars (4) �8.52

› Explore similar items

Product Description

Review
'A great read. Fast, funny and full of life' Shyama Perera, author of I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet 'A genuinely moving novel...like the bottled spices that play such a role in the story, this has all its ingredients in just the right quantities to spirit away all negative emotions.' Daily Express '[This book] will have you praying for a delayed train' Glamour 'A warm-hearted tale of survival' Bookseller

Daily Express
A genuinely moving novel

See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

immigrant story(1)

Customer Reviews

17 Reviews

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a truly remarkable book, 25 Feb 2003

By	triciastewart-author of Calendar Girl (Yorkshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Hundred Shades of White (Hardcover)

what an amazing story. the characters, colours, spices and the depth of feeling are incredible. The skill of the author draws the reader into the cleverly woven plot through the eyes of the main characters. This is a book to be consumed in one sitting, no way can the reader dip in and out- once started it is impossible to stop until the last page. On reaching the last page the reader will feel a sense a loss and wonder how they can follow this book.
Ms Nair has an exceptional insight into human nature and the shades of truth which we all toy with.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring book by an inspiring author, 22 Sep 2005

By	Rose du desert (Kingdom of Bahrain) - See all my reviews

I was attracted to this book, partly because of the media hype surrounding the extraordinary means to which the author had to go to get her first novel published; and partly because I welcomed the refreshing concept of a story centred around an Indian family in the UK who were from the south of India in general, and Kerala in particular. The glossy book cover enticed me, decorated with vibrant pictures of iced biscuits and cakes.

Overall, the book was enjoyable and descriptive. One could almost hear the sizzling of mustard seeds and green chillies, and inhale the pungent aromas of lime pickle.

Ms Nair's style of writing is of a good standard, albeit inconsistent. It was interesting to read about the same events being visualized alternately by Nalini and her daughter, Maya.

There are elements of magical realism in the book, although not always convincing, and nowhere near on the scale of such great magical realists as Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

I had hoped to find something different from the standard themes followed by many writers of stories concerning Asians in Britain, assuming that references would be made towards the southern mentality, and its well-educated people. (It is, for instance, a known fact that Kerala is India's only state with a literacy rate of 100%) However, Ms Nair chose rustic villagers for her characters, coming from conditions rarely to be found in 21st century Kerala.

The characters are well-developed: Nalini displays moxie, as she struggles in a foreign land with an alien culture and language to adapt to a new lifestyle, after her husband has abandoned her and their children. One can understand why she made the controversial decision to cover up his disappearance with a lie, in order to protect her children's honour and sense of self-worth.

One can't help thinking that a glossary would have been helpful. I personally was able to understand the Malayalam terms, and would know the difference between dishes such as aviyal and thoran. However, the lack of a vocabulary list alienates the foreign audience towards whom the book is directed. Many readers would be clueless about some of the expressions used, and would be left to guess at the meaning; thus, they would be unable to appreciate fully certain passages.

Nevertheless, it is an easy book to read, and should be recommended to others; I am looking forward to reading some of Ms Nair's other novels.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From India to England; via Scotland & Spain! Still India, 22 Jun 2005

By A Customer

I was recommended this book by Amazon and the title in particualr was what attracted me to it.

Basically it's a tale about a family emigrating to England, but things go pear-shaped when the father betrays them and settles in America, leaving a young mother and her two children to fend for themselves in a somewhat hospitable yet hostile London. It particularly focuses on Maya's take on these events and how it shapes her life from her education to relationships until she returns to her roots in her own individual way.

I found the way the author set the chapters out; from the perspective of Maya (the duaghter) and then Nalini (the mother) quite an intersting read. But be warned there's a lot mentioned about Indian food (mainly herbs and spices) and sometimes I was just second guessing at the meaning of some vocab. Although this imagery is often appealing, I found it a little tedious how every emotion and event seemed to encompass vivid culinary descriptions! Often its comic, for example descriptions of Maya's step gran.

Overall it is a good read for immigrants and natives of any land. It gives some familiar and indepth descriptions of the plights and saving graces faced by such communities and also touches on the values of family, friendship, forgiveness, love and suchlike.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 17 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Pickled beauty
So beautiful I wish I hadn't finished. A mixture of India and England.
"Even the rain falls without passion" ... Read more

Published 2 months ago by David Munslow

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic a book to read again and again
It took me 2 goes to get into the story but then I found it enchanting and read it through from start to finish in a weekend. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Mrs. L. E. Potts

5.0 out of 5 stars A true blessing
This book has got to be one of my all time favourites. Its an amazing book which is beautifully written, about a mother and daughter who just seem to miss each other in life. Read more

Published 11 months ago by Shanara

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantanstic sad story
What i found great about this book was the way the emotions, guilt and fear of Nalini and Maya came out of the book. It felt so real. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Farhana Ahmed

5.0 out of 5 stars Nadia
I have just finished this book and what can I say! Preethi Nair is one best I have ever read.. this book made me laugh and cry! Read more

Published 18 months ago by Nadia

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book
I have bought 7 copies of this book for friends (from teens to grandmas), lent my copy out, recommended it to 3 bookclubs, read it 3 times myself and loved every word written. Read more

Published 21 months ago by Lisa L. Kelly

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has so much heart
This is a beautiful story, captivating and well told. I have passed this book on to a number of friends (including non Asians) and everyone has fallen in love with it - and... Read more

Published on 24 Oct 2006 by SP

5.0 out of 5 stars First book that made me cry
This book was fantastic, I read all the time. finishing book upon book one after the other. This book had me hooked, I had to put it down so I didn't finish it before my holiday... Read more

Published on 20 Sep 2006 by Saj

1.0 out of 5 stars truly dreadful
I am Indian myself and was staggered at the under educated grammar that Preethi Nair uses for a start... Read more

Published on 26 May 2006 by elaichirani

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
This book is beautifully written. If you ever get the chance to see Preethi Nair speak she herself is quite remarkable. Read more

Published on 10 Mar 2006

› See all 17 customer reviews...

Listmania!

Top new fiction for a hot summer (2009): A list by EW
Plane or train: A list by Scotty
Simply superb books of modern fiction.: A list by Mr. D. J. Booth

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > N > Nair, Preethi
Books > Fiction > By Period

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.

The Body Shop

Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

›Shop The Body Shop

Make A Wish

Make sure you always get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk Wish List.

›More info on Wish Lists

Up to 50% off Dental Care

Put a sparkle in your smile with up to 50% off selected Oral-B and Philips rechargeable toothbrushes.

›Up to 50% off power toothbrushes

Treat Someone

With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

	57% buy the item featured on this page: One Hundred Shades of White 4.6 out of 5 stars (17) �5.49
	12% buy Difficult Daughters 4.7 out of 5 stars (6) �5.99
	11% buy Home 4.5 out of 5 stars (8) �5.99
	11% buy The Pocket Guide to Being an Indian Girl 4.7 out of 5 stars (12) �5.49


Amazon Home

International Sites: United States \| Germany \| France \| Japan \| Canada \| China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon \| Fulfilment by Amazon \| Join Associates \| Join Advantage

Customer Service \| Help \| View Basket \| Your Account

About Amazon.co.uk \| Careers at Amazon

One Hundred Shades of White (Paperback)

Frequently Bought Together

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Listmania!

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

The Body Shop

Make A Wish

Up to 50% off Dental Care

Treat Someone

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History