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Read what people think about Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, and write your own review.

Secret Daughter

Secret Daughter
A Novel
by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Published in USA Mar 2010,
352 pages.

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Rated 2 of 5 of 5 by Susan B. (Cape Coral, FL)
Conflict of Eastern and Western World
A story of two cultures, one daughter, and two marriages that shows the clashes that develop and the realities of their worlds. A very readable novel. I found the characters to be stereotyped and the flow of conversations and thoughts not fully developed. I wanted to read this book for an upcoming trip to India but did not find the verbal picture of India to be very informative.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Barbara C. (Riverside, CA)
The Facets of Family
Seeing India and Mumbai from the points of view of so many people made it a feel-good sociological study. Who could not fall in love with Asha from the day she was born? These were real people and the writing improved as the book went along. I have a soft heart and I wasn't disappointed. I have never wanted to go to India, but now I am not so sure.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Elizabeth K. (glenshaw, PA)
Secret Daughter
This is a wonderful heart warming multicultural story that spans 20 years. Readers will enjoy reading and discussing the difference in American and modern Indian cultures. The common thread of love of a child will appeal to all ages. The glossary at the back of the books is helpful.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Maria P. (Washington, DC)
The Past is Another Country
Many themes are presented in this memorable novel. In Secret Daughter the past is a foreign country, a country of extremes where a newborn child can be cast off and another revered for its gender. Adoption provides solutions but no ultimate answer. The past requires a visit so that we can truly see the present for what it really is, our home, our families and our earth.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Dorothy T. (Victorville, CA)
Heartbreak and Hope
The loss of a child takes varied forms, but each is a cause of unspeakable grief and heartache. The Secret Daughter enlightens us about a place and a culture that might be unfamiliar to some readers, but the essence of the story is that loss, whether it comes as a result of miscarriage, sacrifice, or life decisions. But I was not left with a sense of hopelessness, rather just the opposite. The author handles all this with great skill and a style that kept me involved with the characters and their story to the very end. I encourage anyone who likes engaging fiction with a chance to learn something about India and its culture to read this one: it will stay with you long after you finish the last page.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Katharine K. (Alpine, CA)
Secret Daughter
I REALLY enjoyed this book. It is one of those books that ends each chapter in such a way that you want to read on. I finished it in two days. I think it would be a good book club choice because it presents lots to talk about. It offers the perspective from two different cultures and shows how much misunderstanding there can be when both sides are not open to learn. It also explores the emotions of families of mixed cultures, via marriage and adoption. In this day and age, with the world getting very small, this book offers lots to think about and, even more important, talk about.
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