Indian proverbs are used throughout. Do these sayings resonate with you or remind you of proverbs from your own upbringing? Do any in particular stick out in your mind?

Indian proverbs are used throughout the text to emphasize certain points in the novel. Do these sayings resonate with you or remind you of proverbs from your own upbringing? Do any in particular stick out in your mind?

I understood the significance of the proverbs and how they were passed down through the generation. Personally, they didn’t resonate with me.

I love the use of proverbs throughout, especially the humor that runs through them and the sameness of our human condition regardless of culture. One of my favorites was from chapter 5: "It's better to have a petticoat too tight rather than too loose or your sari will sag and the pleats will come out."

"As is the king, so are his subjects."
"He deserves paradise who makes his companions laugh."
I noted them all as I read. I really liked the idea of trading proverbs and immediately thought how it might play out in other cultures. Ones I often mutter to myself are "A stitch in time saves nine," and "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."

There were some proverbs that I had to think about to understand their truth but I liked that the author used proverbs to emphasize a point. I was most impressed with the Hindu proverb following the book’s dedication page, “When the Goddess of Wealth comes to give you her blessing, you shouldn’t leave the room to wash your face.” I thought about this proverb as I read the book and to me it underscores so many issues and outcomes in the characters’ lives.

When I was younger I picked up a book of international proverbs and loved reading them so much that I started writing, illustrating, and framing them. As I was reading this book I came across some of the same proverbs I have seen before, usually with a slightly different translation. One of my favorites was on page 41, “One who cannot dance blames the floor.” I remember it as “He who cannot dance claims the floor is uneven.” Many proverbs can have the same meaning yet each culture may choose completely different words. I love the fact the author used proverbs in the character’s conversations. I love that It made me stop reading for a few seconds, made me think about what the author was trying to convey, laugh a little, and then continue reading. It was another small glimpse into life at that time in India.

rosemarys I love that proverb you shared about dancing - "One who cannot dance blames the floor." That's such a clever one. It's true that many cultures can often be conveying similar messages or themes, but the word choices may be different.