What does the novel's title mean to you?

What does the novel's title mean to you?

It is the story for the ages; girls and women have to be stronger and more resilient in order to do well and to survive.

I think of Poornima's remarks to Madhavi when she says she's afraid of Poonima's scars. "What fools we all are. We girls. Afraid of the wrong things at the wrong times. Afraid of a burned face, when outside, outside waiting g for you are fires you cannot imagine... Infernos as wide as the world. Waiting to impoverish you, make you ash...Scattering you, because you are a girl, and because you are ash."
Poorima and Savitha are "burned" through all the travails they experience in their lives. I think the title reflects the girls spirits and willpower burning brighter than the "fires" that tried to destroy them.

The girls have ambitions - to make their lives better. Because they are women they have to burn brighter and be better in order to succeed. Their inner spirits are forged with fire, fire being the things which have tried to destroy them. Their spirits continue to burn as is evidenced by Savitha's escape and Poornima's continued search to find Savitha.

No matter the challenges a person encounters in life, a person can overcome. That the hard times can make a person stronger as long as a person never give up. It is a hard quest that is not easy.

”This time, the girls seemed unfazed by Poornima’s abrupt appearance as she passed through the dim light of the entire way. Poornima looked at her and saw there was no point in asking how she was doing; it was obvious that she had hardened.” ( page 207-Hardcover edition) Again, it not easy to overcome trauma. Especially severe trauma. Everyone journey is not the same.

Both Poornima and Savitha have lived through the darkness that is their life. In order to survive both girls needed a spirit that burned brighter than anything else. The title of the book tells us we will be reading about two very strong women who will survive whatever the world throws at them. They will far outshine the men that try to destroy them with their evil, their power and their money.

I think Marcia S has picked the right quotation. In a culture where women are subordinate and frequently abused, their spirits must be stronger - burn birghter -- in order to thrive and survive. Clearly Poornima and Savitha overcame incredible challenges in their quest to find one another again.

Love Marcia s answer. I cannot add anything more!

I think it can convey many different aspects but I saw the red and orange flames of a raging fire. The cover of the book certainly contributed to this image. Although one can see fire as both productive or destructive, I chose to see fire as a positive life force and a energy that gave the girls hope that never was extinguished. This gave the book its power as a testament to never give up your dreams despite horrendous circumstances.

Women carry the spirit of life very strongly so the title is just another way of saying that. Both girls in the story show that the spirit of life burns strongly in them.

I agree with Marcia S and the quote she chose:

I think of Poornima's remarks to Madhavi when she says she's afraid of Poonima's scars. "What fools we all are. We girls. Afraid of the wrong things at the wrong times. Afraid of a burned face, when outside, outside waiting for you are fires you cannot imagine... Infernos as wide as the world. Waiting to impoverish you, make you ash...Scattering you, because you are a girl, and because you are ash."

Additionally, the girls' lives are much more difficult than men's or those with wealth, and they fight harder to overcome what seems to be their destiny.

Think of the incredible power held in one small matchstick. Once it is lit, under certain conditions, the fire it creates grows bigger and hotter and spreads. Savitha shared her small spark with her friend Poornima. The spark created a fire deep inside each of them that propelled them forward, to act and react, in ways they never dreamed they they had the strength for. Each obstacle, challenge, beating, rape, and humiliation was the water sent to douse the flame. But their fires only burned brighter and hotter.

Women all over our world endure unimaginable, unspeakable terror every day of their lives; in some cultures just because they ARE women. Women know that when you are lucky enough to catch a spark, you protect it at all costs. In spite of the horrific abuse experienced by both of these women, their lights were not extinguished. They continued to shine-brighter than archaic, harmful customs-brighter than men and governments who abuse their power-brighter than women who use their station in life as an excuse to belittle and harm other women...

I know a lot of men who can't even handle a common cold.

These two girls in particular, resisted the fate of so many women and refused to let the outside world smother the spirit that burned within them. No matter what horror befell them, they never let their circumstances reduce them to ash.

It is very confusing. A very hot fire does not burn bright. It looks light blue or almost icy. So I guess that girls do not burn hot, they smolder.

Poornima has her own thoughts about fire:
Or rather, it was something raging beneath the face. It was a light, a fire. And it burned. Even as the hot oil on the surface of her skin cooled, capitulated, the fire within grew brighter.

Deleted.

To me it meant what m,any of the others have already said. Girls, especially in India, are not valued as real people and because of that need to have their souls burn brighter ! I think that the title is perfect for this book.

I agree with Marcia S comments. The reaction of the girl to her burnt skin was so ironic to Poormima when she k ew what fires awaited the girl and the resilience she would need to rise from all that adversity

As others have indicated, I believe that after all the girls did to survive, the fire inside burns brighter. Their desire to live grew birghter.