Friend Tricia is even drawn to books for me in this same way---thus my acquisition of these two books from her.
The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society was a little mawkishly predictable but who can resist a book with this blurb about a story replete with coconut cake, grits and bird-watching: "These resourceful women....know the proper social response to any situation----what casserole to bring after a wedding, what pie to bring to a funeral, and what kind of soup works best to poison your best friend's husband.....Trobaugh transforms what appears to be a cozy Southern novel into a darkly humorous tale of women who take care of their own." It 's reminiscent of Arsenic and Old Lace and one is left to draw her own conclusion of the outcome!
Teatime for the Firefly takes place in India in 1943. That alone is a draw for me as "spiritual sisters" from Memphis and Ukraine have traveled to this country to minister to women there. Plus, the story is set against the backdrop of Assam tea plantations. A cuppa black assam, my fave, is a perfect reading accompaniment for this somewhat poignant story enriched with culture and history of the Hindus, Muslims and British colonists during the WWII era.
Layla, the protagonist, raised and educated by her grandfather recalls her first sight of the tea plantation. "It came upon me like a breathless surprise. the tangled beauty of the Assam countryside parted to reveal waves upon waves of undulating green. so pristine, so serenely beautiful that my senses were shaken. (p. 173)
Later on the veranda, the author sprinkles in a lovely image of the fireflies, the source of the title:
“A handful of fireflies descended from the sky and winked softly around us,” Layla tells us. “I watched a firefly land on a teacup. It pulsed softly, lighting the translucent bone china with sharp flashes of ethereal life.” Manik’s reaction, after letting the firefly crawl on his finger until it winked away, “I love sharing my teatime with fireflies.” (p. 189)
Trobaugh's writing is lyrical and I found the love story element unique in spite of the cultural "norm." Yet, the tone of the writing changes somewhat as it mirrors those changing times in India, especially the transitional time in Indian society for women.
The story takes place 4 years prior to the nation's independence from British rule. Violent riots were already beginning on the tea plantations of Assam and casualties began to occur as the British companies removed their protection. Wives of the planters had choices to make---most of the wives were British....but Layla and her husband were both "educated" Indians, which was unique.
I enjoyed my teatime with this book except for some of the realistic "language." There wan't much considering it was a 427 p. book. However in the last chapter I had to read over words that I don't use, don't like to hear used, and don't want to read them. I was grateful for the epilogue which brought resolution to this story, while leaving the door open for a sequel.
The story takes place 4 years prior to the nation's independence from British rule. Violent riots were already beginning on the tea plantations of Assam and casualties began to occur as the British companies removed their protection. Wives of the planters had choices to make---most of the wives were British....but Layla and her husband were both "educated" Indians, which was unique.
I enjoyed my teatime with this book except for some of the realistic "language." There wan't much considering it was a 427 p. book. However in the last chapter I had to read over words that I don't use, don't like to hear used, and don't want to read them. I was grateful for the epilogue which brought resolution to this story, while leaving the door open for a sequel.
