May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons

I just finished reading Elisabeth Bumiller's book, May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons. I'm so grateful that she shared her journey in India and the stories of the women she encountered. She writes about women both old and young, rich and poor, famous and unknown, middle-class and educated, blue collar and illiterate. She introduces us to women in the remotest parts of the country and those who live in the heart of the mega cities. Bumiller looks at the pervading issues facing women in India today. They include arranged verses love marriages, bride burnings and sati (widow burning), women in seclusion (purdah), female infanticide and sex-selective abortions, the women's movement and women in politics, Bollywood actresses, artists--poets, film directors, & painters, professional women and housewives, population control and much more. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a woman in India, then you should read this book. It will give you an overview of the lives of women from various backgrounds. In the end you will discover common themes in all their lives. You will also find yourself relating to them and discovering new things about yourself and how you define/understand/view yourself as a woman.