KOYAL DARK, MANGO SWEET

A lovely lilt characterizes Vaishali Sharma's Indian-accented English for this novel set in contemporary Mumbai. She infuses energy and vivacity into the coming-of-age story, portraying the protagonist's resistance to traditional marriage practices with a vibrant spirit. The author's depiction of the mores and manners of this world will remind some listeners of the work of Jane Austen; Sharma renders these elements with precise diction. Her dialogue has a realistic sound, and she differentiates characters effectively with tone, pitch, and pace. The mother is particularly distinguishable from the numerous other female characters. This is a distinctive title in the growing volume of Indian novels written in English. M.R. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2013]