The Toss of a Lemon by Padma Viswanathan is a family saga tracing four generations of a Southern Indian Brahmin family during the first half of the 20th century. The family is headed by Sivakami, married at ten, widowed at eighteen, and left alone with two small children. She sticks to her conservative Brahmin customs throughout her life, even as her own son and the world around her begin to change and shift away from the caste system.

A fascinating, beautifully written portrait of life in India at a certain time and place that no longer exists. I was transported completely by this complex and captivating story. I could almost hear the music of the veena playing while I was reading. Although this is a work of fiction, there is much truth in the descriptions of India’s journey towards independence, and those who held on tightly to the old ways and those who wanted a more modern life. Neither side is judged here, Viswanathan simply shows how centuries of tradition shaped a nation.

A recommended read.