Book name- Dollar Bahu
Author - Sudha Murty
Genre - Domestic Fiction
Publisher- Penguin India; 1st edition (11 December 2007); Penguin India
Page count- 142
Orphan Vinuta married Girish, the youngest son of Gouramma. Despite doing all the housework and taking care of the in-laws, she is always reprimanded, because of her husband's financial situation. The situation got worse after Chandru, Gouramma's U.S. based elder son, married Jamuna. Even though Vinuta was a good wife, Gouramma always praised Jamuna for giving them expensive gifts. Constant comparison and no appreciation made Vinuta's life miserable. However, the situation took a turn after Gouramma visited her older son and daughter-in-law abroad.
Growing up, we saw that money is valuable. However, we forgot that money is not the only important thing in life. I've often seen differentiating between people depending on their financial status. The book is a perfect example of the old-fashioned mindset of people.
Society still accepts dowry and many women face torture silently because their father is poor, or they haven't given the requisite dowry. Struggles of the daughters-in-law in a household are also shown.
As the dollar has a higher market value, we often ignore the hard work a person puts in to earn this. The struggles of people living abroad are illustrated in detail. The language is plain.
Greed for more money and lust for a luxurious life is the central theme of the book. Though the takeaway is worthy, the plot is predictable with no twists. The image of women living abroad is not fascinating. It would have been better if Gauramma had realized that it was her greed that made the situation, and the relationship worse, instead of blaming her 'dollar bahu'.
Since it is a light read, it helps a person to come out of a reading slump. As a Sudha Murty fan, this book is disappointing.
This review is a part of the book marathon hosted by outset.com