Monsoon Summer by Julia Gregson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The story starts in post war England impoverished by rationing; the country was cold and miserable. So too were the characters, drab, colourless and unidentifiable. Kit lives in a friend’s boarding house with her mother, Glory. Kit and her mother have a distant relationship and the boarders all come across as a gloomy lot.
As the story moves to post Independence India the colour comes alive, the characters are more real, alive and have a substance about them. This was a clever contrast of the two countries at this time.
I loved the vivid details of India from the ravaged streets to the beautiful landscapes and monsoonal skies.
Monsoon Summer is a character driven story with well developed and sympathetic characters.
Gregson has written an intelligent and emotional story that is both heart breaking and uplifting. This is a story about love, family, culture, class, forgiveness and acceptance. About fighting for what you believe in but most of all fighting for those you love.
Gregson gives the reader a realistic look at relationships and shows us that “home” is a feeling, not a place or country, but a feeling of belonging.
I highly recommend this novel to all readers of Historical Fiction.
I would like to thank the publisher for my proof copy to read and review
