47 pages • 1 hour read
Cracking India
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Book Brief
296
Novel • Fiction
Lahore, India • 1940s
1988
Adult
18+ years
840L
Super Short Summary
Cracking India, by Bapsi Sidhwa, depicts the 1947 partition of India through the eyes of Lenny, a young Parsee girl in Lahore. Living with polio, Lenny's world expands as she learns about political unrest and religious conflicts from her diverse household. After the partition, she witnesses violence and displacement, grappling with trauma and understanding the potency of her words to influence events. The book includes graphic depictions of violence and sexual assault.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
5,881 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Bapsi Sidhwa's Cracking India is lauded for its vivid depiction of Partition-era Lahore, showcasing strong character development and incisive social critique through the eyes of eight-year-old Lenny. While some critics find the narrative voice occasionally inconsistent, the novel's historical insight and emotional depth are widely praised.
Who Should Read Cracking India?
Readers who relish historical fiction with intricate personal narratives and cultural insights will enjoy Cracking India by Bapsi Sidhwa. Fans of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner or Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things will appreciate its poignant exploration of Partition-era India through a child's eyes.
5,881 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
296
Novel • Fiction
Lahore, India • 1940s
1988
Adult
18+ years
840L
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