Bubble Wrap by Kalyani Rao – Quest to Get My Reading Groove Back

Bubble Wrap: First Book in the Series to Get My Reading Groove Back

Bubble Wrap [Paperback] [Aug 06, 2014] Kalyani Rao

This series is about how Avil got her reading groove back one book at a time. I was all set to read Shantaram on my iPad when I noticed that the book was over 900 pages in length. I temporarily abandoned Shantaram, and substituted it with Bubble Wrap by Kalyani Rao, which wasn't even on the list. But Bubble Wrap is only 180 pages and would be easier to complete in a reasonable amount of time.

Although the Shantaram is highly recommended and regarded, the sheer size of the book  was overwhelming, and I realized that it was too much for me to start this challenge.

Have you read?

The Challenge to Get My Reading Groove Back

My goal is to start reading books again that deal with serious topics. In my experience, I benefit a lot from reading these types of books and they get my creative juices flowing. And I will do what it takes to get my reading groove back. I must state upfront that I was very upset about the way the book ended and I wondered why I had invested the time to read Bubble Wrap. Being upset about a book is not good for you when you are trying to read more of the right books.I think it can cause you to return to your not-so-good habits. Fortunately, over the years, I have enjoyed the benefits that come with reading diversely.

Perhaps I am being over-dramatic, but I felt cheated by the ending of the book. Many people will like this book, so that's why I am writing about it. When you have had bronchitis three times in one year, in addition to having the flu countless times, and you do not have a lot of energy,  the last thing you want to do is to read a book with a sad ending.

What is Bubble Wrap by Kalyani Rao About?

Bubble Wrap by Kalyani Rao deals with sexism and the issue of child brides in India.

On the website, Girls Not Brides, there are some statistics on the prevalence of child marriages that we should look at before I  delve into the story.

As can be expected, India has the highest incidents of girls getting married before their 18th birthday — 27 percent. This figure has dropped from 50 percent over the past decade. That is very good news. Only seven percent of girls get married by their 15th birthday. These statistics come from UNICEF State of the World's Children, 2017 via the Girls Not Brides Website.

In Bubble Wrap, the story is interspersed with diary entries. Although the author has not successfully integrated the diary entries with the story, there is one entry that made me laugh so hard because it reminded me of something that happened decades ago in Jamaica. In the entry, a bull chases the two characters, Krishna and Gudiya. Years ago, while my mother and some other family members were traveling from Kingston to Savanna-la-mar, the car broke down. While we were sitting in a meadow waiting for the car to be fixed, we noticed a bull running towards us. I never knew we could run that fast and jump over a fence. It was such a pleasure to be taken back to a simpler time in life.

In the story, there is also a tension between innocence and maturity.

One of the main characters, Krishna Singh is married off at the age of 12 to 14-year-old Shyan Singular, who is studying away from home at a boarding school. What do a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old know about being married and the responsibilities that come with the union? Fortunately, after the wedding, Shyan is sent back to private school to complete his education.

Before leaving for her husband's home, Krishna's grandmother, Dadhi Saa gives her some jewelry and tells her not to tell anyone – even her betrothed, mother or father. The jewelry are to help her if she runs into difficulty. This foreshadows some of what is to come in the story.

The other main character is 16-year-old Gudiya, who is a widow. She was married to Krishna's cousin. Most of the family members are superstitious and think that she brought calamity and bad luck to the family. Is this another sign of what's to come in Bubble Wrap by Kalyani Rao?

Guliya accompanies Krishna as a companion when she goes to her father-in-law's house. Sudhir Singh is the master of the house, and none of the women in.the household, including his wife have any power. In fact, his wife is timid and uneducated. In Bubble Wrap, women are objects that men own and control. Women have no control over their bodies and girl babies are viewed as less valuable than male ones.

Krishna is not allowed to attend school, though her in-laws hire a female tutor who comes once a week. She is essentially a prisoner in the house except for when her father, Kanwar Singh, comes to take her and Gudiya out. He dies in an accident and the reader cannot help but wonder if Sudhir Singh had a hand in it. He is heavily in debt and sees Kanwar as the solution. Krishna will inherit a substantial amount of money when she turns 15 and her father-in-law wants and needs the money for himself and his business.

In the story, Sudhir Singh rapes Gudiya on the night of Diwali and she becomes pregnant. When the ultrasound reveals that she is having a girl, he orders her to have an abortion and he also wants to get rid of her. Not having an option, Gudiya decides to leave and Krishna insists on going away with her. It is very bothersome to.me how much older men think they are entitled and have the right to force themselves on Krishna. I admire her for fighting back when the retired professor tries to sexually assault her.

Sudhir Singh also sends thugs in search of the two because he is desperate for Krishna's inheritance. Krishna's and Gudiya's journey when they leave Sudhir Singh's house is a difficult and deadly one. After the difficulties these two children go through trying to escape an oppressive situation, the ending of the story should have been a better one. When I finished reading the book, I asked myself, “What was the point of Krishna and Gudiya going through everything?”

I also found it troublesome that except for Kanwar Singh, the male characters in the book are portrayed as predators and thugs. There are many good men in the world.

Why Read Bubble Wrap or Another Similar Book?

We in the west cannot remain isolated and ignorant about what is going on in the world. Child marriages and different forms of  sexism are big problems. We need to understand cultural norms in other countries, even if we do not agree with them. If you want to make a difference in the world by solving big world problems, then you need to understand what the issues are. Reading books that authors from other countries write is a first step in the process.

The Strategic Reading Challenge to Get My Reading Groove Back

If you are participating in the Strategic Reading Challenge or want to do so, Bubble Wrap by Kalyani Rao is suitable for Month Three when you travel to Asia. For those who are not familiar with the Strategic Reading Challenge, it is a way to learn the key skills that the World Economic Forum says you need to thrive in 2020. You will also develop cultural sensitivity in the process because you will read the right books that open your eyes to other cultures.

I invite you to join the Strategic Reading Challenge to develop new skills to succeed in your career! Learning about others who are different from you will also allow you get along with more people in the workplace.

Bubble Wrap [Paperback] [Aug 06, 2014] Kalyani RaoShantaram: A Novel