"The Bandit Queens" by Parini Shroff

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
Call Number: FICTION Schroff
Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in, she actually lost him--he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it's a rumor that just won't die. It turns out that being known as a "self-made" widow comes with some perks. No one messes with her, harasses her, or tries to control ( ahem, marry) her. It's even been good for business; no one dares to not buy her jewelry. Freedom must look good on Geeta, because now other women are asking for her "expertise," making her an unwitting consultant for husband disposal. And not all of them are asking nicely. With Geeta's dangerous reputation becoming a double-edged sword, she has to find a way to protect the life she's built--but even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry. What happens next sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything, not just for Geeta, but for all the women in their village. Filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, Parini Shroff's The Bandit Queens is a razor-sharp debut of humor and heart that readers won't soon forget.

Friendship and Solidarity: Discuss the central friendship between the bandit queens, Champa and Sundari. How does their bond evolve over the course of the novel, and what challenges do they face together? In what ways do they support and empower each other in their quest for justice and freedom?
Gender and Power: Explore the theme of gender dynamics in the novel, particularly in relation to the roles of women in Indian society. How do Champa and Sundari challenge traditional gender norms and expectations through their actions and choices? What insights does the novel offer into the intersections of gender, power, and social hierarchy?
Social Justice and Resistance: Reflect on the bandit queens' struggle against oppression and injustice. What injustices do they face as marginalized members of society, and how do they resist systemic oppression through acts of rebellion and defiance? How does their story parallel real-life struggles for social justice and equality?
Identity and Belonging: Consider the theme of identity as it relates to Champa and Sundari's experiences as outcasts and rebels. How do they navigate questions of identity and belonging in a society that seeks to marginalize and criminalize them? What does their journey teach us about the complexity of identity and the search for self-acceptance?
Cultural Context: Discuss the cultural and historical context of the novel, set in rural India during the 20th century. How does the author portray the social, economic, and political realities of the time? What cultural traditions, beliefs, and customs shape the characters' lives and interactions?
Narrative Structure: Reflect on the novel's narrative structure, which alternates between Champa and Sundari's present-day experiences and flashbacks to their past. How does this dual timeline enhance your understanding of the characters and their motivations? What insights does it offer into the factors that led them to become bandit queens?
Ethical Dilemmas: Consider the ethical dilemmas faced by the bandit queens as they navigate questions of morality, justice, and survival. How do they reconcile their actions as outlaws with their own sense of right and wrong? What compromises do they make in pursuit of their goals, and what consequences do they face as a result?
Redemption and Forgiveness: Discuss themes of redemption and forgiveness in the novel. How do Champa and Sundari grapple with their past mistakes and regrets? What opportunities do they have for redemption, and how do they seek forgiveness from others and themselves?
Resilience and Empowerment: Reflect on the resilience and empowerment demonstrated by the bandit queens in the face of adversity. How do they overcome obstacles and setbacks with courage and determination? What strengths and qualities enable them to persevere in their struggle for justice and freedom?
Legacy and Impact: Consider the legacy of the bandit queens and the impact of their story on future generations. How are they remembered by those who knew them, and what lessons can be learned from their lives and struggles? How does their legacy inspire others to fight for social change and equality?

Parini Shroff received her MFA from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied under Elizabeth McCracken, Alexander Chee, and Cristina García. She is a practicing attorney and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Bandit Queens is her debut novel.

We, the Survivors by Tash Aw
Call Number: FICTION Aw
Ah Hock is an ordinary man of simple means. Born and raised in a Malaysian fishing village, he favors stability above all, a preference at odds with his rapidly modernizing surroundings. So what brings him to kill a man? This question leads a young, privileged journalist to Ah Hock's door. While the victim has been mourned and the killer has served time for the crime, Ah Hock's motive remains unclear, even to himself. His vivid confession unfurls over extensive interviews with the journalist, herself a local whose life has taken a very different course. The process forces both the speaker and his listener to reckon with systems of power, race, and class in a place where success is promised to all yet delivered only to its lucky heirs. An uncompromising portrait of an outsider navigating a society in transition, Tash Aw's anti-nostalgic tale, We, the Survivors , holds its tension to the very end. In the wake of loss and destruction, hope is among the survivors.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Call Number: FICTION Braithwaite
Nigeria. Korede's sister, Ayoola, is the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row is dead. Korede knows the best solutions for cleaning blood, the trunk of her car is big enough for a body. Not that she gets any credit. A kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works is the bright spot in her life. One day Ayoola shows up to the hospital uninvited and he takes notice, asking Korede for Ayoola's phone number. Now Korede must reckon with what she will do about her sister.
Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter
Call Number: Fiction Hunter
Jackie Stinson's best friend is dead, and everyone knows who killed her. Jackie wants to be many things, but a martyr has never been one of them. She is an ex-emotional eater and mother of four, who has finally lost the weight she long yearned to be free of. In her new, sharp-edged body, she goes by Jacqueline. But leaving her old self behind proves harder than she ever imagined. And while she believes she should be happier, misery still chases her, and motherhood threatens to subsume what little is left of her. Jacqueline's only salve is her best friend Theresa, whose seemingly perfect life she desperately covets. Since they met in the maternity ward fifteen years earlier, the two have survived the trials of motherhood side by side--Theresa with her quiet, cherubic daughter, and Jacqueline with her rambunctious, unruly boys. Their bond is tight, but it is not enough to keep Jacqueline, finally moving through the world in the body she has always wanted, from stealing a bit of Theresa's perfect life.
Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao
Call Number: FICTION Rao
An electrifying debut novel about the extraordinary bond between two girls driven apart by circumstance but relentless in their search for one another. Poornima and Savitha have three strikes against them: they are poor, they are ambitious, and they are girls. After her mother's death, Poornima has very little kindness in her life. She is left to care for her siblings until her father can find her a suitable match. So when Savitha enters their household, Poornima is intrigued by the joyful, independent-minded girl. Suddenly their Indian village doesn't feel quite so claustrophobic, and Poornima begins to imagine a life beyond arranged marriage. But when a devastating act of cruelty drives Savitha away, Poornima leaves behind everything she has ever known to find her friend. Her journey takes her into the darkest corners of India's underworld, on a harrowing cross-continental journey, and eventually to an apartment complex in Seattle. Alternating between the girls' perspectives as they face ruthless obstacles, Shobha Rao's Girls Burn Brighter introduces two heroines who never lose the hope that burns within.
A Beginner's Guide to Murder by Rosalind Stopps
Call Number: MYSTERY STOPPS
Grace, Meg and Daphne, all in their seventies, are minding their own business while enjoying a cup of tea in a cafe, when seventeen-year-old Nina stumbles in. She's clearly distraught and running from someone, so the three women think nothing of hiding her when a suspicious-looking man starts asking if they've seen her. Once alone, Nina tells the women a little of what she's running from. The need to protect her is immediate, and Grace, Meg and Daphne vow to do just this. But how? They soon realise there really is only one answer: murder. And so begins the tale of the three most unlikely murderers-in-the-making, and may hell protect anyone who underestimates them.

Islington Branch Book Club - Past Titles: "The Bandit Queens" by Parini Shroff

"The Bandit Queens" by Parini Shroff

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