Pavitra in Paris

A review by Maria Pia Marchelletta

Vinita Kinra’s short story book “Pavitra in Paris” introduces the western reader to the intricacies of the world of arranged marriages in Indian culture. A world she knows too well.

Her prose has a hint of elegance with poetic flare. The character in “The Curse of a Nightingale” compares herself to to a “blooming daffodil.” The song is so brilliantly composed.

The emotions of her characters are vividly portrayed via effective usage of the simile. “By now, Ganesh was trembling like a wilted dry leaf as he replaced the flashlight fro m near the pillow of the empty bed,…” “Vinayakji’s eyes bulged like saucers…”

Vinita effectively portrays the turmoil experienced by her characters as she delves into their thought processes.  “I smiled through my slit eye from behind my burqa on contemplating the title. Masked.I despised the merciless cloak that caged by blooming beauty in its shapeless prison.” The usage of the character’s name Nargis as a masked nightingale clearly displays her angst with these conformities. The author’s cleverness with employing this symbolism strengthens her message to the reader.

In summary, Vinita is a talented fictional writer. This fine collection of short stories is a must read.

Maria Pia Marchelletta

Poet, writer, artist and President of the Writers and Editors Network