The plot is interesting and gives the reader a look into former traditions (thank goodness) of Indian villages and the tragedies that come from a warped view of honor and shame and our unwillingness to forgive others. This story is told from two different time periods, 1920's and present-day England and India and through voices of both time periods. I like that the author let the main characters tell and then conclude their own stories and that she showed us that we can learn from the lives of our ancestors so that we don't repeat their mistakes. I will read other books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Girl in the Painting tells the story of three women and how their stories are intertwined together. It is set in England in India and England during the early 1920s and 2000s. I really enjoyed this book, D'Silva has a lovely style of writing that made it difficult to put down this book. The plot line was very interesting and left me in suspense to the very end. I would recommend this book to any historical fiction lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Emma is a loving granddaughter who follows through to check out her dying grandmother’s house in India. It is year 2000, and this beautiful saga shifts and becomes a story of past and present when Emma promises to give a mysterious painting to someone called Archana.

Leaving England to head to India could not have come at a better time for Emma as her relationship is greatly suffering. As a mother to eight-year-old Sophie, Emma is forced to make difficult choices.

The story shifts back to the early 1900’s, during and after World War I, and tells of the difficult and tragic life of Margaret, Emma’s grandmother. It also tells of Archana, someone who played a pivotal role in Margaret’s life, who Emma struggles to locate. Both Margaret’s and Archana’s stories are tragic and their lives are expertly chronicled.

Reading this stunningly amazing book by Renita D’Silva was very much like watching a captivating mini-series. There were many stories told, with much sadness, yet this book managed also to deliver hope and joy. The storytelling by this talented author was done with exquisite perfection.

Some of the things I enjoyed during this read were the intense drama, romance, family and learning of Indian culture. Times were hard after the war, so there were some difficult passages, such as tragic experiences. This compelling read was very difficult to put down and I felt for all three women, Emma, but especially Margaret and Archana. Their lives held such drama, and it felt so very real.

This wonderful read is definitely highly recommended. I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I will definitely look for both previous and future works.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

I found the first half a little slow. Every chapter about Emma seemed to cover the same issues, very little was added to her story. The second half was more enjoyable when the links between the three character sets was revealed. I would have preferred less repetition in content as we switched to another character/time.

..."true mettle is doing what is right despite the circumstances...It is being true to oneself, one's principles."

Emma, betrayed by her partner (David) takes their daughter, Chloe, to India at the behest of her dying grandmother. Emma has been tasked with a mission, to find a woman named Archana, and to give her a painting along with a request for forgiveness. Emma knows very little about her grandmother's former life in India as a young English bride married to an Indian lawyer -- only that something had happened and that her grandmother, Margaret, returned home to England alone.

Margaret Thronber was born and raised in England and in 1913 her world came crashing down with the war. She finds a way to nurture her artistic talent at University where she meets and falls for the enigmatic and mysterious Suraj. Her experiences with him allow her to feel known and give her a sense of belonging she has lost. Can she do the unthinkable and marry him, go to India and create a life for herself after all?

Told in alternating points of view and flipping back and forth in time, this beautiful story examines the emotions of guilt, anger ambition, grief and unbelonging. It challenges our personal beliefs in notions such as the bonds of duty and obedience to our family and our culture. As Emma, Margaret and Archana reveal their heartaches, we also must see them tackle the biggest hurdle of all -- forgiveness.

I really enjoyed this novel and could almost picture myself in every scene as the characters come to life on the pages. Beautifully written it will tug at the heart and give much for thought. I really do love the setting of India and learning about the country and culture. The concept of sati was hard to swallow, being the feminist I am. I think it would make a great book club selection as there is so much to discuss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

There is nothing that I didn’t love about this book!

The chapters alternate between Margaret, Archana and Emma, with us being taken back to the early 1900’s to learn about Margaret life in London and her move India; and Archana’s very different life growing up in India. We’re then taken to 2000 where we learn about Emma, and hear about Margaret.

Margarets life starts off privileged with a lovely family life, but as a young girl her life is changed dramatically through family tragedy and the war. Years later she finally gets to do something she wants, and moves away to start a new life. One that brings her out of her shell and gives her everything she had dreamed of. She finds love and moves to India with her husband…..

Archana is from a poor village in India with strict ideals and traditions. She had a close knit family but then her wayward sister causes mayhem and the family falls apart. Her life is a struggle but she plods on and is eventually married. Although it’s not the life she’s dreamed of she settles for what she has…..

Then her and Margaret meet, become close and then tragedy strikes again…….

Emma is going through her own struggles and is shocked and delighted when her Grandmother asks her to go to India to deliver a present and a heartfelt message. She doesn’t know much about her Grandmothers life in India. What will the journey uncover? What secrets has her Grandmother kept hidden?

For me, this is unlike anything I have ever read and I completely fell in love with the story and characters. I was completely and utterly sucked in to the story and it really felt like I was reading someone’s memoir.

The writing style is fantastic, it was easy to read and Renita is absolutely fantastic in her story telling and the way she allows you to completely understand and get to know the characters. All my emotions came to the surface….I cried, smiled, laughed and even felt the anger, relief and betrayal.

I’ve not read any of Renita’s previous books but now I know I absolutely must. I’m so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to discover this amazing talent and her beautiful stories. If you’ve not read anything by Renita before then you most definitely should, you won’t be disappointed.

This honestly is one of the most beautiful and poignant stories I have ever read!

This book was not what I expected, but I felt like I really learned something about another culture. I am going to do some research on sati. It is a multi-generational book that spans several continents and layers of family. I found it a bit slow to start, but was intrigued to find out what happened to all of the characters. I would give it 3.5 stars.

Now where do I start with this absolutely stunning book? I was completely mesmerised by this entire story and I read the whole book on my flight to Barbados. The onboard flight entertainment didn't even get a look in.

The story line elegantly weaved its way between three women who's stories were heartbreaking and compelling. I was pulled into world's where women were fighting against doing what was right and expected, by their family and society, or doing what was in their hearts. It was truly writing at its finest.

The characters were crafted with such care and I completely took to each of the three main female protagonists. Margaret, Archana and Emma's stories were successfully woven together to create a stunning story.

The Girl in the Painting is a rich tapestry of imagery laced with struggles and strife. I loved every minute of my time in the company of these ladies and feel honoured to have travelled this journey with them.

The Girl in the Painting by Renita D'Silva is an epic novel of loss, heartbreak, betrayal and redemption. From the outset it was evident the author was really enjoying writing this story as so much emotion oozes from every page and it was as if this was a story she had been waiting for the opportunity to tell for a long time. The reader feels every ounce of pain, hurt and anguish that the characters are experiencing and I think Renita really got inside the heads of her characters through such astounding, imaginative, visual creative and lyrical writing. I was instantly swept up in the story and it soon becomes an absorbing, haunting, tense and powerful read.

The Girl in the Painting is a book that definitely deserves to be read more than once. Firstly it is quite a long book, at a little over 500 pages, and as the characters are so well thought out and all their traits and problems are so detailed and experience so much, I know there are bits that I have missed out on that would have helped me understand the bigger picture even more. Secondly as the writing is excellent from beginning to end with each word so carefully selected I want to go back and savour certain paragraphs and to delve a little deeper into their meaning in order to read between the lines that little bit more. I read the book quickly because I was so caught up in the story and the outpouring of feelings and emotions expressed by each character but I deeply regret doing so because there are so many layers to peel back in order to understand the motives and actions of our main characters which lead to varying consequences because of the decisions they make. I know there were hints dropped that I missed out on because I was racing through the chapters. This book is truly a stunning and well accomplished read which is definitely the best book Renita D'Silva has written

The story is told through three voices and normally I would find following three strands with three distinct opinions challenging but here it works seamlessly throughout the entire story. We move back and forth between the three characters until they all merge to make for a captivating, emotional but affirming conclusion. Emma in the year 2000 is perhaps the character with the least strongest voice but she does have an important role to play in bringing about redemption, resolution, forgiveness and acceptance. Emma's grandmother Margaret is nearing the end of her life and she has given Emma a task. She is to go to India and find a woman named Achrana to give her a letter and painting and to convey a message. The reasons for this task only become apparent as we weave our way through a story that becomes intense and compelling and one in which you feel you have travelled back in time.

Emma thinks this is a blessing in disguise. For she herself is facing a challenge and the decision she makes will have an effect on both herself and her daughter Chloe. She is torn in two, questioning whether everything she has believed has been a lie and whether she should take the step and confront the person in relation to the evidence that she has discovered. Is the time for closing her eyes to what is clearly before her running out? At the same time she won't let Margaret down and by accepting her request she may help herself come to some form of clarity which will perhaps alter in her life in a good way. I enjoyed the scenes set in modern times with Emma, and like Margaret and Achrana, she was going through internal battles that she needed to fight her way through in order to emerge calmer on the other side. The chapters from her viewpoint I felt weren't as heavy as sometimes I felt Achrana and Margaret's were and therefore they helped balance the story nicely.

Margaret was a deeply complex character and one very much shaped by events in her childhood. Never before in a book have I truly felt that one event moulded a character and changed them so much. Margaret is haunted by the loss of her mother and disabled sister Evie at the family home due to an air raid during World War One. Her father was lost in the war, the circumstances questionable. Margaret and her one remaining sister Winnie were the sole survivors but Margaret for many many years is eaten up inside because she could not save Evie. She feels a weight upon her shoulders and in her heart and mind and she seeks some form of escape. She believes that she has let Evie down and needs to make up for this. Margaret throughout her life is seeking acceptance and redemption for what she views as a deep and troubling sin. She must channel her feelings into some form of expression as the emotions of not belonging, guilt, anger and grief wear away at her constantly. She does through her painting which will have a significant bearing on the overall plot.

I couldn't say Margaret was a strong character because the events of her childhood broke her down and changed the person she was destined to be. She feels life is futile and the sense of displacement grows and grows for her. I don't think she mastered the situation initially in a strong and powerful way and it was a change to see a character really suffer such turmoil and heartbreak. Nothing came easy for her and she battled with the thoughts raging through her mind on a daily basis. At certain points she did appear to garner some strength but it is as if gusts of wind come and shake her confidence and her abilities. Guilt was the predominant word I would say in relation to her and it formed the backbone of her actions and the choices she made and this led to the ultimate act of betrayal or did she see it as a form of redemption for all the years she was seeking atonement and forgiveness in order to clear her conscious?

Margaret wants to live for Evie to gain all the experiences that Evie would never be afforded the opportunity to but all her anger and grief comes out through her paintings. She is discovered to be a rare talent but no one truly knows the reasons behind such vivid and eye catching paintings. As she finds herself embraced by the Bloomsbury set a man catches her eye. Suraj is in England having travelled from India to study as a lawyer. From the moment they set eyes on each other that is it there is no else. Will this be the acceptance Margaret has been seeking? Will Suraj fulfil the gaping hole in her heart which seems to grow ever wider? I felt and believed the deep connection between the pair and it did feel real and special and this perhaps would be the making of Margaret.

Their union is frowned upon given their different backgrounds but Margaret goes against convention and follows her heart soon finding herself living in India. A tragic incident sees Margaret and Suraj living in the family home and this is where the various strands of the story start to come together as Margaret meets Achrana. Is this where her destiny was always leading her too? By coming to India the old Margaret starts to emerge and she learns that people are so much more than their appearance caste, religion and beliefs. That they all love, live, hurt and hate in the same way. India will be a pivotal turning point for Margaret but amidst the heat, sounds, smells and vistas of a different country will tradition cause the most upset? Will Margaret find that India and an act of what was believed to be for the good of another turn her life upside down once again and change the way she lives out the rest of her life?

Achrana is the third person we follow and as we delve deeper and deeper into the story things start to become clear and there are many comparisons to be drawn between Achrana and Margaret. The majority of which I only truly understood having finished the book. Achrana's family have always struggled and when sister Radha brings further upset, upheaval and disrespect upon the family it is Achrana who has to step up and forgo her dreams. Achrana I thought was a very selfless person whose loyalty to her family was always evident, yet she too batted with what Indian tradition dictated. She was always seeking acceptance but yet there was an independent streak too which was battling to emerge. She was torn in two, freedom and education were her goal but she was trapped due to the shackles of expectation and duty. The Indian burial tradition sati which features heavily here was something I had not heard of before and it did stir up a lot of emotions and opinions. It was controversial and it led to life complications for Achrana which I felt were complex and unfair.

It's when Margaret and Achrana meet and the story takes further numerous twists and turns that I think the overall plot upped itself to another level. Having already been an astounding read things really ramped up and I was divided as to what I wanted the overall outcome to be and whether I approved of one characters actions over another. I wouldn't hesitate to recommended The Girl in the Painting. The characters and plot twists long live on in your mind once you have read the last word. I was taken on an exhilarating journey with such well crafted characters and I was sad to leave them behind.

The subtitle says it all. Heartbreaking, family secrets, betrayal, love!

This was a compelling story that switched between India in 1926 and England of 2000. It evoked strong emotions with the beauty of its prose. For me it started slowly and it was some time before I was fully immersed.
As Margaret is nearing the end of her life she deeds her Indian house to her granddaughter Emma with an accompanying request. To take a particular painting to India to her former maid Archana.
Margaret sends a heartfelt message for Archana,
"Tell her… tell her that I understand why she did what she did, that I forgave her for it a long time ago. Ask her, please, to forgive me."
The painting Margaret lyrically refers to "was created beside the stream, swollen water glimmering starburst silver, the opposite bank dotted with saris singing in kaleidoscopic colour as they dried on rocks, the spiced grit taste of humid heat, cinnamon tea and companionship. The painting of a girl, stark sadness in her eyes."
(To me that gorgeous description of the painting is just one example of D'Silva's enchanting word smithing abilities.)
In that India of the past Margaret, always so sure of herself, had set in train actions that had unthought repercussions. Cultural differences are spanned, betrayals revisited and the mystery of the painting unveiled. A cross generational story that envelopes!

A Bookouture ARC via NetGalley

Margaret grows up in England around the time World War One began, her father joins up to fight, leaving her and her mother to cope alone.

Knowing it unsafe to stay in the family home they are determined not to leave, but then tragedy strikes when the house is destroyed in a bombing raid and only Margaret and her Sister, Winnie survive. They move to their Uncles farm, but feel in the way and unwanted.

But, Winnie then finds love and marries and Margaret decides to leave the farm and study in London….where she meets Suraj….they eventually fall in love and move to India.

More tragedy, when Suraj’s parents die in an accident and life in India is so different to that back home, the poverty, the caste system and other traditions, such as Sati, where a widow will throw herself on the funeral pyre of her husband to die….

The Girl In The Painting is a marvellous, well written and compelling book, a story of many facets, local customs, many secrets and so much tragedy and sadness. A tale of consequences and doing the right thing. Stunning.

Thank you to Bookouture, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This novel started out interesting. However, the acing of this novel started to drag. I think it would have been better if it was shorter. This is because the novel was full of angsts and very sad that it made it harder for me to get through. However, the characters were compelling and the story is well-written.. I recommend this for fans of Dina Jefferies and Melanie Dobson.

This is the story of three women. The first is Margaret, the (now) old woman who has lived a full life and whose growth we watch from childhood onwards. There are trials and tragedies that dog her footsteps till she is an adult and tries to make her own path in the world. Even then she is not really free. The other, with a lesser part in the first half but a more serious role in tying the loose threads for us together is her granddaughter Emma. Emma's life draws strange parallels to the stories told to us. Last but not least, the bulk of the story belongs to Archana. Her tale focuses on her childhood until her path crosses with Margaret and even beyond. 

This is a hard book to review because I really enjoyed the narration and the writing felt just right to set the tone, keep that in mind as you proceed further. I have always been a fan of the dual timeline and although it is done well in this case, there are three women, with three distinct stories, times and places all featured in complete detail. We spend a lot of time individually with each. This was where my problem arose. I read this in one sitting, and there was an emotional overload for me while I was trying to empathize with all of them. Till the commonality is established, I found it hard to spare enough emotion for each of them since the writing made it easier to 'feel' for each. 

I have to admit that I would have rated this book higher if there was lesser background for even one of them, or it was split into two separate books featuring two women at a time. I highly recommend this to those who like this genre since there is a lot in this book for fans of historical fiction.

'The Girl in the Painting' and all of this author's books are always thought provoking, rich in literary and visual imagery, full of historical detail, and unashamedly emotional. They are a true escapist read, written for the pleasure of writing, and this love and dedication comes across in every word.

The plot is divided between the early twentieth century, particularly the 1920s in England and India, and the end of the twentieth century when Margaret, at the end of her life, asks her grandaughter, Emma, also at a crossroads in her life to seek out an old friend and right a wrong.

The historical plot moves between England from Margaret's perspective and India from Archana's perspective, the stories seem so divergent, there are common threads, but it's only in the late 1920s, when the two women's lives become inextricably joined.

The story highlights the culturial differences from a unique point of view and allows the reader to better understand , what from a westen perspective may seem unthinkable. The similarites in the outlook and empowerment of women is also explored in this story. At the time when English women were campaigning for equality. They were in many ways as powerless to determine their own destiny, as the women in India at that time. The importance of sisters in their lives, is another thing Margaret and Archana have in common.

The characters are relatable and easy to empathise, you feel their pain and guilt and want them to find some solace. All three women and those who touch their lives are changed by heartbreak.

The historical detail gives the story depth and vivacity, whether it be in India or England, where Margaret tastes life with 'The Bloomsbury Group, artists and writers who care little for social conventions and eptiomise the 1920s in England.

'The Girl in the Painting' is an emotional, evocative , escapist journey for everyone who likes to lose themselves in a story..

I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

With David’s betrayal biting at her heart, Emma’s visit to her grandmother was meant to be. With it, and from her grandmother, the deeds to a house in India and a special request for Emma to find a woman from her grandmother’s past – Archana – and a message to pass on to her.

Emma and her six-year-old daughter Chloe arrived in India, excited and awed by the sights and sounds surrounding them. And their arrival at the majestic but dilapidated old home, with the aged servants who had served and knew Emma’s grandmother a boon. Emma had a lot to discover, and a quest to fulfil.

In the 1920s, tradition was strong in Archana’s village, and when her sister defied her parents she was sent from their home, banned from returning. Meanwhile, Archana and her mother were ostracized because of that one error of judgement – until strangers arrived at her door. Her arrival home from school that day changed her life forever. It wasn’t something she wanted, but she knew it was her duty to do what was required.

Margaret’s young life had been one heartbreak after another, but when she received an art scholarship to attend university, she was nervous but excited. Her dream was to paint, to create with her drawings. Little did she know how good she was; how accepted and adored she would be. And how her life would change.

The Girl in the Painting by Renita D’Silva is my first by this author and won’t be my last. Heartbreaking, poignant, tender, harsh – a wonderful rendition of life in the 1920s which culminated in the search for answers in 2000. The horrors of Hindu tradition back then along with the honour bound duty to follow what must be done shocked me. I hadn’t heard of it before. For fans of historical fiction, this is one I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

My first book by this author and I was curious as I always am when I 'meet' a new writer.

There are two kinds of historical books : the ones where the story takes place in the past completely and the ones where the author connects the past with the present. The former category is a genre I do not often read, but the latter category is one that  piques my interest.

After reading the blurb, I already felt I was going to be swept away. Was my feeling right? I can say a big YES without a doubt! 

India is a country I don't know a lot about and the author took me on a journey and gave me an insight. I was fascinated by the life of the people there. I love the characters she created and spun a beautiful story around them.

My heart went out to them, but between the sadness and heartache there was room for a lot of heartwarming moments as well.

What I also thought was very special and was something I did not see often yet, was the fact that the author linked colours with feelings. It gave the descriptions an extra touch

I enjoyed the book and even though it contains 500 pages, I flew through it. It felt like taking a trip on a TGV : fluent and very entertaining. 5 stars.

Thank you, Renita D'Silva, Bookouture and Netgalley.

I couldn't put this book down! Love how the author paints such vivid descriptions through the writing and weaves an emotional story to boot. I really felt like I was right there in the middle of the plot. Renita is a new author to me but can't wait to read more in the future!

I love Renita’s books. She is an auto-buy author for me. One thing that makes me enjoy her books is her wonderful, lyrical writing. Renita can really bring scenes to life through her words. In this book, India once again comes to life. I not only could visualize the country and its people but could also catch the spicy scents, feel the heat or rain falling and experience the unique cultures of the country. I felt like I had gone on a trip to India with Renita as my tour guide.

In addition to the descriptiveness of the setting, I loved learning new things especially about the cultural practices. For instance, I learned about Sati from this book. Although now obsolete, Sati was once practiced in parts of India. The author portrays the practice in a way that makes it easy for readers to understand why anyone would have embraced such a barbaric, horrific practice. We got to see why Sati was revered by some of the families. I also had an ‘Aha’ moment when I learned about Bindi. I have always seen Hindu women with the red dot on their foreheads but assumed it’s just decorative. Renita covers different cultural aspects in her story telling without shifting the focus from the main themes.

The themes in this book are quite relatable. The women might have been in India but they represent thoughts, yearnings and experience that I am certain many women can identify with. Some of the themes that stood out for me include loss, betrayal, motherhood, infertility and female friendships. I also liked the theme of family though some of the families didn’t have the best relationships.

As always with Renita’s books, the character development was perfectly done. I can still visualize the MCs especially Margaret and Archana. I think of Archana with her limp and the white saris that she had to wear. The descriptiveness of their personalities, physical appearances and mannerisms makes me feel like I know these women.

I loved The Girl in the Painting by Renita D’Silva. It’s the kind of book that you want to read slowly to make it last longer but at the same time, struggle to put it down. It made me smile, cry and yes, want to travel to India. I can still hear the children laughing and see their innocent faces as they brought strange gifts to Memsahib. I still think of the women dressed in colorful clothing and see the girls trying to balance between girlhood and rushed womanhood. My heart still breaks for all the women who had their dreams shattered and rejoices for those who found the right way home. I miss all the characters already especially the lovely Archana.

This is another book by Renita that I won’t forget anytime soon. Recommended.

This is an intricate and emotional novel about guilt and forgiveness. The story spans a long period of time from pre-war and I thought the writing beautifully evoked the period. I loved the sections set in India - so colourful and vibrant and the author creates such a strong sense of place. This is my first book by this author, but won't be my last.

Another amazing story by Renita D'Silva. I always read her books as soon as possible and I love each one - this was no exception. I love the split times and the way the story and characters slowly start to link together. It's always interesting to two very different sides to the story and I connect with the characters so easily. 5***!