Our September selection was Can You Hear the Nightbird Call? (Canada: Knopf, 2006) by Anita Rau Badami. Criss-crossing between Indian and Canada, this novel focuses on the lives of three women. Young Sharanjeet dreams to fulfill her father's dream of a life in Canada. So desperate was she that when her sister Kanwar received a proposal from a man in Vancouver, she used her beauty and charms to manipulate him. The cost of this deception turns out to be both hefty and life-long. In Vancouver, Sharanjeet is affectionately renamed Bibi-ji by her husband Pa-ji. The couple become wealthy and prominent but remained childless. This all changes when Bibi-ji learns, through a new arrival named Leela, that her niece Nimmo is alive in India. Leela, the half-white half-Indian wife of Balu Bhat, adapts to life in Canada well but remains an unfinished character. Bibi-ji returns to India to meet Nimmo and learns that Kanwar died during Partition. Manipulative and greedy Bibi-ji notices that Nimmo has two boys and deep financial problems. She offers them money and also proposes to take their older son, Jasbeer, to Canada for a better education. Nimmo agrees reluctantly, a decision that elates Bibi-ji. Over the years, Jasbeer becomes increasingly radicalized in support of an independent Khalistan. His return to India and disappearance from his family's lives alarms everyone. The political violence in India in 1984 affects each of the women in profound ways. Indira Ghandi's order to invade the Golden Temple in Amritsar coincided with Bibi-ji and Pa-ji stay there. Pa-ji was gunned before Bibi-ji. Retaliatory violence caused the humiliating and violent deaths of Nimmo's husband, son and daughter. Upon returning to Canada, devastated Bibi-ji hears rumours of 'trouble' on an Air India flight. When Leela announces her intention to go to India, Bibi-ji keeps silent. Leela dies in the explosion. Finally, Nimmo is destroyed by the death of her entire family and attempts suicide but is saved by a neighbour. We are left with the hint that Jasbeer, who has left the militant movement, will return to his mother who has suffered so immensely.

General first impressions of the book were that it contained a great deal of useful historical information. One member, Diane, described that even though she lived in India at the time, she did not know about the connections among the political events. Darryl, one of our regular members, felt that the book was disturbing because of the betrayals perpetrated by Bibi-ji. Likewise, Tripti, commented that Bibi-ji was very cunning. She also found the ending was very difficult to read because of the severe violence and suffering the characters endured. This sentiment was echoed by other members. Leela's character raised some issues. Ethel suggested that she may have fit into Canadian society better than other immigrants because she was 'half-half' herself. Others felt that Leela's character was 'unfinished' compared to Nimmo's or Bibi-ji's. The complexity of the novel was also touched upon, with some stating that Badami was able to effectively analyze the political events through her characters. Fragility was another key element. Both Ethel and Darryl felt that fragility - of family, peace and relationships - was a resounding theme. Community and identity were other themes identified. Darryl, for instance, stated that it raised the question of 'what makes identity?' Zenia brought up the topic of lost stories during Partition. These included the stories of ethnic and religious minorities living in Punjab at the time. In wrapping up our discussion, most members generally agreed that the novel was informative and honest. Many also felt that it has strong potential to be turned into a movie.

Our next meeting will be held on October 1st. We will discuss Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss. This novel won the 2006 Man Booker Prize.