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Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

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Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

By: Balli Kaur Jaswal
Narrated by: Meera Syal
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About this listen

 Reese Witherspoon’s March Book Club Pick!

‘Big-hearted, earthy and funny… A rattlingly good story’ Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Every woman has a secret life…

When Nikki takes a creative writing job at her local temple, with visions of emancipating the women of the community she left behind as a self-important teenager, she’s shocked to discover a group of barely literate women who have no interest in her ideals.

Yet to her surprise, the white dupatta of the widow hides more than just their modesty – these are women who have spent their lives in the shadows of fathers, brothers and husbands; being dutiful, raising children and going to temple, but whose inner lives are as rich and fruitful as their untold stories. But as they begin to open up to each other about womanhood, sexuality, and the dark secrets within the community, Nikki realises that the illicit nature of the class may place them all in danger.

East meets west and tradition clashes with modernity in a thought-provoking cross-cultural novel that might make you look again at the women in your life…

©2017 Balli Kaur Jaswal (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Historical Fiction Romance South Asian Creators World Literature Heartfelt Witty

Critic Reviews

"Big-hearted, earthy and funny: turns so many preconceptions upside down and opens up a world that so many of us have only glimpsed. A rattlingly good story." (Deborah Moggach, author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)
"Compulsive, funny and wonderfully original - this novel glows with witty sensuality. I love it." (Helen Lederer, author of Losing It)
"Poignant, intelligent yet wickedly funny - a delightful read that reignites one's belief in the power of sisterhood." (June Sarpong)
All stars
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Excellent story into the lives of a fascinating group of women. Story keeps you engaged the whole way through. No matter the culture we all have a lot of the same problems with love and life.
The American accent the narrator uses is slightly irritating but it isn’t in there too often. Definitely a must read

Another good book on Reese Witherspoon’s book club!

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My one qualm with the voice acting was two characters turned South African and Irish at times.

The story itself is interesting and fascinating: a glimpse into a culture most people don't know about but sometimes the prose was too expositional and bare boned for my liking.

Good but some voice acting

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such an eye opener to how valued honour is in indian culture, I had no idea.

thanks Reese Witherspoon for another recommendatio

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Do yourself a favour and read this book. I had been putting off reading this book but as I have been getting through Reece's Bookclub list, the time came to read this book and WOW. This book literally has everything in it; mystery, romance, culture, the power of a community, and of course erotic stories which although was written in the title, was still unexpected (yes I know, I should not have been surprised 🤣)

This book was also thought provoking for me. Not only in regards to a culture that I did not know a lot about, but about societal views of our older generation.

Anyways long story short, read this book.

A must read

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In the spirit of Meg Bignell’s The Angry Women’s Choir and Kate Solly’s Tuesday Evenings With the Copeton Craft Resistance (both of which I enjoyed) is this earlier-published Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal. Yes, I was attracted by the title, but I stayed for the story. And what a story of life among the Punjabi widows of the London suburb of Southall it turns out to be, intermingling anthropology, soft porn, crime, feminism and healing the soul.

Our protagonist Nikki has left her London Punjabi family home for an independent life. She has a set of largely progressive social values but is directionless regarding career and life. Chance leads her to taking on running a creative writing course for women from the Punjabi community. The women are widows and many, far from ready to pen their own tales creatively, are illiterate.

It is well narrated by someone with a facility for the Punjabi accent, which greatly enriched my reading experience. I enjoyed the book and the introduction to the practices within an unfamiliar culture.

Women who are marginalised surprise!

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this was my first book here on Audible,
great book, I really enjoyed it

amazing book

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Charming and raunchy all at the same time. I recomnend it. It made us laugh. Alot!

Loved this quiky story

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I hope Reece Witherspoon makes this into a movie! Absolutely loved this book, excellent

LOVED EVERY SECOND

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Excellent narrator, heart warming story with a lot of laughs and some delightful characters. Will definitely listen to this again!

Brilliant!

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This book wasn't what I was expecting but I loved it! it had humour, mystery and culture.

Fantastic book

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