Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

April 10, 2017
When Nikki, a 22-year-old modern Punjabi woman, decides to teach a writing workshop for Punjabi widows two days a week in London’s Southall area, she goes in with the idea that she will walk the widows through how to write stories and then compile the stories into an anthology at the end of the class. Unfortunately, the widows barely know how to write their own names. But something about the women makes Nikki want to try, and when the class discover a book of erotica meant as a gag gift for Nikki’s sister, Mindi, all bets are off, and a sensation is born. Jaswal’s charming debut features an engaging protagonist who longs to break free from her more traditional mother’s expectations and who is still smarting from her father’s death, but it’s the portrayal of the women in Nikki’s class that is the highlight: these women are considered invisible, but through their writing they can be seen and their desires and dreams can be acknowledged. It’s a precious gift to give, and one Nikki comes to take very seriously. Additionally, the mystery of a young girl’s death offers an interesting twist at the end. This is a sparkling read, bolstered by a few of the women’s stories sprinkled in throughout.

April 1, 2017
Appalled that her sister, Mindi, would even consider an arranged marriage, Nikki Grewal reluctantly pins Mindi's dating profile to their Sikh temple's marriage board. But Nikki may be the sister whose life changes.Nikki has pretty much disgraced herself and her family--British, Punjabi, Sikh--several times over: in addition to dropping out of law school, she's moved out of the family home and into her own flat above O'Reilly's pub, where she tends bar. She's also taken several lovers, none of whom she ever intended to marry. So Mindi's desire for a traditional arranged marriage bewilders Nikki, particularly since Mindi has a successful career as a nurse and doesn't need anyone else to support her. While posting the profile, though, Nikki notices an advertisement for a writing instructor. Although disinclined to hire a young, modern woman, Kulwinder Kaur, Community Development Director of the Sikh Community Association, has had no other applicants. So Nikki begins teaching a group of Punjabi widows, who quickly hijack her lesson plans. Instead of teaching a creative writing course, or even an introductory English literacy course, Nikki finds herself facilitating an erotic storytelling workshop. The widows delight in telling titillating tales of illicit sexual encounters despite the danger of discovery by the Brothers, the self-appointed morality police. As Nikki deepens her relationships with the widows--and finds a new boyfriend along the way--she learns of the strange death of Kulwinder's daughter, Maya, who may have been accused of dishonorable behavior. But trying to discover what happened to Maya may land Nikki herself in trouble. With a keen ear for dialogue and humor, Jaswal (Sugarbread, 2016, etc.) deftly entwines these women's lives, creating a world in which women of multiple generations find common ground in the erotic fantasies that reveal both lived experiences and wistful dreams. By turns erotic, romantic, and mysterious, this tale of women defying patriarchal strictures enchants.

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 15, 2017
Nikki's begrudging agreement to help her sister, Mindi, find a husband the traditional way takes her to Southall, a predominately South Asian immigrant neighborhood in west London, to post a discreet marriage advert at the gurdwara (Sikh temple). Unlike Mindi, Nikki considers herself modern and independent, working as a bartender since quitting law school. Instead of brother-in-law hopefuls, Nikki finds a part-time job as a writing instructor at the temple. Her students turn out to be mostly illiterate Sikh widows with limited interest in learning their ABCs yet eager to share stories about the sensual lives they imagine beyond rigid cultural expectations of near-silent invisibility. As Nikki helps these women find their voices, she's drawn into a community in which outward appearances are sometimes more important than the truth. Jaswal's novel is undoubtedly entertaining, yet ultimately it combines too many elementsculture clash, gender disparity, family dysfunction, bawdy comedy, romance threatened and thwarted, murder mystery, and the titular eroticato avoid the occasional stumble. Missteps aside, Hollywood has already optioned Jaswal's enticing tale, so the book will be in demand.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

February 1, 2017

Singapore-born, worldwide-raised Jaswal, named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist, crosses more borders with the story of a sophisticated young London-based Punjabi named Nikki. When she agrees to teach a creative writing course at a community center, Nikki has a hard time reaching the dignified Sikh widows who show up until one of them discovers an anthology of risque works. With a 75,000-copy first printing; film rights optioned.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.