Bhima, the unforgettable main character of Thrity Umrigar’s beloved national bestseller The Space Between Us, returns in this triumphant sequel—a poignant and compelling novel in which the former servant struggles against the circumstances of class and misfortune to forge a new path for herself and her granddaughter in modern India.
"It isn’t the words we speak that make us who we are. Or even the deeds we do. It is the secrets buried in our hearts."
Poor and illiterate, Bhima had faithfully worked for the Dubash family, an upper-middle-class Parsi household, for more than twenty years. Yet after courageously speaking the truth about a heinous crime perpetrated against her own family, the devoted servant was cruelly fired. The sting of that dismissal was made more painful coming from Sera Dubash, the temperamental employer who had long been Bhima’s only confidante. A woman who has endured despair and loss with stoicism, Bhima must now find some other way to support herself and her granddaughter, Maya.
Bhima’s fortunes take an unexpected turn when her path intersects with Parvati, a bitter, taciturn older woman. The two acquaintances soon form a tentative business partnership, selling fruits and vegetables at the local market. As they work together, these two women seemingly bound by fate grow closer, each confessing the truth about their lives and the wounds that haunt them. Discovering her first true friend, Bhima pieces together a new life, and together, the two women learn to stand on their own.
A dazzling story of gender, strength, friendship, and second chances, The Secrets Between Us is a powerful and perceptive novel that brilliantly evokes the complexities of life in modern India and the harsh realities faced by women born without privilege as they struggle to survive. (less)
"It isn’t the words we speak that make us who we are. Or even the deeds we do. It is the secrets buried in our hearts."
Poor and illiterate, Bhima had faithfully worked for the Dubash family, an upper-middle-class Parsi household, for more than twenty years. Yet after courageously speaking the truth about a heinous crime perpetrated against her own family, the devoted servant was cruelly fired. The sting of that dismissal was made more painful coming from Sera Dubash, the temperamental employer who had long been Bhima’s only confidante. A woman who has endured despair and loss with stoicism, Bhima must now find some other way to support herself and her granddaughter, Maya.
Bhima’s fortunes take an unexpected turn when her path intersects with Parvati, a bitter, taciturn older woman. The two acquaintances soon form a tentative business partnership, selling fruits and vegetables at the local market. As they work together, these two women seemingly bound by fate grow closer, each confessing the truth about their lives and the wounds that haunt them. Discovering her first true friend, Bhima pieces together a new life, and together, the two women learn to stand on their own.
A dazzling story of gender, strength, friendship, and second chances, The Secrets Between Us is a powerful and perceptive novel that brilliantly evokes the complexities of life in modern India and the harsh realities faced by women born without privilege as they struggle to survive. (less)
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published June 26th 2018 by Harper
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“It isn’t the words we speak that make us who we are. Or even the deeds we do. It is the secrets buried in our hearts.”Bhima is 65 years old, illiterate, and newly sacked. In her wonderful 2006 novel, The Space Between Us, Thrity Umrigar introduced us ...more
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Is it the special curse of women, to keep other people’s secrets and carry their shame? What would happen, she wonders, if all of them…simply put down their loads one day and refused to pick them up again?
The Breathtaking and Riveting Conclusion to The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
Upon reading the opening paragraph, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was home. When I had finished The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar I felt a gaping void within me. I didn't know how to let go of Bhima and Sera. They are two of the most unforgettable protagonists I've ever experienced in literature. But worry I shan't. I found out soon after there was to be a sequel, The Secrets Between Us.
* * * * * * * *
In The ...more
Upon reading the opening paragraph, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was home. When I had finished The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar I felt a gaping void within me. I didn't know how to let go of Bhima and Sera. They are two of the most unforgettable protagonists I've ever experienced in literature. But worry I shan't. I found out soon after there was to be a sequel, The Secrets Between Us.
* * * * * * * *
In The ...more
Grateful is how I am feeling. Grateful for this story that has threaded its way into my heart and makes me appreciate the life I have. For although there is always something that could be better, the lives of these women will make you rethink the positives and at least, temporarily, discard the negatives.
The sequel to the space between us, continues in this exquisite tale of a Woman, Bhima, who struggles with poverty and bringing up her only grandchild alone, until an opportunity presents hersel ...more
The sequel to the space between us, continues in this exquisite tale of a Woman, Bhima, who struggles with poverty and bringing up her only grandchild alone, until an opportunity presents hersel ...more
From the beginning, I was drawn in by the writing as I remember being when I read The Space Between Us. The story of Bhima, a poor servant continues as she works two jobs struggling to provide for her granddaughter Maya. I immediately felt as if I was back in the awful conditions, the poverty and dangers of a slum in Mumbai. It’s hard to believe that this is modern day India, but a quick internet search will lead you to numerous articles on the slums that exist in India today. As the sad things ...more
I have read a few books by Thrity Umrigar, and I think this is my favourite so far. The Secrets Between Us features some of the same characters as her earlier book The Space Between Us. Set in Mumbai, India, the story focuses on Bhima and Parvati, two older women with difficult pasts living precarious lives. Bhima lives in a slum with her granddaughter, surviving on income made from cleaning and cooking for others. Parvati barely survives by selling six heads of cauliflower every day. Both women ...more
Can I give this 6 stars?
Everyone needs to read The Space Between Us and then get ready to read this when it comes out.
Everyone needs to read The Space Between Us and then get ready to read this when it comes out.
This is a favorite author and her tales are never boring. And they highlight Indian cities and life during the most modern times of change.
Having said that, I also have to post this. That this is so sad and filled with tragedy that it can hardly be held as an "enjoyable" read. I stopped 1/2 way through for some days while reading much lighter and more joyful.
If you like the "light at the end of the tunnel" kind of development of hope or tolerance or friendship surmounting all in a death hour de ...more
Having said that, I also have to post this. That this is so sad and filled with tragedy that it can hardly be held as an "enjoyable" read. I stopped 1/2 way through for some days while reading much lighter and more joyful.
If you like the "light at the end of the tunnel" kind of development of hope or tolerance or friendship surmounting all in a death hour de ...more
Thrity Umrigar’s The Space Between Us was probably one of my best books of 2016. I don’t think I gave it five stars because of the relentless harshness of Bhima, the central character’s life, but it’s one I’ve never forgotten especially as the ending left me wanting more. I was thrilled, therefore, to see that Umrigar had written a sequel to that novel and enjoyed this one just as much, if not more.
The novel begins the day after the other left off and again, we follow Bhima and Maya, her grandda ...more
The novel begins the day after the other left off and again, we follow Bhima and Maya, her grandda ...more
Thrity Umrigar knows how to write a book that draws me in and keeps me in its clutches until the very last word. Her characters have depth and there are no gratuitous characters or tangents. The meaning unfolds with beautiful prose that allows space for the reader to react on a personal level. Generally, I’m not big on sequels but liked The Space Between Us enough to preorder this one. Glad I did.
Thrity took a minor character Parvati, the vegetable vendor, and turned her into a driving force in ...more
Thrity took a minor character Parvati, the vegetable vendor, and turned her into a driving force in ...more
Thrity Umrigar is one of my favorite authors and I was thrilled to see this sequel to The Space Between Us. This book is excellent, so sad and beautiful, wonderful writing. Read the first book first, though. This is just icing on the cake.
THE SECRETS BETWEEN US by Thrity Umrigar is a beautifully-written and moving sequel to her bestselling novel, THE SPACE BETWEEN US. The sequel could be read as a stand-alone, but the story was even more meaningful to me because of everything I learned about the characters from the first book. Set in modern day Mumbai, THE SECRETS BETWEEN US picks up the story of Bhima, an impoverished servant who struggles against class limitations and sad twists of fate to provide a better life for herself and...more
Although this novel is a sequel to The Space between Us, it is perfectly fine to read as a stand alone. Heartbreaking,yet uplifting with coarse yet authentic dialogue, it had me mesmerized from the very start. Two women, living in the Mumbai slums, find their worlds intersecting as they try to eke out a living,beginning to understand and appreciate one another's strengths. Bhima, coming from a loving marriage, works diligently to try to provide an education for her granddaughter Maya. In the mar ...more
If you read and enjoyed "The Space Between Us", you should definitely read this sequel. I'm sure that the book could stand alone but I don't know if it would have the same impact without reading the first in the series. I almost gave up reading this because the descriptions of life in the Mumbai slum were almost unbearable and I don't doubt that conditions are as-described or worse. My heart breaks for those poor people who have no choice but to struggle for survival in the most deplorable condi ...more
Not quite knowing what to expect, the story instantly brought me to Bhima as she is continuing her journey to find a place in the world that is fulfilling and her own, despite the slums that surround her, the challenges, and the never ending list of things to do, get, or overcome. The one constant in Bhima’s day is the challenges, and these range from simple: earning enough for food and a roof over her head, to the struggle to provide for her granddaughter so she will finish university and move ...more
It is not absolutely required to read Thrity Umrigar's "The Space Between Us" before reading this book that is a sequel to it. It is however smart to do so -- because the writing in each and learning the background of the characters is so critical to understanding "The Secrets".
Ms. Umrigar's writing is magnificent - her ability to help us understand the setting, the people, the circumstances in which they live matters esp. for those of us who have not experienced cultures outside our own.
What oc ...more
Ms. Umrigar's writing is magnificent - her ability to help us understand the setting, the people, the circumstances in which they live matters esp. for those of us who have not experienced cultures outside our own.
What oc ...more
Real readers will understand that it is rare to turn the last page of a special book and feel as if you've lived another life, if only for the duration of the novel. These characters will stay with me for a long time...
I won an Uncorrected Proof of The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar from Goodreads.
A powerful and empowering story about women, the bonds they forge, and the embers of hope they keep aflame, The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar is a formidable novel for our times.
Bhima must find a way not only to survive, but also to keep her granddaughter in college. Having been cast out by her longtime employer, feeling lost and alone, Bhima keeps putting one foot in front of the other, never realizing ...more
A powerful and empowering story about women, the bonds they forge, and the embers of hope they keep aflame, The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar is a formidable novel for our times.
Bhima must find a way not only to survive, but also to keep her granddaughter in college. Having been cast out by her longtime employer, feeling lost and alone, Bhima keeps putting one foot in front of the other, never realizing ...more
So many phrases from this book I meant to save.....so beautifully written! Sometimes you think it's the people who are different form you that can't see what's going on around you...and sometimes you find out it's you who isn't seeing.
An incredible follow-up to what remains my favorite book of all time, The Space Between Us. Lyrical depiction of relationships, gender, societal change -- all set in Mumbai, which is itself a character in this real-to-life novel. A powerful book.
Sequels often lose the power of the first book, but Umrigar offers up a strong, moving finish for the characters we meet in The Space Between Us. Bhima is living in poverty with her granddaughter, Maya. Bhima’s efforts are all on behalf of the effort to ensure Maya go to college and escape the life she has had, working always for others. A new complex character, Pavarti, becomes key in Bhima’s life as she and Bhima struggle against their past. Outlining the difficulties of being a woman in India ...more
Excellent! Every sentence is so well written. One of those books you just don’t want to end. You read fast to get to the end but slow down at the end to prolong it. It is going to be hard to find my next read!
As always, Umrigar’s writing is beautiful and haunting. This story of two widows living in the slums of Mumbai, each burdened by her secrets, is full of hope and love.
I read the first book, The Space Between Us and loved it. I intended to read this one shortly thereafter and was sidetracked. Thankfully this weekend, I was able to read this book and it was like no time had passed since I had read the first! To be fair, if you missed the first book you probably could read this one without feeling like you missed something.
Thrity Umrigar has such a poetic, beautiful writing style that I just fall in love with her words. She captures the essence of human emoti ...more
Thrity Umrigar has such a poetic, beautiful writing style that I just fall in love with her words. She captures the essence of human emoti ...more
❤! Rich language and the hallmark weaving of intricate details from the past to present made this book another gift from the author. She is one of my favorites, truly. There’s a lot of truth in the quote I unsuccessfully tried to copy and paste, to the effect that we are not what we say or do in life, but the secrets that we carry with us. There was an ocean analogy that I loved—the ocean is not just the water itself, but also the stuff that floats on top and that which gets deeply embedded in t ...more
This is the sequel to her compelling "The Space Between Us" that I read and rated 4.5. Umrigar outdid herself with this coninuation of Bhimi and Sera's story of friendship and betrayal with the addition of another great character, Parvati. Although this is a work of fiction, I'm painfully aware that many women do lead extremely difficult lives but they still manage to hold onto their pride and their dignity. This book has taught me that I must be more grateful for the blessings I've been given.
A solid follow-up and finish to The Space Between Us. I do wonder if the author felt compelled to write it in order to give a happy ending to characters that suffered so much during the first book. Much of what happened would have been unlikely in real life and mildly overly serendipitous but the author uses it to continue to examine the choices we make, empathy, and changing attitudes towards traditionalism in society.
I can't remember the last time a book made me cry like this one did. While "The Space Between Us" was good, it was just heartbreak and betrayal. But, now, in "The Secrets Between Us" you have a real metamorphosis and healing and redemption. It was very powerful. And that last chapter ... wow. Bawling like a baby.
What a great story! It is about two Indian widows who meet, don’t like each other, but finally reveal each other’s lives to each other. It is about accepting people for who they are without judgement. It is about compassion, understanding, and love for your fellow man/woman. It is about when you show compassion for others, you begin to live yourself.
Really a good book! I highly recommend.
Really a good book! I highly recommend.
4.5 Finally a sequel that dares not to disappoint. Can also be read as a stand alone as she provides enough references to her amazing Space Between Us. This author is both a poet whose writing exudes eloquence and an artist as her descriptions paint portraits of her characters and their surroundings. This is a must read!!!
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A journalist for seventeen years, Thrity Umrigar has written for the Washington Post, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and other national newspapers, and contributes regularly to the Boston Globe's book pages. Thrity is the winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize, a Lambda Literary award and the Seth Rosenberg prize. She teaches creative writing and literature at Case Western Reserve University. The author ...more
Between Us (2 books)
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“People think that the ocean is made up of waves and things that float on top. But
