Bonsai Kitten  (English, Paperback, Narayan Lakshmi)

Bonsai Kitten is about Divya, a married Indian woman, who leads a stifled life in Singapore. The novel shows how she struggles as a wife, and eventually overcomes adversities to break away from social norms.

Summary Of The Book

Bonsai Kitten, published in 2012, revolves around a Tamil Brahmin woman named Divya. Her family is keen to get her married, and are willing to make a cash settlement with the groom’s family to compensate for her dusky complexion. Bonsai Kitten takes an in-depth look into the stereotypes, prejudices, and conservative mindsets that exist in Indian societies. Ramesh Swaminathan, an engineer with an MBA, is finally chosen as Divya’s husband.

After the wedding, Divya ends up travelling from Delhi to Mumbai to Singapore, with her husband. She spends hours making authentic Tamil dishes, while Ramesh naps. In this unfamiliar country, the protagonist’s dreams, interests, and personality are crushed by her spouse, who does not pay her any attention. As she gets restructured in order to fit into the role of a meek and obedient wife, Divya realizes that she is like a bonsai kitten. She compares young Indian brides, including her own self, to clay, and says that society reshapes them as per the husbands’ demands.

With Ramesh off on official tours, Divya keeps herself busy by writing books, and taking care of their daughter Latika. Away from her husband’s criticism, she enjoys her independence, and the opportunity to think freely. However, her life takes a dramatic turn when Ramesh falls in love with a Chinese woman. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes in more ways than one. Suddenly, Divya’s entire life is in upheaval, and she must find the strenght to change her destiny. She slowly starts to make new friends, and realizes that she can do much more in life than just cook idli and sambhar. Bonsai Kitten shows how the protagonist sheds away archaic norms of gender inequality, and at the same time proudly celebrates her Indianess.

Bonsai Kitten is a novel that speaks about different women issues, and the loneliness that expatriates feel. The book has characters of various nationalities, which add depth to the story. The author uses a non-linear narrative style, and her writing is peppered with satire and wit. The name of this book comes from a hoax which claimed that if kittens were kept in a jar, they would eventually take the shape of the bottle.

About Lakshmi Narayan

Lakshmi Narayan is an Indian author, journalist, and editor.

Her other book is Believe In God But Not In Religion!.

Narayan was a journalist with the Times of India group, and was also the editor of Flair and Eve’s Weekly. She started writing stories when living in Singapore, to keep her homesick Goan maid happy. Since then, she has worked for many international publications. Narayan lives in Mumbai with her husband Arun, and their dogs, Donna and Tiger.