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    The Space Between Us
    The Space Between Us
    The Space Between Us
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Space Between Us

    Written by Thrity Umrigar

    Narrated by Purva Bedi

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Best-selling author Thrity Umrigar won the Nieman Fellowship and earned a finalist spot for the PEN/Beyond Margins award with The Space Between Us. Set in modern-day India, this evocative novel follows upper-middle-class Parsi housewife Sera Dubash and 65-year-old illiterate household worker Bhima as they make their way through life. Though separated by their stations in life, the two women share bonds of womanhood that prove far stronger than the divisions of class or culture.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMar 1, 2013
    ISBN9781470337087
    The Space Between Us
    Author

    Thrity Umrigar

    Thrity Umrigar is the author of seven novels Everybody’s Son, The Story Hour, The World We Found, The Weight of Heaven, The Space Between Us, If Today Be Sweet, and Bombay Time; a memoir, First Darling of the Morning; and a children’s picture book, When I Carried You in My Belly. A former journalist, she was awarded a Nieman Fellowship to Harvard and was a finalist for the PEN Beyond Margins Award. A professor of English at Case Western Reserve University, she lives in Cleveland, Ohio.  

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    Reviews for The Space Between Us

    4/5

    89 ratings45 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 2/5
      I didn’t like it that much. I don’t recommend it.
    • 5/5
      This book provides a stark look into the lives of the underclass and those who would live in power above them in India. It is gut wrenching at times but ultimately shows with stunning clarity the strength of the human spirit.
    • 1/5
      Not enough time. Will try to get it again.
    • 3/5
      Not my usual sort of book to read. It's all literary and book discussiony! This one was brought to my attention along with another book and this one sounded the more interesting, mostly as it was about India.And that's mostly what it has going for it. I did not particularly like the characters and the book was a downer the entire way through. Sure, it says important things about class and gender roles, education and the lack of it, money and the lack of it, power and the lack of it, but not in a particularly enjoyable way.Yet I can't say it was a hard read. Just a depressing one.I did learn things about India that I didn't know before. I did think about class in a different way. I'm quite probably a better person for having read it.But still. Downer.
    • 4/5
      Bhima is a poor Hindu servant, abandoned by her husband. Sera is her employer, a middle-class Parsi woman whose late husband was abusive and whose mother-in-law was a nightmare. The space between them, due to class, is undeniable, despite their shared experiences as women. One of the questions the book poses is whether class or gender is more definitive of Indian women's lives. We could, of course, pose the same question in any culture. I ran hot and cold as I was reading, but ultimately liked this one. lIt is smaller in scale than A Fine Balance, my favorite book set in India, and sometimes I feared it was going to descend to "women's fiction" territory, but its seriousness of purposes creeps up on the reader. I also enjoyed the language of the book, especially all the Indian rhyming slang. In its evocation of slum life and the rapidly changing economy and culture of India, I could see it being read as a complement to Behind the Beautiful Forevers - like Katherine Boo, the author is a journalist.
    • 4/5
      I read this book in the ARC version back in 2007 and this is what I thought of it then: Ohhh ... I so loved this book. Right from a few pages in and all the way through. My only reservation was the lack of a Hindi vocabulary in the back (but maybe that has been added to the "real" published book) - as I would have loved to know that they were eating all the time.
    • 4/5
      Compelling and beautfully written. I would have given it 5 stars except for the fact that all of the male characters were bad/weak/evil -- which seemed a bit unbelievable. Definitely about the women and their lives and struggles. Wonderful view of life in India. I have a few Indian-American friends and I could just hear their lilting accents in the prose of the book. Warning: if you like Indian food you will be hungry for it the whole time you read the book. You may also need a box of kleenex. This was a surprisingly fast read and another I probably wouldn't have read, but read for book club.
    • 4/5
      Thrity Umrigar has written a searingly honest novel about two women living in Bombay. Sera is wealthy, a Parsi who has lived a materially rich life, but suffered a violent marriage. Bhima, on the other hand, is poor and living in a slum with her granddaughter. The two women's lives intersect because Bhima becomes Sera's house servant.The novel alternates between Sera's and Bhima's points of view - giving the reader insight into their personal histories which have made them who they are today. Although the two women have built a friendship with each other, filled with tenderness, they cannot escape the caste system into which they have been born.Umrigar does an apt job of showing the gaping differences between the various castes in India. She writes with a sensitivity to women's issues which I found touching. She weaves a story which is almost predictable based on the rigid adherence to culture which we see from all the characters. Despite its underlying sadness, the novel does leave the reader with a flush of hope at the end.Recommended.
    • 5/5
      Warning: some spoilers, but certainly not giving away the ending:The Space Between Us is a beautiful yet depressing novel that realistically captures the everyday relationship between the Indian social classes. Having lived in a similar situation growing up, Thrity Umrigar breathes life into a story lived by untold millions.In The Space Between Us, Thrity Umrigar weaves a story between the lives of Serabai, a Parsi middle class widow; and Bhima, her domestic servant for several decades. Serabai's extremely abusive and controlling husband dies suddenly leaving her to finally experience peace and happiness in her family life. In contrast, Bhima's husband loses three fingers on his hand and is left unemployed and unable to support his family. He turns to alcohol and then leaves her taking her only son with him. Bhima is forced to move to a tin shack in the slums without even running water, electricity, or private bathrooms. Her daughter and son in law die of AIDS in a poorly run underfunded government hospital leaving Bhima to raise her granddaughter.Serabai lovingly cares for Bhimas granddaughter providing her with an education that is abruptly halted and her life possibly forever changed for the worse.The Space Between Us goes from bad to worse as tragedy, pain, and hopelessness take over. The really depressing part is that this story is just a snapshot of the real situation taking place in many third world countries as well as India.I highly recommend this book to book clubs because it is so thought provoking and can lead to some serious conversations and observations. I really look forward to reading additional books by this author. Ms. Umrigar has an unusual ability to breathe her characters to life. Her descriptions are rich, colorful, and full of texture. She does not waste a single word in the entire book.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed the book very much , especially for the glimpse into a different culture that it offers. I also enjoyed the relationships the book explored between family members, people of different means and class , relationships between women in general. The story is another example of how we all experience some of the very same problems no matter where we live and of how money and means cannot buy happiness, it can only make you more comfortable in your misery.
    • 3/5

      I loved this book !!!

    • 5/5
      Beautifully written account of two women in India, one wealthy and one her maid. The difficulties of both of the women's lives is obvious but their every day survival is dramatic. A wonderful read!
    • 5/5
      The author is an expert in creating the atmosphere of: a crowded sweaty Bombay, a slum lean-to, the relationship between two women of differing classes, the struggles of women and men, and that moment when one comes to know one's own freedom in the world. This is a very easy read and very rewarding.
    • 4/5
      The relationship between a woman and her servant seems close. The woman believes she is open minded and liberal, that she is not class conscious as others in India. But what this book does is show that class differences do sometimes live in our subconscious and it's only when situations arise that threaten the lives of those close to us, that the prejudices surrounding caste consciousness will rise and cloud our judgement.
    • 4/5
      A compelling author, but a difficult read because of the subject matter.
    • 4/5
      Compelling story of two women set in current-day Bombay. Sera Dabesh is an upper middleclass Parsi, Bhima her Hindu domestic. Bhima faces a sea of hardships, including the loss of her daughter to AIDS and her husband to alcoholism. Sera is trapped in an abusive marriage. The narrative was a bit histrionic for this reader but nonetheless paints a very human face on the issue of modern poverty and class differences.
    • 5/5
      "The Space Between Us" is the story of a middle-class Parsi woman, Sera, and Bhima, her servant. Bhima's home in the slums sharply contrasts Sera's sparkling, large home. The two women have forged a connection through their years together, their families linked inextricably. The story brings into focus the vast chasm between the haves and the have-nots of India, exploring with gorgeous subtlety the meaning of loyalty and of freedom. Umrigar's language is lush and descriptive but not a word is wasted. She is able to create a detailed world and to place the reader in the shoes of several different characters. A fascinating story carries her timeless message about the need to further question class divisions and the other lines we construct that separate us from each other. A gorgeous novel; highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      excellent book!Set in Bombay and based on a real person, this novel explores the impact of gender and class on women and the struggle to reconcile the differences. The relationships between generations, employer/servants, spouses are explored with sensitivity and heartbreak. The characters are strong and well defined. Their lives swirl around strong desires and attempts to break free of long established social barriers.The ending is something of a twist and beautifully written.Just a snippet:"And now she finally understands what she has always observed on people's faces when they are at the seaside... she would notice how people's faces turned slightly upward when they stared at the sea, as if they were straining to see a trace of God or were hearing the silent humming of the universe... people's faces became soft and wistful... sniffing the salty air for transcendence, for something that would allow them to escape the familiar prisons of their own skin."
    • 4/5
      As much as I enjoyed reading this book, I found it to be a bit soap opera-ish. This happens, then that happens, then there is a shocking revelation…cue music. It’s very dramatic at times. Part of that I think is due to the fact that it’s set in another country. The use of language is different so the emphasis is different with some words, which to me, makes it sound more dramatic.For whatever reason, the middle class tends to rhyme their words when speaking in this novel. I can’t remember word for word what was said, but “friends schlends” for example. As they tsk tsk over something…they lapse into rhyming their words. This seemed odd to me. Was this an attempt at being cute? To perhaps lend some lightness to the conversation? I’m not sure, but it happened at least three times (that I can recall) and it made me wonder if they really talk like that in India. [I've since learned that yes, this is an authentic way of speaking in India].As for the story itself, I liked the way Umrigar balanced what is essentially two parallel stories and brought them together. Her descriptive passages leave nothing to the imagination. Every sight and sound and sometimes even smell is accounted for. The scenes at Chowpatty Beach are so vivid, albeit brief. I was completely wrapped up in that world while reading the book.As this is now my second Umrigar book, I have to say that she has a very distinct way of writing and an unfailing sense of who her characters are. I think I enjoyed The Space Between Us a bit more than The Weight of Heaven. It seemed a bit more authentic to me, even with the dramatic undertones. Both would make excellent book club picks.
    • 5/5
      A novel about a wealthy woman and her downtrodden servant, which offers a revealing look at class and gender roles in modern day Bombay. Alternatively told through the eyes of Sera, a Parsi widow whose pregnant daughter and son-in-law share her elegant home, and Bhima, the elderly housekeeper who must support her orphaned granddaughter.When we first meet Bhima, she is sharing a thin mattress with Maya, the granddaughter upon whom high hopes and dreams were placed, only to be shattered by an unexpected pregnancy and its disastrous consequences. As time goes on, we learn that Sera and her family have used their power and money time and time again to influence the lives of Bhima and Maya, from caring for Bhima's estranged husband after a workplace accident, to providing the funds for Maya's college education. We also learn that Sera's seemingly privileged life is not as it appears; after enduring years of cruelty under her mother-in-law's roof, she faced physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, pain that only Bhima could see and alleviate. The two women share a close bond, which is broken when Bhima accuses Sera’s son in law of having an affair with Sera and getting her pregnant.
    • 4/5
      Interesting, informative, then somewhat predictable. The last few chapters were a bit over-done with imagery, but it was an overall enjoyable listen/read.
    • 4/5
      This book was a very powerful read. It features a woman who is middle class and her servant who has a granddaughter who is pregnant. The story unfolds in flashbacks. There are little mysteries that are presented within the story but that are eventually solved by the end of the novel. The book was a heavy read as well, but an enjoyable one.
    • 4/5
      In this novel, Thrity Umrigar explores issues of social class and the ways in which class impacts life experience and relationships. Sera is a wealthy Indian woman who suffered in an unhappy and violent marriage. Bhima is her servant, living in extreme poverty with her orphaned granddaughter Maya, who she has cared for since early childhood. Bhima has worked for Sera for years; the two women understand and care deeply for each other. Many times Sera has come to Bhima’s aid, using her status to secure better healthcare for a family member, arrange for Maya’s education, and help Bhima navigate government beaurocracy. And Bhima provided Sera with much-needed emotional support throughout her marriage.On the surface it would appear the two women have overcome class differences and forged a deep and lasting friendship. Yet Sera will not allow Bhima to sit on her furniture. There are many other small indications along the way, until the novel’s climax fully exposes the chasm between the two women. In the final analysis, class differences reinforce one woman’s privilege and the other’s destitution.While this novel takes place in India, where much has been written about the role of social class, supposedly egalitarian societies fall victim similar traps. Just this week I had a conversation with a colleague who was struggling with the importance of developing a diverse workforce. “I think we should just hire the best people,” he said. I was reminded of an article I read years ago: White Privilege, Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by Peggy McIntosh. The author writes, “Obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage, is kept strongly inculturated [sic] in the United States so as to maintain the myth of meritocracy, the myth that democratic choice is equally available to all. Keeping most people unaware that freedom of confident action is there for just a small number of people props up those in power and serves to keep power in the hands of the same groups that have most of it already.”Food for thought.
    • 4/5
      Takes place in Bombay. About the lives of a middle class woman and her servant, and the class differences between them — a very good book.
    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed it, especially the glimpse it allowed onto the way people live in India. I believe it to be fairly accurate. I loved the way it was told, for me it made it even more realistic: the emotions described as dramatically as I would expect, words doubled and changed, the deminutives, Indian expressions - everything intertwined so lively. An extremely interesting read.
    • 3/5
      I read this one because I really liked Under The Weight of Heaven. Although this one had an interesting plot (about the relationship between the servent and her boss, set in modern day India), it fell flat for me. The writing seemed clunky and there wasn't a lot of depth to the characters. If the ending had been different, I probably would have given it a higher rating.
    • 5/5
      Fiction books that are set in India have been a favorite read of mine for the past couple of years. I'm a big fan of Rohinton Mistry. This story follows Sera, a middle-class Parsi housewife and her maid, Bhima. The book tackles many issues including AIDS, spousal abuse, adultery and teenage pregnancy. It is interesting to read about these issues from a non-Western perspective. Reading about the conditions in which Bhima lives made me grateful for my privileged Western life. I was enthralled by this book and it definitely ranks as one of the best I've read this year. I couldn't recommend it enough.
    • 5/5
      Amazing! Heart-breaking her beautiful story about women and all their sufferings.
    • 4/5
      I had just finished the White Tiger by Aravind Adiga which I found so so. I loved Thrity Umrigars beautiful writing. It gave me a chilling close look into the lives of two women living in contempory India.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful story of two women on different sides of the Indian Caste system. One of my favorites!