Erotic Stories For Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

It is was so funny that I, an educated person, who is young enough to indulge in matters of the bed and sheets, was initially shy to order the book. After I had ordered, I spent a few minutes convincing myself that I was old enough to read it! I felt rebellious even! I am going to read "Erotic Stories" for Punjabi widows! Hah!

It lay between many books on my bookshelf. Well, hidden. I have a 16 year old lurking around the house and did not want him to know of the kind of crazy sounding book I was indulging in! I kept wondering when I would actually get down to read it. A reading slump for the last so many months needed to be rectified. I found an audio version on Scribd and downloaded it to listen to on my walks. This book made it to the cut because I was studying about the Sikhs in Singapore. Additionally, Balli Kaur Jaswal is a Singaporean Sikh. It would do a world of good to read her book, just in case I bumped into her some day at the museum!

So coming back to the book and it's racy title. Yes, there are some racy, steamy stories that these Punjabi widows are telling each other in an English class. They were steamy alright and yet stayed classy. There is a huge difference between class and sleaze! You will have to read or listen to this book to understand that. I would like to tell you why this book stands out.

So many facets have been tied into this story. The culture and tradition of Sikhs. More so, the status of women. Not today's woman really, but women who were married off when they were little girls. 10, 12, 16... Married to men so much older. And if fate wanted to screw up their lives, the husband would die, leaving behind a young widow. A young person, living a treacherous life. Mothers, widows aren't supposed to think of sex or have desires or want love and affection. They are deified to becoming super women. Goddesses. The ever sacrificing, the ever forgiving, the ever adjusting. And continue living a life of unfulfilled dreams. And if they even by chance thought of such things, they were made to feel guilty ... so guilty of bodily needs and urges that have been put by the Almighty, to whom they turn to, to renounce all pleasures.

Then comes an opportunity knocking on their doors. An opportunity to come and just speak their hearts out. A place where no one is judged. A class, a gathering of like minded, giggly bebes! It was absolutely heart warming! Meera Syal, the narrator, is the star of the book! What fantastic narration! I can vouch for it and for those who know me here, know that I am not an audio book person. I have given couple of books many tries to keep my attention steady. But, in vain. Meera Syal's British accent and her British Punjabbi accent are absolutely fantastic! This is was my first audio book and was I hooked?! My gushing over her narration is going to go on for days now! How beautifully she brings out the story of a young girl, listening and guiding older Punjabi widows. Her pronunciation of "w's" to "v's" was brilliant, consistent and hilarious. Her voice modulation was on point. She didn't have to sound hushed or put on a sexy tone to read the steamy scenes. She narrated with so much ease...the ease of someone who has lived the characters! Now that's a level any upcoming narrator should aim for. Me included.

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows is not only what the title suggests. It is a story of the young, second or third generation Sikh girl on foreign soil. Still finding her identity. Still wanting to become the localite. Still wanting to hold on to old traditions, culture and values. It is the story of young/old women who found a new lease of life in sisterhood. It is the story of having parents realize that while culture, tradition and norms are all good, they do not supersede the happiness of their children. It is not worth the heart break. And then of course, it is the story of young love. Breaking barriers, standing up for women - just not for large causes which all sound too far fetched at times, but for the simplicity of having the choice to lead a happy life.

Please read this book. I highly recommend it. Listen to it - which is even better. And wear your mask! It will help hide the giggles and smirks your face might throw up