The Pagoda Tree

A fascinating saga set in an interesting period of Indian history - I knew a little about "Clive in India" (History O Level topic) but I don't recall British perfidy being mentioned! It was good to see from the Indian perspective, and interesting from a feminist point of view - the devadasi being conned into feeling immensely honoured to be chosen for the goddess, all the while being recruited as courtesans for the elite, with no control over their lives.
The narration early in the book was gripping, building anticipation nicely. The image of foreigners coming to India to "shake the pagoda tree" was effective, as were some of the rather gruelling scenes of horrific incidents. Some characters, such as Palani, coping with her fall from stardom, were well portrayed, others less so.
For me the book lost pace later because so much detail is crammed in. I didn't find the love affair very convincing, but the loss of Suranita is beautifully described. The ending was a stretch, but left a satisfactory mix of hope and fear for the future.