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Shiva's Fire |
Author: Suzanne Fisher Staples
Published: 2001-11-01 |
List price: $6.99
Our price: $6.99
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As of: November 20th, 2008 10:08:29 PM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 The words are dancing like Lord Shiva's tandava
It's hard to describe this novelette in a few words; I just admire it too much. First of all, I'm very fond of Lord Shiva, and it was my original driving factor to buy the book. Second, the book is about a twelve year old girl (named after Lord Shiva's cosmic consort, Parvati, of all names!) who is very fond of dancing, and always wants to dance. The third: well, I'm weak towards India-themed books, for the spices, curries, and the jingling of payal (anklets) are usually mixed with spirituality at a certain level.
This book did not disappoint me at all. It took me a while to read it, for I had many things to do, and perhaps because the story did not pick at a quick pace anyway. But after the first chapter, everything flew quickly and amazingly. I was particularly amazed at how Suzanne Fisher Staples brought Shiva and His tandava (dance) to life through many levels: from the sandalwood statue that had captivated little Parvati since her first day in this world, through the veena that suddenly humming in every time Parvati lit a fire, and through Parvati's determination to dance. Having learnt Bharatanatyam myself (though, alas, I am by no means a devoted Devadasi), I am familiar with various dancing terms in the book. The book went further to evoke my longing for dancing, as I read how Parvati suffered through all physical and mental difficulties to perfect her dance. Learning Bharatanatyam is not easy, let alone mastering it!
I was a bit confused with the time frame of this story. First, I thought it was during the 18th century or something. Then, the cars and busses were mentioned, and I thought the story took time during the first days of India's independence. But then, much much later, I found out that the time frame was a few years after India's 50th independence, or about 1997-1999, about the same time the story was written.
As I said, I am very fond of India-based stories. Yet, though I haven't read a lot, I found that most of the books that I read would have an ample dose of irony and suffering in it; most probably because I didn't take the Indian chick-lit. Thank the Goddess that it was not the case with `Shiva's Fire'. It started with suffering, but it ended with happiness and liberation. When a boy named Rama was introduced into the story, I was bracing myself for another typical runaway-bride story: that Parvati would have to choose between dancing and the boy. Suffice to say that it did not happen that way; the authoress managed to avoid the cheesy tendency.
So, 5 stars for Suzanne Fisher Staples and her `Shiva's Fire'. And here's to the wish that Suzanne will write the sequel, for it would be fun to read about a 20 years old Parvati.
 A poor attempt
I can see where this book would have appeal. The plot is a comfortable, safe one--we can see from the beginning that it will be a happy ending, probably incorporating a boy for Parvati--while the exotic setting gives it a trace of uniqueness.
Unfortunately, while I'm sure Staples attempted to depict India, she did a terrible job. There was nothing realistic about the landscape, and her repeated references to rice and lentils could not create an accurate portrait of India. We are expected to believe that the existence of magic dance is shocking, but talking crows are everyday--and I should point out that, unless one has some terrible bias against crows, the mother's response to his complaints of starvation seem cruel. There are very few hints that this is set in the modern world, and these contrast with blatant and overdone attempts to bring a sense of an old-fashioned climate. Furthermore, Staples seems to be quite confused about the differences between Buddhism--a religion that, while based in India, is nearly nonexistent in the country--and Hinduism.
Although it annoys me, cultural accuracy is rare, and even Indian movies (that attempt to portray India's past, that is) tend to over-exoticise everything (though they tend to do a pretty good job.) The obvious lack of actual experience with Indian culture is not enough to condemn the book. Unfortunately, removing this, there is really nothing to the book. The plot is hackneyed and at times nonexistent, and there is zero character development. Overall, though the idea of a young adult fantasy set in India is appealing, both those familiar with the culture and those who are simply curious should best look elsewhere, while those who actually want a plot and characters should not even pick this book up.
 Bookmom's Review - Shiva's Fire
[Fun: 4/5] [Learning: 5/5] [Suitable: 4/5]
Suzanne Fisher Staples is an excellent resource for books on India and a culture very different from our own Western civilization. Shiva's Fire is another excellent book that this author has written, describing a very talented girl whose gifts are seen rather as curses and oddities by those around her, until her talents are recognized and she trains to be a dancer in the Hindu religion. Part story, part fairy tale, this is an excellent book to discuss with your children, as it introduces some complexities of Hindu religion and talks about Shiva, the god of dance, as well as many pieces of Indian culture that may be unfamiliar to readers. Shiva's Fire does an excellent job of immersing the reader in a very different life, and exposing those of us stuck in our familiar surroundings to the lives of others halfway around the world. As this is a much more lighthearted book than some of her others, I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Audience:
* Middle Readers (Grades 4-7)
Positive Themes:
* Encourages living your dreams
* Reaping the benefits of hard work
* An introduction to Indian culture
Objectionable Content:
* Tragedies in the beginning--a cyclone that kills many, including Parvati's father
* Threat of bandits and outlaws
My Recommendations:
* Though it is a bit darker, I would recommend Shabanu. Also, books by Linda Sue Park, such as A Single Shard, may interest readers with their insights on Korean culture.
Bookmom - Get involved in your child's reading!
Great Book!
This book is about a girl called Parvati and she is unusual from her birth. She has the ability to remember everything since her birth, she can talk to animals and most of all she has a very good talent in dancing.
Using her talent in dancing, she changes her very poor family into a rich family with their own stone house, before they were living in a mud hut next to their uncle's house. Parvati's brother also gets married and that is very expensive to organize.
I didn't like the ending because it didn't explain what happens next and some parts were confusing, but other than that the story was very good. The author explains her thinking really well and it I can imagine what a person she is describing looks like. The book also teaches you a little about the Hindu culture and their gods. Over all this is a really good book.
 Could have been great...
Shiva's Fire could have been a compeltely spell-binding and gorgeous story. It could have had me sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what happened next. Indeed, the plot could have been gorgeously crafted.
But for one thing. Ms. Staples writes like a newspaper reporter! Her writing style was so detatched, like she had no connection at all with the characters SHE created. It was fairly gross. It was like she was writing an essay on a devadsi who died millions of years ago who she never met. You know, like she got an assignment: "write a some-odd word essay on someone you admire."
Never once does the reader get a glimpse into Parvati's mind. I mean sure, occassionaly you get a "Parvati thought..." but, without any substance or feeling to the writing, it's hopeless.
And with a plot like this, this could have been a heart-wrenching, exotic tale. It could have made the reader laugh and cry and love along with Parvati. It could have been so many things, but instead it was just another book. Read it once from the library, put it aside, be glad you didn't buy it.
I am so dissapointed. The cover is so exotic, the summary on the first flap is so intriguing. I thought it would kill me when Parvati had to choose between dance and the love of her life, and instead it was just like, "Oh. Whatever." This is not a book to avoid at all costs. It might even be worth one read, although I'm not convinced. Try it, sure, but don't just go ahead and buy it.
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