Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua (Man Asian Literary Prize Longlist)

Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua (Penguin Books India, 2010, 203 pages).

In Jahnavi Barua’s first novel, a pregnant woman addresses lonely, stream-of-consciousness observations to her unborn child. Kaberi has a lot to think about and time on her hands. Her husband, unaware of the pregnancy, has moved in with another woman, leaving his wife in isolation in their apartment in Bangalore where her material needs are met, but emotional and social life is in limbo. She dwells on the past and tries to make sense of the present. Later in the story, the narrator travels home to Guwahati, a small town in the Assam region of northeastern India. The change of setting adds interest and provides some insight into the narrator’s childhood and relationship with her parents, family and friends.

Although I enjoyed the book, it probably will appeal to a limited international readership. Considerations about the meaning of love in an arranged marriage may not travel far outside the immediate context. The husband comes across as a complete jerk, and the narrator begins to understand that she loves him only because that is expected of her. She is working on a book, a project she keeps secret from her husband, who would probably not approve. From time to time he has beaten her, a minor thread of the story that becomes more significant as the narrator takes stock of her life and comes to decisions about the future.

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Barua is strong on descriptive detail but less successful in developing plot interest. As Kaberi’s mind wanders from topic to topic, the story diverges into a series of vignettes that read like scenes for short stories. Barua first made her literary reputation with a book of short stories, Next Door, and I liked the book well enough to be interested in reading her stories but not well enough to give the novel a wholehearted recommendation. The gentle narrative voice of an ordinary woman examining and questioning the state of her life appealed to me. Her ambiguous situation and reflections on the past held my attention, but I suspect other readers could find the narrative flat. The description of everyday life is fine but understated, and perhaps too matter-of-fact to interest a wide audience.

The book’s social significance as a meditation on women’s lives in India today lifts it to a level of cultural importance. I’m just not convinced the story and characters are sufficiently developed to give the novel a broad appeal.

Rebirth has been longlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize, and it is up against some strong competition. Having read over half of the longlist now, I feel fairly confident in saying that this novel is not a candidate for the shortlist to be announced on January 10th. It has not been published in the United States; I ordered my copy from a book vendor in India.

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