Mixed feelings- lessons for men and women. Review on A Married Woman - Manju Kapoor

I recently finished this book..married woman by Manju Kapur and I’m a bit confused after reading this. this is my first attempt on mouthshut.com on a book, so please spare me if my logic is not logical!

manju kapoor writes well and she has the power to make you keep reading. I read her previous book difficult daughters some years ago and that was more powerful than this one.

married woman revolves around the married life of a well-to-do woman of indian heritage, Astha. after a regular childhood, she is married to a ’’liberal’’ guy called hemant. as time goes by, the marriage shows sign of waining interest in love and sex. astha tries to seek love by indulging in a hobby or two. she takes up painting and art..and she becomes involved with a theater troupe run by Aijaz, a local political activist.

Unlike what feminists try and make us believe, females do have a amorous side to their personality. It manifests in our desire to feel loved, and to be loved physically. Our protagonist, Aastha had a strong desire for sex and physical desire, and aspect to which her husband was perhaps not aware of.?

Astha’s involvement with Aijaz may or may not have resulted in a sexual affair..the book leaves that bit a mystery, but after Aijaz’s mysterious murder (political rivalry), Astha is once again lonely and lost. She longed for companionship and ethereal love.

A chance meeting with Aijaz’s widow Pipeelika rekindled Astha’s love for Aijaz which was displayed in Astha and Pipeelika indulging in a steamy sexual or perhaps rebellious sexual activity. This is where I’m a bit confused. Is Manju trying to tell us if you cannot get the guy you loved, sleeping with his wife provides the same pleasure as sleeping with him?

I’m a bit confused: Agreed, that every woman needs love, companionship with a high dose of sex, but does it mean sex with an ex-lover’s (assuming Aijaz and Astha had something) wife? Ok, I am not attacking two females having-sex idea, but is it just because the two females had the same guy as lovers?

Besides minor disagreements with Manju’s ideas, I liked this book. It was empowering and some lines such as: ’’given certain circumstances, there was no aphrodisiac more powerful than talking, no seduction more effective than curiosity’’ are so realistically true.

I love talking, all women do. We like men who ask and care about little details we store in our minds. It shows curiosity. It shows interest. Manju puts it very well...curiosity is the biggest seduction. Very few men display curiosity. Perhaps Astha and Pipeelika’s relationship was fueled by talking, more talking, questions and answers. A married woman’s dream. Talk talk talk.

Comments, criticism and discussion around this welcomed!!!