Vaishali Sharma

Vaishali Sharma offers a compelling portrait of 15-year-old Sabine. Through Sabine's eyes, listeners witness a personalized, sobering picture of the loss of civil liberties (often better suited to slightly older listeners).

Sharma's voice is sweet and girlish, and her Indian inflection and pacing create a fully dimensional portrait of Sabine with an authenticity that increases the story's grip.

As chapters relentlessly log the passing time ("Day 63"), listeners will share a sense of the increasing fear and desperation of Sabine and her family.

Narrator Vaishali Sharma has a pronounced, cultured, and completely understandable Indian accent. Her dramatic reading gives Roy's powerful words added force. Her pacing is excellent, and her knowledge of Indian places and names ensures accurate pronunciation.

Some of Roy's references will be lost on U.S. listeners who don't follow Indian news. Nonetheless, her analysis will be a revelation to Americans regarding how Indian progressives perceive American influence in their country.

She infuses energy and vivacity into the coming-of-age story, portraying the protagonist's resistance to traditional marriage practices with a vibrant spirit.

The author's depiction of the mores and manners of this world will remind some listeners of the work of Jane Austen;

Sharma renders these elements with precise diction. Her dialogue has a realistic sound, and she differentiates characters effectively with tone, pitch, and pace. The mother is particularly distinguishable from the numerous other female characters.

This is a distinctive title in the growing volume of Indian novels written in English.