West India Dock Road is slightly crooked, like, some say, those who inhabit it. But, its residents stubbornly maintain, this is what adds to its quirkiness, its otherworldly charm...
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The Blurb
Welcome to West India Dock Road, in London’s East End.
An array of businesses lines this crooked street: a butcher’s, a sailmaker’s, a Jewish shop, a Chinese hostelry, a lodging house for people of all nationalities. A snatch of song wafts from a music hall, mingling with the scent of the public house nearby, the swell of the Thames and the call of seagulls. The air tastes of yearning…
1938: Divya has made the long sea journey from India to England, employed as a nanny by a British family. But once they arrive, she is cruelly abandoned, with no means to return home. Afraid and alone, she faces prejudice and rejection… until she finds her way to an Irish-run boarding house on West India Dock Road and meets Jack, Charity and a host of unexpected friends.
Divya is a good cook, and preparing meals for the other immigrants, homesick for the food they were raised on, gives her a new sense of hope and purpose. In time, she opens a thriving curry house, beloved by the local communities.
But as war in Europe looms, Divya’s fragile sense of belonging – through her business, her friendships and budding romance with sailor Raghu – comes under threat.
A world away from home, will she ever truly find happiness in life, on West India Dock Road?
My Review
I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to read this book. I was initially attracted to it by its title as it is an area that I am familiar with. My grandparents lived on East India Dock Road which runs almost parallel to the titular West India Dock Road.
I found the main character, Divya very easy to engage with. Her abandonment in a foreign land by her employers would have been terrifying for her but I had to admire her spirit. She demonstrates an inner strength through her plight, and the author brought her to life on the page. Equally, there is an excellent cast of secondary characters who added something wonderful to the story.
The author created an atmospheric setting for her book, and she wrote in such a way that vivdly portrayed London's East End very well. The sense of community she created felt very real, along with her depictions of the grey misty weather particularly when compared with the warmth and colour of India. The community aspect resonated strongly with me knowing that my grandparents lived within that particular environment at the time when the book is set.
However, the author does not shy away from the bigotry and racism that minorities would have faced at that time. The docks and the East End attracted people from many other countries and continents, and they were not always greeted with open arms. Ms. D'Silva does a great job in demonstrating this.
It is a heartfelt novel which takes Divya from a desolate place to one filled with hope and optimism.
I am excited that this is the first in a planned series of books as I would very much like to read more.
Incidentally, Divya's plight as an abandoned ayah was not a unique situation. Jacqueline Winspear also addresses this theme in her book, Leaving Everything Most Loved. You can read my review by clicking on the title.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1836172666
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 360 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Renita d’Silva is an award-winning author of historical fiction, often set partly in India, where she is from.
You can also find Renita at:
(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
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