P.S. Paperback: "The Story Hour" - An Engaging Novel

User: I loved the idea for this book. I have read both the space between us and the secrets between us by this author. While I thought the premise for the plot was quite interesting, not a lot happened during the book and the ending was quite abrupt. I would have loved for a bit more resolution. However, the writing and character development were good as Thrity's books always are. I also felt frustrated with Maggie through out the book for her succession of poor choices. People make mistakes but I thought she was very harsh at times in her judgements of others, especially considering some of her actions. It was hard to believe a professional therapist could act in this manner at times with the boundaries that were crossed but she experienced trauma growing up. Lakshmi was a more sympathetic character for me even with her actions toward her husband due to her constant sacrifices for others. Anyway, all in all it was a good read and I would recommend it.

United States on Jul 21, 2020

Paper: The chapters alternate between Lakshmi and Maggie. Lakshmi is an Indian woman who is 30 years old and new to America, while Maggie is an American in her fifties and a psychologist.
The main characters meet because Lakshmi tried to commit suicide and ends up in a hospital but cannot be discharged until a psychologist approves her leaving. Maggie is assigned to Lakshmi and after she is discharged has to meet with Maggie weekly for an hour.
The women compare and contrast their lives silently in their thoughts throughout the book. Maggie is secretly having an affair although she has a happy marriage, and Lakshmi has a secret about her arranged marriage...a marriage that lacks love. How different are they really?

The ending is filled with drama and plot twists. I only took off a star off because I wish the end would have had an answer.

United States on Nov 01, 2018

pamela dear: It was interesting in some parts of the story & quite predictable in other parts. At times I felt like wanting to shake some sense into the main charectors.

Australia on Aug 12, 2018

Ashlee: Interesting concept, it explored the themes of gender, social inequality but above all relationships and love, no matter which background you are from. At times I was expecting the story to move faster,yet, it took me on a journey through the eyes of of the two main female characters and I'm excited to read more by this author as it's the first time reading one of her novels

United Kingdom on Jan 09, 2018

Janet B: Lakshmi Patel is a 32 year old woman, who relocated to the U.S. from India. She is married to Adit Patel, a man who is angry with her and doesn't love her. He is a businessman who owns a restaurant and a grocery store. Lakshmi works hard in the restaurant without being paid. She has been in America for six years and feels extremely lonely. She is not allowed to be in contact with her father and younger sister, Shilpa, who she helped raise after the death of her mother. Adit calls her "stupid". He is a bossy man. When Lakshmi finds out that her regular customer and only friend is moving to California, she is devastated. She now feels so isolated that she attempts suicide.

While in hospital. she is assigned to an experienced psychologist named Maggie Bose. Maggie is a 56 year old African American woman, who is married to an Indian named Sudhir. He teaches math at the university. They love one another, but Maggie is keeping a secret from him. When Maggie becomes Lakshmi's doctor, the fact that she is married to an Indian man makes their relationship easier.

Lakshmi's husband refuses to pay for therapy sessions and has no time to drive her, so Maggie waives the fee and...

Canada on Jul 02, 2016

A. Tanner: Ultimately I found this novel lacking. Although I felt both characters were not fully developed or complex, what I had the hardest time with was understanding the relationship that brought them together. The book depends upon both characters having a strong relationship, but I could not believe their relationship. Maggie never treated Lakshmi particularly well, and I couldn't understand her investment in the relationship, nor Lakshmi's sense of strong friendship. I also found Maggie's reaction to Lakshmi's story difficult to believe. Her strong sense of revulsion and betrayal (as well as other thoughts/actions throughout the novel) seemed to suggest an unwillingness to engage with cultural differences or attempt to see the world through someone else's eyes - something I think someone in her professional position would hopefully do.

I also, like some other readers here, found myself unsatisfied and a little puzzled by the ending. I felt like what the author was trying to do just didn't work.

The story was engaging enough to keep me reading until the end, and I did feel invested in the characters. But there was just too much that didn't work for me.

United States on Nov 29, 2015

Mrs. Diana G. Logan: Top quality reading material as always

United Kingdom on Oct 16, 2015

suman: Appears Thrity has grown with time to cover much wider cross cultural issues through the eyes and ears of an immigrant to US. I have read all of her books and I have been looking forward something new from her. I am half way finished and myself being an immigrant to US have thoroughly enjoyed so far.I have recommended her books to several of my friends. Keep writing Thrity.
regards,
suman

India on Sep 07, 2015

a reader: Why isn't Thrity Umrigar better known? I came upon her work by chance a few years ago, and I have tracked down all the novels except one. Her newest, The Story Hour, is an exceptionally fine tale of two marriages: one Indian, the other American, in a midwestern town. It is believable, heartwrenching, and beautifully told.

Lakshmi is stranded in a loveless marriage, working in her husband's restaurant/grocery store; Maggie is in a long and loving relationship, but is tempted by an old love. The two women meet as patient and doctor, and one of the most interesting things about the novel is the conflict Maggie faces about the difference between a professional relationship and a personal friendship. Lakshmi is desperately lonely, but Maggie is her counselor and knows she shouldn't form a personal relationship with a patient. Just a subplot in the novel, but very interesting, and the sort of thing a lesser novelist wouldn't devote any time to.

Both of the main characters are deeply flawed and make terrible choices, but Umrigar describes their motivations so well that the reader understands exactly why things happen as they do. It's very much like life, watching friends...

United States on Mar 14, 2015

S. E. Peeples: I would love to see this as a movie--Thrity's strengths are her ability to write about gender, class, race and religion without being heavy-handed. Her weaving of these elements gives us a great chance to see how these elements weave themselves together in our own lives and to identify how mis-steps happen. Her characters are so human and I relate to all of them even through all of their differences. They are outwardly often not like me but in their inner worlds, I can identify,. She gives us the context for why someone would behave the way they do, even if those behaviors may seem out of the blue to someone who didn't have that context. It allows me to give more slack to others I run into when their behavior is mysterious or seems insensitive or even stupid. Thrity's writing makes me want to forgive all of her characters and then that transfers to a desire to forgive people in my own life. What powerful writing that is! To nurture acceptance and forgiveness through a fun, totally engaging read of a novel! Please read all of her books and recommend them to everyone in your life!

United States on Sep 11, 2014