Book Review : Where Peacocks Sing by Alison Singh Gee

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*Where the Peacocks Sing* is a memoir written by internatinally acclaimed journalist Allison Singh Gee. The book has been published by @speakingtiger whom I owe #gratitude for my #reviewcopy as well.
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I finished reading the book in almost a couple of days when I finally sat down with it and I must say that it is an easy read. By this I mean the book is not taxing emotionally and the language and the flow are seamless. The memoir is Gee's account of how she- an LA girl who is half Chinese, met with her husband- a journalist and a minor Prince, fell in love and came to Mokimpur- his village and Haveli just outside Delhi.
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Gee's life does a complete 360 degree turn from shiny and fast paced Hong Kong life to laid back rural life as she travels to Mokimpur with her boyfriend Ajay Singh. We witness India through her eyes. Everyday systems which we do not even register in our everyday lives like the master servant relationship bring tears to Allison's life as she witnesses life in a minor village up, close and personal. Be it a visit to Taj Mahal or their stay at Ananda for an article, Gee's writing is vivid and thorough in recreating the atmosphere.
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Alison gives us a peek into her own childhood and manages to keep it all interesting while egging us to read on about the palace. She tries to make sense of her life long yearnings for a place to call home. One realises how difficult things must have been for her, trying to make a place in an Indian household when she did not know the language or the food. Hats off to her for rising to the challenges of true love and sweating it out in the kitchen with due help from Camellia Punjabi and Madhur Jaffrey.
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Alison gives her heart and more to sustain Mokimpur. Read the book to find out more and you will agree that though this might not be the most fulfilling read of the year it definitely is one of the most uplifiting ones.
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