The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm reviewing this book as part of the Transworld reading challenge 2011.

“Death steals everything but our stories”

This is a dual narrative story, both set in turbulent times in India’s history; 1857 – Sepoy Rebellion and the partition in 1947. The story starts in 1947 with Martin and Evie travelling to their new home in India, with their son Billy, where Martin has won a fellowship to document the end of the British rule in India. Evie discovers some letters in the walls of the house they are staying in. The writers of the letters are Felicity and Adela, two English ladies. Felicity was born in India, but is sent to live with Adela’s family in Yorkshire to attend school when she was eight years old, she later moves back to India where scandal follows.


I enjoyed the story set in 1857 more, just found the other storyline slow and hard to get into, but the descriptive narrative from Elle Newmark was brilliant. You can tell she has experienced this herself, you felt you were there in the middle of the vibrant smells and colours.


Would recommend this, is was interesting read but couldn’t give it a higher than 3.5/5, just felt something was missing for me and I couldn’t put my finger on it.


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