Rosemary’s Retribution by Nandita Chakraborty
“The past just makes a lot of sound. When there is no peace in your heart you begin to respond to that sound – you get agitated and you fight to make it go away. But it’s best to forget and move on.”
A captivating love story that intertwines family betrayal and secrets, Rosemary’s Retribution unveils the complicated past of Ted and Shabana, set against the political backdrop of a country in unrest.
The plot was well thought out and the beginning especially had me intrigued, with Rosemary’s initial story setting the tone for the novella. The array of characters were distinctive and complex, with their changing attitudes and views constantly shaking up the progression of the story.
The inclusion of the aspects of Indian culture was really interesting and opened my eyes to the types of injustice experienced in India. The way Nandita detailed the history behind the emergency in 1975 was well written and provided an insight into how the country was truly functioning back then.
The love story between Ted and Shabana felt genuine, and their shared love of poetry and literature was a nice addition. I loved the inclusion of the pieces of poetry and felt like they added an extra layer to their love story.
While the ending was definitely unexpected, I did feel as if it could have been explored more as it did seem a bit rushed. But I enjoyed piecing all of the dots together, looking back over the entire story and realising how everything connected at the end. Overall, if you enjoy love stories that deal with complex secrets and betrayal, you’ll no doubt enjoy Rosemary’s Retribution.
Emily Facoory 