The Twentieth Wife - Indu Sundaresan

This is also a historical story retelling and while a little off my usual book path, the story was still intriguing.

This book reminded me a lot in structure of The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer.  Indu Sundaresan based this story off of the historical figure of Nur Jahan - Mughal Empress in the late 1500's and early 1600's.  She was born into the world and named Mehrunisa and only later became Nur Jahan at the "old" age of 34 when she married the emperor Jahangir (who was 40 at the time) and became his twentieth (and last) wife.  While not a total fictional story, Indu writes about Mehrunisa's life leading up to her marriage to the emperor based on actual historical events. 

I found this book intriguing and frustrating at the same time.  It was filled with rich details on ancient Indian court life, political intrigue (but no so much that you wanted to throw the book away), a little romance and it swept your across lands and time.  It had enough that my interest was piqued and I finished the book in a day but my frustration lie in the relationship with Jahangir and Mehrunisa.  It was a constant meeting, leaving, years pass, meeting again briefly, leaving and years pass.  And it wasn't even a romantic meeting - it was moments, passing ever so briefly in the span of time.  Once they met in the gardens, she releases a bird and leaves.  That's it.  Yes there was words exchanged briefly but it was maybe a 5 minute meeting and he was captivated?  I have a tough time with the romance of this.  Oh I love fairy tales and have always believed if you have a connection you should explore that but this was beyond "love at first sight".  It was...not real.  Not even believable and I think therein that's where my frustration with this book lies.

Then the book ends.  The last 5 pages are of their marriage.  The last page of them taking their vows.  Then her thinking she wants to be the power behind the veil.  And that's when I figured out this was a trilogy and not a standalone novel.

I am torn when it comes to recommending this book or not as I feel you as the reader will enjoy the richness of the world but will probably feel just as frustrated as I felt when I finished it.  So I leave it up to you if you want to read it or not.