“Queen of Dreams” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a 9/11 novel — that is, the events of 9/11/01 take place in it. 9/11 does not occur until later in the novel, however. I think most novelists at that time were so impacted by the events that they felt that they had to include it and try to show how they relate to it, and/or to make sense of it.

The main character, Rakhi (an Indian-American or “desi”) is an artist who is also a divorced mother. Rakhi has her plate very full — not only is she juggling motherhood and art, she is the co-owner of a struggling tea-shop in Berkeley. Along with her ex-husband and her daughter, Rakhi also has to deal with her parents. Rakhi’s mother is a “dream-teller” ; someone who is able to predict what will happen based on her own dreams; and she has kept dream journals throughout her life. There are excerpts inserted throughout this novel from Rakhi’s mothers dream journals.

Under a set of circumstances, Rakhi is forced to understand her mother’s past, and how it formed her mother’s personality. In this process, Rakhi is also able to understand her father better; they had not been very close previously.

Relationships grow and change in this novel. As just mentioned, Rakhi is able to become closer to her father. Rakhi also comes to terms with the relationship she has with her ex-husband. Also, Rakhi and her co-owner (and close friend) of the tea-shop learn in unexpected ways what it will take to keep it in business. And, being a single mother, Rakhi examines her relationship with her own daughter.

How does 9/11 figure in this book? After the attacks, many angry Americans mistook Indians/South-east Asians as the same type that were perceived as terrorists. So, Rakhi and her family and friends have to deal with the fear and misunderstanding of that time; including violence directed towards them.

Here are some passages in this book:

“She remembers something her mother said to her when she was about ten years old. It has stayed in her mind because her mother so rarely gave her advice. They’d been in the garden, planting chili peppers. Her mother lowered a seedling, its boll of hairy roots, its chilies like tiny red bird beaks, into the hole that Rakhi had dug.

“Shona,” she’d said in her burnt-sugar voice with its slight, delicious rasp, “The best way to love people is not to need them. That’s the purest love.”

An excerpt from Rakhi’s mother’s Dream Journals:

“How little I knew myself, to think that I would not desire human loving. To think that my longings would always be in my control.”

I enjoyed reading this book. The storyline keep me going, and there were thought-provoking moments throughout, also. ( )

Chitra Divakaruni's Queen of Dreams is shelved as mainstream, but definitely qualifies as fantasy - specifically Indian fantasy. It's about being both Indian and American, about assimilation, about having to reclaim your own culture, about dangerous, real, possessing dreams.

The dreams comes heralding joy.  I welcome the dream.        The dreams comes heralding sorrow.          I welcome the dream.          The dream is a mirror showing me my beauty.          I bless the dream.          The mirror is a dream showing me my ugliness.     I bless the dream.          My life is nothing but a dream        From which I will wake into death,          Which is nothing but a dream of life. Dreams are an integral part of our lives. There are numerous myths & truths flying around dreams. For e.g. dream at dawn comes true, to dream that you are in an accident, signifies pent up guilt and you are sub-consciously punishing yourself over it. Some dreams are so real that you carry them back with you after getting up.…in those times what I feel is that may be somebody was there to tell me what does the dream meant. However I haven’t yet met anyone who could help me. But Chitra Banerjee Devakaruni weaves her story around this dream & turns my dreams into reality. Mrs. Gupta, Rakhi’s mother dreams, not for herself but for others. She has the magical powers of dreaming more than a normal dream and the power of interpreting them, she is a dream teller. She sacrifices everything for her profession which is more than a profession for her. As is said in the book “The place right at the center of her-that was reserved for dream gods or demons, whoever they were. She never shared it with anyone, not even with you, my daughter.  Rakhi is a divorcee & mother of Jona. She is as normal as me and you. She is generally suspicious, pessimistic, and quick to think the worst of people, hates her ex-husband getting close to her parents and tries finding fault in anything Sonny (Her Ex) does. She is a painter by profession (not getting anywhere) & runs a Chai Shop with her friend. The Shop is under threat because of the opening of Java, the coffee shop, just across their café. To add to her woes she is not on very good terms with her father. Will her mother’s special power help her in getting her store back in action? Will she inherit her mother’s magical power? Will she reunite with her father & at what expense? Will she look beyond her limited views and accept Sonny back in her life? These are question which the book answers.   .::. My Take .::.  The book has Chitra Banerjee stamp allover it. It talks about magical powers, dreams, old stories, love, redemption, Indians settled abroad their trails & tribulations. But what makes it different from her other novels is the marriage of traditional & contemporary world. When she talks about Mrs. Gupta she moves back in old times & with Rakhi she is in present times. The bond between the mom & daughter pair is distinct and in sync with time. Take this line for e.g. So much for wisdom from the mouths of babes.  In her signature style Chitra has written about the emotions in a magical language. Her one liners are enchanting, worth more than a thought “I’d been defeated by the oneness of blood”, this is how the mom feels when her magic can not interpret her own daughter’s disturbed dreams.   A distinct style appears in this book, she talks about something & tells what will happen in future but then takes you back to the present. It’s like teasing the reader with a glimpse of what’s there in impending pages. For e.g. In the car we talk, but not about his offer. (Later I will wonder where the money came from….). I ask him about the journal entries. The book is narrated through, Dream Journals (Journals of Rakhi’s mom) which are set in old times, Rakhi’s views & third person. These changes in narrations are very swift & keep you hooked.   What I took back with meThe book according to me is not only about dreams and their interpretation. It is also about dreaming what you want to turn into reality. It is not about believing only in yourself but also in people around you. There are several incidents which happen in our lives and we see them in black or white but sometimes we need to look beyond them. There is something called grey which resides in us, it is this grey that we have to fight and win over. The book creates a mystical world of dreams but teaches you to fight the reality. This book is a must read for all….it entertains & teaches you.   TriviaAs far as Indian book stores are concerned when we ask for Chitra Banerjee’s books then there are only three books which you’ll find. Namely, Arranged Marriage, Mistress of Spices & Sister of My Heart. Getting this book had become a dream for me, but it turned into a reality due to Cross Words Dial-A-Book facility. Finsihed the book in 2 sittings and will be reading it again, soon...:) ( )

Rakhi was born in America of Indian parents. She thought she was fully integrated until the events of September 11th. She subsequently discovers a great deal about herself, and the compromises made by her parents. A thoughtful, well written book. I want to know what happens next! ( )