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A review by libraryoflanelle
The Fertile Earth: A Novel by Ruthvika Rao
4.5
‘The Fertile Earth’ is a captivating tale of two families set against the backdrop of 1950s to 1970s India. It is a story of the lives of two young people from different social standings, initially drawn together through friendship, and later bound by a tragic event.
When I first requested this book, I knew very little about it, which is often my favourite way to approach a story like this. Family sagas, especially those with a historical nature, can be quite hit or miss for me, but this one was most definitely a hit.
If, like me, you find yourself intimidated by politically charged historical novels, there's no need to worry. Before reading this book, I knew very little about the political landscape of post-partition and post-independence India, but Ruthvika Roa masterfully interweaves this background within the context of the characters we follow, without it ever feeling heavy-handed or overly complex. I became incredibly attached to the main characters and was deeply invested in how their lives would unfold. I could hardly put the book down, driven by the need to know what would happen next. These families and their stories will stay with me for a long time.
What truly stood out to me about this novel was the way each setting was vividly brought to life—from the dense jungles on the outskirts of a rural village, to the uncertainty of a politically charged, bustling city, and back to the jungle bordered village bound by feud and hierarchy. Every location was seamlessly constructed, leaving me well and truly entranced.
I read this book as an audiobook, and I absolutely have to highlight Sneha Mathan’s narration, which kept me utterly hooked. I became completely absorbed in the story and the way it was told. I highly recommend listening to this one on audio if you have the opportunity—I've may have already started a second listen! ;)
Thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the audio ARC. All opinions are my own.
When I first requested this book, I knew very little about it, which is often my favourite way to approach a story like this. Family sagas, especially those with a historical nature, can be quite hit or miss for me, but this one was most definitely a hit.
If, like me, you find yourself intimidated by politically charged historical novels, there's no need to worry. Before reading this book, I knew very little about the political landscape of post-partition and post-independence India, but Ruthvika Roa masterfully interweaves this background within the context of the characters we follow, without it ever feeling heavy-handed or overly complex. I became incredibly attached to the main characters and was deeply invested in how their lives would unfold. I could hardly put the book down, driven by the need to know what would happen next. These families and their stories will stay with me for a long time.
What truly stood out to me about this novel was the way each setting was vividly brought to life—from the dense jungles on the outskirts of a rural village, to the uncertainty of a politically charged, bustling city, and back to the jungle bordered village bound by feud and hierarchy. Every location was seamlessly constructed, leaving me well and truly entranced.
I read this book as an audiobook, and I absolutely have to highlight Sneha Mathan’s narration, which kept me utterly hooked. I became completely absorbed in the story and the way it was told. I highly recommend listening to this one on audio if you have the opportunity—I've may have already started a second listen! ;)
Thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the audio ARC. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual harassment