AN ORCHID SARI The Personal Diary of an American Mom in 1960s India

American author/narrator Cynthia Claus generously shares her experiences while traveling in India in 1968-69. At the time, she was the wife of an Indian man and the mother of a 2-year-old, Ajay. She bases her recollections on diary entries and the aerograms she sent to friends and family. Listeners will feel part of each companionable circle as the family tours the country to visit relatives, and Claus reveals her impressions of the poverty she observes amid great wealth and grandeur. Descriptions of of her husband, Suresh, add an Indian perspective. Claus skillfully presents her experiences through spirited narrative that includes scenes of caring for Ajay and occasional bouts of ill health. Most enjoyable is her deft use of irony and wonder. A wittily delivered glossary and an epilogue about the family today add further listening satisfaction. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2019]