Six Days in Bombay: A continent-spanning historical novel of friendship, identity, and mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist

Expansive Journey of Self-Discovery in 1930s India and Europe
New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi has returned with the standalone novel, Six Days in Bombay. Before knowing its premise, I knew this would be a must-read. I was utterly absorbed by her previous work, The Jaipur Trilogy. In The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and The Perfumist of Paris, readers are transported to 20th century India to experience a setting which is wholly unfamiliar to much of western society. Her writing is superb, and I was completely engrossed in her characters’ world. My experience with Six Days in Bombay was no exception. Set in the spring of 1937, the story begins in the titular Bombay, where we are introduced to Sona Falstaff, a 23 year-old nurse. Through her friendship with an artistically remarkable and ailing patient, Sona is set on a globetrotting journey. She is introduced to a gallery of colorful characters and also grows as a young woman. With English and Indian parentage, she has struggled to understand her place in society. Her insecurity and pragmatism confine her, keeping her from stretching beyond the boundaries of her life with her mother in their small flat in Bombay.Sona also wrestles with unresolved anger toward her absentee father. A married Englishman with a family in his home country, Owen Falstaff abandoned those he loved in India in 1917, returning to his first wife and fatherhood abroad. Sona is left with the pain of losing him, as well as the travails of a “half-half.” In some circles she is considered “too English”, and in others she is “too Indian.” The pain of a derelict parent and the social struggles she faces intermingle within her heart, causing much turmoil.After the death of the talented and enigmatic artist Mira Novak, Sona undertakes the task of delivering items in her patient’s stead, pieces bequeathed to significant figures in her life. As Sona embarks on this international journey, her perception begins to broaden. She remarks in chapter three, “When I’d first met her, I’d thought Mira’s ways were too big for the world I inhabited. But like breath, my life seemed to expand whenever I was around her.” Sona’s quest on behalf of Mira certainly did that. She becomes more aware of the ways of European society, grows more confident, and allows herself to love. Sona blossoms as a young woman, and also begins to heal from past hurts. Her path is not free of calamity and uncertainty. Things are not always as they seem, and her eyes are opened to both the beauty and ugliness of humanity. Her transformation is realistic, captivating, and thoroughly relatable, even across cultural and generational divides.For those who might want to be aware of content issues, Six Days in Bombay has little to no foul language, but the narrative confronts issues that may be troublesome for certain readers. The subject of abortion is addressed. There is a bit of sexual content, but Joshi keeps the details limited and does not draw out those scenes for an extended period of time. Romantic relationships are not kept within the borders of traditional marriage. However, as a conservative reader, I was still able to enjoy the story from the standpoint of an outside viewer. Although I do not endorse all the choices of these characters, I found their stories to be compelling, heartbreaking, and full of the same longing that many feel for love and acceptance.Just as many yearn for emotional satisfaction, another common desire is to inhabit a life of significance. Six Days in Bombay examines this trait in Sona Falstaff. She is a timid, sheltered young woman, living a small existence and wanting so much more. Because of insecurity or social restrictions, she has hesitated to step out into the world. After a mere six days with Mira Novak, she begins a journey beyond Bombay which opens her mind and heart to more than she ever could have imagined.While I believe humility is an aspirational quality, I also hold that we are all worthy of love and living out our God-given talents. Self-assurance does not need to be equated with arrogance. We can be steadfast in who we are, and also pursue our life purpose with grace. For some, that may mean quiet work that goes unseen by many, yet is fulfilling and serves the community. For others, this could be high-profile contributions that overtly benefit society at large. Regardless of the position of our birth, be it of any country or any racial combination, all should feel strong in their inherent worth. Sona Falstaff comes to see this over time, with those six special days as catalyst for that transformation. Alka Joshi’s latest offering is beautiful, fascinating, and hopefully will inspire many to step outside a space of comfort into the great unknown. Six Days in Bombay encourages us to have confidence, take a deep breath, and step into an expansive life of adventure.

A very exciting novel from a favorite author.
A very different novel from a favorite author.The author takes a leap forward from her first three books with “Six Days in Bombay.” She integrates historical events and concerns about the approaching World War II and India’s fight for independence as they impact the main character’s personal life. The main character, who is half Indian and half English, is beset by prejudice from both cultures. Some reviewers, as did I, found it hard to get into the book. As I read further in the book, I realized that the beginning chapters were where the author set the stage with a main character who is a caring nurse who tends to her patients while at the same time, she challenges the hospital system.Gradually, the reader’s awareness widens to see the cultural differences of India’s moralistic society versus the worldly behavior of a famous artist. As the story progresses, the tension builds. The nurse confronts her traditional Indian morals in a global society where they are seen as old-fashioned. This cultural struggle is what stimulates the interest in the story, which drives the reader forward until it is almost impossible to put the book down.The author’s complex characters and flawless storytelling, combined with the history of the times and the foods and culture of India, make this, the author’s fourth book, at least equal to, if not better than, her first three.

good reading
Characters interesting and a nice page turner. Always an adventure. Revealing backgrounds showing how people handle situations which are life changing.

Wonderful story…
There’s so much I liked I hardly know where to start. The development of each character is so very real. It was never difficult to picture a character and sense his/her emotions as well. I could feel the mood of each country involved in the story and things fell into place at an easy-to-follow pace. The experiences of this young sheltered Hindu/British nurse and how she deals with them and learns from them are the story. Each character along the way is so real. Description of the time preceding WWII was captured as a strong undercurrent but never dominated the story. I found it hard to put this book down after I started it. It held me from the very beginning to the end.

Good quick read

A good read with enjoyable main characters. Author writes well with good character development.

It’s a fun book to read but the plot is just so unrealistic. A real tick all the boxes of contemporary light fiction