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Rated 
of 5
by Molly B. (Claunch, NM)
A sweeping story I enjoyed this book very much, because of its sweeping story line and its presentation of a different country, a different world. I've been to India, but a couple of visits there don't compare in the least to the depth of descriptions and the details that Ms Rao offered up. Her portrayal of life in such a different country, and during different time periods and stages of political unrest, were enlightening. And then she included such compelling and timeless themes as humanity, the morality of taking human lives in honor of larger causes, revenge, control, and the class system. And some danger, unrequited love, and passion. What's not to appreciate?
Rated of 5
by Linda A. (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Tragedy and Tribulations: Can Love Win Out? Ruthvika Rao's sweeping debut novel, The Fertile Earth, chronicles a tense and emotional Romeo-and-Juliet-esque saga that begins with a childhood infatuation and plays out over years of separation, hardships, miscommunication and joy. All this against the backdrop of ongoing family dramas and roiling political and social changes in India during the 1960s and seventies.
The lives of Vijaya, born into the powerful landowning Deshmukh family of Irumi, and Krishna, son of the widowed washerwoman who works in the Deshmukh house, are forever impacted by a reckless childhood adventure that leads to tragic results for them and their siblings, Vijaya's younger sister, Sree, and Krishna's older brother Ranga. Much in the wake of this event is cloaked in mystery and misinterpretation both for the fictional families involved and for the reader who must wait hundreds of pages to learn all the back story facts.
Vijaya is eager to leave home and is grudgingly allowed by her family to attend a college in Madras. Krishna, permitted a full education by Vijaya's uncle after singling him out as low caste but worthy, becomes a promising mathematics student in Hyderabad who must also navigate pressures to join a growing leftist political movement.
I enjoyed the author's rich descriptions of the story's cultural and natural worlds, though it seemed some passages went on for too long. She deftly depicts the Deshmukh family's immense wealth and power which is symbolized by the glittery "gadi," their palatial home on the hill overlooking contested ancestral lands. This vividly contrasts with the plight of the vetti, bonded servants treated like slaves, subjected to societal inequities and violence. The explosion of class warfare, causing a brutal reversal of fortune for the Deshmukhs, is the ultimate test for the future of Vijaya and Krishna. Will they end up together? It's the question that pushes the narrative forward.
Overall, I found The Fertile Earth to be a wonderful work of historical fiction, intricately plotted and researched. My only frustration in reading was that although Rao expertly sets up the situation and the main characters in the first chapters, the story unfolds so slowly that most of the motives underlying questionable actions and relationships among the principals are not revealed until late in the book. These mysteries, however, were part of what propelled me to read to the end!
Rated of 5
by Patricia G. (Washington, DC)
An incredible talent for description! Ruthvika Rao's debut novel, "The Fertile Earth", opens with a shocking scene of political murders, then quickly backtracks fifteen years to the childhood of the four intertwined main characters. This is a story of the toxic history of a class-divided society, told through the lives and loves of fascinating characters.
Vijaya and Sree are pampered daughters of the extremely wealthy and all-powerful upper caste Deshmukh family that rules the local village and surrounding farmland in southern India. Krishna and Ranga are brothers, sons of a lowly servant to the family. Vijaya and Krishna develop an innocent, but forbidden, childhood friendship. The lives of all four children are shattered by an accident in the jungle that leaves younger sister Sree alive but permanently disabled. Ranga is blamed, and is brutally punished.
It is a rare feat to start a book by giving the reader the ending, but Rao accomplishes this perfectly as she lays the foundation for the Naxalite uprising in the late 1960s through the lives of the four main characters and their families. Rao has an amazing talent for description, of both characters and setting. The mental images stayed with me for weeks after I finished the book. The descriptions of a face, the crease in a shirt, the raised bump of a vicious scar were so vivid that her characters seemed real. With just a few sentences, Rao paints a full picture.
As well as a historical novel, it is also a beautiful love story, full of twists and turns, of lives that shaped by the political upheavals in India in the latter half of the twentieth century. I loved this book not only for the beautiful storytelling, but also because I learned about part of India's history that I was not aware of. I highly recommend this book to any reader, and I am looking forward to Rao's next novel.
Rated of 5
by Agnes G. (Southern Pines, NC)
A worthwhile tome Make no mistake about it. This book is not an easy read. Approach it as you would enter into an extended trip. There will be some days when you want to stay in your room and just read all day. There will be other days when you need to lay it aside and enjoy the people, sights and sounds of your physical surroundings. Many have commented on the lyrical writing. It is stunningly beautiful. The story is rich and nuanced. I am not familiar with Indian names so it took me awhile to sort out the males and females.
Rated of 5
by Marie W. (Prescott, AZ)
A Captivating Read Usually it takes a few chapters for a story to draw me in. Ruthvika Rao hooked me within a few pages of this new historical novel.
The story takes place mostly in Telangana, India, where the author grew up. It covers the years and political upheavals of the 50's, 60's, and 70's. History, adventure, family, romance, and politics fill these pages, but this book is really about the people.
Rao's beautiful writing invites the reader in. Her characters interact with each other and their environment seamlessly. We get to know them organically, through their words, thoughts, and actions. Thus they felt very real to me.
There is plenty of drama in this book, and some violence. These were violent times. These kinds of events really happened and were a part of these people's lives.
I highly recommend this book, both for book groups that enjoy learning about history and can handle some violence, and for serious readers. I will definitely be watching for more books by this author!
Rated of 5
by Vicki S. (Pahoa, HI)
The Fertile Earth I really enjoyed reading The Fertile Earth,it's a memorable story. The book takes place in India, while it's beautifully described with its temples, scenery, you can taste and smell it, as the descriptions are very vividly portrayed. But there is a complicated history involved here, with the country fighting for its independence and the caste-system. The characters are memorable, you feel like you know them personally. Good story telling, I recommend it highly!
Rated of 5
by Ellie B. (Mount Airy, MD)
Beautifully written, unforgettable love story and history lesson From the first page, you are drawn into the drama caused by the inequalities of the caste system in India, interwoven with the communist influences politically. The author's words allow you to feel and see the beauty as well as the dangers in the countryside. Her characters are real, well developed, authentic. The story line, based on actual historic events, will keep you mesmerized until the very last page. This would be an excellent selection for book clubs.
Rated of 5
by Mary A. (Lake Nebagamon, WI)
An Unforgettable Book The Fertile Earth is an unforgettable book and will remain with me for a long time.
The story comes at a complicated time during post independence India. Vijayce Deshmukhs is from a family of ancestral aristocrats, who at that time had power over the villagers living on their land. Krishna and brother Ranga are sons of the Deshmakh's servant.From childhood on, Vijayce and Krishna have a strong connection. The story tells of their family relationships and how political beliefs can completely change lives.
I could fully understand the injustices of their caste system. Does a persons loyalty stay with their family or to political beliefs.
This is a compelling Historical, political and love story.
Rated of 5
by Patricia C. (Naples, FL)
A Poignant Story of Love Amid Social Inequities Two brothers from the servant class of India's caste system, two sisters from the highest social class whose family own the land and thus the entire economy of the southeastern area of India are the stars of this well written love.
The author explores how love between the young couple survived the horrors of the communist terroristic attacks on the upper classes, and the struggles of not just the two but the entire community of Irumi. She has drawn her characters so authentic that I could visualize them.
Lots to talk about discussing this book. I highly recommend it to readers and especially book clubs.
Rated of 5
by Sue Z. (Cornelius, NC)
The Fertile Earth Ruthvika Rao has written a wonderful book that must be read and reread in order to appreciate every nuance and secret in the story.
In mid 20th century India, the age-old custom of landlords holding all the land and exercising feudal rights over the country population is being challenged by the communists and the Naxalite extremists.
It is during this turbulent time that the story takes place, pitting family members against each other and against those who must support their way of life.
Rated 
of 5
by Juli B. (Prosper, TX)
Tragic Tale with Strong Personalities As a reader I enjoy exploring various cultures and historical themes through fictional tales that explain what individuals experienced and endured as world events happened away from my own circumstances. Having never traveled to India, I find stories about the caste systems disheartening, but am encouraged when I read about those who rise above specific limitations. Ruthvika Rao creates interesting scenarios for the main characters in "The Fertile Earth" and unwinds a difficult period of time for her homeland with a personable touch. The story provides readers with multiple strong personalities faced with incredible challenges. The way their lives intertwine illuminates the talent of the author's writing skills. While the timeline tends to jump periodically, the chapter titles help to recenter the plot. Readers will debate choices made and wonder what life would have been like with less emphasis on traditional society expectations and more humanity toward one another. In particular, sisters Vijaya & Sree, as well as brothers Ranga & Krishna, provide much of the angst detailed from beginning to end, but my favorite character was Katya. In an emotional moment Katya explains why she often felt the most comfortable sleeping among the animal sheds, "...only the animals in his house have any humanity. Not the people." Heartbreaking! From the exterior, villagers imagine that anything desirable or imaginable can be found within the walls of their Irumi zamindar, yet the truth of that household is toxic for all who live or work within those boundaries. Trigger warnings of intense violence should accompany this novel.
Unfamiliar with Indian culture and language, readers might benefit from a short glossary of common terms and vocabulary. Regarding the cover art and choice of colors, this reader is perplexed; still not certain what the artwork symbolizes... a temple among clouds or perhaps the tiger claw pendant that plays a pivotal role in the family hertiage? I would pass on this novel if the cover art was the deciding factor. Fortunately though, receiving an advanced copy from Bookbrowse introduced me to this debut selection and I enjoyed learning about a pivotal time in India's tumultuous history.
Rated of 5
by Donna M. (East Falmouth, MA)
Keep reading! This book chronicles some of the history and changes in India from 1955 to 1990. I was very confused by the first chapter and found the names and other words in the book at first. (The first and last chapters are bookends and are confusing until you read the chapters in between.) This novel starts in 1990 and ends in the last chapter in 1990. In between, the sections are in chronological order. Once I realized that, the novel made more sense. There is a feudal, aristocratic system with the power and the right to make the people in the villages work for them with food for their work. The main characters are Vijaya and her sister, Scree, who are the aristocrats, and Krishna and his brother, Ranga, are sons of a servant of the Deshmukh family. The story chronicles the time of 1955-1990. Vijaya and Krishna are in school together, bright and drawn to each other. Both of them are able to attend college even though Krishna is poor; there are scholarships for him and his education. We see what each person goes through, and it provides a window to see what is happening to society at the same time. Some women can attend college, but there are ways that they are treated unfairly. Marxists and an ultra-left movement are moving to change the system of living and provide more and better choices for many. The characters and their family and friends show how things are and what they are becoming. We see how each of the four main characters is changed through their interactions in the novel. This weaves in politics and changes in the way of life. We view these changes through the lens of the four main characters. Once I was on a chronological path, I could see how the characters and the time setting made more sense. This would be a good book club book as it has rich language, history, and human interest. The author writes well, aside from the beginning chapter, which foreshadows what is to come. I found it difficult to transition from the first chapter and the chronological narrative between the first and last chapters. I enjoyed the historical and narrative story which showed the changes in the characters and the political and social changes as well.
Rated of 5
by Hathaway G. (Chilmark, MA)
Good story I liked it.
The Fertile Earth is a good story on a particular piece of India's history that I knew nothing about.
It's a story line that's been done many times: a true blue boy from the wrong side of tracks meets a traumatized girl from a rich family. There is lots of drama and many, many intertwined plots and characterizations. Many of the supporting characters are so vivid that the reader feels instantly drawn to them.
It's compellingly written and moves quickly. The ending is perhaps a little too neat but I was engaged in the story from the opening paragraph AND it gives a striking picture of a time that now I know a little more about.
Rated of 5
by Helen P. (Lynn, MA)
Political, Cultural, Historical Story I am interested in other cultures and this novel does not disappoint. This story with the Deshmukhs in Irumi, Telangana speaks of the landlords to the fertile earth after India's post independence. There are Indian words that were not familiar to me so I would have appreciated a glossary to guide me. Vijaya is a daughter of the aristocratic Deshmukhs who meets Krishna a son of a servant. They have a deep bond. Caste differences play a part in how they see political peasant uprisings, traditions, and love. The writing draws you in and along the way you learn about the intricacies among the well developed characters and the deep connection to the fertile earth.
Rated of 5
by Beth B. (New Wilmington, PA)
The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao Can a person actually live without looking back? Can life's pain be managed? Would it be possible to be given the strength to say no?
This complex novel offers rich possibilities for discussion groups or a college literature class largely due to themes such as power, difficult familial relationships, importance of wealth and material holdings, political insurrection, etc.
I was drawn into the book immediately and loved the majority of it but found gaps of sequence that made it difficult to be cohesive. Not being familiar with this period of history in India, it provided background for a story of enduring love, family devotion, the bond between sisters and that of brother with brother.
The author exhibited skill in creating copious lyrical passages such as "Krisha lived within her like a melody." My favorite section dealt with a journey to capture a tiger. My main criticism was with the weakness of the title and cover art.
Rated 
of 5
by Laurie B. (Jacksonville, FL)
mixed reaction I wanted to really like this book. It is well written but for me the story line was muddled and dragged in places. The characters were interesting, but I didn't quite connect with any of them. It may be that I didn't enjoy the political story line, I'm just not sure why I couldn't get into this book
Rated 
of 5
by Marianne L. (Syosset, NY)
Not Quite Fertile I was rather disappointed in the book, The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao. While I am interested in novels that highlight class differences and political upheaval across decades, I thought this book did not develop the characters deeply enough to make them believable to me. I did enjoy the picturesque settings in this book that really brought the locations to life and added to this reader's appreciation of the character's surroundings. However, I found a considerable effort was required in understanding regional vocabulary used frequently enough to interrupt the flow of a passage. Overall, I was not a fan of this book.
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