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LeniverseGeeta is a killer, not a murderer. That's my stand. And I think all the killings were self defence and a last resort in a society where the women received no justice or defence under the law. I'm not for vigilantism, provided you have a functioning justice system, but that was clearly lacking here.2y
LaraReadsOof, this is a fine line! There was definite justification for these men to face some sort of ramifications! And it was evident that justice would not be served by the Indian judicial system. So, maybe?! 🤣 In this fictional world, yes! Absolutely! In the real world, murder is such an extreme. Maybe as a last resort! 🤷🏻♀️2y
BarbaraBBIt‘s a thin line indeed but as it is fiction, I think Shroff tries and succeeds in bringing the message of the lack of functioning judicial system loud and clear.2y
JenReadsAlotIt is a thun line, but I sure was rooting for these women so I'm going with okay!2y
peaKnitGeeta was initially assumed a murderer, and it eventually served her to keep people away in sense. I felt like the only real killing she committed personally was self defense, but in a country where women can be abused, not so much, sadly. Helping secure poison…accessory to murder maybe? It was such a comedy of errors at times, I‘m not sure a sincere jury could convict beyond a reasonable doubt lol.(edited) 2y
LaraReads@BarbaraBB agreed! And it was also just so much fun to read, like@JenReadsAlot said, I was still rooting for them even in murder!@peaknit sounds like you‘ve been watching C.I.D. like these women! 🤣🤣2y
BookwormjillkIt‘s a good question and I‘m not really sure. Like others have said it‘s a fine line.2y
batsyYes, well put@Leniverse & that's basically how I feel about it, too. I think in an ideal world it's easy to maybe moralise about this, but we all know that the world isn't just. I felt like the last few chapters just made it clear how certain men will never change, & they will just take & take from women & grind them down without a thought. It's pretty bleak, but the women's ability to do something drastic & violent paradoxically feels uplifting.2y
JamieArcI‘m always curious about stories where women band together to off their husbands, like the story of Giulia Toffana. I have empathy when there‘s no choice, and you really felt it with Geeta when she thought she was going to have to live with her husband again. You could feel there was no other choice for her. But I agree with every one else that it makes for a fantastic story premise.2y
DGRachel@Leniverse and@batsy put it much more eloquently than I could, if I‘m being a reasonable, law-abiding adult. However, as I enter my crone years, I find my rage against patriarchal society to be almost all consuming, so I was completely rooting for these women, especially when they stopped manipulating each other and truly started to support each other. I‘d have voted not guilty if I was on the jury. 🤣🤣2y
jlhammarJustified? Maybe. I certainly understand why they might feel it was their only/best option. I agree with@Leniverse and others who saw it more as self-defense and I was rooting for our bandit queens throughout. Yes,@peaknit , a comedy of errors indeed! Really enjoyed that element.2y
batsy@DGRachel Haha yes, if I was on the jury I would have done the same! Totally with you on the rage intensifying "as I enter my crone years" ??2y
jlhammar@JamieArc Okay, now you have me googling Giulia Tofana! Have you read a book about her you‘d recommend? That reminds me that I need to put this true crime title towards the top of my stack. Along the same lines except 1920s rural Hungary
Megabooks@DGRachel I often feel rage about the patriarchy, and sometimes consider taking things into my own hands, but it is pure fantasy for me. I like the point that there is virtually no chance for fair justice for these women or protection from these men. I understand why they did it, and I think Shroff bringing in humor made it a bit easier to swallow too.2y
CBeeThere is definitely a difference between being a killer and a murderer. Geeta feels remorse despite knowing there really isn‘t any other choice. I love her idealism, her hope that things can change. But until they do, it‘s almost like kill or be killed, in a way….. all this to say, I felt like it was all justified 😂🤷♀️2y
DGRachel@Megabooks Oh yes, it‘s totally pure fantasy for me, too, and I recognize that I have a lot of privilege that Geeta and her loan group do not. The humor saved the book for me, TBH.2y
TrishBIt‘s fiction and I‘m absolutely all the way with them ♥️ and I‘d probably still vote not guilty in real life. As others have said, if there were no injustices in the first place it‘s different!2y
LarkkenI think the final straw for me was when they were discussing how the two men who died were raping under caste girls, and Ramesh was like “still?” As though most men went through this phase. Seems like a system that needs burning down to me. And yes, my rage and hopelessness at “the system“ makes this little revenge fantasy more cathartic, if not realistic.2y
JamieArc@jlhammar I haven‘t read a book about it (though I would be surprised if there weren‘t one), but I have heard the story on several true crime podcasts. I also thought the storyline from the tagged was taken from Toffana.
jenniferw88Totally justified! Was rooting for all of them throughout, and there was no way the police were going to do anything about it. Would love a follow-up to see if any of Geeta's hopes come true and if anything changes with the new policewoman there!2y
AmyGI agree on the fiction part. A story told in a way to show the injustice of the system, the patriarchy. As a woman, though, I don‘t blame Geeta. I can‘t imagine living a life with such men. I was cheering her on!(edited) 2y
RuthiellaOnly Farrah‘s husband was murdered, and by Farrah. The death of Peiety‘s husband was manslaughter. But that‘s said, I didn‘t read this novel as realism. I don‘t see it advocating for vigilante justice.2y
CinfhenOf course we were going to root for #TeamGeeta#GirlPower those men had it coming- this was wild and fun and also a wake-up call to how privileged we are compared to other women in different countries and cultures.2y
willafulThe book really spoke to the part of me that gets furious when someone in media has a gun on the villain and then can't bring themselves to pull the trigger. Not that I've been in that situation myself, admittedly.
I think if the women had banded together sooner, they might have been able to come up with different solutions, and will very possibly use different ones in the future.2y
dabbe@CBee Me, too! My nickname at the school where I was a teacher was Crabby Abbe! 🤣🤣🤣 (now everyone knows how to pronounce my last name!)2y
CBee@dabbe Crabby Abbe 😂😂 I actually grew up with an Abbe so I knew how to pronounce it 😊😊2y
dabbe@CBee Usually, people say Abb or Abe. Way back it was once spelled Abbey, according to my husband. Someone somewhere got lazy and lopped off the Y. 🤣😍🤗2y
Chelsea.Poole@Ruthiella great point! I also didn‘t read it as realistic, so it is fun to see these horrible men get their comeuppance.2y
CBee@dabbe it is interesting how the Y got lopped off 😂2y
sarahbarnesAgree with many others here that I‘m with these women all the way.@BarbaraBB I think you‘re right that the murders also do a great job of illustrating how difficult the position of the women is in their lives.2y
CatLass007I believe that Geeta acted in self defense when she beat her attempted rapist to death with the statue. I believe she acted in self defense for all the women when she shot her husband. I‘m not so sure about Farrah. Yes, her husband was no good, but Farrah underhandedly tricked Geeta into suggesting a method of murder and threatened Geeta with blackmail. Maybe he did deserve to die. I‘m glad I wasn‘t ever forced to make such a decision.2y
Meshell1313Totally self defense and sometimes I understand how violence might be justified and in this case I think it was.2y
dabbe@CBee Well, there's more to the history. My maiden name is Churchard, which used to be ChurchYard until that Y got lopped off. An Abbey and a Churchyard. Interesting, yes? 🤣🤣🤣2y
DebinHawaiiI proudly join in with the “crone crew” 😉 & was rooting for Geeta & the other women. Those men were beyond redemption & there was not another choice as there would have been no justice for these women or other women & those young girls. I think@Leniverse makes a great point about Geeta being a killer & not a murderer.2y
Well-ReadNeckI felt that the killings were revenge fantasy and part of the over-the-top, comic nature of the novel.2y
LaughterhpI definitely don‘t judge her for killing the guy attacking her! Killing the First Lady‘s husband was a bit iffy…2y
Bklover@Leniverse I‘m late to the discussion but I think your comment was perfect. I must say, though, I was cheering those women on the whole time! I think I‘m definitely one of the “crone crew”(edited) 2y
BarbaraBB@Well-ReadNeck I agree but I think they served the purpose of the book.2y
TheBookHippieI think it severed the purpose of the book. I‘m not a fan but I get the reasoning.2y
I think if the women had banded together sooner, they might have been able to come up with different solutions, and will very possibly use different ones in the future. 2y