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Book Review By Judi Darst
Riot: A Love Story by Shashi Tharoor

    Priscilla Hart, a young idealistic American student, travels to India to volunteer with a female population-control awareness program. In the course of her work in the small town of Zalilgarh, Priscilla meets an attractive, but very married, government official. An instant affinity is felt by both of them and a torrid, clandestine love affair ensures. While both are conflicted by their feelings for each other, neither wants to end the relationship.
    Priscilla's parents and a newspaper reporter visit Zalilgarth in an attempt to find out exactly what happened to her. Through interviews with the police, government officials, and co-workers of Priscilla, we learn of the Muslim-Hindu conflict that is brewing in northern India. The conflict turns into a riot which results in the death of eight people in this small town. All the dead are Indian except Priscilla.
    Who killed Priscilla? Was it the husband of a Muslim woman who she helped to schedule an abortion? Was it a jealous colleague? Was it her lover's wife, or perhaps her lover himself? Or maybe she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1980's-1999
Ethnic/Regional/Religion
Crime & Police story Yes
Story of
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Profession/status:
How sensitive is this character?
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 ()
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - India
Small town? Yes

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - little dialog
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