Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Nikki, a law school dropout, impulsively takes a job teaching a "creative writing" course at the community center in the beating heart of London’s close-knit Punjabi community. Because of a miscommunication, the proper Sikh widows who show up are expecting to learn basic English literacy, not the art of short-story writing. When one of the widows finds a book of sexy stories in English and shares it with the class, Nikki realizes that beneath their white dupattas, her students have a wealth of fantasies and memories. Eager to liberate these modest women, she teaches them how to express their untold stories, unleashing creativity of the most unexpected—and exciting—kind. As more women are drawn to the class, Nikki warns her students to keep their work secret from the Brotherhood, a group of highly conservative young men who have appointed themselves the community’s "moral police." But when the widows’ gossip offers shocking insights into the death of a young wife—a modern woman like Nikki—and some of the class erotica is shared among friends, it sparks a scandal that threatens them all.

I decided to pick up this gem after seeing it highlighted in Reese's bookclub (Reese Witherspon) and boy, am I happy I did. What a great story about romance, friendship, and breaking stereotypes. The story revolves around Nikki, a young law school dropout, who decides to become a creative writing teacher for the Sikh community center. Of course, this comes with a twist: all of her students are Punjabi widows who begin telling erotic stories of their sexual lives. I know, funny right? A bunch of old grandmothers divulging their most hidden sexual fantasies? What kind of book is this, you ask? Well, an amazing one. And there's so much more to this novel than the erotic stories.

As these classes and their stories draw attention throughout the community, it brings criticism and fear from a conservative group of young men known as the Brotherhood. Also, secrets and scandal come to light involving the death of a young woman.

I can't speak more highly of this book. Is it steamy? Oh, yes! But, it's also inspiring, funny and suspenseful. This is definitely a page turner and one of those books you can't put down. The friendship and bond the widows form throughout the story is truly heartwarming. Love, love, loved it!