Kirjahaku

This rich ethnography explores beliefs and practices surrounding aging in a rural Bengali village. Sarah Lamb focuses on how villagers' visions of aging are tied to the making and unmaking of gendered selves and social relations over a lifetime. Lamb uses a focus on age as a means not only to open up new ways of thinking about South Asian social life, but also to contribute to contemporary theories of gender, the body, and culture, which have been hampered, the book argues, by a static focus on youth. Lamb's own experiences in the village are an integral part of her book and ably convey the cultural particularities of rural Bengali life and Bengali notions of modernity. In exploring ideals of family life and the intricate interrelationships between and within generations, she enables us to understand how people in the village construct, and deconstruct, their lives.At the same time, her study extends beyond India to contemporary attitudes about aging in the United States. This accessible and engaging book is about deeply human issues and will appeal not only to specialists in South Asian culture, but to anyone interested in families, aging, gender, religion, and the body.

A free open access ebook is available upon publication. Learn more at www.luminosoa.org. Today, the majority of the world's population lives in a country with falling marriage rates, a phenomenon with profound impacts on women, gender, and sexuality. In this exceptionally crafted ethnography, Sarah Lamb probes the gendered trend of single women living in India, examining what makes living outside marriage for women increasingly possible and yet incredibly challenging. Featuring the stories of never-married women as young as 35 and as old as 92, the book offers a remarkable portrait of a way of life experienced by women across class and caste divides, from urban professionals and rural day laborers, to those who identify as heterosexual and lesbian, to others who evaded marriage both by choice and by circumstance. For women in India, complex social-cultural and political-economic contexts are foundational to their lives and decisions, and evading marriage is often an unintended consequence of other pressing life priorities. Arguing that never-married women are able to illuminate their society's broader social-cultural values, Lamb offers a new and startling look at prevailing systems of gender, sexuality, kinship, freedom, and social belonging in India today.

1941, Virginia When Frances and Cecil meet, neither of them expects their attraction to be as deep as it is. Frances wasn't looking for a boyfriend, but there's something about Cecil that makes her think he's the one she might want to spend the rest of her life with.Then she meets Cecil's mother, who treats her poorly because she's not only a factory girl, but also the daughter of a tenant farmer. Hurt and angry, Frances knows she has to make a choice. Will she keep him-and his spiteful mother-in her life, or will she move on?Frances isn't sure what to do. However, with the young men of the United States being drafted for World War II in large numbers, she might not have long to decide and tell Cecil her decision in person.Will Frances give their love a chance or will she say goodbye?

When Kelly came home to visit her parents, the last thing she expected was to see her old flame. Growing up, they were inseparable, until she caught Brett in a compromising position with her best friend the night before she left for college.Though Kelly thought she moved on, the second she saw him her heart wanted to reconnect-even if her mind didn't. The problem is, she's not ready to let go of her hurt and hear his side of the story.Brett knew that he and Kelly were meant to be together. When she caught him in an embrace with her best friend? He never had a chance to tell her it was nothing but a misunderstanding. In one moment, the future he thought he'd have with her was ruined. To complicate things, he can't tell Kelly why he was with Megan. It's not his secret to share.Now, Kelly's back for a few days, the same time as he is. Could this be his chance to right the misunderstanding, or is she still too angry to talk to him?Things start to improve, until Megan, the girl Kelly thinks betrayed her, makes an appearance.Will the three work things out? Or will Kelly and Brett part, but this time for good?

Together, they are going to have to save themselves...and the town. Laura Ashborne is convinced she's a walking bad luck charm. Trying to make a fresh start, she sets out on a stagecoach to become a schoolteacher. However, the coach she's on breaks down in the middle of nowhere a few days before Christmas, and she's forced to spend an entire week in the tiny town of Deepwater.Reverend Gabriel Sullivan wants to help the beautiful stranded traveler, and he'd determined to show her she's not bad luck. But when his dark past catches up to him, he's put into a dangerous situation, and Laura right along with him.Can her desperate plan help him? Or will they let their past ruin the future they'd like to have together?

Together, they are going to have to save themselves...and the town. Laura Ashborne is convinced she's a walking bad luck charm. Trying to make a fresh start, she sets out on a stagecoach to become a schoolteacher. However, the coach she's on breaks down in the middle of nowhere a few days before Christmas, and she's forced to spend an entire week in the tiny town of Deepwater.Reverend Gabriel Sullivan wants to help the beautiful stranded traveler, and he'd determined to show her she's not bad luck. But when his dark past catches up to him, he's put into a dangerous situation, and Laura right along with him.Can her desperate plan help him? Or will they let their past ruin the future they'd like to have together?

Rose and Levi only have one rule-make their own rules.Free spirited Rose Alden is her father's youngest child, and his disappointment. Her sharp mind and wit are matched only by her sarcastic tongue and disobedience in finding a suitable husband like her older sisters did. She's desperate to live her own life, make her own rules, and marriage is not something she is interested in.Ranch hand Levi Patterson understands just how Rose feels. It's why he's grateful to be working for her father on the Alden's quiet ranch. However, the past he thought he'd left behind has caught up, demanding he choose between the needs of others and his own.A sudden change of events forces them each to make a decision that will change the future forever. Will Rose fight for what she longs for? Can Levi return to what was, or will he continue to blaze his own path with Rose by his side?

The plan? Pretend he's her betrothed and try not to fall in love.Sheriff Asher Steele doesn't plan to settle down. Not ever. In fact, he avoids the ladies all together. And he doesn't plan to explain why that is. No one's been able to break through the walls of his emotions and that's just the way he likes it.But when Isabelle Bowman comes to town with a secret of her own, and a heap of trouble following her, he might be the only one who can help her. What he's not counting on is falling in love along the way and considering opening the walls of his heart to protect her.Running from her half-brother, who desires nothing more than to kill Isabelle Bowman and take her inheritance, she's desperate for a place to hide. Uninterested in marriage, she thinks the sheriff's idea is preposterous. But she's left with no option. With no funds, a sheriff who thinks she's a troublemaker or a liar, and his plan that will never work, she's sure things are not going to end well.But could they both be wrong about what the future holds?

The plan? Pretend he's her betrothed and try not to fall in love.Sheriff Asher Steele doesn't plan to settle down. Not ever. In fact, he avoids the ladies all together. And he doesn't plan to explain why that is. No one's been able to break through the walls of his emotions and that's just the way he likes it.But when Isabelle Bowman comes to town with a secret of her own, and a heap of trouble following her, he might be the only one who can help her. What he's not counting on is falling in love along the way and considering opening the walls of his heart to protect her.Running from her half-brother, who desires nothing more than to kill Isabelle Bowman and take her inheritance, she's desperate for a place to hide. Uninterested in marriage, she thinks the sheriff's idea is preposterous. But she's left with no option. With no funds, a sheriff who thinks she's a troublemaker or a liar, and his plan that will never work, she's sure things are not going to end well.But could they both be wrong about what the future holds?

Falsely accused of being a loose woman, she has nowhere else to go. His heart belongs to another, and he has no desire to become entangled. A victim of misplaced affections, Leah Dearing dreams of starting over in Oregon where she can own land and put her past behind her. But as a single woman, she is refused a place in the wagon train, no matter that she's more than capable of doing all she needs. Desperate to build a new life for herself, she is willing to do anything-including a marriage in name only.Stanley Keith has no intention of heading out West with a bride until he overhears Leah's plight. He knows the way will be difficult and many don't make it. To top it off, he's got a woman waiting for him when he gets there. Yet, something about her determination sparks in him, and before he's realized it he offers to let her join him on his journey in exchange for her cooking and companionship.However, the trail is long and dangerous, and the challenges they face might be more than either realized. Especially when one of them starts to fall in love...and the reminder of another waiting for them at the end of the trail becomes impossible to ignore.

Falsely accused of being a loose woman, she has nowhere else to go. His heart belongs to another, and he has no desire to become entangled. A victim of misplaced affections, Leah Dearing dreams of starting a new life in Oregon where she can own land and put her past behind her. But as a single woman, she is refused a place in the wagon train, no matter that she's more than capable of doing all she needs. Desperate to build a new life for herself, she is willing to do anything-including a marriage in name only.Stanley Keith has no intention of heading out West with a bride until he overhears Leah's plight. He knows the way will be difficult and many don't make it. To top it off, he's got a woman waiting for him when he gets there. Yet, something about her determination sparks in him, and before he's realized it he offers to let her join him on his journey in exchange for her cooking and companionship.However, the trail is long and dangerous, and the challenges they face might be more than either realized. Especially when one of them starts to fall in love...and the reminder of another waiting for them at the end of the train becomes impossible to ignore.

"Yer too small on the top. I want a bigger woman." Alyssa Moore never expected that to be the reason her prospective groom turned her away after one look. Now, with almost no money and no family to turn to for help, she's stuck waiting in a small town until the mail-order bride agency that sent her finds another match. She's embarrassed to seek help because that isn't her only mortifying situation, but it's all she can do.When an upset woman finds him to ask for help posting a letter, Peter West is more than curious about her. As he learns more, he wonders...what would happen if her letter didn't post? At least for a few days. Would she consider staying there, with someone like him? He knows it's pointless. A beautiful woman like that wouldn't want a man like him.As Alyssa becomes desperate and Peter tries to summon his courage, they'll each discover there's far more to a person than meets the eye-and that friendship and love can blossom in the most unexpected of ways.

"Yer too small on the top. I want a bigger woman." Alyssa Moore never expected that to be the reason her prospective groom turned her away after one look. Now, with almost no money and no family to turn to for help, she's stuck waiting in a small town until the mail-order bride agency that sent her finds another match. She's embarrassed to seek help because that isn't her only mortifying situation, but it's all she can do.When an upset woman finds him to ask for help posting a letter, Peter West is more than curious about her. As he learns more, he wonders...what would happen if her letter didn't post? At least for a few days. Would she consider staying there, with someone like him? He knows it's pointless. A beautiful woman like that wouldn't want a man like him.As Alyssa becomes desperate and Peter tries to summon his courage, they'll each discover there's far more to a person than meets the eye-and that friendship and love can blossom in the most unexpected of ways.

Who knew being married could be so exhausting and potentially dangerous?When Millie Hudson is introduced to Dr. Winston Felton, it's love at first sight. She can hardly wait to become his wife and eagerly makes plans for their new life together. However, days before their wedding, her new mother-in-law, Mother Nola, announces she's moving in. And everything changes.Dr. Winston Felton is overjoyed Millie is his new bride. She's everything and more that he dreamed of in a woman, and his patients adore her. She's even tolerant and sweet to his overbearing mother and tries hard to form a bond with her. No small task, considering his mother will never let any of them forget Millie was not her pick for him.As if navigating a new marriage and her mother-in-law weren't enough, a strange man starts lurking around. Millie is terrified Mother Nola, being a wealthy widow, might be the victim of a blackmailer. Though she's been treated unkindly, Millie is determined to protect her, at any cost.However, the truth is far more shocking than she could have imagined-and comes at a cost none of them foresaw.

Who knew being married could be so exhausting and potentially dangerous?When Millie Hudson is introduced to Dr. Winston Felton, it's love at first sight. She can hardly wait to become his wife and eagerly makes plans for their new life together. However, days before their wedding, her new mother-in-law, Mother Nola, announces she's moving in. And everything changes.Dr. Winston Felton is overjoyed Millie is his new bride. She's everything and more that he dreamed of in a woman, and his patients adore her. She's even tolerant and sweet to his overbearing mother and tries hard to form a bond with her. No small task, considering his mother will never let any of them forget Millie was not her pick for him.As if navigating a new marriage and her mother-in-law weren't enough, a strange man starts lurking around. Millie is terrified Mother Nola, being a wealthy widow, might be the victim of a blackmailer. Though she's been treated unkindly, Millie is determined to protect her, at any cost.However, the truth is far more shocking than she could have imagined-and comes at a cost none of them foresaw.