Dense, gripping drama about a diverse cast of characters in 1800s India all in one way or another in the grip of the opium trade. Deeti is a married woman whose husband works harvesting and processing the stuff; Paulette is an orphan lodged with a missionary family; Zachary works on a ship transporting migrants and other cargo; Neel is an upper class Indian who runs afoul of the local British establishment. Their stories converge in a treacherous ocean crossing that changes all of their lives forever. It's a difficult and engrossing read that will appeal mainly to literary fiction readers.
You can see my full review here: http://www.bostonbibliophile.com/2010/01/review-sea-of-poppies-by-amitav-ghosh.html
