THE 35¢ DOWRY

In Fent’s debut novel set in the 1950s, a French teenage girl gets the chance of a lifetime when an unexpected journey to India helps her reconnect with true love.

Minouche has a strong bond with her mother, a single, working-class woman who’s escaped an abusive marriage, and it only becomes stronger when they must start a new life together on their own. In 1958, the 18-year-old girl is still very impressionable when she meets and falls in love with Stefan, a charming young Polish student. Minouche quickly finds herself enraptured by Stefan’s idealistic point of view, and soon his dreams become hers; after Stefan leaves to pursue his education in India, Minouche wastes no time in following him despite her lack of funds. But will he welcome her with open arms when she arrives there, or will their chance at happiness be lost forever? Fent offers vivid descriptions of Minouche’s culture shock in a strange land: “I was assaulted by scents of spices, sweat and unknown perfumes floating over the acrid odor of the machine oil polluting the harbor.” The protagonist’s sweet naiveté presents an intriguing contrast with Stefan’s worldliness, and this dynamic leads to realistic character development as the young woman discovers her own strength and resilience. Rather than live in Stefan’s shadow, she becomes a confident and intelligent woman in her own right. This is the first of two books in the author’s series, and its ending successfully provides intrigue by carefully hinting at what lies ahead for the main players. There are also some dark undertones throughout the book that keep the story from feeling overly romanticized.

An entertaining coming-of-age tale that explores family ties as well as colorful locales.