Tall Tales from Kansas

Over the course of the last 14 days I have spent a full 26 hours listening to The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai. It is read (masterfully) by Sneer Mathan. It is hard to condense into a few sentences what this book is about. On the surface it is the story of 2 young people from India and their relationship, but is is so much deeper than that. It is filled with details, customs, traditions, and a cast of interesting, vibrant characters who show us their worries, doubts, superstitions, and beliefs. We see the complex love of family with ways that are rooted in the past but still with us today. Whether you are knowledgable about the culture of India or not, you will likely feel the similarities that inevitably exist in all families.

The writing in this book is such a pleasure to read. Early on, I found myself stopping to write down particular lines, but gave that up so as not to interrupt the flow of the book. I will leave you with this one though from early on… “it was essential to remain close to those who had caused you harm so that the ghost of guilt might breathe through their dreams, that their guilt might slowly mature to it’s fullest potential”.

I have not read The Inheritance of Loss, Desai’s previous book, but have added it to my list. I need to let this one sit with me for awhile and fully enjoy the magical quality of it. Extremely HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. After I read it, I looked at a review of it that said it was “too long and fragmented” and wondered if we had read the same book. Yes, it is long, but so skillfully woven together that it is seamless. I found myself caught up in the lives of ALL the characters, not just Sonia and Sunny. In particular Sunny’s mother (Babita) and Sonia’s father.