LoveReading Says
Set between Madurai in 1992 and Sydney in 2019, Rajasree Variyar’s The Daughters of Madurai tells a beautifully moving mystery of family secrets, and the lengths we go to in order to safeguard our loved ones. Taking in the brutal horrors of female infanticide, and the agonising conflict between pursuing personal happiness and independence, and keeping one’s parents happy, it’s an accomplished, compelling debut.
In Madurai in 1992, a young mother experiences a succession of unspeakably devastating losses. From a poor family, Janani’s failure to give birth to a boy sees all but one of her daughters taken from her at birth and killed. Though she has her eldest daughter, she will never forget the girls who were stolen from her, the girls who were cruelly denied lives.
A second, linked timeline plays out in Sydney in 2019, where 25-year-old Nila is harbouring a secret love while her mother has shortlisted men she’s deemed suitable for her daughter to marry. On the cusp of telling her parents the truth, Nila and her family return to her father’s Madurai hometown, where her grandfather is dying. Ahead of the trip, she asks her mother about the family she never speaks of, why she has no mementoes of growing up in India. Then, during the visit, the past and present collide, with long-hidden, traumatic truths unravelled through fine storytelling.
Joanne Owen
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The Daughters of Madurai Synopsis
'Oh my goodness. If I could give this book 6 stars out of 5 I would' ?????
'One of those books that will stay with me for years and decades to come...' ?????
'Grabbed my heart and wouldn't let go!' ?????
'A joy to read' ?????
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A temple city in lush southern India, Madurai is bustling with pilgrims and steeped in history and tradition. Yet not all traditions should be upheld...
1992. As a low-caste cleaner for a wealthy family, Janani's duty has always been quiet obedience. Even at home, her mother-in-law's word is law. Janani has never dared to dream of a different life. But now, she has something she'll do anything to protect... even if it means losing everything she's ever known.
2019. Nila doesn't remember her life before they moved to Australia, and her parents never talk about their past. So when she joins her parents on a trip to their hometown, Madurai, she hopes she'll finally uncover the truth. Especially as Nila seeks acceptance for a secret of her own...
For both Janani and Nila, love isn't simple.
Sometimes love is an act of courage...
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COSMOPOLITAN AND GLAMOUR'S BEST BOOKS OF 2023
Apple's Best of the Month for May
'Haunting, moving, completely compelling - an incredible debut' JENNIFER SAINT
'A captivating and riveting debut from an unforgettable new voice' LOUISE O'NEILL
'Heartrending but ultimately hopeful, this richly evocative and spellbinding book will touch your soul' VERONICA HENRY
'A beautiful story, hauntingly written' JULIE COHEN
'Heartbreaking, emotional and thought-provoking... I will think about this story for a long time' ALIYA ALI-AFZAL
'Full of grace and tenderness' JYOTI PATEL
'A haunting, powerful novel' THRITY UMRIGAR
'Powerful and important' KAREN ANGELICO
'A truly powerful story that remains with you long after the final word has been read' GLAMOUR
'This raw and moving debut packs a punch' ADELE PARKS FOR PLATINUM
'Utterly devastating and quietly hopeful' WOMAN'S OWN
'Once read it is not easily forgotten' DAILY MAIL
'You won't be able to put this compelling novel down' SUNDAY EXPRESS
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781398707283 |
| Publication date: |
15th February 2024 |
| Author: |
Rajasree Variyar |
| Publisher: |
Orion Books an imprint of Orion |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
368 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Family Drama
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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