The Age of Shiva
A Novel
16 December 2008
Territory Rights — Worldwide including Canada, but excluding the British Commonwealth.
Description
"A stunning novel, proof that Manil Suri is a major storyteller of heart and intelligence." —Amy Tan
The Age of Shiva is at once a powerful story of a country in turmoil and an "unflinchingly honest" portrait of maternal love—"intricately interwoven with the ancient rites and myths" (Booklist) crucial to India's history. Meera, the narrator, is seventeen years old when she catches her first glimpse of Dev, performing a song so infused with passion that it arouses in her the first flush of erotic longing. She wonders if she can steal him away from Roopa, her older, more beautiful sister, who has brought her along to see him. It is only when her son is born that Meera begins to imagine a life of fulfillment. She engulfs him with a love so deep, so overpowering, that she must fear its consequences. Meera's unforgettable story, embodying Shiva as a symbol of religious upheaval, places The Age of Shiva among the most compelling novels to emerge from contemporary India. Reading group guide included.
Reviews
"Sweepingly ambitious, captivating. ... Affirms [Suri's] position as a writer worth serious attention." — Caryn James, New York Times Book Review
"As in his first novel, Suri uses tales of Hindu gods and goddesses to illuminate mortal hearts. A rich and multilayered read." — O Magazine
"Suri once again triumphs." — Charles Gershman, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"A sensuous, nuanced portrait of motherhood." — The New Yorker
"Drawn by this compelling narrative, I read this marvelous book in one sitting." — Kiran Desai, author of The Inheritance of Loss
