Title: The Storyteller’s Secret
Author: Sejal Badani
Published: 2018
Call #: FIC Badani
Filled with both the exotic and touchingly human, The Storyteller’s Secret is a captivating tale. The story begins when Lena, an Indian immigrant, receives a letter from her hometown stating that her father is very ill and asking her to come home. Her daughter Jaya, a New York journalist, decides that she’s the one that will be going since her mom doesn’t want to do it.
Jaya sets out on a journey to a world much different from her own. Here she discovers things that are intriguing and unfamiliar--new sights, sounds, and tastes. Having been desperate for a child and deep in depression for months, Jaya searches for answers and meaning with the help of Ravi--an untouchable and ex-servant of her grandmother, Amisha.
A story of love, loss, and friendship, this novel is ultimately a story of life. The descriptions of British India are so vivid that you feel you are right there with Ravi and Amisha, experiencing the culture alongside them and exploring the themes of forbidden love, inequality of women, arranged marriages, and more.
Jaya, once heartbroken due to the trials she faced throughout her own life, discovers the many struggles her grandparents faced and finds a comfort through their strength. Through the heartwarming stories of Ravi, Jaya realizes that only by understanding her past can she truly move forward.
Blanca Stephens
Reference Assistant