The Storyteller's Secret: A Novel

"Life is a puzzle with pieces that seem to constantly be reshaping themselves to alter the picture." "We were thrown into a storm, and for a while it proved more powerful than both of us. Our sails weren't stronger than the wind's rage, and we nearly drowned in the currents" "What if we all stood equal in one another's eyes and felt pride at our reflection? For one day only, maybe we could put aside our differences and come together in our own sameness. For one day, we could see that past all the variations, we are all the same with similar hopes, dreams, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. For one day, we could stand together, not apart, and treat others as we would hope to be treated." Only three of the many quotes that profoundly touched me in this beautifully written book by Sejal Badani. After her third miscarriage, and what feels like the end of her marriage, Jaya leaves the only home she's ever known and goes to India in search of answers to questions that have plagued her throughout her whole life. While there, she discovers more about herself, her family, and human nature in general, than she could ever dream possible. Badani weaves a tale of loyalty, love, sacrifice, and betrayal that leaves you breathless with emotion. She plucks at every heartstring as she slowly reveals the devastating truths to the secrets that have bound this family together for decades. I was folded into this family's story and grew to love them as if they were my own. I've never read a book that gripped my heart, in a close and personal way, as this one. Badani is truly gifted in her ability to develop colorful, relatable characters. Although the story was very predictable, I was so invested in and connected to the lives of these characters, I really didn't care. It almost made the story more emotional for me because I could see where they were going and I desperately wanted to save them from their own experiences. This book changed me, and the way I view friendship. True friendship is unwavering and knows no boundaries. Reading it has been a gift beyond measure.

This is such moving story. I loved every page and became curiously immersed in the Indian culture. The story is heartbreaking because of cultural restrictions and yet heartwarming because of the bonds of friendship and love. You’ll quickly get sucked into the story and not be able to put it down.

Jaya is heartbroken in New York after a third miscarriage. Her marriage is feeling the strain as she and her husband deal with their grief separately. Jaya’s mother is a first generation immigrant from India with a very tenuous connection to her heritage, her family, and her daughter. Jaya leaves for India, hoping to escape her grief, her marriage problems, and find out more about her mother’s family. The story really starts when she arrives in the small Indian village of her mother’s childhood. You are immersed in the present day and swept away into the past as Ravi, the elderly untouchable servant of Jaya’s storyteller grandmother tells her story. The details are rich, and you will see, hear, touch, and taste India. Amisha, the storyteller grandmother, is an engaging narrator in the story as told by Ravi. Her life at the end of the Raj is not like the life of her American granddaughter. She was married young in an arranged marriage. As was customary, with her marriage she left her family behind and became a very subordinate member of her husband’s family subject to his will and the will of her mother-in-law. Amisha has always written stories and tucked them away. Everything changes when the British open a school and Amisha approaches them to learn English. As it evolves, she begins to teach a storytelling class and to learn to write in English through private lessons from a British soldier working at the school. What you need to know is that this is a well-written and captivating story that will keep you turning the pages. The historical and social details are interesting and so closely woven into the story that they enrich everything instead of distract. Much has been said about the ending, and I agree that the author did an unusually skillful job of resolving issues, explaining much, and wrapping everything up without resorting to contrived coincidence or deus ex machina. It is satisfying. This was a very good choice for my Prime First Read.

Sejal Badani, Author of “The Storyteller’s Secret” has written a captivating, intriguing, emotional , riveting, and emotional story. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction with a touch of Romance. The timeline is in both the present and the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The story is told in both the United States, and India. The author vividly describes the colorful cast of characters and the landscapes with great detail. Jaya, a journalist is devastated after her third miscarriage, and feels that her marriage is falling apart. Jaya’s parents try to be there for her, but here is something that is missing in her relationship with her mother. Jaya feels that she is at loose ends and wants to find herself, and happiness again. While she is at her parent’s house, there is news that her mother’s father is dying, and the mother is requested to come to India. Instead Jaya uses this as an opportunity to heal and discover information about her family, that her mother has never talked about. Jaya’s mother has never wanted to go back to India, and doesn’t discuss what happened. Jaya is determined as a journalist that she will write about her trip to India. Ravi, her grandmother’s former servant meets Jaya, and starts to tell her grandmother’s story. Java was not aware of the deep secrets, courage, hurt, and dreams that her grandmother had. Jaya’s grandmother was a writer as well. Why hasn’t Jaya’s mother ever told her about her grandmother? Jaya learns not only many Indian customs, she becomes aware of the history of India during the British occupation. She sees evidence of both poverty and beauty. Jaya visits the orphanage, and sees the discrimination among the different classes. I enjoyed the descriptions of the customs, holidays, foods, and people in India. I appreciate that the author describes the Caste system, and provides the historical background that adds so much to India’s history. This is a story of dreams, love and finding oneself. I would highly recommend this for readers who enjoy Historical Fiction.

There was nothing in this book not to love, except maybe, all of the truths it exposes. India has always been an enigma to me and now reading about the days of the British occupation I'm just as confused and a bit angry, as ever, but their story is not mine to rewrite. Sejal Badani has done a wonderful job at weaving a story worth telling over and over, infusing it with some really great wisdom, some romance (thankfully not more than she did), and truths that just might set you free. I will highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a recommendation for a great book.

I did not really want to read this book it just seemed to be the lesser of evils when it came to this months prime picks. The beginning did not encourage me much as it was a little on the depressing side. When Jaya escapes to India to escape her pain of multiple miscarriages the story starts to get interesting - and I ended up staying up all night reading it. Jaya begins to hear a story about her grandmother, Amisha, and it helps her to understand her own mother and in the end she learns to take another perspective when looking at her own life. This was a fantastic read. I cried and I never cry. Your heart goes out to Amisha's situation and the way it works out. Aside from the grandmothers story you also see a heartbreaking look at the poor side of India and how some of their traditions have hurt them. The caste system still is there is the more rural places which is where this story takes place. The description of the orphanage Jaya goes to is heartrending and makes you want to go to India and change things. The story makes so many of the things we have heard of come to life -things we have never been acquainted with. The rest of the story of Amisha's life is something that you will have to read for yourself and I guarantee you will love her story.

Overall, a solid read but not life-changing. The author had a great concept, but the implementation was not 100%. The story flips between current-day Jaya and her grandmother, Amisha. Amisha's story is told by her servant years after her death to Jaya, who travels to India after yet another miscarriage. Amisha's story is more engaging and her character somehow seems more fully developed. And yet, as a person that has lived in other countries for years (but not India), I wondered if some her her character was stereotyped a bit too. Jaya, on the other hand, felt like a collection of cliches. Second generation Indian-American with a great job, good husband, but struggling to have a child. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't get invested in her broken heart, desire for a pregnancy, and falling apart marriage. Finally, there were a lot of threads that all tied up neatly at the end. She learns things about her mother's upbringing that explains their tense relationship. She deals with her miscarriages and marriage. And there was one more piece, but it's a spoiler: ****SPOILER**** At the end, she offers to bring two children to the US. I'm sorry, but this completely frustrates me. The assumption is that the US is better. That these teenagers will definitely have a better life apart from their families. Indeed, that one of them will have better medical care. Frankly, as an American, I'm tired of that assumption. Yes, many people would love the chance to come to the US, especially for a college education. But if she truly wanted to help them, provide money and opportunity for them in India WITH THEIR FAMILY THAT LOVES THEM. There are perfectly good doctors in India - many of them! - help the children succeed where they are. India is their home, their culture, their language, and their identity. Jaya's inability to have children does not justify taking two children from a loving, supportive family. There were plenty of other orphans in the story that could have solved that problem. ****END SPOILER**** So, yeah, a few too many neatly tied bows. I don't object to things being resolved, but there were just a few too many issues going on. It wasn't just about the miscarriages, but also about her relationship with her husband AND her relationship with her mother AND her discovery of her heritage. Really, since her story was only half the story (Amisha's was the rest), the author tried to delve into too many topics / threads. And sure, they all got drawn to their predictable conclusions, but none of them felt significant. I did finish it and rather enjoyed the light reading before bed. I may have even been tempted to shed a tear. But I won't remember the story in a month. Neither will I remember ideas, quotes or phrases from it. Really, 3.5 stars.

I will begin my review at the end of the story. Usually, when I enjoy a book, I don't want the story to end. I was comfortable letting this story end. Not because I disliked it. But, because the author did such a terrific job of tying up all of the loose ends. This book was a very emotional experience. Almost exhausting. I just could not stop reading. This explains why, as much as I enjoyed reading this book, I was content with it ending. It was beautifully written. I felt as if I'd been transported to India. In my mind, I could vividly picture the characters, the settings, the time period. I hurt when the characters hurt and was jubilant when the characters were happy or celebrating joyous events. Would I read another novel by this author? I am afraid not. I am emotionally spent. I am way too empathetic. But, the author did her job; she drew me into the story. She also enlightened me as far as the history of India. Great read!

The Indian culture is always a source of fascination. The Storyteller ‘s Secret stands out among novels in this genre for several reasons. Firstly, It is a finely constructed story of two women, generations and worlds apart, who share the struggle to come to terms with the sorrows and disappointments Fate bestows on them and figure out how to manage them, even find joy, while staying true to who they are at their core. Secondly, Badani managers to shed light on the injustices, even cruelties that exist in the Indian culture; treatment of girls/ women and those of other castes while exquisitely explaining the history and context of the practices. She does not condone or excuse them but holds them up to the light to be understood and shown as the intrinsic injustices they are. It’s a delicate balance. Triumph over difficulties, romance, and history all rolled into an engaging journey.

Beautifully written. I really enjoyed reading the book. I love the journey into India’s cultures during the days of the British occupation. Although it is kind of predictable, I hardly put it down.

A womderful and very moving story. I enjoyed it very much. Highly recommend reading it. Keep some tissues ready…. Thank you Sejal Badani

Very good book. History and ordinary stories of extraordinary people mixed together in a perfect blend.

I honestly would not normally pick this kind of book but it was a monthly freebie and I like to read a wide range of books. What a wonderful delightful surprise when I started reading it. I think this may be one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. The book just sucked me into the pages - the lovely descriptions of India and Hindu practices and ceremonies just made me feel like I had stepped into another world. The story itself is sad, beautiful and reminiscent of times gone by and yet highlighting how things have changed from the 1930's when Amisha a young Indian bride had no real value as a human being right up to more modern times when her grand daughter Jaya is facing problems that are healed by learning about her family roots. This book has great depth and perception. I just love the character Ravi - he is all that is good and wise in this world. Parts of this book made me cry - both from sadness and happiness. From a technical point of view the book is not perfect - and yet that makes it all the more endearing.