Madurai, 1992.
A young mother in a poor family, Janani is told she is useless if she can't produce a son - or worse, bears daughters. They let her keep her first baby girl, but the rest are taken away as soon as they are born - murdered before they have a chance to live. The fate of her children has never been in her hands. But Janani can't forget the daughters she was never allowed to love.
Sydney, 2019. Nila has a secret, one she's been keeping from her parents for far too long. Before she can say anything, her grandfather in India falls ill and she agrees to join her parents on a trip to Madurai - the first in over ten years.
Growing up in Australia, Nila knows very little about where she or her family came from, or who they left behind. What she's about to learn will change her forever.
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
ISBN: 9781398707269
Number of pages: 400
Weight: 630 g
Dimensions: 240 x 164 x 36 mm
Exquisitely drawn, this book will pull you in from the first page. Nila and Janani's stories are delicately woven together and the sights, sounds and smells of India are so vivid. Heartrending but ultimately hopeful, this is a richly evocative and spellbinding book which will touch your soul. I raced through it as I was desperate to know what happens, but now I will return to read it more slowly and savour every word. - Veronica Henry
A haunting, powerful novel. - Thrity Umrigar
An absolutely beautiful debut about motherhood, family, friendship, and love. It tackles immensely difficult themes with such grace and tenderness. I can't wait to read more from Rajasree. - Jyoti Patel
A truly powerful story that remains with you long after the final word has been read. - GLAMOUR
Utterly devastating and quietly hopeful. - WOMAN'S OWN
This raw and moving debut packs a punch. - PLATINUM
Heart-breaking, emotional and thought-provoking... this book will stay with me for a long time. - Aliya Ali-Afzal, author of Would I Lie to You?
A captivating and riveting debut from an unforgettable new voice. - Louise O'Neill
Once read it is not easily forgotten. - Fanny Blake, DAILY MAIL
Madurai is brought to life in vivid descriptions of ornate, colourful temples, hectic streets and delicious meals... You won't be able to put down this compelling novel. - Elizabeth Archer, SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE
THE DAUGHTERS OF MADURAI is an assured and accomplished debut about the courage of women. I cared deeply about the brave and loving Janani, fighting against misogyny and tradition to save her unborn child in India; I identified strongly with Australian Nila, raised in the diaspora, who is torn between culture and identity. It's a beautiful story, hauntingly written, and I look forward to more from Rajasree Variyar. - Julie Cohen
Powerful and important. - Karen Angelico
This has been one of those books that I simply haven’t been able to put down. It felt like Madurai and the villages, the everyday life, the food, the clothes, everything came alive on the pages. My heart has broken... More
A wonderful, heart wrenching read about a very emotive subject.
Janani is a young Indian mother, it’s 1992 and she has yet to bear a son and heir for the family.
Unfortunately daughters are seen as too much of...
More
A powerful debut that looks at how traditional Indian societies favoured the birth of boys over girls and what the darker side of this can look like. The author parallels two characters (Nila and Janani) who echo... More
Please sign in to write a review
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
