However Far Away
A Novel
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Longlist, Canada Reads 2025
A sweeping family saga set against the backdrop of a Sikh wedding.
On the morning of his nephew’s wedding, Devinder Gill is certain the delicate balance of his life will not be upset. Dev is married to Kuldip, and together they are raising two young children in Vancouver. But Dev also has a secret: an affair with his first love, an Irish Canadian woman named Emily Rice. Today, both women will attend the wedding.
As the day progresses through the traditional marriage rituals, the circumstances that led to this precarious situation are revealed through the alternating perspectives of Devinder, Emily, and Kuldip. Dev fails to recognize the building threats—an unwelcome guest, a wandering daughter, a repentant father—and by day’s end must accept that he does not have the control over his life that he imagined.
A stunning debut by a talented new voice, However Far Away is an unforgettable story about family secrets, painful compromises, and the promises we break to ourselves and others.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Empathy runs like a current through this rich debut novel about family drama, complicated emotions, and the power of community. There’s a big Sikh family wedding happening in Canada, and everyone’s attending, including Devinder, his wife, Kuldip…and his lover Emily. Author Rajinderpal S. Pal plays with time, giving us glimpses into the past through the perspectives of all three. Each of them has a plan to survive the day, but as things go wrong and tensions rise, those plans begin to go out the window. Pal builds this tale around stunningly realistic depictions of sticky relationships and uncomfortable, sometimes heart-wrenching emotions. He also has a sensitive eye for detail when it comes to the setting of Canada itself, filling in the spaces between broken promises and tense dialogue with glorious descriptions of the natural scenery and unique wildlife. However Far Away is a bold look at the consequences of making—and not making—important decisions.
