Secret Daughter
A Novel
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4.3 • 739 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
“Moving and thought-provoking and informative and imaginative and beautifully executed. What a wonderful story!”
—Mary Jane Clark
“This book is a must for anyone touched by adoption, or India, or the delicate dynamic between adolescent girls and their mothers.”
—Sujata Massey, author of Shimura Trouble
Secret Daughter, a first novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, explores powerfully and poignantly the emotional terrain of motherhood, loss, identity, and love through the experiences of two families—one Indian, one American—and the child that binds them together. A masterful work set partially in the Mumbai slums so vividly portrayed in the hit film Slumdog Millionaire, Secret Daughter recalls the acclaimed novels of Kim Edwards and Thrity Umrigar, yet sparkles with the freshness of a truly exciting new literary voice.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Shilpi Somaya Gowda’s powerful novel is a wrenching, cathartic read. Secret Daughter revolves around Asha, a baby placed in a Mumbai orphanage by her birth mother, who fears her abusive husband will kill the child. At the age of one, Asha is brought to America by an affluent couple unable to conceive. Twenty years later, she returns to India to uncover her heritage. Gowda tells the stories of Asha’s birth family and adoptive parents with empathy and emotional depth, resisting easy heroes-and-villains moralizing on both sides. It’s an ultimately uplifting tale about the choices that shape us.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gowda's debut novel opens in a small Indian village with a young woman giving birth to a baby girl. The father intends to kill the baby (the fate of her sister born before her) but the mother, Kavita, has her spirited away to a Mumbai orphanage. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Somer, a doctor who can't bear children, is persuaded by her Indian husband, Krishnan, to adopt a child from India. Somer reluctantly agrees and they go to India where they coincidentally adopt Kavita's daughter, Asha. Somer is overwhelmed by the unfamiliar country and concerned that the child will only bond with her husband because "Asha and Krishnan will look alike, they will have their ancestry in common." Kavita, still mourning her baby girl, gives birth to a son. Asha grows up in California, feeling isolated from her heritage until at college she finds a way to visit her birth country. Gowda's subject matter is compelling, but the shifting points of view weaken the story.
Customer Reviews
Great read!,,
This book touched me in many ways. First if all, let me say that I really enjoyed the book. It was heart felt and had a phenomenal plot. I cried and giggled, very emotional. I agreed with a lot of the reviewers in that Kavita's character needed more development. I felt her character had a bigger story to tell and Jasu character as well. This book was a nice change of pace from other books regarding Indian slums, it's not so tragic unlike the prior book I read "Behind the Beautiful forevers"...(total bore)... Bravo Gowda!!!
Beautiful
This story is absolutely beautiful. One of my best friends is Indian I know little of her culture. I felt it opened my eyes to both the beauty of India and it's hardships. I felt sorry for Kavita and Dadima's losses. They were strong family figures we "American's" lose track of. I would like to read more by this author.
Was that the ending?
India, the good and bad are captured well in this story. The end fell short for me, a 25 year long tale deserved a touch more closure in the end.