The redemptive journey of a young woman unsure of her engagement, who revisits in memory the events of one scorching childhood summer when her beautiful yet troubled mother spirits her away from her home to an Indian village untouched by time, where she discovers in the jungle behind her ancestral house a spellbinding garden that harbors a terrifying secret.
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"I really enjoyed this book! It's an intriguing, dark, mysterious, coming of age story, where eleven year old Rakhee, the main character, discovers the dark secrets of her family's past and they change her life forever. The characters are really well developed and I found myself thinking of them for awhile after I finished the book. This was Kamala Nair's first book and I'm looking forward to more from her!" — Gina (4 out of 5 stars)
"I really enjoyed this book! It's an intriguing, dark, mysterious, coming of age story, where eleven year old Rakhee, the main character, discovers the dark secrets of her family's past and they change her life forever. The characters are really well developed and I found myself thinking of them for awhile after I finished the book. This was Kamala Nair's first book and I'm looking forward to more from her!"
“Nair effortlessly brings her childhood memories to life, peppering her novel with spellbinding Indian fables…the perfect embellishments to an already flavorful backdrop…These women’s mistakes, regrets, fears, and sacrifices make them utterly relatable.”
“[An] accomplished debut…Nair creates a satisfying coming-of-age tale with smooth prose and a lustrous backdrop.”
“A daring fairy tale of a story, Nair’s first novel audaciously tackles issues ranging from puberty to friendship to abuse, providing plenty of adventure as well.”
“Anitha Gandhi has a lovely voice and the perfect accent for this story of family secrets.”
“Well-crafted…The unexpected twists and dark secrets lurking make it difficult for readers to put this engrossing story down. A strong cast of well-developed characters will further capture their emotions. Fans of The Secret Garden (the author was inspired by this childhood classic) as well as lovers of family dramas and Indian fiction will find a new favorite in Nair.”
“Kamala Nair has crafted an evocative, passionate, tragic novel about love, loss, and the terrible cost of family secrets.”
" You won't want to put it down, nor should you. It is a great book. "
" This was an overall feel good ( some sad parts) book that gives you insight into another culture. Foresaw the relationship of the garden girl. Did not expect the other big twist. "
" an exotic tail that reminds me of the secret garden. the characters are well written and come to life on the pages. the story will touch your heart it deals with many different human emotions. it has a redemptive aspect about it. "
" This one had the whole beginner's writing workshop smell all over it. My main beef is the fact that the author has this 10 yr old girl sayin' and doin' alot of things even an adult wouldn't say or do. TOTALLY unrealistic in many areas that I just don't have the energy to go into. I'm sure there is a market for this type of writing but it's not my bag. "
" The audio is gorgeous. I'm loving Nair's prose. It almost makes me want to visit India. "
" Just finished and my head is still buzsing from the ending! There are echoes in The Girl in the Garden that remind me of Rapunzel. In the sense of fairty tale and the feel good ending of this story. Lots of subtle Inidan myths and traditions that could be pleasing to just about everyone. "
" Is it part fairy tale or an unreliable narrator? Interesting & worth reading, but nothing groundbreaking. "
" Wow. One of those books you read and can't stop thinking about. I absolutely adored this book. "
" Liked the story and the characters. The ending was very moving. Plot reveals could be seen a mile away but I wouldn't say it detracted from the story at all. Overall it was entertaining, quite sad in parts. "
" Beautifully written book about an 11-year-old girl from Minnesota, who travels with her troubled mother to their ancestral village in India & spends a hot summer trying to make sense of the unfamiliar world around her "
" Good book, easy read and liked learning about the Indian culture. "
" My favorite thing about this book was how real and relate-able the characters were. The author transports you exotic India with a lush garden with many secrets and Indian culture.If you like the story of the secret garden you'll enjoy this book! "
" Just OK. Rather immature prose and story development. Kind of disappointing to read something that leaves you underwhelmed. "
" bRILLIANT..loved this book "
" Exotic and mysterious, loved it. "
" A debut novel; lush Indian novel, an engrossing read. "
" Good book about family secrets. "
" Very touching story. This story starts out slow but gives you two unexpected surprises near the end. Worth reading. "
" This was really a lovely story. I couldn't put it down. Impressive for a first novel....I look forward to much more from this new author! "
Kamala Nair was born in London and grew up in the United States. A graduate of Wellesley College, she studied literature at Oxford and received an MPhil in creative writing from Trinity College, Dublin, in 2005. She currently lives in New York City, where she has worked at Elle Decor.
Anitha Gandhi is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, where she received her MFA in Acting. She appeared in the film The Bourne Legacy and has been on the television shows Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Outsourced, and Damages.
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