Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
Details
This is the third book in our Indian series:
- The Guide by R. K. Narayan
- The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
- Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
- Midnight's children by Salman Rushdie
IN-PERSON: Let's meet and talk about Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • "MYTHIC RETELLING AT ITS BEST." • A 2023 IGNYTE AWARD FINALIST
“With a graceful, measured elegance” (New York Times), this lyrical novel reimagines the life of the infamous queen from the ancient epic the Ramayana, giving voice to an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.
"I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions—much good it did me.
"So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on legends of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.
"Desperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her.
"But as the evil from her childhood tales threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind."
You are welcome to join us whether you have read the book or not.
You can:
Starting in January, at each meeting each person can nominate a book to be voted on for the next meeting whether it is from the pool of candidates or not. Consecutive books do not need to be geographically related.
We'll be meeting at Empire Cafe. There is parking in the nearby lot.
Come prepared to discuss the ideas in the book and have a good time.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel