Nectar in a Sieve
Nectar in a Sieve

Author: Kamala Markandaya

Publisher: Ravenio Books

Published: 2018-10-11

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13:

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“This Is a Novel to Retain in Your Heart and Library” —Milwaukee Journal In the sun-baked fields of rural India, Rukmani and Nathan toil side by side, their love woven into the very fabric of the land. Their days are marked by the rhythm of seasons—the planting of rice saplings, the monsoon rains that breathe life into parched soil, and the harvest that sustains their family. But life is not idyllic. Famine stalks the village, and hunger gnaws at their bellies. Rukmani clings to hope, her spirit unyielding even as the world shifts around her. She witnesses the encroachment of modernity—the distant hum of factories, the allure of city lights—and wonders if progress will bring salvation or destruction. As Rukmani’s children grow, so do their dreams. Selvam, the eldest, seeks education beyond the village; Irawaddy, the daughter, yearns for love and security. Through it all, Rukmani remains the heart of their home, her hands stained with the colors of life—earth, blood, and sweat. Nectar in a Sieve is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Kamala Markandaya’s prose weaves a tapestry of love, loss, and endurance. Amidst the harsh realities of poverty and change, Rukmani’s unwavering love for Nathan becomes a beacon—a nectar that sustains them through hardship. “An elemental book. It has something better than power, the truth of distilled experience.” —New York Herald Tribune “Unique in poetic beauty, in classically restrained and controlled tragedy.”—Dorothy Canfield Fisher, noted author and critic “Will wring your hearts.”—Associated Press “A superb job in telling her story.”—Christian Science Monitor

A Handful of Rice
A Handful of Rice

Author: Kamala Markandaya

Publisher:

Published: 1966

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13:

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"Kamala Markandaya, whose Nectar in a Sieve (1955) was a miniature epic about India's poor, returns to the earlier concerns of that book in A Handful of Rice. Ravi is a village son who has left his desolate, destitute home for the promise of the city. There he falls into the company of similarly rootless young men, presided over by the wily city boy, Damodar, who appears fitfully through the book as a seducer to criminal and get-rich-quick schemes which Damodar is clever enough to survive and thrive by. By a chance misdeed, Ravi becomes acquainted with the tailor Apu and his family; Apu's daughter Nalini wins his heart and brings him from the streets into the already crowded household, first as Apu's apprentice, then his son-in-law. The author recreates the life of the respectable poor with moving fidelity as they face the problems of food, illness, unemployment. When Apu dies, the still rebellious but worn Ravi, now a father of three and head of the household, cannot keep his customers. After the death of his son, he reverts to the street, but Damodar now discards him as unfit for dangerous enterprises, and he ends storming the rice supplies with the mob. A portrait in poverty, which is part of the history of our times. It is less compelling than the earlier book as a novel while managing the same concerned compassion."--Kirkus

Guide, The (Modern Classics)
Guide, The (Modern Classics)

Author: R.K. Narayan

Publisher: Penguin Books India

Published: 2010-12

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 0143414984

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‘The best of R.K. Narayan’s enchanting novels’—The New Yorker Raju, a corrupt tourist guide, together with his lover, the dancer Rosie, leads a prosperous life before he is thrown into prison. After release he rests on the steps of an abandoned temple when a peasant passing by mistakes him for a holy man. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he begins to play the part, acting as a spiritual guide to the village community. Raju’s holiness is put to the test when a drought strikes the village, and he is asked to fast for twelve days to summon the rains. Set in Narayan’s fictional town, Malgudi, The Guide is the greatest of his comedies of self-deception. ‘A brilliant accomplishment … Narayan is the compassionate man who can write of human life as comedy’—The New York Times Book Review ‘Narayan is such a natural writer, so true to his experience and emotions’—V.S. Naipaul

Dark Holds No Terrors
Dark Holds No Terrors

Author: Shashi Deshpande

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2000-10-14

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 9351181618

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Why are you still alive-why didn't you die?' Years on, Sarita still remembers her mother's bitter words uttered when as a little girl she was unable to save her younger brother from drowning. Now, her mother is dead and Sarita returns to the family home, ostensibly to take care of her father, but in reality to escape the nightmarish brutality her husband inflicts on her every night. In the quiet of her old father's company Sarita reflects on the events of her life: her stultifying small town childhood, her domineering mother, her marriage to the charismatic young poet Mahohar.

Thousand Pieces of Gold
Thousand Pieces of Gold

Author: Ruthanne Lum McCunn

Publisher: Beacon Press

Published: 2015-07-21

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 0807083267

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The extraordinary biographical novel about a Chinese-American woman who fought for independence and dignity in the American West—“an important contribution to the history of pioneer women” (Ms. Magazine) Lalu Nathoy’s father called his thirteen-year-old daughter his treasure, his “thousand pieces of gold”—yet when famine strikes northern China in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Polly, as Lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, sold again to a slave merchant bound for America, auctioned to a saloonkeeper, and offered as a prize in a poker game. With over a quarter of a million copies sold, Thousand Pieces of Gold is a classic of biographical historical fiction that stars an unforgettable Chinese-American heroine whose struggles put a human face on the anti-immigration policies of the past and present.

A Silence of Desire
A Silence of Desire

Author: Kamala Markandaya

Publisher: Penguin Books India

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 186

ISBN-13: 0143102516

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He Was Not Himself Because His Wife Was Not Herself, Because In Marriage You Acted And Reacted One Upon The Other, However Much You Wished It Otherwise, And Whether You Wanted To Or No. Dandekar Is A Routine-Bound Government Clerk Who Is Able To Provide His Family With A Comfortable Life. But His Ordered Existence Is Thrown Off Course When, One Day, He Comes Home From Work To Find His Wife, Sarojini, Missing. On Her Return She Gives Him An Excuse For Her Disappearance Which He Realizes Is A Lie, Further Rousing His Suspicions. Doubt And Mistrust Plague Him And He Puts His Career In Jeopardy When He Begins To Trail Sarojini In The Hope That He Might Find Her With Another Man. But When He Stumbles Across The Truth He Gets More Than He Bargained For. In A Silence Of Desire Kamala Markandaya Explores The Tension Between The East And The West Between Superstition And Science, Faith And Reason, Tradition And Progress In A Profound Manner.

Small Remedies
Small Remedies

Author: Shashi Deshpande

Publisher: Penguin Books India

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 336

ISBN-13: 9780140294873

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Shashi Deshpande's latest novel explores the lives of two women, one obsessed with music and the other a passionate believer in Communism, who break away from their families to seek fulfilment in public life. Savitribai Indorekar, born into an orthodox Hindu family, elopes with her Muslim lover and accompanist, Ghulaam Saab, to pursue a career in music. Gentle, strong-willed Leela, on the other hand, gives her life to the Party, and to working with the factory workers of Bombay. Fifty years after these events have been set in motion, Madhu, Leela's niece, travels to Bhavanipur, Savitribai's home in her last years, to write a biography of Bai. Caught in her own despair over the loss of her only son. Madhu tries to make sense of the lives of Bai and those around her, and in doing so, seeks to find a way out of her own grief.

Five Famous Fairy Tales
Five Famous Fairy Tales

Author: Michael West

Publisher: Addison Wesley Publishing Company

Published: 1987

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13: 9780582541474

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The White Birds; The Fisherman and the Giant; The Glass Box; The Prince and his Servants; The Table, the Donkey and the Stick.

A Doll's House
A Doll's House

Author: Henrik Ibsen

Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan

Published: 2024-10-11

Total Pages: 85

ISBN-13:

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Step into the world of societal expectations and personal liberation with Henrik Ibsen's groundbreaking play, "A Doll's House." This poignant narrative follows Nora Helmer, a seemingly content wife, as she grapples with the constraints of her marriage and the roles imposed on her by society. As the story unfolds, Ibsen masterfully reveals the complexities of marriage, gender roles, and individual identity. Nora's journey of self-discovery challenges the traditional notions of femininity and duty, making this play a timeless exploration of personal freedom and societal norms. But here’s the provocative question that will ignite your curiosity: What happens when a woman decides to reclaim her autonomy in a world that expects her to conform? Nora’s bold choices lead to dramatic revelations that resonate deeply with audiences, prompting reflection on the nature of love and sacrifice. With its rich character development and powerful dialogue, "A Doll's House" remains a cornerstone of modern theater. Ibsen's unflinching examination of societal expectations encourages readers to confront their own beliefs about relationships and personal agency. Are you ready to witness Nora's transformative journey as she challenges the confines of her domestic life? This play is essential for anyone interested in literature that examines social issues and the human condition. Ibsen's compelling storytelling invites audiences to engage with the fundamental questions of identity, duty, and freedom. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this revolutionary work. Purchase "A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen" today and join the conversation about the roles we play in our own lives.

Teaching Macbeth (and More)
Teaching Macbeth (and More)

Author: Dan Flickstein

Publisher: Corwin

Published: 1996-03-12

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13:

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Stimulate your students' minds and teach them to love literature. Incorporate literature into your curriculum and watch students' skills improve at all levels. Shows how literature can help your students achieve these goals: stimulate clear, logical thinking; promote understanding and appreciation; clarify life values; improve vocabulary; develop writing, speaking, and listening skills; and improve communication with peers. Written by a practitioner with more than 25 years of experience, this book will help you create a perfect fit between your students and the literature you're teaching them. Flickstein presents detailed examples of lessons that will challenge your students and let them achieve substantial success. Designed for both novice and experienced teachers, this book includes three sets of lessons you can use right away or keep as guides for designing lesson plans in the future. If you've despaired of making literature a successful part of your curriculum, here's the help you're looking for.