A Flavour of the Book: “Before he had tasted
Sarna’s food, Oskar had never considered the transformative or narrative powers
of cooking. He was surprised that
fictions could lurk in the thickness of a sauce… He, who had been searching for
stories for years, experienced for the first time the tantalizing tales that can
be transmitted by the taste buds.
Where, he wondered, did Sarna’s story belong amidst the network of yarns
he had already spun together? He
felt there was something crucial her story would tell him, if he could only
figure it out.”
The Authortrek view: This is a stunning
debut from a master storyteller.
Although the novel spans several decades, generations, and countries,
Priya Basil’s writing is always wholly authentic and very engaging. Priya Basil is such a master at
characterisation that you really want to bang Sarna and Karam’s heads together,
because they are so vital and frustrating at the same time. Karam wants to be a part of history,
since he missed one of the most calamitous events in the world due to being
unconscious, while Sarna feels forced to deny her own history... It also helps
that Priya Basil has put together such a powerful story that is never less than
truly compelling. Priya Basil’s
prose is also very witty, but this does not preclude a very heartbreaking
resolution… This reviewer looks
forward to reading more of Priya Basil’s fantastic prose, as Ishq and Mushq
is one of the best reads of the year, and would be most deserving of a literary
award (or two).
You can read a resume of the novel on our
Amazon store below.
You can find out more about the author by visiting our Priya Basil page.
Press Reviews:
“Ishq and Mushq is the product of a light, deft hand that mixes an engrossing narrative with unexpected dashes of magic realism, spices it with chilli hot secrets and sprinkles it liberally with home-truths about colonial hangovers and diasporic dilemmas, before serving it all up with impressive elan” - India Today
"An enticing debut by a much-vaunted young
novelist" - The Glasgow Herald
"With a verve for the colour of life ...this
book surprises with its underlying wisdom - 6 Great Reads" - Good
Housekeeping
“A brilliantly woven tale ... clever and often
funny” - Candis magazine
"Ishq and Mushq, is an assured and
compassionate tale.... Ishq and Mushq is one of the best-written debuts
I have read in recent years.It's refreshingly honest when dealing with the
attitudes and experiences of the older generation, unafraid to take the unconventional
viewpoint. It's warm and funny, to the point where you wish most of the
characters well." - Asians in Media
"...an enormously fluent, enjoyable read,
albeit one which leaves your stomach rumbling." - Lumiere
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