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The Lowland

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The Lowland

Written by: Jhumpa Lahiri
Narrated by: Sunil Malhotra
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Buy Now for ₹836.00

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About this listen

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning, best-selling author of The Namesake comes an extraordinary new novel, set in both India and America, that expands the scope and range of one of our most dazzling storytellers: a tale of two brothers bound by tragedy, a fiercely brilliant woman haunted by her past, a country torn by revolution, and a love that lasts long past death.

Born just 15 months apart, Subhash and Udayan Mitra are inseparable brothers, one often mistaken for the other in the Calcutta neighborhood where they grow up. But they are also opposites, with gravely different futures ahead. It is the 1960s, and Udayan - charismatic and impulsive - finds himself drawn to the Naxalite movement, a rebellion waged to eradicate inequity and poverty; he will give everything, risk all, for what he believes. Subhash, the dutiful son, does not share his brother’s political passion; he leaves home to pursue a life of scientific research in a quiet, coastal corner of America.

But when Subhash learns what happened to his brother in the lowland outside their family’s home, he goes back to India, hoping to pick up the pieces of a shattered family, and to heal the wounds Udayan left behind - including those seared in the heart of his brother’s wife.

Masterly suspenseful, sweeping, piercingly intimate, The Lowland is a work of great beauty and complex emotion; an engrossing family saga and a story steeped in history that spans generations and geographies with seamless authenticity. It is Jhumpa Lahiri at the height of her considerable powers.

Long-listed for the 2013 Man Booker Prize

©2013 Jhumpa Lahiri (P)2013 Random House Audio
Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Sagas United States World Literature

Critic Reviews

"Haunting... A novel that crosses generations, oceans, and the chasms within families... Lahiri’s skill is reflected not only in her restrained and lyric prose, but also in her moving forward chronological time while simultaneously unfolding memory, which does not fade in spite of the years. A formidable and beautiful book." ( Publishers Weekly)
"An absolute triumph. Lahiri uses a gorgeously rendered Calcutta landscape to profound effect.... As shocking complexities tragedies, and revelations multiply, Lahiri astutely examines the psychological nuances of conviction, guilt, grief, marriage, and parenthood, and delicately but firmly dissects the moral conundrums inherent in violent revolution. Renowned for her exquisite prose and penetrating insights, Lahiri attains new heights of artistry - flawless transparency, immersive intimacy with characters and place - in her spellbinding fourth book and second novel. A magnificent, universal, and indelible work of literature... Lahiri’s standing increases with each book, and this is her most compelling yet." (Donna Seaman, Booklist)
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Jhumpa Lahiri obviously knows how to tell a tale. Broadly, we see a bird's eye view of the life of Subhash -- even though the book is from third person's view, I think the story more or less revolves around Subhash. We zoom into the more important stages of his life, and we learn about people barging into our lives, and letting us go. All of this in an incessant background of communist movement in India.

It's a beautiful book. Give it a listen. 👌🏽

Wonderful story, apt narration

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Beautiful writing style of the author as well as the recitation! So vivid description of everything, even the smallest of a moment.. pure bliss.

Beautiful

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The story was amazing. I cant stop appreciating the writer for her knowledge about the rebelion is different partsmof the world. How beautifuly the effects of each action and its climax has been written. It doesnt break the hope of readers when Bela decides to come back to ner father. The Cold hearted Gauri coming back home and meeting Bela was the moment I was waiting for. wanted to know what a mothe rwho decided to leave her child behind would say to her years after. Gripping story. But I did not like the Narration and especialy the acsent which made the simple Indian names sound too much American. Kind of the voice didnt make me feel connefted to the story.

Deeply rooted and very heavy story

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it's a heavy book and might tickle ideological people, it took me write a few sessions to complete it because of the nature of the story!

a peek into the world of communist Bengal

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simple yet complex. god is in detail and this novel proves that. detailed narration of every emotion and lanscape impresses me most. i enjoyed. thanks Sunil for wonderful voice over.

a masterpiece of enigmatic human relationships

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