Secret Daughter: A Novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Secret Daughter: A Novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
hardcover 352 pages
published by William Morrow in March 2010
ISBN-13: 9780061922312
Type: {Commuter Read: format lends easily to starting/ stopping.}
Rating: {An Unputdownable: Couldn’t eat or sleep until I finished this book.}
Why You’re Reading It:
- As an adoptee or someone who has adopted, you can relate to the story.
- You have appreciation for and interest in India and Indian culture.
- India and Indian culture doesn’t fascinate you (because after you read this, it will).
- Well written, in depth, quickly moving, unpretentious yet intelligent stories are your bag.
What I Thought:
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. A combination of intellect, culture, character development, and continuously moving plot; Shilpi Somaya Gowda’s debut is a story that tackles a universal question with an unique approach. How much does where and who we come from play into who we are? In Secret Daughter, Asha is given up for adoption in 1980′s India. In a time and country where boys are wanted and girls are left to die, Asha’s mother has the foresight to give her up for adoption and let her family think the baby has died. It is the only way that her second daughter can have the chance at life that was not afforded to her first.
Asha is adopted by Somer and Krishnan, a couple living in San Francisco, who are not able to have a biological family of their own. Somer, blonde and American, has to come to terms with how she will fit into the family of her making that includes her Indian born and raised husband and her Indian daughter. How she does this will be worthy of discussion in book clubs around the world. For much of Asha’s life she and Somer fumble in trying to find a cord to connect them, and it is only by Asha doing one of the things that Somer has feared the most, and kept her from (and no, it’s not a search for her biological parents – though that topic is beautifully addressed), that Asha begins to understand who she is and the ties that really bind.
Not only does Secret Daughter have a quick moving, heartstring pulling plot, it is full of Indian flavor and culture. Shifting between Northern California, rural India, Bombay, and Mumbai, this story is a feast of well placed information about India and Indian life. As someone who has never had a penchant for traveling to that region of the world, I am now utterly intrigued and ready to board a flight! You can bet I will not only be looking for more stories about this wonderfully interesting culture, but will also be eagerly awaiting Gowda’s next creation.
About Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Shilpi Somaya Gowda was born and raised in Toronto to parents who migrated there from Mumbai. She holds an MBA from
Stanford University, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1991, she spent a summer as a volunteer in an Indian orphanage. A native of Canada, she has lived in New York, North Carolina, and California. She now lives in Dallas with her husband and children.
Connect with Shilpi:
On her website
On Facebook
On Twitter: @ShilpiGowda
Thank you to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to be part of this, and to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book. See links to more reviews of this book here.
Wallace, loved your post about this book! I remember seeing it on the list from TLC and almost picking it for the tour – now I wish I had
Will definitely be adding this title to my TBR list. Love the idea of reading about this mother-daughter relationship!
I’ve had that happen before too, Nadia (wishing I had accepted one that I didn’t). Read it — it is SO good!
I’ve had that happen before too, Nadia (wishing I had accepted one that I didn’t). Read it, though. It is SO good!
Hi Wallace, thanks for the wonderful review! I’m glad you enjoyed SECRET DAUGHTER. I just wanted to point out that the book jacket you have is incorrect (it’s the hardcover). Could you replace it with this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Daughter-Shilpi-Somaya-Gowda/dp/0061928356/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Wow, I don’t think you could have been more enthusiastic about this book! I think it would be a fantastic choice for my book club. We have several young moms and one gal who is in the process of completing an overseas adoption … I think we’d get some great discussions from this one.
Thanks so much for the great review and for being a part of the tour.
I definitely think it will be a good book club read. People will probably have varying opinions about the characters, which I think makes for good discussions!
Thanks for having me!
That is one serious recommendation! I haven’t read too many books centered on Indian culture, so this looks like a good place to start.
I haven’t read very many either. Maybe that’s why I like this one so much? Either way, I got recommendations from S. Krishna about other books like this that I might like, so I’m excited to read more!
I was in a huge Indian obsession period about 5 years ago – still love it though! I want to read this one bad
It’s good.
Wow Wallace…can’t wait to add this to my TBR list. Gorgeous review! =)
Thanks, Heather! It’s worth the add to the TBR for sure.
Your review deserves that I once again use my mighty powers to subtly steer my bookclub to what I really want to read (or as it often happens, what I already have on my TBR). Thanks for the recommendation!
I think this would make a wonderful book club selection. There isn’t anything that people would actually fight about, but the subtleties in the way that characters make decisions are bound to bring up interesting conversation. I particularly would love to discuss Somer’s reaction to India and the way she deals with not being Indian and Asha’s ultimate decisions in India with a group!
I have this book and, after reading your review I realized I’m missing out on a fantastic book and better get to it! I like Thrity Umrigar’s books very much and am intrigued by the culture of India which is why I wanted to read this book. I have also alwaysbeen interested in adoption esp. children of one culture being adopted into an america family and the challenges that presents as well as how wonderful it can be for everyone involved. This sounds like a very rewatding and touching book. Your enthusiasm for it has me looking very much forward to reading it!
I hope it meets your expectations! Would love to hear what you think about it whenever you get around to reading it.
Oooh, an “Unputdownable” ranking in addition to great review and supes-intriguing premise. All right, it’s going on the library holds queue…