The Illuminated is the debut novel of Anindita Ghose, a writer, journalist and editor based in Mumbai. It was published by 4th Estate HarperCollins in July 2021 in India[1] and by Head of Zeus (Bloomsbury) internationally in January 2023.[2]
| Author | Anindita Ghose |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Language | English |
| Genres | Literary Fiction |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 312 |
| ISBN | 9354227252 |
| Website | aninditaghose |
Summary edit
The novel explores the relationships between a mother and her daughter and the men in their lives, set against the backdrop of a rising tide of religious fundamentalism in India. It employs the lunar motif as a literary device to establish an alternative perspective.[3]
Reception edit
The novel received some favourable reviews[4] in the press and has been featured on best fiction lists by The Telegraph,[5] The Times of India,[6]GQ India[7] and Harper's Bazaar Australia.[8]
In The Irish Independent, Anne Cunningham called it "An extremely elegant work, an interesting take on the universality of feminism from a uniquely Indian perspective."[9]
The Straits Times called it a nuanced exploration of grief and identity.[10]
The Scroll.in reviewed it as "perfectly timed" and "quietly, non-performatively political, exploring the possibilities of a world sliding into increasing iniquitousness."[11]
The Financial Express described it as "audacious and assured" and "a gauntlet thrown down to the status quo."[12]
The New Indian Express wrote in their review: "This book is also about loneliness in marriage, liberation in widowhood, sexual exploitation in academia, women in politics, and the confusing nature of desire, and the heartbreak of families spread out over continents."[13]
Vangmayi Parakala in The Asian Age was critical and said: "The Illuminated tries too hard to be ‘The Novel of its Times’", describing various current events covered in the book, and concluding "the book is unable to give each one their duly deserved space for real depth or nuance."[14]
References edit
- ^ "HarperCollins India is proud to announce the acquisition of an extraordinary first novel The Illuminated by Anindita Ghose". HarperCollins Publishers India. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "Anindita Ghose". The Writing Desk. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ Anima, P. (2021-08-13). "The illuminated and a new way of seeing". www.thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ^ "Micro review: 'The Illuminated' by Anindita Ghose - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
- ^ "Books that made us sail through 2021". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "Noteworthy books by Indian authors in 2021 you must read this New Year". The Times of India. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "GQ's best Indian fiction of 2021: 21 novels that define this wild year". GQ India. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ English, Alexandra (2023-01-30). "Best New Books To Read In February 2023". Harper's Bazaar Australia. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ^ "The Illuminated is an elegant take on the universality of feminism". independent. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ^ cue (2023-02-04). "Book review: The Illuminated is a nuanced exploration of grief and identity | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
- ^ Sharma, Saloni. "'The Illuminated': A novel that puts grieving and women's agency in conversation with each other". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "The Personal & the Political | Book Review — The Illuminated: A Novel by Anindita Ghose". Financialexpress. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
- ^ "'The Illuminated' book review: Many shades of grief". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
- ^ Parakala, Vangmayi (2021-08-29). "Book Review | Finely rendered study of grief offset by predictable politics". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2023-11-23.