Half Life - Hardcover

Farooki, Roopa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312577907 ISBN 13: 9780312577902

Publisher: St Martins Pr, 2010

Synopsis

Abandoning her privileged life in England and husband of less than a year, Aruna Ahmed returns to her native Singapore, where she remembers the death of her father, her failed relationship with her best friend and a complicated psychological diagnosis she has tried to ignore.

About this title

Review

A heartfelt tale that skips seamlessly from continent to continent and reveals how the ghosts of our pasts have to be laid to rest before we can come back home.--Farahad Zama, author of The Marriage Bureau for Rich People series

[An] enjoyably breezy book... Despite its emphasis on deception, dislocation and the loss of love, ["Bitter Sweets"] retains a cheery consistency: It has managed to be sunnily devious from the start. And it delivers a refreshing message. Only by means of all their elaborate deceptions do these characters figure out who they really are.--Janet Maslin "The New York Times with praise for Roopa Farooki "

A lovely, graceful, and utterly compelling love story. "Entertainment Weekly"

Compelling... Farooki's hypnotic narrative is driven by a delicate, probing intensity, full of grace and poignancy. "Publishers Weekly"

Lovers of literary fiction will not want to miss this vibrant, moving novel from the gifted Farooki. "Booklist"

Utterly compelling...Moments of utter emotional bleakness are rendered bearable by the fragile beauty of the images Farooki uses to describe them. This is proper storytelling - we are provided with a character we find ourselves caring about, and want to discover what becomes of her. One thing will always stand out when it matters: the author's voice. And Farooki has one to be proud of. "The Independent (UK)"

A heartfelt tale that skips seamlessly from continent to continent and reveals how the ghosts of our pasts have to be laid to rest before we can come back home. Farahad Zama, author of The Marriage Bureau for Rich People series

Aspirations and family ties play out across three generations of the Khalil family in Farooki's fine new novel.... [A] flawed yet likable cast... question what, exactly, leads to a more fulfilled life. This character- and culture-rich novel will appeal to Jhumpa Lahiri and Zadie Smith fans. "Publishers Weekly on Corner Shop"

Farooki's characters are convincingly complex... While her first novel, "Bitter Sweets," was called "enjoyably breezy" ("New York Times"), this work has a depth to it that requires more substantial adjectives. Highly recommended. "Library Journal on Corner Shop"

A complex exploration of the ever-changing nature of wants and desires and the consequences of achieving one's dreams, Farooki's tale eschews easy answers for the complex, appealing characters that people its pages. "Booklist on Corner Shop"

[An] enjoyably breezy book... Despite its emphasis on deception, dislocation and the loss of love, ["Bitter Sweets"] retains a cheery consistency: It has managed to be sunnily devious from the start. And it delivers a refreshing message. Only by means of all their elaborate deceptions do these characters figure out who they really are. Janet Maslin, "The New York Times with praise for Roopa Farooki"

Fast-paced and populated with characters as colorful as a closetful of saris, Farooki's debut follows three generations of an Indian family....While there are enough surprise plot twists to keep the tale entertaining, it's the characters' emotional musings that make it memorable. "People (3 stars) on Bitter Sweets"

Roopa Farooki's delicious debut novel...is a candy apple of a book, an alluring confection that is substantial and healthful at its heart....This book...is simply, shrewdly sweet. "More magazine on Bitter Sweets"

This sparkling, fresh debut follows three generations of a family caught up in the web of their own deceit.... Farooki's vibrant characters leap off the page and straight into the imagination in this clever and intricate novel. "Booklist (starred review) on Bitter Sweets""

"A lovely, graceful, and utterly compelling love story." --Entertainment Weekly

"Compelling... Farooki's hypnotic narrative is driven by a delicate, probing intensity, full of grace and poignancy." --Publishers Weekly

"Lovers of literary fiction will not want to miss this vibrant, moving novel from the gifted Farooki." --Booklist

"Utterly compelling...Moments of utter emotional bleakness are rendered bearable by the fragile beauty of the images Farooki uses to describe them. This is proper storytelling - we are provided with a character we find ourselves caring about, and want to discover what becomes of her. One thing will always stand out when it matters: the author's voice. And Farooki has one to be proud of." --The Independent (UK)

"A heartfelt tale that skips seamlessly from continent to continent and reveals how the ghosts of our pasts have to be laid to rest before we can come back home." --Farahad Zama, author of The Marriage Bureau for Rich People series

"Aspirations and family ties play out across three generations of the Khalil family in Farooki's fine new novel.... [A] flawed yet likable cast... question what, exactly, leads to a more fulfilled life. This character- and culture-rich novel will appeal to Jhumpa Lahiri and Zadie Smith fans." --Publishers Weekly on Corner Shop

"Farooki's characters are convincingly complex... While her first novel, Bitter Sweets, was called "enjoyably breezy" (New York Times), this work has a depth to it that requires more substantial adjectives. Highly recommended." --Library Journal on Corner Shop

"A complex exploration of the ever-changing nature of wants and desires and the consequences of achieving one's dreams, Farooki's tale eschews easy answers for the complex, appealing characters that people its pages." --Booklist on Corner Shop

"[An] enjoyably breezy book... Despite its emphasis on deception, dislocation and the loss of love, [Bitter Sweets] retains a cheery consistency: It has managed to be sunnily devious from the start. And it delivers a refreshing message. Only by means of all their elaborate deceptions do these characters figure out who they really are." --Janet Maslin, The New York Times with praise for Roopa Farooki

"Fast-paced and populated with characters as colorful as a closetful of saris, Farooki's debut follows three generations of an Indian family....While there are enough surprise plot twists to keep the tale entertaining, it's the characters' emotional musings that make it memorable." --People (3 stars) on Bitter Sweets

"Roopa Farooki's delicious debut novel...is a candy apple of a book, an alluring confection that is substantial and healthful at its heart....This book...is simply, shrewdly sweet." --More magazine on Bitter Sweets

"This sparkling, fresh debut follows three generations of a family caught up in the web of their own deceit.... Farooki's vibrant characters leap off the page and straight into the imagination in this clever and intricate novel." --Booklist (starred review) on Bitter Sweets

Book Description

Running away is easy. It's coming home that's hard.

About this edition

• Publisher: St Martins Pr
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0312577907
• ISBN 13: 9780312577902
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 259