{"product_id":"night-jasmine-tree-debu-majumdar-9780996851671","title":"Night Jasmine Tree: Bittersweet Stories of an Indian Youth","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eNight Jasmine Tree\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, a Somerset award-winning contemporary novel, describes the hidden backstory of an Indian man's immigration to the U.S. The high caste protagonist fell in love with a lower caste girl in college, but she was rejected by his very conservative family. They married, but deep emotional wounds continued to torment him even after they were well settled in the U.S. The past cannot be willed away. Later, the \u003cstrong\u003earresting stories of his childhood and youth\u003c\/strong\u003e he innocently tells his American grandchildren, reveal the silent torment and struggles that originated in India. These \u003cstrong\u003epoignant and heartwarming\u003c\/strong\u003e stories, touching and sublime by themselves, provide the backbone of this novel-the author captures those breathless, quiet moments that make life worth living.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow long can the protagonist carry on his playful veneer with the grandchildren? Will the past destroy him, or can he find peace?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA stirring portrayal of \u003cstrong\u003e'East Meets West'\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e'Past Meets Present.'\u003c\/strong\u003e The novel exposes a deeply ingrained ailment of Indian society-their caste system, which pervades every aspect of life with subtle destructive force. One cannot put down this story of rebellion against conservative caste barriers. Romance, inter-caste marriage, family conflict, sacrifice, loss, and inner suffering in the end lead to the ultimate rise of the innate human heart to overcome all obstacles of familial rejection to love and peace-family love so purely described, it will remind the reader of their own family. A cathartic novel of triumph of the human spirit-moving, realistic, and uplifting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe time frame of \u003cstrong\u003ethe novel expands from the 1950s to 2005\u003c\/strong\u003e and takes place in Calcutta, India and the U.S. in Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, MI, and Bellport, NY. It describes childhood and youth in India, college romance, immigrant life struggles, settling and assimilation in the U.S.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe protagonist's story of bravery and sacrifice describes the American Dream at its finest, while celebrating the beauty of India and the wonderful culture it holds despite caste barriers. Two appendices tell what happens 'after', leading the reader to pure joy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiscussion questions and an extensive glossary of Indian words make this novel a wonderful read but also \u003cstrong\u003ea great gift to share-wonderful for all occasions.\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent for school and college readings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Debu Majumdar\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0996851674\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780996851671\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Bo-Tree House LLC\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/10\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 324\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.42lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.88d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePW Booklife Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/10\/2022","brand":"Debu Majumdar","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44044453118207,"sku":"9780996851671","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e5926269-1974-48be-b4ed-6528156ed06c.jpg?v=1684972936","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/night-jasmine-tree-debu-majumdar-9780996851671","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}