I was invited to over 50 book related events in the past year and most of them hosted tea parties and insisted on serving the very same assam tea i drink. It diffuses outer reality and reflects only what the heart wants to see. The sky gathered her dark, voluminous skirts and swept over the himalayas into tibet, leaving behind a drizzle like a sprinkling of fairy dust. Despite being born under an inauspicious horoscope, she is raised to be educated and independent by her eccentric grandfather. Teatime for the firefly paperback september 24, 20 by shona patel author. Buy the paperback book teatime for the firefly by shona patel at indigo. You see this makes her an unlucky one according to local superstition, and. And, by cleverly manipulating the hand fortune has dealt her, she has even found.
In the mid1940s, an unconventional young indian woman manages to defy the odds and her own inauspicious legacy to marry the man of her dreams, then must adjust to life in a remote tea garden amid the nationalistic, racial and religious discord of the times. My name is layla and i was born under an unlucky star. They move apart only to rejoin at a defferent point. For fans of alka joshis the henna artist, comes a compelling love story set against a culture grounded in tradition, ab. Early on, biren sees firsthand what befalls those unfortunate women who become. An honors graduate in english literature from calcutta university, ms. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel, paperback barnes.
May 27, 2015 in conversation with shona patel author of teatime for the firefly on growing up in assams tea gardens, and a novel set there. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel if you are interested in the life of tea planters in india after wwii, this is the book for you. Debut author patel offers a stunning, panoramic view of a virtually unknown time and placethe. Teatime for the firefly is accurately categorized as historical fiction rather than genre romance, and while the relationship between layla and manik is important to the story, there is little conflict since they are married early in the book. Shona patel was born and raised in a remote tea plantation in assam, india. Rivers divide and merge, they braid and weave, they form complex wholes. Shona patel s debut novel is a fishoutofwater love story told partially through letters, and set within an exotic and enchanting world where social. I found this book very easy to read quickly both the charactarisation and flow of the story were good and easy to keep track of. It takes them a while to become intimate, and the scenes leading to that moment are sweetly depicted, but this is really a story of laylas and maniks life in the tea plantation, with the transition from colonialism providing a backdrop that comes. Jan 29, 2018 my debut novel published by harlequin mira september 24, 20.
Teatime for the firefly ebook king county library system. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel is an interesting womens fiction set in 1940s india. The earth turned a shrill and noisy green, vibrant as a parrot. Read teatime for the firefly by shona patel available from rakuten kobo.
Teatime for the firefly kindle edition by shona patel. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel librarything. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel fantastic fiction. The daughter of a tea planter, she drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for the story. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial.
But everything began to change for me one spring day in 1943, when three unconnected incidents, like tiny droplets. Patel was born and raised in a remote tea plantation in assam, india. For a young girl growing up in india, this is bad news. Teatime for the firefly read online free book by shona. Teatime for the firefly kindle edition by patel, shona. Teatime for the firefly has generated an overwhelming interest and enthusiasm for assam tea.
Layla roy is an orphan whos been brought up by her progressive grandfather. Teatime for the firefly is set in 1940s india, a volatile and transitional time in the countrys fight for independence. Patel has won several awards for creative writing and is a trained graphic and architectural designer. Not a real problem for me but for readers who prefer lots of action it could be a bit daunting. Shona patel has a natural talent for enabling the reader to step into the shoes of character telling the tale, to experience all the color and smells of india, both aromatic and unpleasant. Teatime for the fireflies paperback january 1, 20 by shona patel author.
Life of chai introducing shona patels teatime for the. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel booksamillion. Shona patel quotes author of teatime for the firefly. Rivers divide and merge, they braid and weave, the form complex wholes. Teatime for the firefly is a charming tale of unexpected romance between two misfits in traditional indian society.
Im afraid it doesnt offer a lot more beyond that, except it does show us some indian customs and traditions and superstitions and just overall way of life during that time as well. Moreover, it is written by an author of indian origin, telling the fictionalized story of her parents and larger family. Dec 30, 20 there is plenty written on the subject and i have listed some books in the acknowledgments section of teatime for the firefly. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel, book cover. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel book cover, description, publication history. Teatime for the firefly is an engrossing and beautifully written story of a young woman who finds love, adventure, and a new life with her husband on a tea plantation in a remote area of india in the 1940s. Her second book, song of the flame tree, is a prequel that will be out next year. Teatime for the firefly, shona patel april eberhardt literary. When this book appeared on netgalley i was intrigued.
Debut author patel offers a stunning, panoramic view of a virtually unknown time and placethe colonial british tea plantations of assamwhile bringing them to life through a unique characters perspective. Shop amongst our popular books, including 5, teatime for the firefly, flame tree road and more from shona patel. Shona patel, teatime for the firefly even though water chooses the path of least resistance, it ultimately defines its own course. Teatime for the firefly i was carried away by this story, to another time and place a country i have never visited in all my travels. I have never forgotten her vivid descriptions of india and the wonders she depicted on the pages of books such as the far pavilions and shadow of the moon. Try prime kindle store go search en hello, sign in account. But everything began to change for me one spring day in 1943, when three unconnected incidents, like tiny droplets on a lily leaf, tipped and rolled into one. Shona patel s debut novel is a fishoutofwater love story told partially through letters, and set within an exotic and enchanting world where social upheaval and the threat of world war ii lingers on their doorstep. The characters are fully formed, the imagery is strong and the story is well developed throughout with an especially strong conclusion which opens the door to future books. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading teatime for the firefly. Sep 24, 20 buy the paperback book teatime for the firefly by shona patel at indigo. In the second, flame tree road, she takes that topic a step further and makes their welfare the spur that motivates her protagonist, biren roy, to get a topnotch british education, and become a lawyer.
Apr 17, 2015 shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly. Patel was born and raised in a remote tea plantation. Teatime for the firefly my name is layla and i was born under an unlucky star. Shona patels teatime for the firefly, a transporting novel of 1940s india looking at an unopened copy of teatime for the firefly, you may take it to be a delicate work of womens literature, something involving teadrinking and love letters, perhaps with an international flair. Im always looking for unusual historicals, and a book set in 1940s india certainly qualifies. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Her second novel flame tree road was published in june 2015. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel dear author. Despite being born under an inauspicious horoscope, she is raised to be educated and independent by her eccentric grandfather, dadamoshai. Shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for her critically acclaimed debut novel teatime for the firefly. But everything began to change for me one spring day in 1943, when three. As i had spent part of my childhood in assam and had visited the tea plantations teatime with fireflies brought.
The only quibble i had with this book is that on occasion the descriptions would go on a tad long, bogging us down a bit in the details. Shona patel is the author of the critically acclaimed novel teatime for the firefly harlequinmira october 20. This novel picks up the tradition of writing about british colonialism with that same romanticism mixed with realism that made her books so riveting. Handout patel was born in 1959, a transitional era when the british for the most part still ran the tea plantations. Sep 24, 20 shona patel is the author of the critically acclaimed novel teatime for the firefly harlequinmira october 20. It is the story of layla, a beautiful and reclusive young girl who is astrologically doomed never to marry and manik, a man whose career and arranged marriage are charted for success. You see this makes her an unlucky one according to local superstition, and the hindu horoscope. Author of the critically acclaimed teatime for the firefly and flame tree road miraharper collins, july, 2015.
Buy a cheap copy of teatime for the firefly book by shona patel. Written by shona patel, audiobook narrated by marisa vitali. One book in particular i would especially recommend. They move apart only to rejoin at a different point. Debut author shona patel on teatime for the firefly. Nov 07, 20 shona patel s teatime for the firefly, a transporting novel of 1940s india looking at an unopened copy of teatime for the firefly, you may take it to be a delicate work of womens literature, something involving teadrinking and love letters, perhaps with an international flair. Teatime for the firefly ebook by shona patel rakuten kobo. An influential, wellread man, he is dadmoshai to layla. Patel has won several awards for creative writing and is a trained graphic designer. Shona patel teatime for the firefly changing hands bookstore. Shona patels debut novel is a fishoutofwater love story told partially through letters, and set within an exotic and enchanting world where social upheaval and the threat of world war ii lingers on their doorstep.
Lovely descriptions and anecdotes of conditions and life for the people of the tea plantations. Oct 09, 20 shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly. Shona patel acclaimed author of teatime for the firefly and flame tree road raconteur, wannabe chef, assam tea advocate. Despite being born under an inauspicious horoscope, she is raised to be educated and. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel overdrive rakuten. Jan 01, 20 i highly recommend shona patels debut novel, teatime for the firefly. The daughter of a tea planter, she drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly.
Im always looking for unusual historicals, and a book set in 1940s. In her debut, tea time for the firefly, shona patel touched on the plight of widows in india of the last century. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Teatime for the firefly is shona patel s debut novel to be published by mira books in october 20. Shona patel author shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly. Teatime for the firefly, shona patel april eberhardt. Shona patel presents her debut novel teatime for the firefly. See more ideas about tea time, novels and book worms. Shona patel is represented by april eberhardt literary. Categories assam tea, blogging, book clubs, publishing, tea, teatime for the firefly, writing tags assam ctc, assam tea, benefits of caffeine, flame tree road, shona patel, teatime for the firefly, upton tea its pub day. For a young girl growing up in india in a time where womens lives were predeterminedif not by the stars, then by centuries of family tradition and social orderthis is bad news.
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