Der Klang der Sehnsucht

by Manisha Jolie Amin

Abandoned as a young child, Kalu, a cheeky street kid, has against all odds carved out a life for himself in rural India. In the quiet village of Hastinapore, Kalu makes friends: Bal, the solitary buffalo boy, and Malti, a gentle servant girl, who, with her mistress, Ganga Ba, has watched out for Kalu from the first day. Perched high in the branches of a banyan tree, Kalu chooses a leaf, rolls it tightly and, doing what he’s done for as long as he can remember, blows through it. His pure simple notes dance through the air attracting a travelling healer whose interest will change Kalu’s life forever, setting him on a path he would never have dreamed possible, testing his self-belief and his friendships. With all the energy and colour of India and its people, Dancing to the Flute is a magical, heart-warming story of this community’s joys and sorrows, the nature of friendship and the astonishing transformative powers of music.

Genres: India, Fiction, Contemporary, Cultural, Adult Fiction, Audiobook, Literature

310 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Patty Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is written in the form of a raag. The raag is a melodic mode of Indian music. A raag is a melody based on five or more notes. The mood it conveys is more important than the notes that are used.

This book is a quick read and I was very caught up in the characters and the story. It felt like I was there with them in India. Kalu is a poor street kid who does errands and odd jobs to earn food and money. Kalu does not know who his parents are or his birthday. He was abandoned as a child. When his foot becomes infected he becomes unable to work. A healer or vaid treats his foot, but Kalu must pay him back. Kalu is mysteriously led to find a rosewood flute by a snake that he charms with his music. When the vaid returns Kalu offers the flute to him as payment. The vaid instead requests that Kalu move to his brother, Guruji's house to live and learn the flute. This begins Kalu's journey in life.

Kalu leaves his two friends Bal and Malti to live with Guruji and his servant Ashwin. Here he learns about the flute, music and love and affection. He becomes like a son to Guruji. Guruji's most important lesson to Kalu is that love doesn't come without pain. Bal is a buffalo herder. His family sold him for money. Kalu wishes to share his good wealth with Bal. He proposes that Bal come live with him and Guruji and Ashwin, but Bal wishes for independence and refuses. Later in the book Bal takes a fatal fall off a cliff. Malti is a servant girl who is waiting for her brother to graduate from college so that she will have money for a dowry. She ends up in an arranged marriage with a man who doesn't love her and treats her poorly. She seeks affection and has an affair. When her husband realizes she is pregnant he tries to douse her with kerosene in an attempt to kill her. Kalu offers to take care of her and the baby, but Malti wants to raise her daughter on her own and be her own person. Ganga Ba is the woman who employed Malti prior to marriage. We find out that she was a second daughter and that her mother tried to poison her. When that didn't work her father tried to kill her by pushing her down a well.

Although these are all tragic scenes in the book, the book is not really that dark and depressing. It shows how each character deals with life as it is dealt and becomes stronger and grows. Kalu leaves his home in the mountains with Guruji near the end to be on his own and make his own way in London, but then realizes that his home is in India with the people that he loves.

The characters and events in this book are believable. It is well written and the story flows well. There is a magic element of music woven throughout the book. Right before the end Kalu's music saves a boy from jumping off a bridge and committing suicide. Many words used are not English words, but they are usually followed by the English equivalent. I give this book high praise 5 out of 5 stars. A must read!!!

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalu is a street urchin, who was abandoned by his family as a small child. He endures unimaginable hardship, but by using his wits to survive and by running errands for local shop keepers, he finds just enough food to keep himself from starving. Music becomes Kalu’s salvation, and when a travelling healer discovers Kalu playing a beautiful melody through a rolled up banyan leaf, Kalu’s life takes on a very different meaning, and leads him, with his friends Malti and Bal, on a remarkable journey of self discovery.

Initially slow to start, the story attempts to mimic the theme of the ‘raag’, the mood of the music Kalu is so adept at playing, but alongside the hypnotic quality of the music, the story of India, its people and places, and the overwhelming charm of its indigenous magic, runs like a colourful thread. Through the heat and the dust, the traditional values of small villages emerge, but even as diverse cultural changes begin to be noticeable, the spirituality of Hindu wisdom floats like a beautiful melody throughout the narrative.
This is a very impressive debut book; the author has a real skill with words and has the unique ability to convey, in just a few phrases, an entire world. There is a gentle lyricism to the narrative which belies its strength, and even as the overwhelming theme of love and friendship is expertly explored, it is the poignant simplicity of the narrative which leaves a lasting impression.

I really enjoyed Dancing to the Flute and have no hesitation in awarding it a 5 out of 5 star rating.

Thank you to Lindsay at the Little Reader Library for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Felicity Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleverly written in that each part of the novel (the 'Aalamp, the 'Antara', the 'Bol Bandh') mimics a part of the Raag, a melodic type of Indian music, links to which can be found on the author's website. Despite the fact that the power of music and its effect on people was extremely compelling my only disappointment was that certain sections of the book tended to rely more on an interest in the music itself as opposed to the characters.

Essentially but not exclusively Dancing To the Flute is the tale of a young boy. A 'street kid', little better than a beggar, who because of an infected foot finds himself unable to work and reliant on the generosity of those for whom he runs errands. As a story about the power of music it follows Kalu who despite all of the hardships life throws at him always has his 'flute'.

Whilst Kalu's story is indeed an interesting one, his journey as he transcends the caste system fascinating, even more gripping was the interweaving of Hindu folklore and in particular Malti's story which rather like the raag itself unfolded slowly, gradually building to something of a crescendo.

Despite this being an evocative story of much simpler times, of a community still living very much according to traditional values, it is in fact a piece of contemporary fiction that does not shy away from addressing several social issues.

Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of publishers, Alma Books, I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.

[Shanique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes u fall in love with language, music, with India in all its splendor and all its poverty. The characters are rich in so many ways - in their determination, their struggles, their pride. A book that had me smiling, laughing out loud and at its best and most powerful crying silently. I cannot recall how many times I cried but I know i felt the loss of Bal as keenly as Kalu did. I felt Malti's unhappiness at her marriage, Ganga Ba's frustration of getting older and more dependent on others. I love how all the characters grew and in their own way worked out their problems so that in the end they're all contented with their lot. I guess its clear that I love this book. oh and I want to travel to India too

4.5 Stars

[Lauren Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dancing to the Flute is an absorbing and inspirational tale about a young Indian boy named Kalu and girl named Malti, written by Australian author, Manisha Jolie Amin.

Kalu is an orphan child who stumbles into the small rural village of Hastinapore where he makes friends with the buffalo boy, Bal, a mild-natured servant girl, Malti, and her mistress the candid Ganga Ba. Kalu has no material possessions except for his flute, made of leaf.

A healer, Vaid comes to the town and offers to help Kalu when he injures his foot and is at risk of infection- for a price. Fearful of what debt he will owe, Kalu tentatively follows Vaid into a room after his foot has healed and Vaid asks him to play his flute. Vaid takes Kalu away from the village for many weeks and leaves him alone to strengthen his musical ability in solitary. Ganga Ba and Malti are surprised by how much they miss Kalu when he is gone. Day and night, Kalue practices to play the flute and during this time comes across a very special flute, designed only for him.

When Vaid returns, he takes Kalu back to Hastinapore and makes an offer: to become a student of Guruji, a famous flute- player who lives in isolation among the mountains. It is a remarkable opportunity for a young boy in poverty and Ganga Ba and Malti encourage him to go and make something of himself. Kalu promises to return one day and help his friend Bal.

Guruji is a reclusive musician who is reluctant at first to accept Kalu as a student, but during the years they work together they form a very close father-son bond. Kalu grows as a musician, a boy into a man, and into a person who can have relationships and feel safe in the company of others- despite his early start in life.

Kalu learns to read and write and keeps in contact with his friends in Hastinapore via letters and we also see Malti grow into a young woman and deal with the challenges of her gender in India and overcome the obstacles in her path. Kalu and Malti are such engaging characters and I really enjoyed seeing them grow both in age and in disposition The secondary characters in the story are just as interesting.

The author has a wonderful way with language that finds a nice balance between literary descriptions and moving forward in the story. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book as it is probably something I wouldn’t normally pick up in a bookstore, but as I am planning a trip to India this year, I was drawn to the story of these young kids in an Indian village. Dancing to the Flute is a beautiful, uplifting story about young lives, music and those that dare to dream.

[Alison Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, lovely Indian novel. Kalu, the orphan with no history (but a hint of Mowgli about him) is a musical prodigy, who - after numerous early difficulties, is adopted by a famous music guru. Malti is a village girl - sent by her family to work for an autocratic old rich lady, Ganga Ba. Bal, a buffalo herder, is also an orphan, and Kalu's only friend. The story relates their intertwined lives against the poverty and harshness of modern rural India. There's lyrical writing about classical Indian music. The book is atmospheric, rich in flavour, unsentimental; shows how"The Family" is so crucial to Indian life and social structure in today's world, just as it was 2000 years ago. Tradition and custom are its pillars. Highly recommended if you enjoy Indian novels.

[Lorraine Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book for me linked music to life. That with it we can dream, be strong and in the end leave this world happy and content. To have music within you is a gift, to be able to share it with others is a greater gift. A lovely book that brought me to tears and in the end left me quite content.

[Michelle Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed it soo much.. made me shed a few tears at some point... some Cultures... Imagine Kalu a young boy without a home, a mother, a father, wthout anyone.. found a home, family and people to love him.. healed others in the process and lost in many ways...

[Anne Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this one, listened to it on my journeys to & from work. Learnt a lot about India , music & especially about the lives & attitudes towards women& girls in this beautiful but impoverished country. Malti was my favourite character.

[Beth Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abandoned but not unloved this is a story of second chances, heartbreak and love

[Anne Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overall joyful novel, tinged with sadness and life's ups and downs, the cadence of the novel mimics a raag.

"A raga (pronounced RAH-guh) is a collection of pitches, kind of like a scale or mode in Western music. Each raga is defined, however, not only by the pitches themselves, but also by specific formulas for using them. The rāga is considered a means in the Indian musical tradition to evoking specific feelings in an audience."

Set in India, an abandoned boy, Kalu, gets talent spotted by the brother of a famous musician and "adopted" into the musician's house where he learns the intricacies of the flute and Indian raag over a number of years. He stays connected to his two best friends from his early life in the village and the novel traces them, and his interactions with them, as they get older.

[Danial Tanvir · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a very well written novel about a young indian boy called kalu.
he lives in a small city in india called hastinapore.
this novel is about his life and about what he does.
he has a very good friend called bal who plays with him and is with him.
he is also a friend of the servant girl called malti who has a mistress called ganga ba.
ganga ba has given kalu a name because he has dark skin.
kalu has an injured foot.
he then finds a healer and he starts learning how to play the flute and the healer also starts teaching him how to read and to write.
the healer is also called guruji.
kalu is very happy being with him.
the healer changed kalus life.
there are details given about kalus life.
in the end malti gets married and bal dies.
this novel was indeed brilliant!.

[Nicole C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d like to give this a 3.5. I think the story is sweet but personally found it lacking in some ways—specifically pertaining to the large gaps of time that pass at some points and not at others, as well as to how I think the author was trying to make particulate points quite poignant but I feel fame up short. That said, I did enjoy the book and the story and would recommend it.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book very slowly, parts of it I found slow, parts of it I found hard to read, but in the end this book made me smile and lifted my heart. Some of it feels like an allegory, it's an interesting read.

[Sandy Rai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book... beautifully written . Wish there were more by this author. The characters are interesting and the whole musical theme to the book gives it another fascinating aspect.

[Sharon Velin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written book ... came to love the characters. Didn’t always understand all the words or meanings of the short stories but was able to get the gist of it!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads of the year -- caught me at the right time, a wonderful story to get lost in.
Beautiful!

[Prashanthi Thamballa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the book. It was like a melodious song. Author has portrayed human emotions in a very heart touching way.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. A classical beautiful story set in India. If you love India you will love this story of a destitute young boy and his love of music. This book is a keeper and a definite re read.

[anonymousreader]

to-read

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable story.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Von diesem Buch erhoffte ich mir eine zarte Liebe, die Ruhm, Reichtum und lange Zeiten der Trennung durchsteht, und die Musik der Herzen, in Worte gefasst. Was ich bekam war so anders - und doch viel schöner als erwartet.

Amin hat mich mit einem sanften, der Stimmung der momentan im Vordergrund agierenden Person, Schreibstil immer tief berührt, die Gedanken ließen sich schon bald leicht der jeweiligen Person zuordnen. Die Bemühungen der Autorin, jedem Protagonisten eine Stimme zu geben, haben der Geschichte einen unheimlich schönen Eindruck in die Gefühlswelten dieses Buches gegeben, was es mir durchaus sehr erleichtert hat, dem Lauf der Dinge zu folgen und das Buch nur wegzulegen, wenn es nötig war.
Mit wunderschönen Vergleichen konnte Amin dem Leser die indische Kultur sehr nahe bringen, hauptsächlich die positiven Dinge, aber auch Probleme, die mit der Verheiratung der Mädchen an brutale und schlechte Männer einhergehen. Dennoch fädelt sie es so ein, dass sofort das Interesse an dieser Kultur geweckt wird.

Der Verlag hat aber ein wenig falsche Anspielungen mit dem Klappentext gemacht. Wer wie ich zu Anfang glaubt, es handele sich hauptsächlich um eine Liebesgeschichte, die sich beweisen muss, der hat sich getäuscht. Denn Liebe spielt in diesem Buch nur bedingt eine Rolle. Und es ist gar keine ernstzunehmende Frage, ob es eine gemeinsame Zukunft gibt und Malti und Kalu darum kämpfen müssen. Kalu kann Hastinapur ohne Probleme öfter besuchen, während er von einem professionellen Meister - Guruji genannt - unterrichtet wird. Es geht eher um das Glück eines Straßenjungen, der zum Musiker wird, um Freundschaft, die die Zeit und den Tod überdauert. Und natürlich um viel Musik. Der schöne Nebeneffekt bei diesem Buch ist, wie viel man dazu noch über die indische Musik lernt, da man ja quasi Kalus Ausbildung beiwohnt. Ich bin ja selbst musikalisch tätig und spiele zwei Instrumente, da ist es ganz interessant, mehr über andere Arten von Musik etwas zu erfahren. Vor allem schreibt Amin das alles so gefühlvoll, dass ich mir vielfach schon wünschte, so gut wie Kalu spielen zu können.

Wie ich schon angedeutet habe, geht Amin viel auf die indische Kultur ein. Das finde ich sehr gut, da viele zwar entfernt wissen, wie es Kindern und Frauen in den ärmeren Teilen des Landes ergeht, aber die Einzelheiten nicht kennen, oder helfen. Die Autorin erzählt auch viel über die Frauen. Dass sie in Indien immer noch die alleinige Aufgabe haben, eine gute Frau zu sein, nicht zu betrügen, den Haushalt zu führen und Kinder zu bekommen. Diese Ansicht finde ich erschreckend, und es ist wunderbar und zugleich auch mutig, dass Amin durch Malti dazu ihre Meinung geäußert hat.

Fazit:
Der Klang der Sehnsucht ist ein wunderschönes Buch, mit viel indischer Kultur, der Musik und Freundschaft im Vordergrund und einem Hand zu wunderschönen Szenerien und Beschreibungen. Die Geschichte hat mich zutiefst berührt, auch wenn ich etwas ganz anderes von diesem Buch erwartet hatte.

[Leana (Flickering Fandom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review also published on my blog StudentSpyglass

Source: Review copy from publisher

Plot: ★★★
Characters: ★★★★
Readability: ★★★
Overall: ★★★

Dancing to the Flute is not the sort of book I would usually buy, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. Kalu, a young orphan boy, has been just about surviving in Hastinapore, but when his foot gets infected, even the odd jobs he was doing before dry up. Climbing a tree with a makeshift flute made out of a leaf, he captures the attention of Vaid Dada, a travelling healer. Drawn in by Kalu’s music, the vaid heals Kalu’s foot, then encourages him to practice more with his flute. Eventually, the vaid offers Kalu a chance to meet Guruji – the vaid’s brother, a reclusive former musician. Although reluctant at first, Guruji warms up to Kalu, and begins to teach him, changing Kalu’s life forever.

As well as following Kalu’s story, we also get to see the lives of his best friends Malti and Bal. Malti is a servant girl who works for Ganga Ba, sending money back to her family to pay for her brother’s education. She is sweet and mild-mannered, and knows that one day she will marry the man her parents select for her. Bal is a young buffalo boy, sold by his family and generally ignored by everyone. The characters were all complex, and I particularly enjoyed the back story of Ganga Ba, one of the supporting characters.

We predominantly follow Kalu’s story as he learns to play his flute and defies the caste system. Living with Guruji in virtual isolation, Kalu learns everything he can about music, whilst also developing socially and emotionally. I liked Kalu, however, for me, Malti had the most impact as a character. You can’t help but want things to work out for her, as she works so hard for her family without a trace of bitterness. Without giving too many spoilers away, her marriage is definitely not the stuff of fairytales, and your heart breaks for her as she has to adapt to her harsh new reality. I felt that Malti grew the most as a character throughout the book.

I enjoyed the plot, although I admit I was lost a few times by flashback scenes/divergence into Hindu lore. For me, even by the end of the book, Kalu’s history was still a little vague. The novel also builds slowly, which I occasionally found frustrating.

Dancing to the Flute is enjoyable, poignant and beautifully brings India to life as you read it. There is a glossary at the end for Indian words included, which took some getting used to but was something that I really loved about the book. There’s not a lot of romance in Dancing to the Flute: romance was definitely in addition to the plot, rather than being the plot, which was great.

I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Manisha Jolie Amin, as Dancing to the Flute was evocatively, vividly, beautifully written. Despite not being a book I would usually pick up, it very impressively managed to draw me in and keep me reading.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kalu doesn’t have much to live for when he climbs the banyan tree; his foot infected and no way to make a living. Even shunned by those who previously helped him out due to the stench of his foot. He has climbed the tree to make a simple flute out of one of the leaves. He starts to play a beautiful melody, which catches the attention of a passer-by. Fate is smiling down on the boy as the man is a vaid, a traditional healer, who strikes up a bargain to heal Kalu’s foot. Soon Kalu is being whisked away to learn the true meaning of music.

The novel supposedly mimics the structure and themes of the Indian raag; a musical form literally translating as “mood”. I had thought this would have meant an interesting narrative structure but it has resulted in the story taking far too long to get going. Part one, the aalapp, is a slow piece without rhythm which introduces the elements and the story introduces the characters. Part two, the antara, is a slow build, bringing in the percussion instruments and twining together two or three tunes. We get to know more characters and the lives of Bal and Malti, although separate from Kalu’s, are brought to life. Part three, the bol bandh, is really the climax, where melodies are broken up and regrouped. This is where the drama happens in the book. The final section of the book is headed by “repetition of the full composition once” which doesn’t really reflect the content of the text but serves as more of an epilogue.

Bal and Malti’s stories were the stronger elements for me; I felt like Kalu was lacking in personality and the main section of the book relies too much on an interest in the music itself. Whilst it was interesting to learn a little about the culture around the raag, I started to get a bit bored whilst nothing was happening. If you love books about music, do consider giving it a try.

The India portrayed is one very much on the edge of change. The story is set against a fairly rural community who still have very traditional values, yet there are glimpses of the world as we know it. Guriji’s home is somewhat of a retreat, removed from the people at large but in comparison to the village, it was a much more modern lifestyle. It was hard to place the story in time until later on, the acceptance of arranged marriage is still quite common but it was shocking that an intelligent woman would marry a man without speaking to or seeing him until after the wedding. There are also descriptions of punishments that seem archaic and cruel, not to forget the story starts off with a whole community ignoring the fact that a boy is about to die from an infected foot!

I did enjoy the more dramatic final stages of the raag more and there were some rather tender and tragic moments. It just took me so long to engage with the characters, that I felt the structure didn’t work for me.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dancing To The Flute is Manisha Jolie Amin's debut novel and will be published in the UK by Alma Books in March 2013.

Told in four parts, the story is themed around the Indian raag (raag: a musical form or a composition in this form; the word 'raag' means 'mood'). The author has structured the story so that each part mimics each part of a raag; starting slowly and gathering pace as it progresses.


The reader is introduced to Kalu; a street-urchin with no family. A little boy who lives on the streets of a small rural town in India. Kalu spends his days running errands for the local shop-keepers and trying to find enough food to stop his belly from growling. Kalu has two friends; Malti - a young girl who works for Ganga B and Bal, a boy who is even poorer than Kalu and was sold by his family and tends to the buffalo flock.
Kalu has a special talent. He can make magical music from a flute that he fashions from the leaves of a tree. It is this talent that gets him noticed by a travelling healer, and ultimately changes his life.

Dancing To The Flute is both evocative and colourful, the reader is transported to the small, busy, hot and dusty rural Indian town by the author's wonderfully descriptive writing. The sounds, the smells, the heat are conveyed perfectly. Each character is drawn with skill and compassion and soon become so familiar that they feel as though they are part of your family.

This is a story about finding a place in a world that can appear to be cruel and frightening, it's about finding trust again after being let down, and it's about the power of friendship. Kalu's story is filled with hope, for himself and for his friends. Despite Kalu's success, his two friends remain closest to his heart, and their troubles and their pain is felt as much by him as by them. It is a journey of discovery for the three young friends, often tinged with sadness, but always with love.

Manisha Jolie Amin has brought to life not just the three main characters and the accompanying supporting cast, but also the area of rural India. The story is beautifully written, unfolding slowly and gradually building up to become a very entertaining and enjoyable read.

[Madhu Madhusudana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set mainly in rural Gujarat, India. Kalu is a village urchin who used to earn his livelihood by running errands for local shop keepers and house holders. His ankle gets infected overnight by a presumably poisonous bite, and is left untreated; he is no longer able to walk and reduced to begging. But the village doctor, Vaidji, recognises his immense talent for music, treats him first for the sore foot and then takes him to his brother, a famous but reclusive musician. There Kalu learns to play the flute in the classical tradition and becomes quite well known. He remains a simple man and never forgets his childhood friends and companions, who include Malti a spirited older girl and Bal an indentured boy whose job is to herd buffalos.
The gripping story deals with the astonishing power of music in various circumstances. Kalu’s music can make the mute girl Tusli sing, it can make Malti defy her murderous husband. But it cannot stop Bal from dying after a fall, although his death is rendered peaceful as he lies in the arms of Kalu while listening to his music.
There are a few repetitions that could have been avoided: The translation of Mahamrutyunjaya Mantra is excellent but we do not need four of the same. Or “how such a man could have been born of such kind parents”. Also, at the risk of sounding pedantic, I note a couple of mistakes: Satyaran instead of the (correct) Satyavan, elephantisitis instead of elephantiasis.
“Dancing to the flute” is a recurring theme in the novel including the scene where a derelict and destitute man dances with gay abandon to the music of Kalu on the banks of the Thames.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable first work by Manisha Amin

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a trip through rural India. Learn about it culture and especially its classical music. Meet Kalu, a young boy who lives on the streets. To survive he runs errands. It was hard to imagine that there could be anyone worse off than he was. Kalu has a friend named Bal. I was sickened to learn his family sold him. He had even less than Kalu had. Kalu had a talent that helped him improve his life. He was gifted at playing the flute. This ability gets him noticed. It also is what helps him get an education. As he travels we are shown the sights and sounds of life in rural India. The descriptions are so vivid you get the image in your head and it stays with you. Just because he is discovered doesn’t mean trust comes easily to him. Hope is something he tries to hang onto, but it is difficult when there has been so much pain in a small life. A great book from many aspects, learning about India and its classical music, learning about the lives of those who are on the lost rung of the caste system. I’ve heard stories from some of my Indian students, but this book brought it so much clearer. A great book to read and learn from. I recommend you read the book to see just how his life was changed and who it was that helped bring about that change.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Mellisa Stroman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book didn't flow well and there were chapters that didn't blend with the book.

[Sophie Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 / 5 on my blog.

Dancing to the Flute is a wise and inspirational story, framed beautifully around the theme of Indian music.

From the first few lines of chapter one, it grabbed me. I immediately cared for Kalu, who, despite his circumstances, is upbeat, compassionate, and determined. And because of the unique way in which he views the world around him, he is blessed with a natural talent and an opportunity that will change his life for the better.

But Dancing to the Flute isn't exclusively about Kalu. It also tells the stories of the people and places around him – all of which are just as interesting. I loved them all, and valued the fact that their personalities are very individual, yet compliment each other wonderfully. It was also fantastic to travel through time with them and uncover how their lives evolve.

Altogether, Dancing to the Flute is a multi-layered story told with wisdom and simplicity. If you enjoy music, spirituality, culture, and inspiration, I highly recommend it. I only wish it didn't have to end!

[Radhika · Rating 3 out of 5]

A journey of a street boy from boyhood to manhood. How chances change your life if your talent is recognised and trained and polished.

Kalu a street urchin who does not know where he comes from but creates his own little world of survival in the village of Hastinapore . He is friends with Balu another ill fated child who is sold into slavery and spends all his time tending cattle. His other good friend is the girl Malati who works for a good lady Ganga Ba,. Malti is working far away from home as domestic help so that she can earn money so her brother can go to school. He can then provide for the whole family.

Kalu,s talent is discovered when he is playing on the flute made of leaf. He is heard by Vaidji who is resting under the tree and treats Kalu well and takes him under his wing. The Vaidji's brother is a great musician is now a recluse. Vaidji a doctor understands the talent of this street boy and takes him to his brother to refine this talent. Inspite of his good luck and fame Kalu remains down to earth, never forgets his friends and keeps his sense of community and humanity strong.

A good read , a fresh view of India and its classical music culture.