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My Beloved Life
An exceptionally moving novel that traces the arc of a man's life from his 1935 birth in a small village in India to his death from COVID-19 in 2020
Jadunath Kunwar's beginnings are humble, even inauspicious. While pregnant, his mother nearly dies from a cobra bite--and this is only the first of many challenges in store for Jadu. As his life skates between the mythical and the mundane, he finds meaning in the most unexpected places. He becomes a historian. He has a daughter who becomes a television journalist and then escapes her marriage for a career in the United States. And he sees currents of huge change sweep across India—from Independence to Partition, Gandhi to Modi, the Mahabharata to Somerset Maugham—in ways that Jadu is both apart from and can't help but represent.
Jadunath Kunwar's beginnings are humble, even inauspicious. While pregnant, his mother nearly dies from a cobra bite--and this is only the first of many challenges in store for Jadu. As his life skates between the mythical and the mundane, he finds meaning in the most unexpected places. He becomes a historian. He has a daughter who becomes a television journalist and then escapes her marriage for a career in the United States. And he sees currents of huge change sweep across India—from Independence to Partition, Gandhi to Modi, the Mahabharata to Somerset Maugham—in ways that Jadu is both apart from and can't help but represent.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2024
47 people are currently reading
4380 people want to read
About the author
Amitava Kumar
39 books167 followersAmitava Kumar is a novelist, poet, journalist, and Professor of English at Vassar College. He was born in Bihar, India; he grew up in the town of Patna, famous for its corruption, crushing poverty, and delicious mangoes.
He is the author of Nobody Does the Right Thing; A Foreigner Carrying in the Crook of His Arm a Tiny Bomb; Husband of a Fanatic: A Personal Journey through India, Pakistan, Love, and Hate, a New York Times “Editors’ Choice” selection; Bombay—London—New York, a New Statesman (UK) “Book of the Year” selection; and Passport Photos. He is the editor of several books, including Away: The Indian Writer as an Expatriate, The Humour and the Pity: Essays on V. S. Naipaul, and World Bank Literature. He is also an editor of the online journal Politics and Culture and the screenwriter and narrator of the prize-winning documentary film Pure Chutney.
Kumar’s writing has appeared in The Nation, Harper’s, Vanity Fair, The American Prospect, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Hindu, and other publications in North America and India.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 23, 2024
This book has so much in it that I need time to unpack it all. The writing was exquisite. The story is sad at times and hopeful at other times. Following the life of Jadu from birth to death was so interesting. We, the reader, are privy to his thoughts, his happy times, and his disappointments. The structure was unique. I am always up for a challenging book (challenging in a good way). I have always been drawn to books that take place in India, preferably written by Indian authors. I have read quite a few, so I have a little knowledge of historical events that have shaped current day India. But I still found myself googling a bunch! I didn't know George Orwell was born there!
I will be curious to see what others think of this book. Early reviews are positive, but time will tell. I do look forward to meeting the author in April at my annual Booktopia event.
I will be curious to see what others think of this book. Early reviews are positive, but time will tell. I do look forward to meeting the author in April at my annual Booktopia event.
September 30, 2025
The 5th read for Booktopia book is my favorite. It’s different, but not too different. The writing is marvelous and engrossing. And I was immersed in the Indian culture that I have not visited before. The story of a man whose mother was bit by a snake just before she was to give birth which is balance by a feeling at the end of his life. Bookending the story of his daughter.
Neither life is peaches and cream - more like roses which involves the beauty of the bloom and the pain of the thorns.
Maybe I liked it so much because these are both very honorable people - even when slapped in the face by reality.
The coda illuminates something from earlier in the book. A little strange, I would have been happy without this, but it did clarify and bring more questions.
Just go along for the ride and enjoy. I have already secured more of Kumar’s work.
Neither life is peaches and cream - more like roses which involves the beauty of the bloom and the pain of the thorns.
Maybe I liked it so much because these are both very honorable people - even when slapped in the face by reality.
The coda illuminates something from earlier in the book. A little strange, I would have been happy without this, but it did clarify and bring more questions.
Just go along for the ride and enjoy. I have already secured more of Kumar’s work.
Read
February 29, 2024Soul stirring in its simplicity. Excellent in its observations. Lacking in its emotional depths, venturing broadly into a bit more than it could chew, still, this is a good, good book from an author with a respectable, lovely craft.
May 15, 2024
I was sure this was a favorite, possibly 5-star novel 150 pages in...and then the perspective switches, and I'm still hanging on, but slowly but surely losing faith in Kumar's ability to balance his digressions with his narrative. I limp through the finish.
The problem is not the structure. Kumar can write in a woman's voice, and in a younger woman's voice (I suspect he is actually closer to her age than his first protagonist's age). The problem is simply that he loses touch with the grain and texture of Indian life, and I find his descriptions of modern history (the last 10 years or so) to be boring and predictable. His first protagonist is living through some truly world-historical events, and Kumar expertly weaves the personal with the social and the political. But his second protagonist is just living through modern life.
I know this is the problem because when the book returns to our first protagonist (this is not a spoiler, its in the table of contents) it's not suddenly more exciting again, because he's also living through the end of his life (again, not a spoiler, in the first few pages) which is taking place in the modern world.
So: Kumar is an absolutely entrancing writer of Indian and American life in the 1940s through about the 1980's...and he can't figure out how to making anything in the last forty years interesting. He's got a lot of company.
The problem is not the structure. Kumar can write in a woman's voice, and in a younger woman's voice (I suspect he is actually closer to her age than his first protagonist's age). The problem is simply that he loses touch with the grain and texture of Indian life, and I find his descriptions of modern history (the last 10 years or so) to be boring and predictable. His first protagonist is living through some truly world-historical events, and Kumar expertly weaves the personal with the social and the political. But his second protagonist is just living through modern life.
I know this is the problem because when the book returns to our first protagonist (this is not a spoiler, its in the table of contents) it's not suddenly more exciting again, because he's also living through the end of his life (again, not a spoiler, in the first few pages) which is taking place in the modern world.
So: Kumar is an absolutely entrancing writer of Indian and American life in the 1940s through about the 1980's...and he can't figure out how to making anything in the last forty years interesting. He's got a lot of company.
April 25, 2024
A deeply human novel, the story of Jadunth Kunwar, and his family, wife and daughter, his country’s trials and tribulations. What is an ordinary life? What is noticed in that life, about that life, perhaps that no life is ever ordinary. Tale after tale unfolds here, the lives of Jadu and his daughter Jugnu, but of so many others as well, the tale of India, and so much more, set from the 1930s to 2020. It’s a novel that can require patience, quiet and stealthily ambitious, fascinating and compelling.
February 5, 2024
My Beloved Life by Amitava Kumar is the life of Jadu, from his birth to his death, along with the life of his daughter to provide contrast and detail. There is a strong opening here when Jadu's mother, whilst pregnant with him, is bitten by a snake. Nothing quite matches the intensity of this opening, and as the narrative progresses and Jadu grows up, it almost threatens to become a Zelig-like tour with great Indian figures strolling into view before moving off page.
As the narrative continues, however, you are slowly drawn into this world - with Jadu whispering in your ear, telling his intimate secrets - until by the end it is genuinely quite moving.
The writing is exquisite at all times, and there are some beautiful moments here.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.
As the narrative continues, however, you are slowly drawn into this world - with Jadu whispering in your ear, telling his intimate secrets - until by the end it is genuinely quite moving.
The writing is exquisite at all times, and there are some beautiful moments here.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.
April 22, 2024
This is a dense novel told through Janu, who is born in the 1930s in a small town and bears witness to all of the change that came to India in the 20th Century. He is able to get a college degree and continue on to a Doctorate, becoming a professor of history. He is not only an observer of history, but takes part in protests and lands in jail for 2 weeks. So much of the details were new to me; I knew the very broad outlines of Indian history, but this novel really makes you feel the poverty and corruption very deeply. Looking forward to hearing the author speak about this important book.
January 6, 2026
A slog :(
September 3, 2024
Ambitious but ultimately underwhelming, this book tells the life stories of the main protagonists, a father-and-daughter duo, but also that of random guests at a wedding, college friends, old crushes and an assortment of famous people from the era.
Feels overstuffed and you fail to really connect with any character or their stories.
Feels overstuffed and you fail to really connect with any character or their stories.
Read
March 8, 2024I didn’t rate this book since I stopped around the 75% mark. It’s clearly a beautifully written book with great imagery and descriptions, I just felt at arm’s length from the characters for some reason and never connected with them.
May 21, 2024
The story of India over the last 70 years, as seen through the eyes of a father and daughter, our two main protagonists. The narrative follows their lives, and uses specific events in the main timeline of the narrative as a jumping point to the characters' past, as well as to short stories of other characters, historical snippets, and brief recounts of Hindu mythology. These stories, snippets, and recounts, in many ways, are what makes the book, and the two protagonists are the glue that keeps it all together. In this way, there is something of a non-fiction novel about the book, where, in almost journalistic style, we learn about India through the lens of micro events.
I like the book overall, and while the storytelling approach is non traditional, I did find it interesting and engaging. It made the story be more real, and showed aspects of India that are not often brought to life.
I struggled with a few things. First and foremost, the ambition of the author, while notable, was too much for what this book could deliver. It felt like an attempt to tell everything possible about India (corruption, caste system, misogyny, nationalism, social imbalances, tensions with the Indian "diaspora", generational gaps, political chauvinism, environmental destruction and climate change, etc, etc, etc). It wasn't done badly, but the plethora of topics didn't do justice to any single one of them. If I want to read about the poor, A Fine Balance is great, if I want to read about generational differences The Dream Builders does a better job, etc.
I also didn't like the relative shallowness of the main narrative. It felt like the mechanism to convey everything the author even wanted to say about India was not paid enough attention to. It was fine, but nothing beyond fine.
Overall, I recommend it to anyone looking to have an enjoyable and quick read about the recent history of India, without delving into any topic overly deeply. It's a nice introduction to the topic, and it's well written to boot.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I like the book overall, and while the storytelling approach is non traditional, I did find it interesting and engaging. It made the story be more real, and showed aspects of India that are not often brought to life.
I struggled with a few things. First and foremost, the ambition of the author, while notable, was too much for what this book could deliver. It felt like an attempt to tell everything possible about India (corruption, caste system, misogyny, nationalism, social imbalances, tensions with the Indian "diaspora", generational gaps, political chauvinism, environmental destruction and climate change, etc, etc, etc). It wasn't done badly, but the plethora of topics didn't do justice to any single one of them. If I want to read about the poor, A Fine Balance is great, if I want to read about generational differences The Dream Builders does a better job, etc.
I also didn't like the relative shallowness of the main narrative. It felt like the mechanism to convey everything the author even wanted to say about India was not paid enough attention to. It was fine, but nothing beyond fine.
Overall, I recommend it to anyone looking to have an enjoyable and quick read about the recent history of India, without delving into any topic overly deeply. It's a nice introduction to the topic, and it's well written to boot.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 19, 2024
3.5 stars
My Beloved Life is the story of Jadunath (Jadu) Kunwar's life from birth in a small village in the Indian state of Bihar in 1935 to death from Covid-19 in 2020. Jadu is an ordinary man whose life story begins before his birth when his mother survives a snake bite while she's pregnant with him. As a young man, he moves to Patna for college, becomes a history professor, marries, has a daughter and travels to the U.S. for a year as a Fulbright scholar. His daughter, Jugnu, leaves India after separating from her husband and travels to Atlanta, Georgia for graduate school and stays to work as a journalist at CNN seeing her father only occasionally over the passing years as she settles into her life as an immigrant in America.
My Beloved Life is a well-written novel that is ambitious in scope as it endeavours to tell the story of 85 years of India's history through the lens of one modest man's life. Jadu is very much a story teller at heart and, as he relays his own, he takes frequent tangents to tell the stories of the many people who have crossed his path over the course of his life.
Historical events and famous people are blended into Jadu's story as he lives through many of the pivotal events that took place in India in the 20th century. I found it all quite interesting, however, I didn't feel much in the way of an emotional connection to the story until Jugnu takes over as narrator and continues to tell their story but in a more personal way. Jugnu's point of view particularly as it related to the onset of the pandemic and the Covid lockdowns that kept her separated from her father was quite moving and relatable as I also lost my father to Covid.
Overall My Beloved Life was a satisfying read - well-written, informative, and interesting but I would have felt more engaged if there had been more emotional depth.
My Beloved Life is the story of Jadunath (Jadu) Kunwar's life from birth in a small village in the Indian state of Bihar in 1935 to death from Covid-19 in 2020. Jadu is an ordinary man whose life story begins before his birth when his mother survives a snake bite while she's pregnant with him. As a young man, he moves to Patna for college, becomes a history professor, marries, has a daughter and travels to the U.S. for a year as a Fulbright scholar. His daughter, Jugnu, leaves India after separating from her husband and travels to Atlanta, Georgia for graduate school and stays to work as a journalist at CNN seeing her father only occasionally over the passing years as she settles into her life as an immigrant in America.
My Beloved Life is a well-written novel that is ambitious in scope as it endeavours to tell the story of 85 years of India's history through the lens of one modest man's life. Jadu is very much a story teller at heart and, as he relays his own, he takes frequent tangents to tell the stories of the many people who have crossed his path over the course of his life.
Historical events and famous people are blended into Jadu's story as he lives through many of the pivotal events that took place in India in the 20th century. I found it all quite interesting, however, I didn't feel much in the way of an emotional connection to the story until Jugnu takes over as narrator and continues to tell their story but in a more personal way. Jugnu's point of view particularly as it related to the onset of the pandemic and the Covid lockdowns that kept her separated from her father was quite moving and relatable as I also lost my father to Covid.
Overall My Beloved Life was a satisfying read - well-written, informative, and interesting but I would have felt more engaged if there had been more emotional depth.
June 1, 2025
This is a family saga much like one hundred years of solitude. We travel through generations, get disoriented in time, and then end up in a COVID present. I love how ambitious Amitava Kumar is: “My Beloved Life” is simultaneously experimental fiction, cogent commentary on American and Indian popular culture, nation building in the wake of empire, a critique of local tribalisms and casteism vis à vis the state sanctioned disenfranchisement of people on the basis of religion. Like his other novels, it’s a love letter to his home state, Bihar. Above all, it is convincingly *someone’s* true story… one I wish I could have spent more time with 3
August 21, 2024
There are books that call you from the shelves of a book store, with a simple title, a sufficiently vague description and a promise of a great story. I am glad I read Amitava Kumar's Beloved Life because it's a study in how to write, apart from being a tender sweeping generational story. And now I wish to read everything that Amitava Kumar has written
March 26, 2025
I finally made my way to this masterpiece in Kumar's repertoire. This book shows you the power of mindfully noticing daily ordinary lives. Perhaps , that is also a good way to live. The observations about life in Bihar are authentic and do not suffer from the patronizing or ridiculing tone that most others suffer from. Truly an accomplishment.
January 26, 2025
This was a simultaneously moving and lighthearted, character driven story that will stick with me for a long time. While it was quite sad at times, overall, this book was an amazing and enjoyable read.
May 31, 2025
Took me a little bit to read. This book isn’t usually what I reach for. But at the end, I’m glad I did. Amitava had me thinking and taught me a lot. I very much learned about India and their culture. I love Jadu’s love for people
July 6, 2025
It took me quite a long time to settle in to this. It’s hard to describe the style which can feel a bit stilted and journalistic as the narrator, although fundamentally writing the story in a chronological order, skips back and forth between memories and anecdotes interrupting any narrative flow. Events are also written about very factually and it’s mainly left to the reader to make any inferences or judgements and I could find this rather distancing.
However things came together for me in the second part when the story is told through the daughter - a CNN reporter now based in the US. I’m not sure that much changed (although the storytelling did feel a bit more fluid) but maybe I had got used to the style, or was more familiar with the times that she is writing about.
Although basically this is just the story of a life, the way it is written does feel like something different. It definitely won’t suit everyone but by the end I was won over and I wonder now if I should read the first part again to see if I can appreciate it more. However what I think I’ll take away most is an insight into an area of India that I have little knowledge of - its recent history and politics as well as a look at the effects of the Covid pandemic and lockdown which I haven’t yet read too much about in contemporary literature.
However things came together for me in the second part when the story is told through the daughter - a CNN reporter now based in the US. I’m not sure that much changed (although the storytelling did feel a bit more fluid) but maybe I had got used to the style, or was more familiar with the times that she is writing about.
Although basically this is just the story of a life, the way it is written does feel like something different. It definitely won’t suit everyone but by the end I was won over and I wonder now if I should read the first part again to see if I can appreciate it more. However what I think I’ll take away most is an insight into an area of India that I have little knowledge of - its recent history and politics as well as a look at the effects of the Covid pandemic and lockdown which I haven’t yet read too much about in contemporary literature.
August 23, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ ---This book conveyed a beautiful scope of a life during some of the rapidly changing moments in modern India's history.
In the beginning, especially during Part 1: Jadu, it's easy to get lost in the lens. Some events get magnified that might make no sense, but keep reading. Depending on who tells it, the events change color. You'll start to see how Jadu captures one event, while Jugnu captures it another way. Some events are left to the individual and the collective doesn't even both tough. Exactly how things go in life.
Jadu was around some extraordinary people, yet has an "ordinary" life. Through this ordinary life, readers are able to see all of the massive changes that were undertaken in India. Some things did remain the same... modernity hadn't completely touched the rural parts, nor stripped the caste system away. The lesson is sweet in that he had a regular life that he really loved, ups and downs. Even with the bad things including death, theft, heartbreak, and imprisonment.
My favorite character was Jugnu. I really liked her, probably because I'm a female too and since she is more Americanized. I can relate to that a bit easier. Her love arcs are touching and it's amazing to see what she is able to accomplish in her own life.
In the beginning, especially during Part 1: Jadu, it's easy to get lost in the lens. Some events get magnified that might make no sense, but keep reading. Depending on who tells it, the events change color. You'll start to see how Jadu captures one event, while Jugnu captures it another way. Some events are left to the individual and the collective doesn't even both tough. Exactly how things go in life.
Jadu was around some extraordinary people, yet has an "ordinary" life. Through this ordinary life, readers are able to see all of the massive changes that were undertaken in India. Some things did remain the same... modernity hadn't completely touched the rural parts, nor stripped the caste system away. The lesson is sweet in that he had a regular life that he really loved, ups and downs. Even with the bad things including death, theft, heartbreak, and imprisonment.
My favorite character was Jugnu. I really liked her, probably because I'm a female too and since she is more Americanized. I can relate to that a bit easier. Her love arcs are touching and it's amazing to see what she is able to accomplish in her own life.
December 15, 2024
Amitava Kumar is a celebrated voice in contemporary literature and needs no introduction. His writing has a distinct earthiness that takes readers on a journey exploring the circle of life, right from birth to death. “My Beloved Life,” Kumar’s latest novel, revolves around Jadunath Kunwar, also known as Jadu. At the outset, Jadu’s life may appear to be ordinary. But Kumar’s skillful juxtaposition of Jadu’s mundane existence with political and historical events makes this book truly remarkable.
The book is divided into four sections. The primary focus is on Jadu, a history professor. His story unfolds in the third person POV. Jadu’s daughter, Jugnu, a journalist with CNN in Atlanta, narrates a significant portion of the story in her own voice. These perspectives are intertwined so seamlessly that the reader becomes a part of the story.
Jadu’s journey begins in Khewali, a remote village in Bihar. His birth is nothing short of miraculous. And yet, his life is largely mundane, punctuated by occasional significant moments. As the first in his family to attend college, Jadu embarks on a journey none of his kin has experienced. Curious by nature, and keen to find answers, Jadu becomes an observer. His observations enlighten him. Although he is keen on sharing the story of his life and poor origins with his classmates, he remains silent and thus learns about others. From this point onwards, caste and class divide become a major theme of the story.
His ordinary life is disrupted when he lands in jail for a brief period. This experience results in his political awakening. Another major turning point in the story is when Jadu receives a Fulbright Scholarship and moves to Berkeley. His letters to his wife are filled with descriptions of things he finds in the brightly lit stores. And yet a romantic would feel the subtle love in the words.
Throughout the novel, Jadu plays multiple roles. He is a son, brother, friend, husband, father, professor, and much more. Jugnu’s story, though it begins in Patna, moves to a different content. And yet, both narratives offer insights into every aspect of their lives and relationships.
Kumar integrates historical, political, and global events seamlessly into the story, and each of them leaves a mark on the reader. Be it The Emergency, the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests, or the rise of Modi. Beyond the themes of poverty, social discrimination, and inequality, the novel delves into close personal and relatable topics such as illness, death, ambition, marriage, failed love, and regrets.
Jadu’s life may be ordinary, but in Kumar’s words, it becomes extraordinary.
My Beloved Life is truly a beloved piece of work. Kumar’s narrative is intimate and universal at the same time. This profound exploration of human experiences, life, and the events that shape our stories will deeply resonate with readers.
Wordsopedia Rating–4.45/5
_________________________________________________
Connect with me on Twitter | Instagram | Blog and let’s talk BOOKS!!
The book is divided into four sections. The primary focus is on Jadu, a history professor. His story unfolds in the third person POV. Jadu’s daughter, Jugnu, a journalist with CNN in Atlanta, narrates a significant portion of the story in her own voice. These perspectives are intertwined so seamlessly that the reader becomes a part of the story.
Jadu’s journey begins in Khewali, a remote village in Bihar. His birth is nothing short of miraculous. And yet, his life is largely mundane, punctuated by occasional significant moments. As the first in his family to attend college, Jadu embarks on a journey none of his kin has experienced. Curious by nature, and keen to find answers, Jadu becomes an observer. His observations enlighten him. Although he is keen on sharing the story of his life and poor origins with his classmates, he remains silent and thus learns about others. From this point onwards, caste and class divide become a major theme of the story.
His ordinary life is disrupted when he lands in jail for a brief period. This experience results in his political awakening. Another major turning point in the story is when Jadu receives a Fulbright Scholarship and moves to Berkeley. His letters to his wife are filled with descriptions of things he finds in the brightly lit stores. And yet a romantic would feel the subtle love in the words.
Throughout the novel, Jadu plays multiple roles. He is a son, brother, friend, husband, father, professor, and much more. Jugnu’s story, though it begins in Patna, moves to a different content. And yet, both narratives offer insights into every aspect of their lives and relationships.
Kumar integrates historical, political, and global events seamlessly into the story, and each of them leaves a mark on the reader. Be it The Emergency, the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests, or the rise of Modi. Beyond the themes of poverty, social discrimination, and inequality, the novel delves into close personal and relatable topics such as illness, death, ambition, marriage, failed love, and regrets.
Jadu’s life may be ordinary, but in Kumar’s words, it becomes extraordinary.
My Beloved Life is truly a beloved piece of work. Kumar’s narrative is intimate and universal at the same time. This profound exploration of human experiences, life, and the events that shape our stories will deeply resonate with readers.
Wordsopedia Rating–4.45/5
_________________________________________________
Connect with me on Twitter | Instagram | Blog and let’s talk BOOKS!!
March 1, 2024
Thank you so much to Amitava Kumar for providing me a copy of your novel via Goodreads Giveaways! I am very grateful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"My Beloved Life" by Amitava Kumar is nothing short of a literary masterpiece that resonates with the essence of the human experience. This five-star novel takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the life of Jadunath Kunwar, a man whose existence mirrors the tumultuous yet extraordinary history of India from 1935 to 2020.
The narrative skillfully weaves together the mythical and the mundane, providing a rich tapestry of Jadu's life. From the precarious circumstances of his birth in a small Indian village to the heartbreaking end due to COVID-19 in 2020, every chapter is imbued with a profound sense of humanity. The author's vivid storytelling captures the essence of Jadu's struggles and triumphs, painting a poignant picture of a life well-lived.
Kumar's portrayal of Jadu's journey is not only an exploration of personal growth but also a reflection of the larger societal changes in India. The novel skillfully navigates the sweeping currents of historical events, from Independence to Partition, Gandhi to Modi, seamlessly blending them into the fabric of Jadu's narrative. The interplay between the mythical and the real adds a layer of complexity to the storytelling, making "My Beloved Life" a thought-provoking and deeply moving read.
The characters, especially Jadu's daughter, add depth and complexity to the narrative. Her journey, escaping a stifling marriage for a career in the United States, adds a contemporary and relatable dimension to the novel. The intricate relationships and the nuanced portrayal of the characters make the storytelling immersive and emotionally resonant.
Amitava Kumar's prose is lyrical and evocative, transporting readers into the heart of India's transformative history. The novel serves as a mirror to the socio-political changes that have shaped the nation, all seen through the eyes of one remarkable man. "My Beloved Life" is not just a novel; it is an odyssey, a testament to the human spirit, and a celebration of the resilience of the individual in the face of a changing world.
In a yearning for connection, Kumar has created a work that transcends time and borders, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's soul. "My Beloved Life" is a literary gem that deserves its place among the classics, and Amitava Kumar's storytelling prowess shines brightly in this exceptional exploration of life, love, and the ever-shifting sands of history. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a profound and enriching reading experience.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"My Beloved Life" by Amitava Kumar is nothing short of a literary masterpiece that resonates with the essence of the human experience. This five-star novel takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the life of Jadunath Kunwar, a man whose existence mirrors the tumultuous yet extraordinary history of India from 1935 to 2020.
The narrative skillfully weaves together the mythical and the mundane, providing a rich tapestry of Jadu's life. From the precarious circumstances of his birth in a small Indian village to the heartbreaking end due to COVID-19 in 2020, every chapter is imbued with a profound sense of humanity. The author's vivid storytelling captures the essence of Jadu's struggles and triumphs, painting a poignant picture of a life well-lived.
Kumar's portrayal of Jadu's journey is not only an exploration of personal growth but also a reflection of the larger societal changes in India. The novel skillfully navigates the sweeping currents of historical events, from Independence to Partition, Gandhi to Modi, seamlessly blending them into the fabric of Jadu's narrative. The interplay between the mythical and the real adds a layer of complexity to the storytelling, making "My Beloved Life" a thought-provoking and deeply moving read.
The characters, especially Jadu's daughter, add depth and complexity to the narrative. Her journey, escaping a stifling marriage for a career in the United States, adds a contemporary and relatable dimension to the novel. The intricate relationships and the nuanced portrayal of the characters make the storytelling immersive and emotionally resonant.
Amitava Kumar's prose is lyrical and evocative, transporting readers into the heart of India's transformative history. The novel serves as a mirror to the socio-political changes that have shaped the nation, all seen through the eyes of one remarkable man. "My Beloved Life" is not just a novel; it is an odyssey, a testament to the human spirit, and a celebration of the resilience of the individual in the face of a changing world.
In a yearning for connection, Kumar has created a work that transcends time and borders, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's soul. "My Beloved Life" is a literary gem that deserves its place among the classics, and Amitava Kumar's storytelling prowess shines brightly in this exceptional exploration of life, love, and the ever-shifting sands of history. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a profound and enriching reading experience.
July 18, 2024
I have never read a book like this before. MY BELOVED LIFE is a thick, ambitious novel following a man’s entire life, from birth to death, in postcolonial India, and also the life of his daughter who immigrates to America. This is the first multigenerational, transcontinental story I’ve read where the center of gravity doesn’t inevitably anchor in America. I expected certain conventions of the immigrant fiction genre, such as an obsession with one’s place in America and crises of identity, but this book doesn’t do any of that. America is just backdrop; India is the main character. This book is about histories of the self and society in India, interweaving personal and national narratives. The father, Jadu, himself is a historian who lives self-consciously through a ton of historic events, including being arrested during Emergency. At one point he even does a year-long Fulbright at Berkeley to study the history of Indians in the US. This book does a LOT. It follows Jadu’s trajectory from village poverty to college boyhood to becoming a global citizen and scholar to even becoming a Hindu nationalist in his old age. His daughter Jugnu has a whole traumatic backstory in India before she starts her new life as a journalist in America and then covers women’s issues in India. In addition to crossing so many historical events off the checklist, and referencing everyone from Tagore to Mississippi Masala, the author tries to pack in a LOT of social issues — caste, gender, class, corruption, diaspora tensions, racism and interracial love in the US. It is really ambitious but pulled off well. It was like two different novels were combined: Jadu’s story is written in a reserved third person that struck me as very classically Indian Dad, whereas Jugnu’s is in a candid first person that is more familiar to contemporary American fiction. I thought it was brilliant and allowed us to re-discuss the same events from different characters’ perspectives at different points. The final sequence made me cry, interweaving Jadu’s lover’s death with George Floyd’s murder and the Covid surge in India and James Baldwin and climate change. I never felt more connected to my Indian literary heritage as I did reading this book.
August 15, 2024
Very much a slow burner of a novel – one that initially had me conflicted but ended with me impressed with the author’s writing craft.
It starts with a lengthy third-party section told in the voice of Jadu(nath) who grows up in very humble circumstances in a small village in the Indian State of Bihar. The book begins with a family legend: his mother being bitten by a snake while pregnant with him; but for most of section we follow Jadu through his later life: at college in the State Capital of Patna where he studies history; his interactions with differences of caste and the strong sense of identity he gains from his own beginnings; visits back to his home village and the way his relationship with his parents alters; the developing politics of India (through wars with China, the founding of Bangladesh, Indira Ghandi’s state of emergency) – not least as some of his friends and later students become politically involved; a meeting with the Everest conqueror Tenzing Norgay; his own career lecturing history; his marriage and the birth of his daughter Jungu; a pilgrimage on which he accompanies his wife while his daughter is still very young (and which seems to lead to a perception of an emotional breach with his daughter which never quite heals); his parent’s death; his own brief imprisonment in the marches prior to the state of emergency; a humiliating incident when he loses his daughter’s dowry; his move to America as a Fulbright Scholar – and much more.
The style can seem very episodic in terms of Jadu’s life – moving forward from one incident to another, often with years between; and fragmentary when it features other people – many characters coming in for a brief cameo role - being described in detail and then lost from the story. Over time Jadu starts to think about whether he should move from his study of societal history (he is particularly interested in protest movements) to his own personal history and observations
And we increasingly sense that what we are reading would be the episodes and cameos that might feature in such a memoir – interspersed with political references that can feel slightly Wikipedia like in nature.
At times too I felt distanced a little from the story – and so was intrigued (and impressed with what I increasingly realised that the author was doing) when Jadu attends a play put on by his Professor (and one of his few real heroes in life) – a Hindi restaging of a Russian play – and we are told
The story then switches to a first party account told by Jungu (Jadu’s daughter) – now a journalist with CNN based in Atlanta, having suffered a very difficult marriage in India, with her move to the US to study at journalism school as a divorced mature student largely inspired by her father’s studies there. The present day part of the story is set in the 2020 – Jadu has died from COVID in India and Jungu, still upset that she did not take a call from him on the day he died, looks back on her own life (including a new relationship she makes in America but which then breaks due to work circumstances) and her memories of her father – particularly her interactions with him once she was in America.
And, given my feelings about the first half of the book, when I read Jungu saying
Or another time when he is declaiming on the “triumph of the oppressed”: “My father went on like this. He spoke as if he were reading out a Wikipedia entry.”
In the same way that her father studies and teaches history, and then looks for a way to tell his own history – but with a focus on what he can leave for his daughter to understand him; so much of Jungu’s section consists of her recounting people she has interviewed in an attempt to understand their stories – with we begin to understand at the heart of it her wanting to understand her parents and particularly her father’s story and life. And for both their deep held but often unacknowledged love for the other (and for others) is fundamental to the stories they are trying to register
And thinking of her father – his apparently simple live when measured against the political turmoil it took place against, she concludes:
The novel finished with two much shorter sections:
The first movingly is of Jadu in the last days of his life.
The last section by another character altogether (indirectly connected to Jungu) – a member of the Adivasi people who tells of the death of her mother (who worked running the family’s printing press business) – the daughter, who herself works in the printing press as well as sometimes as a print journalist, talks of the power of words to give hope in despair and oppression.
Note that the death of parents is an ever-constant theme in the novel as well as being a prime motivator – in the loss of both his parents – for Kumar writing it – at one point Jungu observes of Jadu: He had tried to tell the story of our nation at a point in time; but the story he was really telling was about the deaths of his parents.
My review has I think touched only on some of the aspects of this complex and impressive novel, one which argues that any life – but particularly one marked by loving and being loved – its both complex and impressive
It starts with a lengthy third-party section told in the voice of Jadu(nath) who grows up in very humble circumstances in a small village in the Indian State of Bihar. The book begins with a family legend: his mother being bitten by a snake while pregnant with him; but for most of section we follow Jadu through his later life: at college in the State Capital of Patna where he studies history; his interactions with differences of caste and the strong sense of identity he gains from his own beginnings; visits back to his home village and the way his relationship with his parents alters; the developing politics of India (through wars with China, the founding of Bangladesh, Indira Ghandi’s state of emergency) – not least as some of his friends and later students become politically involved; a meeting with the Everest conqueror Tenzing Norgay; his own career lecturing history; his marriage and the birth of his daughter Jungu; a pilgrimage on which he accompanies his wife while his daughter is still very young (and which seems to lead to a perception of an emotional breach with his daughter which never quite heals); his parent’s death; his own brief imprisonment in the marches prior to the state of emergency; a humiliating incident when he loses his daughter’s dowry; his move to America as a Fulbright Scholar – and much more.
The style can seem very episodic in terms of Jadu’s life – moving forward from one incident to another, often with years between; and fragmentary when it features other people – many characters coming in for a brief cameo role - being described in detail and then lost from the story. Over time Jadu starts to think about whether he should move from his study of societal history (he is particularly interested in protest movements) to his own personal history and observations
He had written enough history; now, with half his life over, he would try his hand at giving meaning to his own experiences. His daughter was almost ten now. What would she know of him when she was older?
And we increasingly sense that what we are reading would be the episodes and cameos that might feature in such a memoir – interspersed with political references that can feel slightly Wikipedia like in nature.
At times too I felt distanced a little from the story – and so was intrigued (and impressed with what I increasingly realised that the author was doing) when Jadu attends a play put on by his Professor (and one of his few real heroes in life) – a Hindi restaging of a Russian play – and we are told
Jadu felt all this was familiar, and yet, the play kept him at a distance ….Jadu asked himself if Professor Dey wanted them to understand that the role of art was not to simply stage stories where you could, as a reader or a viewer, identify yourself with the character. The goal could well be to create a sense of alienation and even discomfort.
The story then switches to a first party account told by Jungu (Jadu’s daughter) – now a journalist with CNN based in Atlanta, having suffered a very difficult marriage in India, with her move to the US to study at journalism school as a divorced mature student largely inspired by her father’s studies there. The present day part of the story is set in the 2020 – Jadu has died from COVID in India and Jungu, still upset that she did not take a call from him on the day he died, looks back on her own life (including a new relationship she makes in America but which then breaks due to work circumstances) and her memories of her father – particularly her interactions with him once she was in America.
And, given my feelings about the first half of the book, when I read Jungu saying
And I had received through his words the lesson that love exists between people but is only rarely acknowledged: it is given expression, if at all, perhaps only as regret. I couldn’t have shaped this lesson in so many words but that is the principal emotion I appear to have absorbed from that evening. I couldn’t talk to my father about what he had meant. Even during this visit, there was a practiced, even unconscious, reticence on so many subjects. There were times, however, when I felt that my father was offering me pages from his memoir.
Or another time when he is declaiming on the “triumph of the oppressed”: “My father went on like this. He spoke as if he were reading out a Wikipedia entry.”
In the same way that her father studies and teaches history, and then looks for a way to tell his own history – but with a focus on what he can leave for his daughter to understand him; so much of Jungu’s section consists of her recounting people she has interviewed in an attempt to understand their stories – with we begin to understand at the heart of it her wanting to understand her parents and particularly her father’s story and life. And for both their deep held but often unacknowledged love for the other (and for others) is fundamental to the stories they are trying to register
And thinking of her father – his apparently simple live when measured against the political turmoil it took place against, she concludes:
I believe strongly that we are in touch with a great astonishing mystery when we put honest words down on paper to register a life and to offer witness. Everything else is ordinary.
The novel finished with two much shorter sections:
The first movingly is of Jadu in the last days of his life.
The last section by another character altogether (indirectly connected to Jungu) – a member of the Adivasi people who tells of the death of her mother (who worked running the family’s printing press business) – the daughter, who herself works in the printing press as well as sometimes as a print journalist, talks of the power of words to give hope in despair and oppression.
Note that the death of parents is an ever-constant theme in the novel as well as being a prime motivator – in the loss of both his parents – for Kumar writing it – at one point Jungu observes of Jadu: He had tried to tell the story of our nation at a point in time; but the story he was really telling was about the deaths of his parents.
My review has I think touched only on some of the aspects of this complex and impressive novel, one which argues that any life – but particularly one marked by loving and being loved – its both complex and impressive
June 26, 2024
Deciding to pick this book was hardly a task given the density of the blurb and the beautiful cover. I mean just look at it!💐
The blurb mentions the turbulence that moves Jadu’s life in a way one can never imagine.
I always look for a crusty edge to hold onto when I decide to read a book that should be interesting enough for me to go through the journey of the characters and this reading gave me that. Oh, the wonderful opening of the story!
The writing is crafty and marvelous. The unpacking of the plot, bit by bit, unveils the harsh reality of the nation. The plot sheds light on how much weight individual efforts carry. All lives together pushes the movement towards the center and away from the periphery. Fictionalized testimony of history is the need of the hour to cover more and more unheard lives.
The introductory writing and intensity of the novel worked wonders for me. The mixing of the politics, history with the lives of the father-daughter duo and still loaded with moments that will keep you grounded covered the rest of my expectations. The generational difference is described with utmost precision.
4.7/5 ⭐️
Thank you Aleph Publications for the copy.
The blurb mentions the turbulence that moves Jadu’s life in a way one can never imagine.
I always look for a crusty edge to hold onto when I decide to read a book that should be interesting enough for me to go through the journey of the characters and this reading gave me that. Oh, the wonderful opening of the story!
The writing is crafty and marvelous. The unpacking of the plot, bit by bit, unveils the harsh reality of the nation. The plot sheds light on how much weight individual efforts carry. All lives together pushes the movement towards the center and away from the periphery. Fictionalized testimony of history is the need of the hour to cover more and more unheard lives.
The introductory writing and intensity of the novel worked wonders for me. The mixing of the politics, history with the lives of the father-daughter duo and still loaded with moments that will keep you grounded covered the rest of my expectations. The generational difference is described with utmost precision.
4.7/5 ⭐️
Thank you Aleph Publications for the copy.
July 11, 2024
My Beloved Life by Amitava Kumar is a book about the ordinary events of an ordinary man’s life penned in an extraordinary fashion.
Jadunath and his daughter Jugnu are the two protagonists around whom this book is centred but they are not the only characters one comes across. Jadunath, is a history professor, who lives humbly with the limited means he possesses and can afford. Sincerely, following the expected societal norms. While his daughter is destined for an unusual fate, with stark differences from what her family would wish or rather expect for her.
The reality of life in rural India, experiencing the grassroot, superstition, rituals, culture, living through its gradual progress, political events affecting the masses and a pandemic are a few major events that drive the plot and also affect life in more ways than expected.
There’s so much to relate to in the plot for its authenticity and simplicity. It evokes nostalgia, pride and regret. It’s a story of love, loss, joy, sorrow and all of life’s shades. The myriad characters and events add to the wholesome quality of a life as a journey.
Verdict: Don’t miss it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jadunath and his daughter Jugnu are the two protagonists around whom this book is centred but they are not the only characters one comes across. Jadunath, is a history professor, who lives humbly with the limited means he possesses and can afford. Sincerely, following the expected societal norms. While his daughter is destined for an unusual fate, with stark differences from what her family would wish or rather expect for her.
The reality of life in rural India, experiencing the grassroot, superstition, rituals, culture, living through its gradual progress, political events affecting the masses and a pandemic are a few major events that drive the plot and also affect life in more ways than expected.
There’s so much to relate to in the plot for its authenticity and simplicity. It evokes nostalgia, pride and regret. It’s a story of love, loss, joy, sorrow and all of life’s shades. The myriad characters and events add to the wholesome quality of a life as a journey.
Verdict: Don’t miss it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 27, 2024
Ah, this book! My beloved life by Amitava Kumar has left an indelible mark on my heart and mind. I'm still reeling from the emotional resonance of Jadunath Kunwar's journey, which unfolded like a tender, introspective conversation with an old friend. The author's masterful storytelling wove a tapestry of myth and history, love and loss, and the human search for meaning. I found myself deeply invested in Jadu's triumphs and setbacks, and his story sparked memories of my own family's struggles and triumphs. This book is more than just a beautifully crafted narrative – it's a reminder of our shared humanity and the power of stories to connect us across time and cultures. I'll return to My beloved life again and again, like a cherished friend, and let its wisdom guide me through life's joys and challenges.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Knopf Publisher for providing me with an advance copy of My beloved life in exchange for an honest review ♥️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Knopf Publisher for providing me with an advance copy of My beloved life in exchange for an honest review ♥️
October 14, 2024
This book was suggested to me by my sister, Vicki. A quick summary from the inside cover...An absorbing, exceptionally moving novel that traces the art of a man's life.
The book is written in four parts: Jadu, Jugnu, Jadu, and Maati. To be honest, I only read through the first part (through pages 158). I had the hardest time reading more than 4-5 pages, and would need to put it down. The last line on the inside cover says...here is a novel from a singularly gifted writer about how we tell stories and write history, how individuals pay a counterpoint to big movements, how no single life is without consequence.
I may give it another try as I did like learning about life in India and their traditions. Sometimes, it is just not the right type of book you want to read at the time.
The book is written in four parts: Jadu, Jugnu, Jadu, and Maati. To be honest, I only read through the first part (through pages 158). I had the hardest time reading more than 4-5 pages, and would need to put it down. The last line on the inside cover says...here is a novel from a singularly gifted writer about how we tell stories and write history, how individuals pay a counterpoint to big movements, how no single life is without consequence.
I may give it another try as I did like learning about life in India and their traditions. Sometimes, it is just not the right type of book you want to read at the time.
April 1, 2024
Jadunath Kunwar is born after his mother was bitten by a Cobra. This begins the story of his life. Jadu's life story becomes the history of India. From meeting the Sherpa that leads the climbers, Ghandi, and living all the changes in India's history. Jadu is modest man and keeps his encounters and involvement in this history to himself. His daughter is born and she continues to follow Inida's history as she becomes a journalist in the United States. As his life started his life ended in a historical event - COVID. We are brought back and forth into his life through his eyes and the eyes of his daughter. Beautifully written. I am looking forward to meeting the author at Booktopia in April.
May 9, 2024
This is primarily the story of a man's life from the 1930's to the present in India. It is also a sort of primer on Indian politics in the same time frame. The story is told from three points of view but not in alternating chapters. Each point of view gets ample time so that the reader becomes immersed in that person's life. In this case, this is very effective story telling. The second and third points of view clarify and refine the story. The book was a slow starter for me but as I read on I became more and more interested in the characters and how their lives unfolded. The end really made this work very impactful to me.
October 17, 2024
Amitava Kumar's My Beloved Life is like watching a drawn Test Match, which, if you think about it, is among sport's best approximations of life itself. It is long. The craft on display is of the highest order. Passages of banal happenings are interspersed with extraordinary moments (a ripping leg-spinner here, a brilliant turn of phrase there). You are, in essence, taking the scenic route to an unemphatic climax. And because the drama is so subtle, you are never quite swept away and experiencing things, just merely consuming from a distance.
A connoisseur will find much to admire here. But, I also found myself wanting a bit more masala.
A connoisseur will find much to admire here. But, I also found myself wanting a bit more masala.
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