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Edge of Light #1
The Leaving of Things
Vikram is not your model Indian-American teenager. Rebellious and adrift in late 1980s Wisconsin, he is resentful of his Indian roots and has no clue what he wants from his future—other than to escape his family’s life of endless moving and financial woes. But after a drunken weekend turns disastrous, Vikram’s outraged parents decide to pack up the family and return to India—permanently.
So begins a profound journey of self-discovery as Vikram, struggling with loneliness, culture shock, and the chaos of daily Indian life, finds his creativity awakened by a new romance and an old camera. His artistic gifts bring him closer to a place and family he barely knew. But a devastating family crisis challenges Vikram’s sense of his destiny, hurtling him toward a crossroads where he must make the fateful choice between India, the land of his soul, and America, the land of his heart.
So begins a profound journey of self-discovery as Vikram, struggling with loneliness, culture shock, and the chaos of daily Indian life, finds his creativity awakened by a new romance and an old camera. His artistic gifts bring him closer to a place and family he barely knew. But a devastating family crisis challenges Vikram’s sense of his destiny, hurtling him toward a crossroads where he must make the fateful choice between India, the land of his soul, and America, the land of his heart.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
591 people are currently reading
2427 people want to read
About the author
Jay Antani
9 books54 followersJay Antani is a lifelong lover of stories, both the personal and the fantastic. He came to writing by way of film studies, commercial illustration, and film journalism. After receiving his MFA from USC, Jay published “The Leaving of Things” (Lake Union, 2014), an award-winning coming-of-age saga about finding one’s voice in a world of clashing and competing cultures. “Edge of Light” is a total departure, a YA sci-fi adventure set against the backdrop of war, environmental collapse, and a possible alien pandemic. As a fan of alien invasion stories, adventurous journeys, and conspiratorial thrillers, “Edge of Light” packs in everything Jay loves about the sci-fi genre while continuing his exploration of such themes as friendship, loyalty, and courage amidst the call of destiny. Connect with Jay at jayantani.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Connect with Jay at jayantani.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
April 24, 2018
4 Stars
Set in the late '80s, this was a great coming of age story about 17 year old Indian-American Vikram as he is uprooted from his life in the States when his family decide to move back to India.
Vikram deals with major feelings of cultural displacement, yet he disgruntledly attempts to forge a new life in a country he barely remembers from his childhood. He misses his friends and girlfriend back in America and doesn’t know how to make his professional aspirations a reality in his new environment. Over the course of the story Vikram has to make some pretty heavy life-changing decisions that will impact not only himself, but also his family, in order to follow his own dreams and to make his future brighter.
The story is beautifully written. The often harsh and sometimes shocking Indian environment that Vikram faces was fascinating and memorably vivid in all its descriptive glory. I’ve never been to India, but through reading this story I feel like I was taken on a personal tour, one which highlighted the highs and lows of a vastly different lifestyle and culture in superb detail.
Although slow-paced at times, I truly enjoyed following Vikram’s personal journey and I look forward to reading future stories from this talented author.
Set in the late '80s, this was a great coming of age story about 17 year old Indian-American Vikram as he is uprooted from his life in the States when his family decide to move back to India.
Vikram deals with major feelings of cultural displacement, yet he disgruntledly attempts to forge a new life in a country he barely remembers from his childhood. He misses his friends and girlfriend back in America and doesn’t know how to make his professional aspirations a reality in his new environment. Over the course of the story Vikram has to make some pretty heavy life-changing decisions that will impact not only himself, but also his family, in order to follow his own dreams and to make his future brighter.
The story is beautifully written. The often harsh and sometimes shocking Indian environment that Vikram faces was fascinating and memorably vivid in all its descriptive glory. I’ve never been to India, but through reading this story I feel like I was taken on a personal tour, one which highlighted the highs and lows of a vastly different lifestyle and culture in superb detail.
Although slow-paced at times, I truly enjoyed following Vikram’s personal journey and I look forward to reading future stories from this talented author.
June 21, 2013
I was surprised by how gentle this book was. Deftly navigating the difficulties of feeling part of two cultures, the narrator Vikram is delightfully vulnerable, which made for a very interesting read. I was taken by the vivid details of India, some harsh and some poignant, which juxtaposed against Vikram's sensitivities and became an integral part of the unfolding--the crucial decisions that he must make in order to stay true to himself. The relationships in the novel (father/son, mother/son, brother/brother, uncle/nephew, man/woman, friend/friend) are also handled with similar grace, expecting the reader to approach with empathy and leave with understanding. I was taken with this novel and recommend it highly.
December 29, 2020
In the late 1980s, Vikram and his family leave Wisconsin and travel back to India. Vikram has difficulty adapting to life in India, after spending ten of his formative years in the US. Vikram meets relatives he had not previously known, faces family challenges, deals with a new school, finds new friends, and attempts to figure out what he will do with the rest of his life. I enjoyed the descriptions of life in India. I found this a decent, though not exceptional, coming of age story.
December 4, 2013
I'll try to be kind, really I will. At almost 40% finished, I had to stop reading. I'm surprised at the 4.28 rating and that so many reviewers said the book is well-written and interesting - I found it neither.
The main character is 19 years old, yet writes that he "felt only emptiness, a sense that the letter was a friendly but ultimately perfunctory gesture. It shocked me how little Nate's words resonated with me." Really? From a young man? Another issue I just couldn't get around was the way Vic's parents spoke. The family had lived in the US for many years, yet sometimes omitted articles and sometimes didn't ... "In meantime," my father continued, turning to my mother, "we'll get gardener and new car by the end of year." It's just odd and distracting. But what put me over the edge was this... "Priya shooked her head, smiling." Shooked? Hmmmm. I had to move on.
The main character is 19 years old, yet writes that he "felt only emptiness, a sense that the letter was a friendly but ultimately perfunctory gesture. It shocked me how little Nate's words resonated with me." Really? From a young man? Another issue I just couldn't get around was the way Vic's parents spoke. The family had lived in the US for many years, yet sometimes omitted articles and sometimes didn't ... "In meantime," my father continued, turning to my mother, "we'll get gardener and new car by the end of year." It's just odd and distracting. But what put me over the edge was this... "Priya shooked her head, smiling." Shooked? Hmmmm. I had to move on.
July 31, 2013
`Life wasn't about choices. It was a sentence handed down to you.'
What a complete pleasure to encounter a writer of the stature of Jay Antani! This handsome young Los Angeles film journalist, fiction writer and graphic novelist thankfully has focused his literary skills in writing THE LEAVING OF THINGS - a true test of whether a writer with his considerable background can pull off a full length novel that is at once entertaining, instructive and compelling. The answer is a mighty, YES!
Some phrases pop in mind in attempting to start a `review' of the experience of reading this delightful novel, phrases such as Robert Burns, `O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!' or Thoreau `Things do not change; we change' or Italo Calvino `The ideal place for me is the one in which it is most natural to live as a foreigner' come to mind. But the real success of this novel is the insight Antani gives us about being a man without a country (remember Kurt Vonnegut) - the displaced immigrant whose alliance with an adopted country alters perceptions of home. But as Antani shows us so gracefully here, returning to the home hearth has lessons all its own and those lessons expand the mind and heart in a way few other authors have been able to communicate as well.
Very briefly (because by word of mouth most people know the gist of this book) Vikram is a young Indian born transplanted to the US Americanized teenager who, happy with his life in his adopted Wisconsin with his friends Nate, Karl and especially Shannon, is abruptly removed from his comfort zone and repatriated to his native India with his family (father has a better job offer but Vikram's behavior adds to the abrupt relocation!). The remainder of the book is Vikram's re-assimilation into the culture, foods, traditions, restrictions, and essence of India - a challenge that becomes a semblance of coming of age type adventure that results in a man who can make his own sculpted vision for his future.
Antani immerses the reader in the flavors and scents and atmosphere of India, using Gujarati words that he places in italics so that the reader can comfortably turn to the glossary of definitions in the back of the book and stay with the immediacy of the story - a wise choice in maintaining the nuances Vikram faces without the need for following conversational words with parenthetical translations (a trick more writers should adopt). But that is only one reason this story is so consistently mesmerizing. It overflows with a joie de vivre that holds the attention of the reader to the last page. Vikram changes and grows from his reverse immigration experience. As Aristotle stated, `Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.' THE LEAVING OF THINGS is a major success for a debut novel and we will most likely be gifted with another Jay Antani novel soon.
Grady Harp
What a complete pleasure to encounter a writer of the stature of Jay Antani! This handsome young Los Angeles film journalist, fiction writer and graphic novelist thankfully has focused his literary skills in writing THE LEAVING OF THINGS - a true test of whether a writer with his considerable background can pull off a full length novel that is at once entertaining, instructive and compelling. The answer is a mighty, YES!
Some phrases pop in mind in attempting to start a `review' of the experience of reading this delightful novel, phrases such as Robert Burns, `O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!' or Thoreau `Things do not change; we change' or Italo Calvino `The ideal place for me is the one in which it is most natural to live as a foreigner' come to mind. But the real success of this novel is the insight Antani gives us about being a man without a country (remember Kurt Vonnegut) - the displaced immigrant whose alliance with an adopted country alters perceptions of home. But as Antani shows us so gracefully here, returning to the home hearth has lessons all its own and those lessons expand the mind and heart in a way few other authors have been able to communicate as well.
Very briefly (because by word of mouth most people know the gist of this book) Vikram is a young Indian born transplanted to the US Americanized teenager who, happy with his life in his adopted Wisconsin with his friends Nate, Karl and especially Shannon, is abruptly removed from his comfort zone and repatriated to his native India with his family (father has a better job offer but Vikram's behavior adds to the abrupt relocation!). The remainder of the book is Vikram's re-assimilation into the culture, foods, traditions, restrictions, and essence of India - a challenge that becomes a semblance of coming of age type adventure that results in a man who can make his own sculpted vision for his future.
Antani immerses the reader in the flavors and scents and atmosphere of India, using Gujarati words that he places in italics so that the reader can comfortably turn to the glossary of definitions in the back of the book and stay with the immediacy of the story - a wise choice in maintaining the nuances Vikram faces without the need for following conversational words with parenthetical translations (a trick more writers should adopt). But that is only one reason this story is so consistently mesmerizing. It overflows with a joie de vivre that holds the attention of the reader to the last page. Vikram changes and grows from his reverse immigration experience. As Aristotle stated, `Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.' THE LEAVING OF THINGS is a major success for a debut novel and we will most likely be gifted with another Jay Antani novel soon.
Grady Harp
March 20, 2015
This book is beautifully written; rather not for the story it has to tell, but for the story it is able to pull from the reader's own memories. You will either love this book or hate it. It is not a page turner that has you guessing what will happen next. The story is subtle and this book causes the reader to become personally involved in their own story, their own life and their own memories. Childhood memories, family memories, young lovers, school, Indian traffic, Bollywood music, the sights and smells of Indian food, the Taj, the train, the Indian people, the colors, the corruption and inefficiencies, the chaos, the indifference, the smiles, etc. The story will either awaken your own personal memories making them resonate, or it will not. For me it did, American home memories and visiting India memories. All came to colorful life, as only India knows how.
March 20, 2020
The Leaving of Things is one of those books that could be overlooked, but when I begin reading it and became one with the protagonist, I knew it would not be overlooked for long. This novel, about a young man returning to his parent's homeland (India), after growing up in America, was beautiful and not punchy. Pockets of drama did not drown the story but enhanced the reality of life from the perspective of a 17-year-old and gently lured us into his emotional journey.
Although I considered The Leaving of Things a pure story, it had the 'stuff' of great story-telling, and the ability to pull the reader into the thoughts and emotions of the protagonist and his family. It wasn't a blockbuster, just a very well crafted story.
Although I considered The Leaving of Things a pure story, it had the 'stuff' of great story-telling, and the ability to pull the reader into the thoughts and emotions of the protagonist and his family. It wasn't a blockbuster, just a very well crafted story.
November 17, 2020
‘I think it’s way more than a dream’ – an intensely involving new achievement
California author Jay Antani earned his MFA from USC and made an impressive novel debut with THE LEAVING OF THINGS. This handsome young Los Angeles film journalist, fiction writer, copywriter, editor and graphic novelist thankfully has focused his literary skills in writing, announcing his arrival with THE LEAVING OF THINGS, his immensely sensitive and impressive debut novel, and now he adds EDGE OF LIGHT- a science fiction adventure ‘flavored with horror, conspiracy, action, and the loyalties found only in the closest of friendships.’
Though Jay opens his novel in the year 2030, the setting seems very in keeping with contemporary events – the horrendous wildfires in California of this year – so his story becomes immediately credible: ‘We’re on our way to the game when Abby gives me and Conner the news. She’ll be moving east with her family after the fall semester, probably I January. With her father out of work and the California fires making her younger brother’s breathing worse, it all makes sense. Conner says he’s sorry to hear, maybe it’s for the best, but I stay quiet. Hard to speak when you feel like you just got sucker punched in the chest…’ And with that tame tone they arrive at the game – and the ‘blinding thing’ invades the skies, and the story launches.
Condensing the plot with a terse synopsis allows the reader to prepare for the inner message of the story – ‘A discovery of alien origin promises to destroy mankind or expand its horizons forever. Now the race is on to possess . . . what only one boy can protect. On October 23, 2030, a meteor explodes over Los Angeles, triggering chaos and panic. For seventeen-year-old Dev Harrison, the event coincides with a strange, recurring dream in which his long-disappeared physicist father reveals to him a location high on a Tahoe peak where he’s hidden the world’s most coveted scientific secret. Eager to see if there’s any truth to the dream, Dev hits the road with his best friends Abby and Conner. But their journey across a bleak California is far more dangerous than they imagined as they encounter fanatic separatists, mysterious drones, and a ruthless federal agent. Worst of all are the “crawlers”—not human, not animal, terrifying creatures whose appearance in the wake of the meteor is no coincidence. Courage, loyalty, wits: The friends want for none of these, but their adventure will demand much more. Especially after a conspiracy comes to light, and Dev realizes he’s all that stands between protecting his father’s legacy and global forces hellbent on altering the fate of the universe.’
Yes, the story is a rocket ride, but the manner in which Jay Antani utilizes a ‘sci-fi’ tale to honor his philosophy of our need to honor friends, family – humanity! EDGE OF LIGHT appears to be Book 1 of a series. For that we all can be grateful.
California author Jay Antani earned his MFA from USC and made an impressive novel debut with THE LEAVING OF THINGS. This handsome young Los Angeles film journalist, fiction writer, copywriter, editor and graphic novelist thankfully has focused his literary skills in writing, announcing his arrival with THE LEAVING OF THINGS, his immensely sensitive and impressive debut novel, and now he adds EDGE OF LIGHT- a science fiction adventure ‘flavored with horror, conspiracy, action, and the loyalties found only in the closest of friendships.’
Though Jay opens his novel in the year 2030, the setting seems very in keeping with contemporary events – the horrendous wildfires in California of this year – so his story becomes immediately credible: ‘We’re on our way to the game when Abby gives me and Conner the news. She’ll be moving east with her family after the fall semester, probably I January. With her father out of work and the California fires making her younger brother’s breathing worse, it all makes sense. Conner says he’s sorry to hear, maybe it’s for the best, but I stay quiet. Hard to speak when you feel like you just got sucker punched in the chest…’ And with that tame tone they arrive at the game – and the ‘blinding thing’ invades the skies, and the story launches.
Condensing the plot with a terse synopsis allows the reader to prepare for the inner message of the story – ‘A discovery of alien origin promises to destroy mankind or expand its horizons forever. Now the race is on to possess . . . what only one boy can protect. On October 23, 2030, a meteor explodes over Los Angeles, triggering chaos and panic. For seventeen-year-old Dev Harrison, the event coincides with a strange, recurring dream in which his long-disappeared physicist father reveals to him a location high on a Tahoe peak where he’s hidden the world’s most coveted scientific secret. Eager to see if there’s any truth to the dream, Dev hits the road with his best friends Abby and Conner. But their journey across a bleak California is far more dangerous than they imagined as they encounter fanatic separatists, mysterious drones, and a ruthless federal agent. Worst of all are the “crawlers”—not human, not animal, terrifying creatures whose appearance in the wake of the meteor is no coincidence. Courage, loyalty, wits: The friends want for none of these, but their adventure will demand much more. Especially after a conspiracy comes to light, and Dev realizes he’s all that stands between protecting his father’s legacy and global forces hellbent on altering the fate of the universe.’
Yes, the story is a rocket ride, but the manner in which Jay Antani utilizes a ‘sci-fi’ tale to honor his philosophy of our need to honor friends, family – humanity! EDGE OF LIGHT appears to be Book 1 of a series. For that we all can be grateful.
June 5, 2018
I really should have bailed on this book. The MC is an entitled, spoiled, whiny character who essentially makes no growth through the whole book. The entire premise of why they decide to leave the United States is flimsy (well, at least the initial reason given, though later discussions don't make the reason much clearer). The major plot points were obvious, way too early in the story. There was no depth, there was no character to like, there was no signficant plot, and eveything that was there was centered around a selfish, annoying teenager who has issues around women. So much sexism and rape culture. None of it was called out and it was made worse by the fact that the cultural norms in India discourage contact between the sexes and here's the MC pushing himself on a girl he knows is engaged. There were so many parts of this book that were just horrible and disgusting. I routinely had to take breaks from it. Lastly, it didn't feel authentic. No one lives in the dairy state and holds up Baskin Robbins as the standard for ice cream. No one. It's also obvious when streets are referenced, but relative distances are way messed up. I picked up this book in part because of the local connection, but that made it all the worse when I realized the author had probably not spent much, if any time, in the Midwest. This book was a complete disappointment and one I do not recommend to anyone.
January 13, 2021
This book was so stuffed full of crazy things, I couldn't stop reading it!
😲 Crawlers (a new monster to add to your nightmares)
😲 Wildfires.
😲 Viruses.
😲 Meteors.
😲 Warring nations.
😲 The world has gone to hell.
The three teens are trying to single-handedly figure out how to make something, anything right again. As they head out on a road trip to retrieve something left behind by Dev's dad, their world goes absolutely insane.
This was an exciting, page-turning story that has a great mix of sci-fi and thriller action. I loved the banter between the three main characters. Their friendship made the overall adventure so much fun. I loved the little things that would happen that provide a bit of a laugh in between the serious, heart-racing parts. The plot was excellent, and I can't wait to read book 2! The only thing that deterred this from being a 5 star for me was the portions of the story that focused really heavily on scientific information. I think that could have been reduced a little. If you enjoy stories about space/aliens/apocalypse/adventure I think you might like this one!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
😲 Crawlers (a new monster to add to your nightmares)
😲 Wildfires.
😲 Viruses.
😲 Meteors.
😲 Warring nations.
😲 The world has gone to hell.
The three teens are trying to single-handedly figure out how to make something, anything right again. As they head out on a road trip to retrieve something left behind by Dev's dad, their world goes absolutely insane.
This was an exciting, page-turning story that has a great mix of sci-fi and thriller action. I loved the banter between the three main characters. Their friendship made the overall adventure so much fun. I loved the little things that would happen that provide a bit of a laugh in between the serious, heart-racing parts. The plot was excellent, and I can't wait to read book 2! The only thing that deterred this from being a 5 star for me was the portions of the story that focused really heavily on scientific information. I think that could have been reduced a little. If you enjoy stories about space/aliens/apocalypse/adventure I think you might like this one!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
February 28, 2015
The Leaving of Things is about a boy, Vikram who is the eldest son of parents who came to America for work etc. They live in Wisconsin and Vikram is happy with his girlfriend Shannon until his dad decides it's time to go back.
So they are back in India and Vikram isn't happy and starts college and meets another girl but she's off limits. He and Shannon break up and he misses is friends and doesn't fit in with the locals.
I don't know what it is about this book that sort of faded away about half way through. It was told through Vikram and he's a good narrator and the writing is okay but the story wasn't there. I didn't care enough about Vik to sympathize with his feelings about being relocated and about his angst about being put in a position that he has no choice about.
It was just so-so for me. but finish-able.
So they are back in India and Vikram isn't happy and starts college and meets another girl but she's off limits. He and Shannon break up and he misses is friends and doesn't fit in with the locals.
I don't know what it is about this book that sort of faded away about half way through. It was told through Vikram and he's a good narrator and the writing is okay but the story wasn't there. I didn't care enough about Vik to sympathize with his feelings about being relocated and about his angst about being put in a position that he has no choice about.
It was just so-so for me. but finish-able.
December 22, 2014
I can't think of a better book to take my Goodreads review virginity. I couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading and I hope more people have the chance to discover the author... though with all the great reviews I don't fathom that will be very difficult. It's very smart and well written. And also relatable for me, as I too am an immigrant and struggled with the same transition.
In short, it's dabomb.com. Read it!
In short, it's dabomb.com. Read it!
February 25, 2017
This book has an interesting premise: the struggle of an Indian-born boy who was raised in the states and is now returning after his senior year of high school. Unfortunately, that's where the interesting and intrigue stop. It's a good story, but it's not remarkable, perception altering, or even clever. I didn't hate this book, but I don't think my perspective broaden because of it either.
December 2, 2020
Loved it!
If you’re looking for a book that’s easy to read, with decent science, a good story with a sequel setup, this book is for you.
If you’re looking for a book that’s easy to read, with decent science, a good story with a sequel setup, this book is for you.
November 30, 2020
Huge thanks to Jay Antani for sending me a copy of this beauty to read in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! What a wild ride this was! This story takes places in 2030 post-apocalyptic California. We follow three teens; Dev, Conner and Abby as they go on treasure hunt for clues leading to information on the disappearance of Dev's scientist father. There's non-stop action, romance, mystery, aliens, science, time-travel, family and lovable characters. I couldn't stop reading this and I swallowed this beauty in two days. I couldn't get enough. This is the first installment in the series and I will impatiently waiting for the second. Jay...hurry up.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because some of the science felt tedious to me. However, I appreciate the amount of work and research it takes to understand the level of science discussed. Nevertheless, this won't stop me from reading it again and I recommend this to anyone who needs a good sci-fi adventure!
Wow! What a wild ride this was! This story takes places in 2030 post-apocalyptic California. We follow three teens; Dev, Conner and Abby as they go on treasure hunt for clues leading to information on the disappearance of Dev's scientist father. There's non-stop action, romance, mystery, aliens, science, time-travel, family and lovable characters. I couldn't stop reading this and I swallowed this beauty in two days. I couldn't get enough. This is the first installment in the series and I will impatiently waiting for the second. Jay...hurry up.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because some of the science felt tedious to me. However, I appreciate the amount of work and research it takes to understand the level of science discussed. Nevertheless, this won't stop me from reading it again and I recommend this to anyone who needs a good sci-fi adventure!
November 7, 2015
What a sweet, heartfelt book! I found it very interesting to see a slice of life from the perspective of a young man, going back with his family, against his will, to live in India, the country of his birth, but not where he grew up. I have traveled to India on business and fell in love with it. This book really takes you back to the sights, sounds and smells of this enchanted and rustic, yet modern place.
October 16, 2017
2.5 stars. I liked the concept of the book- almost the reverse of the typical immigrant story- and I liked the setting in India; however, several of the story lines felt truncated and underdeveloped. Also the challenge with first person narration is that the author has to assume the voice of the narrator and for much of this book I kept thinking 'there is no way a 17-18 year old boy would speak or think this way.'
December 7, 2018
Probably culturally interesting, and more so because I chose the audiobook version, than anything else. Well done accents. This was just not my thing, though I had been lured by the great reviews. Almost DNF, but hung on to see what happened. Nothing did! Feel bad about my experience, but honest sharing.
January 1, 2021
This book has kept me company as I walked on the treadmill every morning. It actually made me want to exercise (because I could read the story), and often caused me to walk farther than intended, as I became immersed in it. Since I seldom read sci-fi, I cannot speak to how it holds up within that genre. I will say that I thought it was well-written.
October 5, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I could relate to the main character's transition between two cultures and the longing that exists no matter which country you are in. There's always something or someone to leave behind.
February 15, 2015
I must take back my remark about deals of the day. This was one, a title and author I had never heard of and it is the best book I have read in quite a while. Highly recommend.
August 2, 2017
after reading a couple of indian authors i was a bit skeptical to pick a book written by an Indian author, don't get me wrong after the success of Chetan Bhagat whole lot of new breed of indian authors have come up. For such authors the recipe for a book is a teenage boy and girl and a couple of pages intimate scenes, couple of heart breaks but when i looked at the bio of JaY Antani i thought he might be in the category of the authors rather he belongs another set of Indian/Indian origin authors, the likes of Amitav Ghosh, Chitra Banerjee Diwakaruni, Jhumpa Lahiri. I was not disappointed. The books lives up to my expectation may be more than my expectation.
The story is about a teenage guy, India American who is living in Wisconsin Vikram. Story starts from Vikram moving to India from US for the mischief he did with his friends. His father finds a job for himself and moves to india. Vikram doesn't like to leave his friends, his girl friends Shannon but he had no choice but to move as his father is adamant. His family moves to Ahamedabad, his uncle Hemant helps them set up the family. he gets admission in college Xaviers, his dad is alumnus of the college. He didn't like the course he was asked to take, the Xaviers, and it was too much a change for him, he tries to find and escape route to go to US. He want to get good grades in his undergrad so that he can go back to US. He friends with couple of guys in the college, and meets Priya who is also back from US. He wants to be in touch with his friends in US and writing letters is his way of being in touch with them. After a while Shannon writes a letter saying its difficult to maintain a long distance relationship and asks him to move ahead, though its tough for him but thats what he was expecting. He becomes more than friends with Priya and once in the college she likes him too. One fine day she tells him she's going to get married soon to some other guy. Thats when they become close, a bit intimately. She discloses this to her fiance who brakes the engagement. Vikram is not aware of all the happenings in Priyas life as she never returns to college after their encounter. Priyas friend blames vikram for her broken engagement. Xaviers was already too much for him with all the happenings around he want to get out of that place as quickly as he can and applies to an university in Wisconsin. Mean while his mother gets diagnosed with cancer since its at the initial stages she gets over it quickly. Vikram's application gets accepted by the US university and he goes back to pursue his further studies there leaving a void in his family especially for his brother Anand.
what I liked in the book is the way it was explained how dearly he missed his US friends in the initial parts and how he was going to miss his friends in India. Often we take our parents for grated but once we realize how difficult it was for them to make us happy and provide us with all the things we wanted, in Vikrams case this realization comes at the last pages. He felt much better about his mother in the last parts and appreciated how she was able to manage so well for so long with all the adjustments she had to do without complaining much. And about his dad too how he saved some money to pay VIkarm's tuition fee.
On the whole a very nice book with a couple of heart touching moments.
The story is about a teenage guy, India American who is living in Wisconsin Vikram. Story starts from Vikram moving to India from US for the mischief he did with his friends. His father finds a job for himself and moves to india. Vikram doesn't like to leave his friends, his girl friends Shannon but he had no choice but to move as his father is adamant. His family moves to Ahamedabad, his uncle Hemant helps them set up the family. he gets admission in college Xaviers, his dad is alumnus of the college. He didn't like the course he was asked to take, the Xaviers, and it was too much a change for him, he tries to find and escape route to go to US. He want to get good grades in his undergrad so that he can go back to US. He friends with couple of guys in the college, and meets Priya who is also back from US. He wants to be in touch with his friends in US and writing letters is his way of being in touch with them. After a while Shannon writes a letter saying its difficult to maintain a long distance relationship and asks him to move ahead, though its tough for him but thats what he was expecting. He becomes more than friends with Priya and once in the college she likes him too. One fine day she tells him she's going to get married soon to some other guy. Thats when they become close, a bit intimately. She discloses this to her fiance who brakes the engagement. Vikram is not aware of all the happenings in Priyas life as she never returns to college after their encounter. Priyas friend blames vikram for her broken engagement. Xaviers was already too much for him with all the happenings around he want to get out of that place as quickly as he can and applies to an university in Wisconsin. Mean while his mother gets diagnosed with cancer since its at the initial stages she gets over it quickly. Vikram's application gets accepted by the US university and he goes back to pursue his further studies there leaving a void in his family especially for his brother Anand.
what I liked in the book is the way it was explained how dearly he missed his US friends in the initial parts and how he was going to miss his friends in India. Often we take our parents for grated but once we realize how difficult it was for them to make us happy and provide us with all the things we wanted, in Vikrams case this realization comes at the last pages. He felt much better about his mother in the last parts and appreciated how she was able to manage so well for so long with all the adjustments she had to do without complaining much. And about his dad too how he saved some money to pay VIkarm's tuition fee.
On the whole a very nice book with a couple of heart touching moments.
November 17, 2020
Heart-stopping at times, heart-breaking at others, Edge of Light is a real action-adventure!
What an adventure! From its exciting opening scene to the closing pages, I was hooked and stayed up way past bedtime to read as much and as long as I could.
The three friends, Dev Harrison, Abby Mendes, and Conner, play nicely off one another, and I was utterly invested in their quest to follow Dev's reoccurring dream about his father. Dev, the main character in the story's present time, is smart and a good kid with just the right amount of teenage insecurity and vulnerability that has you rooting for him throughout the book. Conner, the buddy, smart and cynical and sassy, doesn't ever succumb to being the third wheel to the Dev-Abby relationship, and that's nice. I especially liked that the author developed Abby to be an independent "force-to-be-reckoned-with" young woman. She's an able member of the trio, no Shrinking Violet, waiting to be saved. She was the one doing much of the saving in almost all instances. She adds positively to the story's advancement but that it felt natural and in character for her to do so.I enjoyed that this story had several tropes that I love in apocalyptic/dystopian tales: the teenaged, strong yet vulnerable protagonists, alien influences, humans transformed into not-quite-humans, everyday people transformed into crazy, grasping maniacs, evil master corporations, and government corruption. Each element merges into and supports the others seamlessly to create a great action-filled reading experience. (And this is just book 1, there's more to come!)
The creatures or "crawlers" are a frightening element as they creep around the periphery of everything and everywhere Dev, Conner, and Abby go and do. They seem to always be just out of sight but waiting to jump out and attack, keeping tensions high and nerves taut. Scarier still, though, is their encounter with the fine folk of "Freetown." I held my breath as I quickly turned pages while they were there. I guess I thought I could "help" get them through town faster that way!And if you're a reader that likes the hardcore science of a science fiction story, this book has you covered. Numerous topics are touched on, but this is done in such an understandable way that it will satisfy the nerd inside each of us without bogging down a great adventure or driving off a reader that likes a softer sci-fi feel.
I also highly recommend this book to readers that enjoy dystopian, post-apocalyptic tales featuring young adult protagonists. I can't wait for the next book in the series!I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.
December 29, 2015
Let me start by saying that i really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others, that in fact i intend to do so—specifically recommend it to a couple friends whom i think would really love reading it. It’s a great story, engaging characters, excellent scene-setting of the locations, and a cross-cultural focus which hasn’t already been told a zillion times. A fun, unique coming-of-age novel. Vikram Mistry reminded me so much of one of my best friends in high school, right down to the trading of mixed tapes of REM and the Smiths, and his impressions of the various cultural differences between India and the US.
I didn’t give it more stars though because it could have used a bit more rigorous editing. The author’s tendency toward choreographic overwriting needs further reining in—an example: “She turned to me, reached up, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and touched my shoulder. ‘So, you’re leaving us?’” I am admittedly particularly conscious of this because it is my own tendency as well, to overwrite like this and then have to pull it back to the essentials. Also, i caught a few errors which should have been corrected in copy-edits. For example, at one point the character of Vinod must’ve been named Vijay, because within one scene he was referred to as both—i know from personal experience that this comes from a glitched find-and-replace.
And lastly, there were a few jarring tense-shifts and POV shifts which didn’t add to the narrative—a shift mid-chapter to second-person narration, or a shift from past tense to present tense in the midst of the narrative (not the one in the epilogue, which i get the justification for) which caused some sections to read more like a memoir than a novel. Which, again, i gather this book was based on the author’s own life, so i understand why the story came out that way in drafting, but i wanted it to be just a bit more honed and shaped in a published form.
For a novel that started out as a self-published book, and one subsequently picked up by the Amazon imprint Lake Union, it’s a greatly successful effort. The finished product in terms of the print book is professionally presented, wonderful cover design and interior layout, etc. I’ll be interested to read this author’s future work, to see how he develops as a writer, having chosen the self-pub/Amazon imprint route—it’s an interesting phenomenon in the industry which i’m avidly following, particularly with the work of authors of obvious talent like Jay Antani.
I didn’t give it more stars though because it could have used a bit more rigorous editing. The author’s tendency toward choreographic overwriting needs further reining in—an example: “She turned to me, reached up, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and touched my shoulder. ‘So, you’re leaving us?’” I am admittedly particularly conscious of this because it is my own tendency as well, to overwrite like this and then have to pull it back to the essentials. Also, i caught a few errors which should have been corrected in copy-edits. For example, at one point the character of Vinod must’ve been named Vijay, because within one scene he was referred to as both—i know from personal experience that this comes from a glitched find-and-replace.
And lastly, there were a few jarring tense-shifts and POV shifts which didn’t add to the narrative—a shift mid-chapter to second-person narration, or a shift from past tense to present tense in the midst of the narrative (not the one in the epilogue, which i get the justification for) which caused some sections to read more like a memoir than a novel. Which, again, i gather this book was based on the author’s own life, so i understand why the story came out that way in drafting, but i wanted it to be just a bit more honed and shaped in a published form.
For a novel that started out as a self-published book, and one subsequently picked up by the Amazon imprint Lake Union, it’s a greatly successful effort. The finished product in terms of the print book is professionally presented, wonderful cover design and interior layout, etc. I’ll be interested to read this author’s future work, to see how he develops as a writer, having chosen the self-pub/Amazon imprint route—it’s an interesting phenomenon in the industry which i’m avidly following, particularly with the work of authors of obvious talent like Jay Antani.
December 31, 2020
When I read YA novels, I always question whether I’m too old for them. I notice the change in writing style and how the characters have less maturity and it makes me lean towards not enjoying them. So instead of overthinking it now, I think about whether teenage me would have read it.
I love sci-fi style books, and teenage me would have been all over this. This does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s fast paced, it’s exciting, and the characters are likeable and you feel like you’re going on an adventure with them. The science is intriguing, but still understandable for people who aren’t scientifically inclined. The ending is GREAT, which is refreshing because I’ve found a lot of novels I’ve read lately lacking in that department. It really makes you anticipate what is next for Dev. I would like to warn readers that it can get violent, there are threats of sexual assault, and it does portray potential consequences of climate change. The romantic side plot is very sporadic in terms of how it’s prioritised in the narrative, and that interrupted the flow for me. That aside, it’s a solid story, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fiction!
Disclaimer: I was gifted this ebook by Jay Antani in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
I love sci-fi style books, and teenage me would have been all over this. This does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s fast paced, it’s exciting, and the characters are likeable and you feel like you’re going on an adventure with them. The science is intriguing, but still understandable for people who aren’t scientifically inclined. The ending is GREAT, which is refreshing because I’ve found a lot of novels I’ve read lately lacking in that department. It really makes you anticipate what is next for Dev. I would like to warn readers that it can get violent, there are threats of sexual assault, and it does portray potential consequences of climate change. The romantic side plot is very sporadic in terms of how it’s prioritised in the narrative, and that interrupted the flow for me. That aside, it’s a solid story, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fiction!
Disclaimer: I was gifted this ebook by Jay Antani in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
January 15, 2024
Disclaimer: Do NOT read the audio book under any circumstances. The narrator is fine sorta but his Indian accents are soooo stereotypical and terrible I could not finish my re-read of this book over audiobook. My initial read was physical copy.
I loved this book. It was written simply, yes, and at times the main character acts kinda one-dimensional, yes.
Now with those throwaways stated, this was a fantastic truly heart-warming depiction of Indian culture, from different perspectives too of young adults from different parts of India and different social-economic backgrounds.
At its core, of course, is about being an NRI and Indian-American from Wisconsin at that going back to India and experiencing the culture shock of being basically a “white” kid with brown exterior in India.
As someone who’s grown up going back to Mumbai to visit family and being embarrassed by how “white” I look or how white-washed my Hindi is, I see this story as so damn accurate and so good.
Extremely respectful and even reverential of maintaining Indian culture and doesn’t shut down the culture which I liked.
I loved this book. It was written simply, yes, and at times the main character acts kinda one-dimensional, yes.
Now with those throwaways stated, this was a fantastic truly heart-warming depiction of Indian culture, from different perspectives too of young adults from different parts of India and different social-economic backgrounds.
At its core, of course, is about being an NRI and Indian-American from Wisconsin at that going back to India and experiencing the culture shock of being basically a “white” kid with brown exterior in India.
As someone who’s grown up going back to Mumbai to visit family and being embarrassed by how “white” I look or how white-washed my Hindi is, I see this story as so damn accurate and so good.
Extremely respectful and even reverential of maintaining Indian culture and doesn’t shut down the culture which I liked.
May 19, 2013
On the cusp of adulthood and the adventures that await in college, an Indian born, U.S. bred eighteen year old is forced to leave his friends, girlfriend, the familiarities of living life as an American, for a one way ticket back to India. Touching down in the homeland everything is instantly different. Emotions are jumbled upon meeting family for the first time in 11 years, compounded by the palpable realization that this is not a vacation and there's no turning around and heading back to America. Though the location and experience may be foreign, we remember our own teenage years and immediately relate to the protagonist and are eager to follow along on his journey.
Poignant, exceptionally written and instantly engaging. The haunting and absolutely vivid descriptions of time, place, and the people of India, are like a travelogue through a culture and society before globalization and the internet. It's also a beautifully told story of the power, draw, and ultimately the imprint that family leaves on us as adults.
Poignant, exceptionally written and instantly engaging. The haunting and absolutely vivid descriptions of time, place, and the people of India, are like a travelogue through a culture and society before globalization and the internet. It's also a beautifully told story of the power, draw, and ultimately the imprint that family leaves on us as adults.
December 10, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It's YA, which is obvious when you read it, but it's a great mix of the social and character building aspects and some pretty hard science fiction.
Our story starts in California in the not-too-distant future. Meteors and other weird goings-on describe the end of times. But our protagonist, Dev, is concerned with his friends, his mum, and his dad, who disappeared some years before. What follows is an eventful journey across the state, peppered with flashbacks from Dev's dad's perspective.
I was fully into this book, it was interesting and engaging, and while I can't attest to the accuracy of the science, it was certainly convincing! The characters were likeable (or not) they behaved in a believable way.
Overall, top marks for this one! Would love a follow up book, and will be looking for more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Our story starts in California in the not-too-distant future. Meteors and other weird goings-on describe the end of times. But our protagonist, Dev, is concerned with his friends, his mum, and his dad, who disappeared some years before. What follows is an eventful journey across the state, peppered with flashbacks from Dev's dad's perspective.
I was fully into this book, it was interesting and engaging, and while I can't attest to the accuracy of the science, it was certainly convincing! The characters were likeable (or not) they behaved in a believable way.
Overall, top marks for this one! Would love a follow up book, and will be looking for more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 28, 2016
This book was quite a surprise. It is a slow-paced story, it feels so personal I almost forgot it was fiction. It deals with a big challenge (if it can be called that) young adults face when divided by 2 very different cultures. I sympathize with Vikram. Being an immigrant myself, I find myself making comparisons between Brazil and the U.S. when I go back to visit, and like it happened in the beginning of the story, we mostly point out the negative side of our culture, how backwards our native country is, all that is wrong, etc, etc.
But this story is more than just his negative impressions about India. It is about re-discovering his roots and learning what it is important and how to chase after what you aspire. There are sacrifices that must be made, people who will be left behind and the fear of the unknown, the what-ifs no matter what the decision is.
But this story is more than just his negative impressions about India. It is about re-discovering his roots and learning what it is important and how to chase after what you aspire. There are sacrifices that must be made, people who will be left behind and the fear of the unknown, the what-ifs no matter what the decision is.
September 29, 2013
Easily on a par with contemporary novels exploring the experience of Indians encountering American culture. The interesting twist here is that the main character Vik has spent most of his childhood and teenage years in the U.S., and then has to move back to India with his family. He is resentful and feels buffeted by the whims of his parents. His slowly evolving understanding of his parents' reverse experience lets him absorb the India that he will carry with him, whatever the future brings. On top of that, it was .99 on my Kindle. If I had read a review, I would have put it on my Christmas list.
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