Where Earth Meets Water

by Pia Padukone

In this poignant and breathtaking debut, one man searches for meaning in the wake of incomparable tragedy…

Karom Seth should have been in the Twin Towers on the morning of 9/11, and on the Indian shores in 2004, when the tsunami swept his entire family into the ocean. Whether it's a curse or a blessing, Karom can't be sure, but his absence from these disasters has left him with crushing guilt—and a belief that fate has singled him out for invincibility.

Karom's affliction consumes everyone around him, from his best friend, Lloyd, to his girlfriend, Gita, who hopes that a trip to India will help him find peace. It is in Delhi that he meets Gita's grandmother, Kamini—a quirky but wise woman with secrets of her own. At first Karom dismisses Kamini, but little does he realize that she will ultimately lead him to the clarity he's been looking for.

Spanning the globe from New York to India, Where Earth Meets Water is a stunning portrait of a quest for human understanding, and a wise exploration of grief, survival and love in all its forms.

Genres: Fiction, India, Literary Fiction, Adult, Adult Fiction

269 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Pia Padukone was born, raised and continues to live in New York City. A graduate of Stuyvesant High School and the London School of Economics, Pia has worked as a copywriter in healthcare advertising. In their spare time, Pia and her husband write Two Admirable Pleasures (http://twoadmirablepleasures.com/), a blog that combines their shared passions for books and the culinary dishes that are inspired by them. Pia debuts with Where Earth Meets Water and is working on her second novel.

Reviews

[Richa Bhattarai · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.85/5

Not bad at all. I was okay to start with but the character of Kamini lured me in, it was wonderfully crafted. Writing is polished and good, character growth is well-portrayed, things actually happen. There are touching stories of a grandmother turned writer, a boy who’s lost his parents twice, two boys bound in a fierce love, respectful relationships... yet the writing tends to overexplain to the reader, which is not quite necessary. Definitely enjoyed parts of it.

[J. Else · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I won this book free in a Goodreads First Read giveaway, but all the opinions expressed are my unbiased honest review.**

This story is inspired by the author’s personal experience with tragedy including working in Tower 1 of the World Trade Center a few days before 9/11 and being in the same location a few minutes before the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. While this was an interesting effort, I felt it lacked clarity and focus. I appreciated the title and its bearing on the story. I appreciated the strong cultural elements. However, I really did not feel much emotionally.

The book seemed unsure of its timing. Is this past tense or present tense? I was most frustrated with the tense changes during Kamini’s first chapter because it did not flow well. Plus there were very long, drawn out paragraphs that began to feel tedious. The story went back and forth in time quite a bit. Often I had to backtrack to find out how the characters knew something that hadn't actually been revealed yet (i.e., Karom’s parents letters about his past and Bhopal), but you don’t know how they discovered this until the next chapter, which is kind of annoying. It’s like all the surprises were revealed in reverse so you missed genuine character reactions. I did enjoy it some bits, but overall, I found the storyline poorly organized. We start off in one place and at one time, then backtrack to get some history on the characters and what brought them to that place, but then it bounces to another place, another time, another person…

Lloyd’s character and chapters were completely unnecessary. What was the point of the camping trip and seeing nonexistent people? What did that lead to? Was there resolution for Lloyd? No. And it had no bearing on Karom or his struggles. So what if Lloyd held Karom in the night when he had panic attacks? The author writes about Lloyd struggling with feelings for Karom, but what weight did it bear on Karom???? She never pens any return feelings from Karom. It’s just thrown in there for… I don’t know what reason? To create a character with more depth? It didn’t work. I couldn’t wait to finish the Lloyd chapter to get to someone else.

This book would have brought forth more emotion if it would have kept to Karom, Gita, and Kamini (the most interesting of characters). How is the book supposed to be about Karom’s soul searching when it keeps switching points of view? And because revelations were never given in present time (always told in the past tense), I felt no draw to the character struggles. The author held nuggets of information away from the reader for too long so that I was more confused than intrigued. Was there power in Kamini’s prayers? Is everything just coincidence? I felt the author never took a stance on the “why” that Karom was searching for and simply moved away from that plot thread. The character eventually found his release from past pain and guilt after reading Kamini’s stories (though the reader is only let in on one). I think this was a good device for Karom to see how his internal demons affected others around him and how damaging it could be. And this again illustrates how the book could have focused on just the three main people alternating points of view. Karom, Gita, and Kamini were the only ones who produced any changes within the plot.

I felt there were some good characters, good settings, and some good illusions. However, the way the story was told did not work.

[Sally906 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the concept of WHERE EARTH MEETS WATER, Karom has avoided death three times in his life, as a child in the Bhopal Gas disaster in India in 1984, the Twin Towers on 9/11 in the USA and the South East Asian tsunami of 2004. He thinks he is invincible and constantly pushes the safety boundaries to test fate, like stepping out in the traffic to catch a taxi or standing on the very edge of the station platform as the train comes in, and it drives his girlfriend and best mate mad. It’s all very well them telling Karom to move on, he just doesn’t know if he’s got a future, so just stagnates in his work and life. The plot of WHERE EARTH MEETS WATER leads up to the trigger that turns Karom around. Set in both India and the USA, narrated by 4 different characters and in multiple time frames the story bounces around in time, place and narrator until often you lose track and have to flick back to see if you’ve missed something. It just wasn’t organised that well which is a real pity because this could have been a real gem of a story. I loved the mix of cultures, I adored Kamini and also Gita once her turn came. In fact the two women were wonderfully strong characters and took over the story. I loved their roles more so than Lloyd’s, I really wasn’t sure of his fit and really didn’t get the whole camping trip and hallucinations bit. Ultimately the way the story was told, spoiled the whole experience for me which is a shame as it could have been excellent. As it was WHERE EARTH MEETS WATER was very thought provoking because life is a coincidence and sometimes if we stand in a different spot – or drive down a slightly different road than usual life can change for the better, or the worse.

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recieved through Goodreads Firstreads. Thanks!

I always feel awful when I give a less than stellar review of a book, thinking of the person behind it, but I also know that I need to be honest.

Where Earth Meets Water had a good solid story behind it and I think that if it was written a bit differently I could have really enjoyed it. I did enjoy it some, but overall I found it badly organised. We start of in one place, at one time and then you backtrack to get some history on the characters and what brought them to that place. Fine, makes sense. But then it bounces to another place, another time and continues bouncing around like that throughout and whenever I felt like I'd figured out where we were in time in relevance to the past chapters/paragraphs/events, then something would be said or thought that would clarify the time a little bit and I would find that my own thoughts where in fact way off and I had to reorganise the whole story in my head again.

As well as all that, the formatting of the book itself was something to be desired. there was little paragraph separation and it led to very crowded pages.

Again, I did like the story itself (once I had it organised in the correct order of events) and I think , if reorganised a bit it could be fantastic and a truly down-home honest soul-searching tale.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate to win a copy of the book Where Earth Meets Water by Pia Padukone through Goodreads First Reads. I enjoyed this book for the full-characters of Karom, Kamini, Gita & Lloyd, for the individual stories behind the characters and how they all bind together to help Karom come to terms with, and move through the pain of his past and into a happier, hopeful life.

I found the book somewhat confusing with regards to timing. The story went back and forth in time quite a bit and at times I had to backtrack to find out how the characters knew something that hadn't actually been revealed yet (i.e. Bhopal - don't want to spoil it for others by giving more detail). This prevents me from giving it more than a 3-star review.

I also wonder if Karom, instead of feeling invincible as the author continually states, is not rather in a deep depression, who feels that taking unnecessary, risky chances is a way to end the life he thinks is devoid of love, until the other characters show him the love around him, which gives him the hope to go on.

Nevertheless, I think this author shows much promise based on this, her debut book. I will look forward to reading her next book.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have won this book to read, what a great story. This is the Authors first novel and I already look forward to more of her writing.
This book revolves mainly around four characters, Karom, Gita, Lloyd, and Kamini, each of whom becomes a pivotal part of Karom's life, and are swept up into his obsession that fate has singled him out for invincibility. The author states in an interview, that she had also gone through quite a few near misses in her life, which made this story and its theme all the more intriguing, stating that those events made her recognize __how accidental, how coincidental life can be__.
This novel is set in both the USA and India, with most of the characters, being Indian or of Indian decent. It is to me the study of the delicate nature of friendships, the act of belonging to a place/family, the unspoken words that are felt and heard. Fascinating characters each with an interesting story behind them. This was a wonderful story that will keep me thinking about the little and big things that affect our lives.

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

An episodic book in which each character has a chapter devoted to their perspective. At a couple points I asked myself - Where is the author going with all this but in the end she ties things together nicely. The central character Karom suffers from survivor's guilt because he should have been killed at the two towers on 9/11 and also at a location he believes his family is killed by a tidal wave in 2004. The central focal point of the book is about his coming to grips with his troubling past aided the help of various people in his life.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

*goodreads giveaway*
Actual rating 3.5
This isn't a novel is normally read but I found it quite enjoyable. I could see where the writer was trying to go in terms of emotion but I could only "almost" sympathize.

I think that too many themes were being tackled, too many voices telling the story, but coincidence vs fate, and epic disasters are always interesting. All in all an easy read.

[Chanda2426 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read, much different than what I expected from a debut author. The writing was rich, the images vivid, the storyline tight and well-thought out. Padukone is a writer to watch. I look forward to devouring her next effort.

[Susan Belvo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story, the characters and the way the story unfolded. It was a great vacation read

[Margaret Fisk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

I’m not quite sure what I expected when I requested this novel on NetGalley, but I’d hoped to be enveloped in Hindu culture. The very first section offers that, but at the same time, it seemed to me the weakest part of what is a complicated, thoughtful novel that touches on the bigger parts of love and loss. I didn’t immediately connect with Karom, and I found Gita annoying. Gita’s grandmother Kamini won me over when she took center stage, a beautiful mix of tradition, self-sufficiency and determination. She kept me reading long enough to see the different sides of Karom and Gita, long enough to meet the mass of confusion called Lloyd and to accept the way their minds played tricks to blend the past with the present and introduce avatars to help them through some of the tougher questions.

This is not a quick read. It’s not a light, breezy novel.

Where Earth Meets Water is populated with complex characters who have either faced great tragedy or bound themselves to those who have. Karom is finding his way back from losing both his whole family and his sense of self in what he discovers among his parents’ belongings. Gita has found her solid ground in Karom but only if he can give off tempting death from a combination of survivor’s guilt and PTSD. Lloyd’s an oddity in this group because love, not disaster, is his burden, and one he needs to wash away before he can start his full life. Kamini, though, she is the wise old woman and yet she’s neither as wise as they think her nor as simple.

These are the kinds of characters who linger, the ones who will pop to the fore when something happens that reminds a person about them. Their struggles are both fantastic in the sense of being involved in the extremes while also having analogs in the lives of ordinary people. They go to college, worry about appearances, struggle with the dual reaction panhandlers often provoke, and miss plans because of late trains. They’re real, concrete people that provide both a glimpse into another culture and a mirror of the more general Western sensibilities.

Amusing because of the strong college connection in the book, but this story reminds me of The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor which I read in my college years. The two books are both interwoven short stories each focused on a moment in a character’s life. Though Naylor’s tales rotate around a specific street, Karom is both the center stage and the linchpin connecting all the different characters in Padukone’s book. Again, you get a deep look into how people interact, how they support and nurture each other. Padukone takes us into their minds, hopes, dreams, and fears. We explore both Karom’s state and how it impacts those around him, especially Gita, while addressing questions more universal than they might seem at first glance.

It’s a powerful novel asking the big questions and pointing to the interconnectivity of events on a global scale. At the same time, there’s an underlying question of fate, chance, and coincidence. Is it destiny or luck that governs the simple decisions which turn out to be life changing? The style is more literary than I expected, the writing more lyrical, but each piece, each glimpse into a life, and how that glimpse is conveyed, winds together to form a compelling whole.

P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[VaultOfBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

The interestingly named Karom Seth has survived more than anybody’s share of natural and man-made disasters. He has cheated death more than once, when it came down heavily upon his family and friends. Understandably, his conscience is ravaged, and he casts a pall of gloom on people close to him. Can Karom and those who love him get over this guilt together? Across continents, Kamini Pai (grandmother to Karom’s girlfriend Gita), grapples with her own set of struggles with admirable resilience. Will Kamini be able to guide Karom’s life with her own example? Where do Gita and Karom’s best friend Lloyd figure in this whole schema of guilt?

"Together we learn there’s nothing like time."

The best part of Where Earth Meets Water is its gripping storyline. The intrigue about the characters and their fate is held intact right through. The characters are outlined at the beginning, and each of them is fleshed out and skilfully painted in as the book progresses. Though all of them seem to live in a world where loving and giving comes naturally and completely, their internal struggles are portrayed very well. The sore thumb among all the characters is Lloyd. I didn’t understand where he fit into the entire scheme of things, except to provide a distracting, hallucination-induced walk through a forest.

The narrative follows a Point-of-View (POV) style, which leads to obvious anachronisms. The plot goes back and forth, and events muddle up. Very few authors can get this style right without taxing the reader. Padukone tries hard, but the narrative seems to skip and jump, leaving one slightly unsatisfied with the proceedings.

A plot point that seems sadly unexplored is the esoteric one. Why has water influenced Karom’s life so harshly? Is there really an ‘omen’ around him? Though these points are mentioned, they are never explored, and are left hanging. You can’t help but wish that the author had spent some time on this area.

All these minor glitches aside, Where Earth Meets Water is a surprisingly thought-provoking and refreshing read. The command over language and characters belies the fact that this is Padukone’s debut novel. This is very promising and indeed a worthy read if you like new Indian literature.

Originally reviewed at Vaultofbooks.com, a close-knit community of fanatical readers. We are looking for perceptive readers who can write well, and we are eager to provide lots of free books in exchange for reviews. Shoot us a mail at contact@vaultofbooks.com

[Book Preview Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Description:

“In this poignant and breathtaking debut, one man searches for meaning in the wake of incomparable tragedy…

Karom Seth should have been in the Twin Towers on the morning of 9/11, and on the Indian shores in 2004, when the tsunami swept his entire family into the ocean. Whether it's a curse or a blessing, Karom can't be sure, but his absence from these disasters has left him with crushing guilt—and a belief that fate has singled him out for invincibility.

Karom's affliction consumes everyone around him, from his best friend, Lloyd, to his girlfriend, Gita, who hopes that a trip to India will help him find peace. It is in Delhi that he meets Gita's grandmother, Kamini—a quirky but wise woman with secrets of her own. At first Karom dismisses Kamini, but little does he realize that she will ultimately lead him to the clarity he's been looking for.

Spanning the globe from New York to India, Where Earth Meets Water is a stunning portrait of a quest for human understanding, and a wise exploration of grief, survival and love in all its forms.”



Inspiration for this story came from Padukone’s own autobiographical influences with escaping tragedy. Life events and experiences can sometimes be coincidental. This is a novel about destiny, love and understanding.

While I enjoyed the premise of this story, I found it a bit confusing and difficult to follow at times as to whom was speaking. There was no clear distinction as to which of the four main characters were narrating. Tenses seemed to bounce around a bit as well, again with no real clear distinction. In my opinion, just a proper editing fix.

I appreciated and very much enjoyed the familial roots theme and the blending of the cultures with Kamini being my favorite character. Each of the four main characters had very interesting stories to be told. Padukone is a promising debut author and I look forward to her future reads.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fine Debut Novel About Fate, Love And Trying To Understand the Meaning of Life

“Where Earth Meets Water”, the debut novel of fellow Stuyvesant High School alumnus Pia Padukone, is not, in the words of my friend Gary Shteyngart, just a “smart and insightful” novel that is “…[a] worthy addition to the burgeoning field of Indian literature”. It is an elegant, often mesmerizing, debut novel about fate, love and trying to understand the meaning of life; a compelling tale with universal themes that should appeal to anyone reading contemporary Anglo-American literature. Padukone introduces us to Karom Seth, like the author, a native New Yorker of Indian descent, having had two miraculous brushes resulting in a personal sense of invincibility; first, by not being present at the World Trade Center on the morning of 9/11/2001, and second, by his absence at a family reunion in December 2004 on the southeast coast of India, missing the tsunami which swept his entire family out to sea, leaving him, an orphan. In the course of the novel, Seth struggles with his sense of invincibility, which impacts the lives of those around him, most notably his friend – and MIT classmate – Lloyd, and Gita, who becomes the love of his life. On a return journey to India years after both disasters, Karom comes to terms with his destiny and understanding the meaning of his life by meeting Gita’s grandmother Kamini, a larger-than-life figure throughout the novel, whose sagacious advice prepares him for his future. Padukone is both a compelling storyteller and a superb prose stylist, creating a most truly memorable cast of characters for a novel that should be viewed as among the best published this year. Along with Monica Byrne’s “The Girl in the Road”, Pia Padukone’s “Where Earth Meets Water” is the best debut novel published so far this year, and one which should earn ample critical and popular acclaim.

(Reposted from my Amazon review.)

[Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of struggle for Self Identity

I admit I would have not chosen this book if it were not promoted to be the focus of an upcoming book club discussion. I am thoroughly appreciative I purchased and read this book in a faster time than I normally read!!

It’s intelligent literature, and yet down to earth. The author focuses on the theme of relationships and identity in these contexts: between 1st and 2nd generation Indian-American adults, and facing obstacles. Within this heavy theme is a story that is both relatable and interesting.

I loved reading about a man who is struggling to figure out what his identity is in the context of the good and bad that have occurred in his life. The character is not being overly dramatic when he decides to not reveal everything to his lover. In fact, the reader doesn’t always have all the pieces too, so is also being held in suspense. Only until the end does the author allow the reader more insight into the character than what the other supporting characters know.

I also loved that the book had strong supporting characters. The stories of Kamini and Lloyd were beautiful vignettes within the larger story of Karom. Pia Padukone, the author, made me want to read more about Kamini or Lloyd, but in many ways also gave me enough to chew on about each them that you generally knew what might happen to them in the future.

I was quite surprised about how much American pop culture Padukone knew and subtly referenced it in her book. This made the book current and relatable, but not one to stand the test of time when certain pop references will be meaningless.

Finally, as a male, I felt Padukone described well a male’s thought process. It was on the mark, and not overly feminized.

Definitely an enjoyable read because it had depth.

[Njkinny (Njkinny's Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where Earth Meets Water by Pia Padukone first attracted me because of the intriguing title and the gorgeous but enigmatic cover. The blurb again is very interesting and had me picking up the book to read.

This is Pia Padukone's debut novel and I enjoyed her writing style which is fluid, expressive and very crisp.
The story is very thought provoking and through a POV style tells the thoughts of each character.

Karom Seth has defied death many times while his loved ones die. Now depressed and feeling like he is cursed with invincibility, he travels to India and soon begins his journey of enlightenment, discovery and peace with his circumstances.

I enjoyed the whole mysterious environment woven by the author with hints to omens and water wrath and so on but still missed a closure on these suspenseful hints.

The best thing about the book is the way in which I could relate my day to day problems with the story and the thought provoking solutions that had me re-evaluating my life too.

There is no right and wrong character in this book. Each has their own secrets and their own journey of discovery which leaves the reader spell bound and engrossed.

I finished the book in several sittings because I needed time to process everything that was happening and do justice to all the emotions I was feeling.

All in all, Where Earth Meets Water is a different kind of book that is teaches as well as forces the reader to engage with everything happening in the story. A must read for all readers looking for a refreshing and a different kind of a story, I give it 4 out of 5 and look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

I received the book from the publishers via Netgalley and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.

Read this review on www.njkinnysblog.com

[Andy Plonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karoom Seth had led an interesting life in that he has survived at least two world catastrophes, a tsunami in India, and the World Trade Center collapse. To say he suffers from survivor's guilt is correct; it has all but consumed him. His girlfriend Gita and his buddy Lloyd have gone to heroic lengths to try and help him,but to no avail.
Gita has a plan to take him to India to make connections with his remaining relatives. She thinks that because of his Indian heritage, the Indian viewpoint may help him come to terms with his situation.
While this novel deals primarily with Karoom and his relationships with the people closest to him, the differences in the way Indian people view the world is much different than the American one, and, indeed, the way transplants from India to the United States, differ from their ancestors.
The author has chosen to divide the book into chapters headed by a single name of a character and the events that take place are not dealt with chronologically. This format works fairly well as the plot is a character driven one, though often the reader knows more than the character at any given time.
Where the Earth Meets Water should make an excellent choice for a book club discussion as there are many topics to be considered from the personal relationships of the main characters to the differences in cultural outlook in dealing with problems. Often in book clubs members differ in their tastes, and this novel could be enjoyed from several different perspectives.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story revolves around Karom, Gita, Lloyd, and Kamini. Karom is suffering from survivor’s guilt due to different circumstances; he was not in the Twin Towers on 9/11 and missed the tsunami that hit in 2004. Gita is Karom’s girlfriend. She is trying to help and decides to take Karom on a trip to India to visit with her grandmother Kamini. Lloyd is Karom’s friend that has other feelings and things that he is trying to figure out between his soon to be wife and Karom.

Kamini is a tough lady that had her husband leaves her when her daughter was small. She survived by writing children’s books. When Karom meets Kamini she initially is dismissive of him. But the more they are together, the more Karom starts seeing the bigger picture of life. She helps him start to heal from his past.

This book takes place between New York and India. I liked learning about the Indian culture. I did feel bad for Karom. The poor guy is completely lost and feeling like fate is out to get him. I really liked how Gita was a strong woman; we need more characters like her.

The chapters bounce between the four characters and can be a little frustrating when you can’t wait to find out what’s happening with one character but you have to wait three chapters to get back to them. The problem I had was I would rather read about Gita and Kamini and couldn’t see how Lloyd really added to the book.

I liked the mixing of cultures and I loved the strong female characters. This is a good book and I think many people will like it.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Priti · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I bought this book from Harlequin’s website, I thought this will be also a book about romance and relationships. But I was highly mistaken. This book has got a lot more and that’s why I would advice you to read this book patiently and try to absorb each and every emotion of the book. Normally, I like to finish a book as soon as possible and it’s very rare for me to not to finish the book in one go. But while I was reading this book, I had to take breaks to understand what each character is going through. What are they experiencing? In a way it helped me to look at my own life and the demons which has been hidden in my closet for a long time now.

Yep, that is what this book is exactly about. Each character in the book has secrets of their own and have got the past which is always with them like their own shadows. The book is about how each of them deals with their past or the demons in the past and learn to move on, so that they can have a brighter future.

Each chapter of the book is dedicated to each character and talks about his/her perspective about the things. This is actually a good thing as it helps us to understand the characters well and we are able to get an insight into the reasons for their actions. I don’t think I was able to judge any of the character in the book as they all seemed to be doing the right thing. Actually, there is no right and wrong in the book. I think you will better understand that after reading the book.

For complete review: https://bibilophile.wordpress.com/201...

[Scott Haraburda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Book.

------------------------------------

Why do bad things happen to some people frequently, while others have the tendency to avoid them? Where Earth Meets Water is a fictional story of people who avoided some of the recent tragedies that we’ve seen on the front pages of major international newspapers.

This is a story inspired by the author’s personal experience with tragedy, including working in Tower 1 of the World Trade Center just a few days before 9/11 and being in the location a few minutes before the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. This book contains a rich set of Indian characters such that this book appears to be autobiographical in nature in which the author attempts to answer the question of why she was spared from tragedy, not once, but thrice.

It is clear that the author, Pia Padukone, brings the culture of the Big Apple to her story. She is a native-born and current resident of New York City, where she currently works as a copywriter in the healthcare advertising industry.

Her story reminds me of the biblical story of Job, a book in the Old Testament that attempted to answer the profound human question of why righteous people suffer, contradicting the assumption that God rewards virtue and punishes vice.

Looking to read about others on a quest to understand life, grief, and survival, Where Earth Meets Water is a worthy choice.

[Ptreick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

And I should say right off the bat that I have the same publisher as Ms. Padukone, but that has not influenced my review in any way.

This book is terrific.

The GoodReads listing seems incomplete for this book, so let me fill you in: This is a novel in stories centering around the character of Karom, who has experienced severe personal losses and survived a number of "near-death" experiences. With each story, the narration shifts, so that the reader gets a broader understanding of Karom through different perspectives. The story that gripped me most belonged to Kamini, Karom's girlfriend's grandmother. I refuse to believe she is simply a fictional character, because the world needs more people like Kamini.

I've read "novels in stories" before, with mixed results. The best comparison I can make here is that this book is like Olive Kitteridge--only better. Sure, that book won the Pulitzer Prize, but for this reader, it ultimately lacked heart. In my review at the time, I remember thinking that the author could have written the stories long ago and then simply added in a line like "There was Olive Kitteridge, walking through the backyard" to connect the narrative back to the book's namesake. With this book, each narration truly brings a deeper sense of who Karom is on his road to healing.

It's a book with heart.

[Kathryn Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I bought a while ago because I really liked the title. It wasn't what I expected but I enjoyed the stories in this book.

This is a story about overcoming trauma and different types of betrayal. This is a story about leaving the past behind and starting new.

The writing was easy to understand and follow. I learned a little bit about Indian culture which I really enjoyed. I was able to connect with each character's story in a unique way.

My only two problems with this story are:
I feel Lloyd should of been left out of the story and it should've been mostly about Karom, Kamani, and Gita. When the story was in Karom's point of view he hardly even had a tiny thought about Lloyd. Yes, Lloyd had to let go of his love for Karom, but I just feel that he was a character thrown in and not well thought out.

I wish there was more Gita. There just wasn't enough of her point of view for me to fall in love with her. I also feel she should've told Karom about what she saw in the paper. She wasn't honest, and you can move on without honesty.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were challenges reading this story which is told by many characters connected by their relationship to Karom. To my mind pushing through to the resolution was worth the effort.

Central to the narratives is the fact that Gita loves Karom, they have been together for years. All relationships to Karom are shadowed by his guilt and grief. He has survived loss in catastrophe after catastrophe. He expresses his confusion with The Game- standing on tracks, on cliffs, in the street daring the cosmos to snatch him- it never does but his friends do, frequently tearfully.

They. Hate. The. Game.

As the narrations unfold we meet many characters, Indian lives that are compelling and fascinating, American lives that we recognize- all trying to sort out their experience and find peace with their lot.

I loved the stories, the vignettes resonated with a common human condition; making mistakes and seeking redemption, actions and consequences, best efforts and their unexpected outcomes.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Bookreporter.com free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!!

First I must say, this is not the type of novel I normally read so it took me a little while to get into it. Once I did though, I pretty much got into it. That is until he found the letter from his parents, which I felt was way too long and could have definitely been shorter. I'm not sure if the author was looking for space filler or not, but that's the impression I got. As such I skimmed the majority if it.

After that, the book just went downhill for me. It just wasn't all that interesting any longer.

It was good character development and you really came to like them, but the story just got kind of bogged down for me. I did finish it, but not with the gusto I normally have for reading.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very impressive debut. Unlike other reviewers, the time shifts and locales did not bother me, but the passion with which Padukone addresses her primary subject, that of survivor guilt and loss, holds the narrative together. Told from several points of view with almost a Roshomon like sensibility, the story advances in a circular fashion, with the central character of Karom Seth in all his complexity and appeal. The only segment I found to be forced and did not add anything to the overlying theme, was that of Karom's best friend Lloyd. The events of his "solo stag party" were forced and appeared to be tackled on to add bulk to the novel without adding substance. The stories of Kamini are very compelling, but it is Karom and his reactions to his narrow escapes from death at Bhopal, 9/11 and the 2004 Tsunami are the driving impetus. Padukone is a writer to watch.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of abandonment, the loss of family, living alone while surrounded by others and the journey of learning to live, told through flashbacks, family and friends.

Karom has lost his family, not once, but twice. The story tells us how Karom has carried this burden and how he was able to release it, with the help of friends, a secret letter, his girlfriend and a trip to India.

At times the story was confusing, trying to correlate names. When you are introduced to a character under one name, then later read of that same character under another name, it took me awhile to make the proper placement. I believe that the flashbacks probably created this.

My favorite character was Lloyd and how he worked through his feelings and his friendship with Karom.

[rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I thought it was engaging and interesting, so much so that I finished it in a week. I initially tried to start it right after coming back from an international trip but the way the book is written there are several voices that tell the story which was a little tough to get into being jet lagged. However once I caught up to the right time zone and re-started the book I absolutely fell in love with it. There are a few transitions where the voice change can be a bit jarring but overall I thought the narrative and the storyline was interesting and once you get into the chapters after the initial voice change it keeps sucking you in deeper and deeper to the storyline. Definitely one of my favorite books that I've read recently.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karom Seth has escaped death on multiple occasions and that leaves him asking "why?". Is there a plan or purpose for his life or has he just been "lucky"? While he has escaped it has not been unscathed as he has suffered heavy loss and now has too many questions to move forward. What is it that defines who we are? In an attempt to find answers he tempts fate at every opportunity. But, how do you maintain a relationship with someone who can't stop spinning the wheel? His girlfriend Gita and his best friend Lloyd find that they can't much longer. But then 80 year old Kamini enters the picture and there's something to be gleaned from years of wisdom. Karom learns that suffering always teaches a lesson if we're willing to look closely enough. Beautifully written!

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karom loses his parents when a tsunami unexpectedly strikes India while they are vacationing. He is absolutely devastated, as he is forced to begin to go through their belongings in a brownstone in Queens. In the night stand beside their bed, which he describes as one of the most private places in their house, he finds an envelope with his name on it. Inside is a narrative, written alternately by both of his parents, in which they confess to him that he is adopted, that his parents were killed in the Union Carbide disaster in India, and why they chose to keep this information from him. And so, now, he is twice orphaned.

The story of how he redefines himself is both poignant and soul searching.

I read this courtesy of Shelf Awareness and Harlequin. .

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love how the character stories gently unfold as you move through the chapters, how with each turn of the page you learn about each characters' motivations and idiosyncracies. The themes of this book are relatable to all - love and loss and finding yourself after tragedy. I particularly enjoyed the author's portrayal of these themes set against the tragedies of Bhopal in 1984, 9/11 and the SouthEast Asian tsunami of 2004... and in reading the discussion guide at the end, was impressed to note the author's personal link to some of these events. Overall, this was a fantastic debut from a young and talented novelist - looking forward to reading what Ms Padukone comes out with next!