For Ganesh, Remover of Obstacles: a novel

by Sujoya Roy

Sushila is an affluent New Yorker of Indian descent disillusioned with corporate America. She drops out of the rat race to "find herself" but instead discovers her mother's hidden past as a devotional Indian dancer who defied her family to pursue her dreams. As Sushila uncovers the events of her mother's extraordinary life, she comes to understand the indomitable spirit propelling the woman who shaped her own character.What caused a mother to mysteriously escape a prearranged marriage, defying her duty to her parents? How did she become the first woman at Princeton? Why does she so guardedly conceal her impressive history? And is her daughter destined to follow in a mother's rebellious footsteps?At once a celebration of mothers and daughters and a tribute to the unacknowledged helpers who smooth the paths of our lives, "Ganesh" spans decades, cultures and continents, traversing the rise of Gandhi in India through post-colonialist England into segregated 1950s America with uncommon wit and inordinate sensitivity.A gorgeously wrought story that weaves magical realism into historical fiction, "Ganesh" explores the challenges faced by independent spirits breaking from the rigidities of tradition and eloquently evokes the role of the "unseen hand" in choreographing the dance of life.

242 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2005

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good story, I read it in 24 hours.

It was smart, sweet and pulled you along with interesting characters and plot. The book is organized around the parts of bharatanatyam a type of traditional Indian. Sushi, the adult daughter of traditional Indian parents who emigrated to America, undergoes a journey to learn more about her mother, Krishna. Taking us along with her into the world of her mother's youth as a Brahmin and devoted daughter whose intelligence and talents were no match for an arranged marriage. I found myself rooting for the young Krishna and saw her experiences so clearly.

It appears that this book may have been self-published, which sometimes led me to question some of the veracity of the story but in the end made me love it more for it's realness and rawness.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a self-published book we read for our January book club. Despite a few editing errors and a few timeline things that didn't make sense, I thought the author wrote a lively, engaging novel. It's based on her mother's life, and I could not help wonder, what was true, did that really happen. Fun read.

[Nancy Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the inside look into the culture of Indian women and , even though it was fiction, I felt if likely an accurate portrayal of the culture.

[Brian Cowlishaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say 4.5/5 stars. Beautiful and moving work by a debut author. Recommended if you can find it.