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A Nest for Lalita
MEENA KAUL is riding high in her position as director of Behera House, a safe haven in India for women who have survived domestic violence. But when the stock market crashes, Behera House loses its funding to expand. The right-wing Hindu Democratic Party (HDP), seeing an opportunity to win women’s votes before a national election, steps in with a multimillion-dollar grant. While Meena is reluctant to accept the offer, it is the only way for the project to proceed. Her worst fears come to pass when the HDP wins the election and begins to chip away at a hundred years of progress on women's rights.
Meanwhile, Simon Bliss, America's foremost “green” architect, who had been commissioned to design the new facility, falls for the alluring Meena and is drawn into the perilous world of Indian politics. In his attempt to loosen the HDP's grip on Meena and win her affection, Simon takes on reactionary politicians, shady priests, and crooked businessmen. In the process, he comes face to face with disturbing truths about his past, while Meena finds herself trapped in ways she never could have expected. A Nest for Lalita is a tale of passion and murder against the backdrop of an ancient country trying to find its identity in a fast-changing world.
Meanwhile, Simon Bliss, America's foremost “green” architect, who had been commissioned to design the new facility, falls for the alluring Meena and is drawn into the perilous world of Indian politics. In his attempt to loosen the HDP's grip on Meena and win her affection, Simon takes on reactionary politicians, shady priests, and crooked businessmen. In the process, he comes face to face with disturbing truths about his past, while Meena finds herself trapped in ways she never could have expected. A Nest for Lalita is a tale of passion and murder against the backdrop of an ancient country trying to find its identity in a fast-changing world.
- GenresFiction
318 pages, Paperback
Published October 25, 2020
3 people are currently reading
1185 people want to read
About the author
Ken Langer
1 book27 followersKen Langer’s love of India began in 1971, when he spent an academic year in Varanasi. He earned his Ph.D. in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University in 1978 and spent two years in Pune as a postdoctoral Fellow of the American Institute of Indian Studies. After leaving Sanskrit studies, Ken served as Special Assistant to the Dean of Harvard University, Vice President of Brandeis University, and consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Agency for International Development. In 2002, he founded EMSI, an international green building consulting company, with projects in the U.S., the Middle East, and Asia. His short stories, essays, book reviews, and academic articles have appeared in the Harvard Review, The Satirist, The Woven Tale, the Vineyard Gazette, Taj Mahal Review, and the Journal of the American Oriental Society. His blogs can be found on www.kenlanger.net.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 5, 2021
A Nest For Lalita by Ken Langer is a good story full of complex themes and backdrops and woven into an intricate as well as engaging plot.
When I started reading this book, I was a little sceptical because I am usually uncomfortable with books written by foreign authors writing about India after having spent a couple of weeks or months here, believing they understand everything about India. The problem is not their understanding or their warped perception but the wrongful presentation of a culture and country that they do not fully comprehend which in turn goes a long way in giving birth to many misconceptions about the country and the people living here. But thankfully, this book wasn't like that, or at least not in that particular sense. It was more about the story of an individual rather than a social commentary of the clogged roads.
I liked the story as it was very engaging and made for a nice read. Many things mentioned in the story may not necessarily be correct, but fiction is forgiving that way and so are fiction readers. Anyway, if you like reading about other culture and a different way of life, then this book would make for a good read.
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
When I started reading this book, I was a little sceptical because I am usually uncomfortable with books written by foreign authors writing about India after having spent a couple of weeks or months here, believing they understand everything about India. The problem is not their understanding or their warped perception but the wrongful presentation of a culture and country that they do not fully comprehend which in turn goes a long way in giving birth to many misconceptions about the country and the people living here. But thankfully, this book wasn't like that, or at least not in that particular sense. It was more about the story of an individual rather than a social commentary of the clogged roads.
I liked the story as it was very engaging and made for a nice read. Many things mentioned in the story may not necessarily be correct, but fiction is forgiving that way and so are fiction readers. Anyway, if you like reading about other culture and a different way of life, then this book would make for a good read.
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
August 9, 2021
For those who like intelligent fiction that is still fast-paced, I recommend this book. It touches on many serious issues, such as domestic violence, women's rights, religious fundamentalism, and even green, sustainable architecture. Still, it's got plenty of humor, sex, murder, and other goodies!
November 17, 2020
A Nest for Lalita, set in India, is a refreshing work that deals with issues that touch our day to day life in quite unusual manner. In short, it is the story of Meena Kaul, an Indian woman who runs a home for women who have suffered from repeated bouts of domestic violence. Meena is trying to expand her center, called Behera House. But funding has fallen through, and she is forced to take money from a right-wing Hindu party which is trying to turn the clock back on women’s hard-earned rights. Enter Simon Bliss, an American architect, who falls for Meena and is drawn into her dangerous world of Indian politics.
The synopsis seemed succinct, clear, and simple enough to enthrall the reader in me. I had not tried political thrillers for a long time, and the good meaningful ones are hard to come by. Nor do I know much about India. So it was with equal parts of expectation and doubts that I picked this book up.
Meena's skepticism regarding politics, love, and everything related to life made her an interesting protagonist. I loved how she responded to situations and found the meaning to the clues to the murder of a central character in her own way, resilient and strong, just how I would like a female protagonist to be. The romantic interest in the second half seemed melancholic and at times forced, though it clearly explained a lot of things in the story. But what grabbed me the most was the struggle between Meena (and Simon) and the Hindu party – a struggle that was echoed in her troubled marriage with a man who in many ways also embodied India’s patriarchy.
There were times when I was torn between wanting to read more of the beautiful writing and wanting to get to the end of the story quickly to make sense of it. The politically correct sardonic climax did little to satiate my thirst for a novel conclusion. But after completing the book, I realized that the story had drawn me in completely and I had fallen, hook line, and sinker.
The synopsis seemed succinct, clear, and simple enough to enthrall the reader in me. I had not tried political thrillers for a long time, and the good meaningful ones are hard to come by. Nor do I know much about India. So it was with equal parts of expectation and doubts that I picked this book up.
Meena's skepticism regarding politics, love, and everything related to life made her an interesting protagonist. I loved how she responded to situations and found the meaning to the clues to the murder of a central character in her own way, resilient and strong, just how I would like a female protagonist to be. The romantic interest in the second half seemed melancholic and at times forced, though it clearly explained a lot of things in the story. But what grabbed me the most was the struggle between Meena (and Simon) and the Hindu party – a struggle that was echoed in her troubled marriage with a man who in many ways also embodied India’s patriarchy.
There were times when I was torn between wanting to read more of the beautiful writing and wanting to get to the end of the story quickly to make sense of it. The politically correct sardonic climax did little to satiate my thirst for a novel conclusion. But after completing the book, I realized that the story had drawn me in completely and I had fallen, hook line, and sinker.
September 21, 2020
In recent years, there is a massive shift in our ideology and beliefs. In today's India – a time when people throw words like ‘secular’ at you as if it were an abuse and we citizens become defensive at slightest hint of opposition or difference in opinion – books like A Nest for Lalita not only give us a different perspective on the condition of our country, but allow us to see ourselves from a outsiders point of view. We can't call Ken Langer a complete stranger to India, since he has a Ph.D. in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University and has spent many years in this country. Still, as an American, the author can see India from a distance, giving us a wider perspective from which to look into our souls.
The book starts with a heart-wrenching prologue – the murder of a poor sweeper woman by her jealous husband – that sets the mood of novel. The story, set thirty years after that event, revolves around Meena Kaul, a social activist whose dream is to expand Behera House, a shelter-home for women who have survived domestic violence; her architect and environmentalist husband, Keshav Narayan; and Simon Bliss, America's foremost “green” architect, who has been commissioned by Meena to design the new community center.
When Behera House suffers a loss of funds, the right-wing Hindu Democratic Party (HDP), seeing an opportunity to win women’s votes before a national election, steps in with a multimillion-dollar grant. While Meena is reluctant to accept the offer, it is the only way for the project to proceed with her project. Her worst fears come to pass when the HDP, with which Behera House is not affiliated, wins the election and begins to chip away at a hundred years of progress on women's rights.
Simon, the America’s leading “green” architect, comes to India to design the facility and quickly falls in love with Meena. In his attempt to loosen the HDP's ever-tightening grip on Meena and win her affection, Simon takes on reactionary politicians, shady priests, and crooked businessmen. In the process, he comes face to face with disturbing truths about his own past, while Meena finds herself trapped in ways she never could have expected.
A Nest for Lalita is a thrilling and gripping tale and kept me hooked for nearly two days and many days after I finished reading it. The novel left me thinking of some of India’s most disturbing issues, which we often overlook or take too lightly: the violence upon women, political corruption, the chauvinistic behavior of men, and the relationship between women and men and husband & wife. In short, Langer covers a lot of ground. It’s totally up to the reader to take it all in and think about it or to brush it off and live in a happy bubble. I suspect this book will make most readers think and rethink, and then think some more.
The author’s grip on Indian culture and traditions is commendable. He brings to life his characters, who hold opposing attitudes on politics, the role of women, and a variety of other social issues. I hope people will read this novel and think about the issues it deals with without becoming defensive. It is thought-provoking book, as well as a wonderful love story!
The book starts with a heart-wrenching prologue – the murder of a poor sweeper woman by her jealous husband – that sets the mood of novel. The story, set thirty years after that event, revolves around Meena Kaul, a social activist whose dream is to expand Behera House, a shelter-home for women who have survived domestic violence; her architect and environmentalist husband, Keshav Narayan; and Simon Bliss, America's foremost “green” architect, who has been commissioned by Meena to design the new community center.
When Behera House suffers a loss of funds, the right-wing Hindu Democratic Party (HDP), seeing an opportunity to win women’s votes before a national election, steps in with a multimillion-dollar grant. While Meena is reluctant to accept the offer, it is the only way for the project to proceed with her project. Her worst fears come to pass when the HDP, with which Behera House is not affiliated, wins the election and begins to chip away at a hundred years of progress on women's rights.
Simon, the America’s leading “green” architect, comes to India to design the facility and quickly falls in love with Meena. In his attempt to loosen the HDP's ever-tightening grip on Meena and win her affection, Simon takes on reactionary politicians, shady priests, and crooked businessmen. In the process, he comes face to face with disturbing truths about his own past, while Meena finds herself trapped in ways she never could have expected.
A Nest for Lalita is a thrilling and gripping tale and kept me hooked for nearly two days and many days after I finished reading it. The novel left me thinking of some of India’s most disturbing issues, which we often overlook or take too lightly: the violence upon women, political corruption, the chauvinistic behavior of men, and the relationship between women and men and husband & wife. In short, Langer covers a lot of ground. It’s totally up to the reader to take it all in and think about it or to brush it off and live in a happy bubble. I suspect this book will make most readers think and rethink, and then think some more.
The author’s grip on Indian culture and traditions is commendable. He brings to life his characters, who hold opposing attitudes on politics, the role of women, and a variety of other social issues. I hope people will read this novel and think about the issues it deals with without becoming defensive. It is thought-provoking book, as well as a wonderful love story!
November 16, 2020
Ken Langer’s novel “A Nest for Lalita” is a surprising new addition to a burgeoning literature centered on Indian characters, authors, locations and plot lines. Surprising because Langer is not of Indian ethnicity, because both the characters and plot line ride above the now expected centering on the vast under current of India. Surprising because Langer uses his upper class characters and locations to deftly explore fissures in India’s soul - an exploration aided by his academic history with Sanskrit, ancient Indian belief systems and practice - and his professional experience working between the apparent miracle of technological advance and rooted commercial avarice snd tradition. Langer subtlety links the stubborn and disheartening plight of women in India today with the aspirations of a modernizing society. Mixing insightful character sketches with a compelling plot line and a late mystery challenge, I found “A Nest for Lalita”an excellent read and easy introduction to India’s challenging march towards modernity.
December 24, 2020
I truly enjoyed Langer's "A Nest for Lalita." The plot was complex and kept me engaged. The prose was smooth, with lots of memorable turns of phrases and interesting side moments. And from an educational perspective, I really enjoyed learning about Indian politics, religion and history - as well as about green buildings. In this time of Covid when we can't travel, Langer's book took me away from my quarantined life and transported me to India - beauty, warts and all.
November 20, 2020
A wonderful read that gets more engaging with every new chapter. The story has a rich cast of characters and a plot that feels real, existentially speaking; it's also an intricate walk-through of Indian history and architecture and religion and cuisine, even language, all seamlessly embedded in the scenes and dialogues as they unfold.
January 9, 2021
A Nest for Lalita is filled with powerful, believable characters and will make you feel like you've gone to India yourself. It's a wonderful read that stays with you long after you put it down... (and you probably won't put it down until you've read the whole thing!) Thank you, Ken Langer, for sharing your in-depth knowledge and for creating such a beautiful book.
November 18, 2020
A Nest for Lalita serves up a nice blend of action, romance, greed, and political maneuvering, with a spotlight on the critical message of woman's rights. Throughout the book, Langer does an excellent job of weaving Indian culture and Hinduism through the storyline.
November 7, 2020
Almost better than a trip to India!
As fascinating as India itself, this fast-paced tale weaves in women’s rights and domestic violence, architecture (both ancient and modern), politics, sex, corporate greed, culture and religion, environmental issues, NGOs, romance, crime (including a murder) and even a secret object hidden in maharaja’s palace in a story that brings to vivid life the sights, intrigue, complexities and contradictions of contemporary India.
As fascinating as India itself, this fast-paced tale weaves in women’s rights and domestic violence, architecture (both ancient and modern), politics, sex, corporate greed, culture and religion, environmental issues, NGOs, romance, crime (including a murder) and even a secret object hidden in maharaja’s palace in a story that brings to vivid life the sights, intrigue, complexities and contradictions of contemporary India.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2020
A Nest for Lalita is a work of fiction about Meena, a young woman dedicated to the cause of survivors of domestic violence in India. It is a tale of passion, a suspense story, a murder mystery in this ancient land with all the drama of modern-day political and economic turmoil with its corrupt politicians, charlatan priests, and unscrupulous businessmen. Meena is committed to expanding the women’s shelter she manages but there are funding issues. Simon Bliss, a world-famous American architect has been commissioned to design the new facility. Simon is enamored by Meena’s charm and in the process of helping her gets entangled into the dangerous world of Indian politicians. Langer’s observations and insight into Indian life - social, political and business - of the rich and the poor are, indeed, remarkable. The most enjoyable part of this book for me is his beautiful language, lucid narration and detailed descriptions with vivid word pictures of all things Indian - the people, the culture, the food, the apparel, the manner of talking and even thinking. His knowledge about architecture and environmental issues is equally impressive. A Nest for Lalita makes for very enjoyable reading.
January 23, 2021
I wasn’t a big fan of this book overall, however there were some components I liked and appreciated. I felt like the book had some wonderful parts that sucked me in and painted a beautiful image of Indian culture, but other times it was horrifying and then at times I thought it was extremely dull and boring.
So for me the writing seemed a bit disjointed in tone. I loved the writing at times and at other times was very tempted to DNF the book.
The parts that were horrifying were not necessarily a negative reflection on the book as it may very well be depicting harsh truths and scenarios. I will be honest I don’t know enough about Indian culture and history to accurately judge that. If they are truths then it’s good for people from other countries to be enlightened to that aspect of the culture.
I’m not a big fan of heavy political turmoil so I found all those parts fairly boring and wished the author included more of the romance and cultural descriptions & scenarios in the book.
If one enjoys all the political scandal they might enjoy this book more than I did.
So for me the writing seemed a bit disjointed in tone. I loved the writing at times and at other times was very tempted to DNF the book.
The parts that were horrifying were not necessarily a negative reflection on the book as it may very well be depicting harsh truths and scenarios. I will be honest I don’t know enough about Indian culture and history to accurately judge that. If they are truths then it’s good for people from other countries to be enlightened to that aspect of the culture.
I’m not a big fan of heavy political turmoil so I found all those parts fairly boring and wished the author included more of the romance and cultural descriptions & scenarios in the book.
If one enjoys all the political scandal they might enjoy this book more than I did.
October 22, 2020
The perilous world of modern-day Indian politics: creation of a Hindutva nation, disruptive politics, and the banned rituals of British-ruled India such as sati mark Langer’s engrossing novel.
Meena Kaul, director of a women’s shelter Behera House, is forced to accept funding for a newer, larger campus from the right-wing Hindu Democratic Party after sudden economic downturn thwarts her attempts at obtaining capital elsewhere. As Meena and Simon Bliss, the American architect commissioned to design the new building, struggle to keep the shelter free from HDP’s toxic ideology, they become target of the powerful enemies.
Langer is excellent at evoking character and sense of place, and he beautifully sketches the disruption of his characters’ lives and their gradual dissolution brought on by the tumultuous politics and regressive social structure.
Langer’s touch on too many social and political issues hampers the flow of the story, but his observations remain accurate, and his prose evocative.
This is a must-read.
Meena Kaul, director of a women’s shelter Behera House, is forced to accept funding for a newer, larger campus from the right-wing Hindu Democratic Party after sudden economic downturn thwarts her attempts at obtaining capital elsewhere. As Meena and Simon Bliss, the American architect commissioned to design the new building, struggle to keep the shelter free from HDP’s toxic ideology, they become target of the powerful enemies.
Langer is excellent at evoking character and sense of place, and he beautifully sketches the disruption of his characters’ lives and their gradual dissolution brought on by the tumultuous politics and regressive social structure.
Langer’s touch on too many social and political issues hampers the flow of the story, but his observations remain accurate, and his prose evocative.
This is a must-read.
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October 20, 2020Through the madness of Indian politics, the author’s sense of place shines; but it’s no surprise that Langer, who lived in India for over five years, would know just which shades to use in rendering his portrait of this ancient and vibrant country. Yet, it isn’t just the clogged roads and sacred temples that open the window to India. It’s Langer’s understanding of a shifting culture — a century of progress at odds with thousands of years of tradition that built the very ground on which all his characters stand — that bring his portrait to life.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2020/10/20/ken-l...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2020/10/20/ken-l...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews