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Joyoti
“Find your father.” That was her mother’s dying wish. Despite her grief, twenty-two-year-old Maya sets out on a quest that takes her from sunny California to the busy, smoggy streets of Kolkata, India, to unfold events that took place six decades ago.
In 1940s pre-independent India, Chandana is a scrappy teenager brought up by the kindness of her relatives. Amid a country dominated by foreign rule and a budding revolution, she must abandon the simple pleasures of childhood with her best friend Saira, picking up odd jobs to supplement her family’s meager income.
Courageous and driven, Joyoti cares only about two things: food for her family and freedom for her country. Spying on the British Commandant while working as a hostess allows her to fulfill both her needs. But the famine ravaging Bengal and her ill-fated attraction to a British Captain force her to walk a dangerous path.
Spanning 1940s India and 2000s California, Joyoti is a saga about three headstrong women whose lives intertwine through loyalty, love, and sacrifice.
In 1940s pre-independent India, Chandana is a scrappy teenager brought up by the kindness of her relatives. Amid a country dominated by foreign rule and a budding revolution, she must abandon the simple pleasures of childhood with her best friend Saira, picking up odd jobs to supplement her family’s meager income.
Courageous and driven, Joyoti cares only about two things: food for her family and freedom for her country. Spying on the British Commandant while working as a hostess allows her to fulfill both her needs. But the famine ravaging Bengal and her ill-fated attraction to a British Captain force her to walk a dangerous path.
Spanning 1940s India and 2000s California, Joyoti is a saga about three headstrong women whose lives intertwine through loyalty, love, and sacrifice.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2021
102 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 5, 2021
Three women. Two timelines. Two cities. Two countries. Two stories. And where do they meet?
This story is about love, trust, friendship, understanding, patriotism, sacrifice and so much more. The story moves back and forth between 1940s, Calcutta, India, pre-independence and 2000s in California. Though the story moves back and forth between the past and the present, not once was I lost.
The story has been written in first person from the point of view of three main characters, all of them women, Joyoti, Chandana and Maya, all of them very strong.
Chandana, a little motherless girl, whose father leaves her when she is five with her aunt and her grandparents; Joyoti, who takes care of her, protects her even if it she has to sacrifice and Maya, who travels across the world, just to fulfil a promise she made to her dying mother.
The author has portrayed the characters beautifully and even the supporting characters have been given important roles, be it Chandana’s friend, Saira’s family or Maya’s friends.
The immense research that has gone into the book is visible in how the author has created the setting of the pre-independent India and also the changes sixty years later. The freedom struggle, the atrocities people faced and the Bengal Famine have been described in great detail.
A must, must read with a warning to keep a tissue box handy and time on hand as thia book is unputdownable.
This story is about love, trust, friendship, understanding, patriotism, sacrifice and so much more. The story moves back and forth between 1940s, Calcutta, India, pre-independence and 2000s in California. Though the story moves back and forth between the past and the present, not once was I lost.
The story has been written in first person from the point of view of three main characters, all of them women, Joyoti, Chandana and Maya, all of them very strong.
Chandana, a little motherless girl, whose father leaves her when she is five with her aunt and her grandparents; Joyoti, who takes care of her, protects her even if it she has to sacrifice and Maya, who travels across the world, just to fulfil a promise she made to her dying mother.
The author has portrayed the characters beautifully and even the supporting characters have been given important roles, be it Chandana’s friend, Saira’s family or Maya’s friends.
The immense research that has gone into the book is visible in how the author has created the setting of the pre-independent India and also the changes sixty years later. The freedom struggle, the atrocities people faced and the Bengal Famine have been described in great detail.
A must, must read with a warning to keep a tissue box handy and time on hand as thia book is unputdownable.
January 9, 2022
4.5 stars
Read
October 30, 2021Once more Sunanda chatterjee manages to stun you with a spell binding story set in the preindependece era.The magnificent character Joyoti who shows tremendous courage in dealing with situations beyond her control her love and fierce protection of chandama the little orphan who has been thrust in her care . The heart-rending and ultimate sacrifice to save chandama from a fate worse then death.she totally embroils you in their life and links you to the character of Maya who in the search of her father ends up in India.
Most riveting is the details of the atrocities of the British and the stark reality of what happens in the palatial houses taken over by the British makes your blood boil and reconfirms your beleif that they were unwelcome beggars who took advantage of a culturally matrelistically rich India.
Wow what a story Sunanda you have once managed to bring out a masterpiece... Congrats and kudos
Jyoti suvarna
Most riveting is the details of the atrocities of the British and the stark reality of what happens in the palatial houses taken over by the British makes your blood boil and reconfirms your beleif that they were unwelcome beggars who took advantage of a culturally matrelistically rich India.
Wow what a story Sunanda you have once managed to bring out a masterpiece... Congrats and kudos
Jyoti suvarna
November 7, 2021
Spanning 1940s India and 2000s California, Joyoti is a saga about three headstrong women whose lives intertwine through loyalty, love, and sacrifice. This is the first novel I have read by Sunanda J. Chatterjee. What a wonderful story. She introduces the reader to the Indian culture in India through the eyes of an America Indian. When you begin to read her novels it is as if she is spinning a beautiful web and you are caught in the middle. She spins that web and you have a front row seat to see those characters develop and mature. You watch their lives and it is if you are right there able to talk to them but no they do not hear you, you are the audience to the lives they live. This is a brilliant read! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This novel has strong, well developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this novel and would read more novels by this author. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the novel.
December 10, 2021
I have always been a fan of Sunanda’s works. The way she weaves a story around her characters, the suspense, the twists, or romance the author makes the reader hooked to the book from page one.
Joyoti is one similar story of three strong women; Joyoti, Chandana, and Maya. The story is about intertwined lives and the suspense behind their identities.
Though I found the first few chapters a bit slow-paced, as the story moved forward the suspense and my curiosity as to what happens next got me hooked to the book till the end. Also, I appreciate the amount of research the author has done on the pre-independence era, which one can see while reading through this plot. Also, in the end, how the dots get connected gives the story a happy and meaningful climax.
Joyoti is a must-read if you like to read mystery, suspense with a hint of history of pre-independence touch.
Joyoti is one similar story of three strong women; Joyoti, Chandana, and Maya. The story is about intertwined lives and the suspense behind their identities.
Though I found the first few chapters a bit slow-paced, as the story moved forward the suspense and my curiosity as to what happens next got me hooked to the book till the end. Also, I appreciate the amount of research the author has done on the pre-independence era, which one can see while reading through this plot. Also, in the end, how the dots get connected gives the story a happy and meaningful climax.
Joyoti is a must-read if you like to read mystery, suspense with a hint of history of pre-independence touch.
November 24, 2021
Incredible tale of war, occupation, loss, sacrifice, closure.
This is the first book I’ve read that focuses on India during WWII. It was quite an eye opener. The author really brought the characters to life and I felt as though I was living amongst them. I had no idea the hardships the people there faced or the deep division in their country. I really felt like I knew the characters. I marveled at Joyoti’s bravery and her willingness to take on a motherly role to a cast off child. Then there was Maya in the present day, and her search for her father. She was not expecting what she ended up finding but it was an equally amazing, emotional journey. I couldn’t put this book down and when I finally finished it, all I could think was “Wow!”
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first book I’ve read that focuses on India during WWII. It was quite an eye opener. The author really brought the characters to life and I felt as though I was living amongst them. I had no idea the hardships the people there faced or the deep division in their country. I really felt like I knew the characters. I marveled at Joyoti’s bravery and her willingness to take on a motherly role to a cast off child. Then there was Maya in the present day, and her search for her father. She was not expecting what she ended up finding but it was an equally amazing, emotional journey. I couldn’t put this book down and when I finally finished it, all I could think was “Wow!”
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 30, 2021
A compelling story
This is a truly eye opening story that starts in 2001. It takes us on a trip back in time and place, back to the 1940's, when India was under the political and legal control of Great Britain. It is a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of love and loss, of desperation and devotion, of courage and compassion.
When Maya's mother's dying wish is "Find your father", she must enlist the help of her friends to search for the only family she may have left. This journey takes her back to the land of her heritage, to the place her mother's family barely escaped from. We learn about the bonds of family and friends, the fight for freedom, about fear and courage, compassion, and perserverance.
Just when you think you're all alone, you may find that you have more than you ever dreamed of.
This is a truly eye opening story that starts in 2001. It takes us on a trip back in time and place, back to the 1940's, when India was under the political and legal control of Great Britain. It is a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of love and loss, of desperation and devotion, of courage and compassion.
When Maya's mother's dying wish is "Find your father", she must enlist the help of her friends to search for the only family she may have left. This journey takes her back to the land of her heritage, to the place her mother's family barely escaped from. We learn about the bonds of family and friends, the fight for freedom, about fear and courage, compassion, and perserverance.
Just when you think you're all alone, you may find that you have more than you ever dreamed of.
November 1, 2022
A spell binding historical fiction set in the pre-independent India and spanning sixty years later to the USA of early 2000s
My rating: 4.6/5
Maya Stein, a young journalist, loses her mother to cancer. Her dying wish was for Maya to find her father. In this quest, Maya lands up at her grandmother, Saira Baig's doorstep. Saira has Alzheimer's and doesn't remember much about her past. But in her muddled state of mind, she requests Maya to help her find Joyoti. Apart from broken bits about her life in pre-independent India before she moved to USA, Maya doesn't have much to work with. So, who is Joyoti and how is she connected to Maya and Saira's present?
Full review: https://wp.me/p6XQyB-4s9
My rating: 4.6/5
Maya Stein, a young journalist, loses her mother to cancer. Her dying wish was for Maya to find her father. In this quest, Maya lands up at her grandmother, Saira Baig's doorstep. Saira has Alzheimer's and doesn't remember much about her past. But in her muddled state of mind, she requests Maya to help her find Joyoti. Apart from broken bits about her life in pre-independent India before she moved to USA, Maya doesn't have much to work with. So, who is Joyoti and how is she connected to Maya and Saira's present?
Full review: https://wp.me/p6XQyB-4s9
November 5, 2021
From the plot to the characters the story is absolutely phenomenal. It was written with such finesse that it leaves you spell bound and speechless. The story is set in pre independence era which Sunanda has done absolute justice in bringing to life , the most mesmerizing details of the aristocracies of British and what they did in those times really makes feel terrible all over again for what people went through at that time. The story was absolutely moving and emotional at so many levels. Sunanda is a one of the finest author, she never ceases to amaze me with her novels . This one is definitely one of her finest works. Definitely a must read!
November 4, 2021
WOW was my reaction when I finished reading this book with tears in my eyes. Sunanda Chatterjee excelled herself once again. For me it was a book that taught me a lot about India's independence, the drama of the partition and the separation of friends, lovers and families. But it also mirrors the love that Indian people have for their own country wherever they are.
A gripping and moving book that left me totally overwhelmed. A must read.
A gripping and moving book that left me totally overwhelmed. A must read.
October 19, 2021
I just couldn't put down Joyoti. The author has once again demonstrated her outstanding ability to weave multiple stories together, yet string them together beautifully.
Joyoti is such a strong character. We can all see ourselves in her. I could relate to so many issues in this novel. It did evoke many emotions from deep within my soul.
Joyoti is such a strong character. We can all see ourselves in her. I could relate to so many issues in this novel. It did evoke many emotions from deep within my soul.
November 11, 2021
Families Do Connect In the End
What a wonderful book! I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the history the story told. I felt like the characters were my family. My jaws were sore from clutching them so tight while reading some of the parts. Ms. Cutter he's is an excellent writer. I am looking forward to reading Moe of her books.
What a wonderful book! I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the history the story told. I felt like the characters were my family. My jaws were sore from clutching them so tight while reading some of the parts. Ms. Cutter he's is an excellent writer. I am looking forward to reading Moe of her books.
November 23, 2021
I loved this book joyoti I loved her treated so bad she was wonderful kind ,and helpful she did her best to provide for her family and did what she could but also loved her country with a passion and betrayed by some one she loved , a great history story and great leaders were horrible human being
September 28, 2022
Gripping, riveting, moving
We have known that most history is written by the victors. In war, there are no winners, just losers and survivors. So glad to read about the reality that created empires. These stories must not be forgotten. Thanks for providing such a beautiful framework that showcases our frailty in division and war.
We have known that most history is written by the victors. In war, there are no winners, just losers and survivors. So glad to read about the reality that created empires. These stories must not be forgotten. Thanks for providing such a beautiful framework that showcases our frailty in division and war.
September 3, 2024
An amazing story.
This is an amazing story and it goes right into the history of the British army in India.What happened in the famine and about the people that lived there. How they survived and how they managed. The protests that were there and the death of many innocent people. Very well written
This is an amazing story and it goes right into the history of the British army in India.What happened in the famine and about the people that lived there. How they survived and how they managed. The protests that were there and the death of many innocent people. Very well written
December 2, 2021
Very interesting
I thought this was a very interesting story. I hadn’t known about this side of British rule in India before it’s independence. The plight of Indians before Independence and during WW2 is just heartbreaking.
I thought this was a very interesting story. I hadn’t known about this side of British rule in India before it’s independence. The plight of Indians before Independence and during WW2 is just heartbreaking.
December 19, 2021
Engrossing!
The history was heart wrenching and the story of the strength of women was heartening! I am so grateful to have read this book!
The history was heart wrenching and the story of the strength of women was heartening! I am so grateful to have read this book!
April 24, 2024
felt good to revisit my Indian roots🙏
Heard similar stories from my parents, aunts & uncles. Glad it is being told. Thank you Joyti & SJC 🙏🙌😊
Heard similar stories from my parents, aunts & uncles. Glad it is being told. Thank you Joyti & SJC 🙏🙌😊
January 25, 2025
It was lovely
I loved the way the timelines intertwined on this, it was done beautifully. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from Sunanda J. Chatterjee
I loved the way the timelines intertwined on this, it was done beautifully. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from Sunanda J. Chatterjee
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews