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Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

    January 1, 1956

    Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet whose works deeply explore the Indian experience, contemporary American life, and the dynamics of immigration. Her writing delves into complex themes of womanhood, history, and myth, celebrating the joys and challenges of living within a multicultural world. Divakaruni's unique voice and insightful perspectives on the human condition make her a significant presence in contemporary literature. She writes with a keen sense of detail and empathy, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the worlds she crafts.

    Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
    The Last Queen
    Independence
    The forest of enchantments
    The palace of illusions
    An Uncommon Love
    The Mistress of Spices. Upper level. 2.200 words. Text in English
    • 2024

      Sudha Kulkarni was forging a career as TELCO's first woman engineer when she met the serious, idealistic and brilliant Narayana Murthy, and they fell in love. For the first time comes the story of their early years - from their courtship to Infosys's founding years, from their marriage to parenthood - told by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. What drew them together and kept them bound tightly through the challenges and loneliness they faced? What was it like to create a startup during the license raj, when there were no VCs, and entrepreneurship was regarded as a dirty word? How did Sudha Murty balance being a career woman, a mother and a startup wife? How did Narayana Murthy's obsession affect himself and his family? Taking us deep inside the minds, hearts and values of the Murthys, with exclusive access to them, Divakaruni tells their story with emotional depth, bringing them and their worlds vividly alive.

      An Uncommon Love
    • 2022

      She rose from commoner to become the last reigning queen of India's Sikh Empire. In this dazzling novel, based on true-life events, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni presents the unforgettable story of Jindan, who transformed herself from daughter of the royal kennel keeper to powerful monarch. Sharp-eyed, stubborn, and passionate, Jindan was known for her beauty. When she caught the eye of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, she was elevated to royalty, becoming his youngest and last queen--and his favorite. And when her son, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne, Jindan assumed the regency. She transformed herself from pampered wife to warrior ruler, determined to protect her people and her son's birthright from the encroaching British Empire. Defying tradition, she stepped out of the zenana, cast aside the veil, and conducted state business in public, inspiring her subjects in two wars. Her power and influence were so formidable that the British, fearing an uprising, robbed the rebel queen of everything she had, but nothing crushed her indomitable will. An exquisite love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child, and an inspiration for our times, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's novel brings alive one of the most fearless women of the nineteenth century, one whose story cries out to be told.

      The Last Queen
    • 2022
    • 2019

      The forest of enchantments

      • 372 pages
      • 14 hours of reading
      4.2(13159)Add rating

      The book is based on the Indian epic The Ramayan, which she re-tells from the point of the main female character, Sita.

      The forest of enchantments
    • 2016
    • 2014

      Oleander Girl

      • 320 pages
      • 12 hours of reading
      3.7(197)Add rating

      A young woman's journey from India to America unfolds in this atmospheric coming-of-age novel, exploring themes of transformation and self-discovery. The narrative is rich with suspense and emotional depth, showcasing the author's talent for storytelling. Celebrated by notable figures for her ability to capture the intricacies of human experience, the book promises to engage readers with its vivid portrayal of the protagonist's quest for identity and belonging.

      Oleander Girl
    • 2009

      The palace of illusions

      • 384 pages
      • 14 hours of reading
      4.3(819)Add rating

      Takes us back to a time that is half-history, half-myth, and wholly magical. Narrated by Panchaali, the wife of the five Pandava brothers, this book gives a woman's take on the timeless tale that is the Mahabharata.

      The palace of illusions
    • 2007

      At Upper Intermediate Level (B2), this story follows Tilo, who uses her knowledge of spices and herbs in her shop to assist customers with love, loss, and loneliness. However, when she falls in love herself, she faces a dilemma between her personal happiness and her magical abilities.

      The Mistress of Spices. Upper level. 2.200 words. Text in English
    • 2007

      The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming

      • 338 pages
      • 12 hours of reading
      4.0(463)Add rating

      Anand experiences a troubling vision of his mentor, Master Healer Abhaydatta, in peril. Faced with a dilemma, he must decide whether to inform his elders and risk losing valuable time or to act independently to protect his mentor. This inner conflict highlights themes of intuition, responsibility, and the tension between guidance and self-reliance in a mystical Himalayan setting.

      The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming
    • 2006

      Victory Song

      • 144 pages
      • 6 hours of reading

      Vande Mataram! The Song Of The Freedom Fighters Is Ringing In The Countryside. It Is 1939. In The Little Village Of Shona Gram In Bengal, Neela Hears About How The Freedom Fighters Will Stop At Nothing Till They Send The British Back. The Day After Her Sister S Wedding, Her Father Decides To Go To Calcutta And Join A Protest March Called By The Congress. He Promises To Be Back In A Week. But When Three Weeks Go By And There Is Still No Sign Of Him, Neela Decides To Take Matters Into Her Hand. Dressed As A Wandering Minstrel, She Arrives In Calcutta. There She Befriends Bimala, The Rich Daughter Of A Judge And Cousin Of Samar, A Young Freedom Fighter Neela Had Rescued From The Police In Her Village. They Begin A Desperate Search For Her Father And Get To Know He Is In Jail And That He Will Be Deported To The Andaman Islands In A Few Days. Neela Has To Free Her Father Before That. But Can A Twelve-Year-Old Girl Outwit The Mighty British Empire? Set In A Dramatic Period In India S History, This Racy Adventure Will Have You Turning The Pages To Find Out If Neela Finally Manages To Succeed In Her Mission Age Group Of Target Audience: 9+

      Victory Song