A breathtaking novel set in Malaya propelled by the superb storytelling instinct of the author of the award-winning THE RICE MOTHER.
Rani Manicka Book order
January 1, 1964
Rani Manicka crafts vivid, imaginative narratives that delve into the frailties of human nature and the consequences of war, often infused with rich family histories. Her compelling tales explore the complexities of love, betrayal, and addiction, drawing readers into absorbing stories of unconventional relationships against backdrops of historical conflict. Manicka's distinctive voice and skillful prose create immersive literary experiences that resonate with emotional depth.
- 2010
- 2004
Touching Earth
- 450 pages
- 16 hours of reading
Five diverse individuals are intertwined in a shared humiliating fate: the Balinese twins, the Sicilian, the courtesan, and the artist. Can they escape their decadent and corrupt lives?
- 2003
Beguiled by promises of wealth, fourteen-year-old Lakshmi leaves her native Ceylon for Malaysia and marriage to a man many years her senior. But Ayah has lied to her and her family about his circumstances and in fact lives in poverty. A woman of formidable energy and intelligence, Lakshmi provides security, if not luxury, for her family, though at a considerable emotional cost. Then the Japanese army invades during WWII. On the eve of peace, her beloved eldest daughter is raped and killed by the occupying army. The family bears deep scars and inflicts those wounds on the next generation. But in Nisha, Lakshmi's great-granddaughter, it is as if Fate has come full circle and the novel ends on a note of reconciliation and hope.
