Flame Tree Road - by Shona Patel (Paperback)

About the Book

1870s India. In a tiny village where society is ruled by a caste system and women are defined solely by marriage, young Biren Roy dreams of forging a new destiny. When his mother suffers the fate of widowhood--shunned by her loved ones and forced to live in solitary penance--Biren devotes his life to effecting change. Just when his vision for the future begins to look hopeless, he meets Maya, the independent-minded daughter of a local educator, and his soul is reignited.

Book Synopsis

For fans of Alka Joshi's The Henna Artist, Shona Patel brings you the story of a man with dreams of changing the world, who finds himself changed by love.

From the acclaimed author of Teatime for the Firefly comes the story of a man with dreams of changing the world, who finds himself changed by love

1870s India. In a tiny village where society is ruled by a caste system and women are defined solely by marriage, young Biren Roy dreams of forging a new destiny. When his mother suffers the fate of widowhood--shunned by her loved ones and forced to live in solitary penance--Biren devotes his life to effecting change.

Biren's passionate spirit blossoms as wildly as the blazing flame trees of his homeland. With a law degree, he goes to work for the government to pioneer academic equality for girls. But in a place governed by age-old conventions, progress comes at a price, and soon Biren becomes a stranger among his own countrymen.

Just when his vision for the future begins to look hopeless, he meets Maya, the independent-minded daughter of a local educator, and his soul is reignited. It is in her love that Biren finally finds his home, and in her heart that he finds the hope for a new world.

Review Quotes

"Patel skillfully uses the culture and customs of...India as a fascinating framework for an unforgettable story of love and loss, hope and change...that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page." -Booklist, starred review

"Patel's remarkable debut effortlessly transports readers back to India on the brink of independence.... Fans of romantic women's fiction will be enchanted by Teatime for the Firefly's enthralling characters, exotic setting, and evocative writing style." -Booklist, starred review

"Debut author Patel offers a stunning, panoramic view of a virtually unknown time and place-the colonial British tea plantations of Assam-while bringing them to life through a unique character's perspective.... A lyrical novel that touches on themes both huge and intimate." -Kirkus Reviews

"A wonderfully intricate world of the Assam tea plantations and the adventures and heartaches of marriage.... The historical detail makes this debut novel a rich reading experience. Those who enjoy historical fiction and portraits of foreign cultures will surely love this book." -Library Journal

"A refreshing, fascinating debut novel by a woman who writes with humor and pathos that comes from experience." ?BookReporter.com

"With lyrical prose and exquisite detail, Shona Patel's novel brings to life the rich and rugged landscape of India's tea plantation, harboring a sweet love story at its core."

- Shilpi Somaya Gowda, New York Times bestselling author of Secret Daughter

"Patel takes readers on a vivid tour of 1940s India, exploring the attitudes of the day and the traditions of the tea-growing region of Assam. The story ebbs and flows gracefully, sure to keep readers actively engaged and fervently enticed. Simply stated, Teatime for the Firefly is a true treasure." -RT Book Reviews