A world which we never knew about, which was hidden until someone as talented as shona patel shared it with us. Shona patels teatime for the firefly, a transporting novel. Maniks career and arranged marriage were charted for success. My name is layla and i was born under an unlucky star. Shona patel s debut novel is a fishoutofwater love story told partially through letters, and set within an exotic and enchanting world where social upheaval and the threat of world war ii lingers on their doorstep.
Lovely descriptions and anecdotes of conditions and life for the people of the tea plantations. Shona patel was born and raised in a remote tea plantation in assam, india. Sep 24, 20 teatime for the firefly is a charming tale of unexpected romance between two misfits in traditional indian society. It piqued my interest because it is set in 1940s assam. Buy a cheap copy of teatime for the firefly book by shona patel. I have never forgotten her vivid descriptions of india and the wonders she depicted on the pages of books such as the far pavilions and shadow of the moon. You see this makes her an unlucky one according to local superstition, and the hindu horoscope.
Teatime for the firefly is a work of fiction and it is told from a first person narrative and yes it is most definitely colored whether you like it or not through the lens of my main character. Like even though water chooses the path of least resistance, it ultimately defines its own course. Harlequin enterprises ulc is located at bay adelaide centre, east tower, 22 adelaide street west, 41st floor, toronto, ontario, canada m5h 4e3 and sends informational and promotional emails on behalf of itself and harlequin digital sales corporation. There is so much interesting history, worldbuilding and character development in this book that readers will forgive the occasional slow pacing and the subtle transition midbook as to the type of story being told.
And then there are book like teatime for the firefly which transport you totally into a whole new world. Teatime for the firefly quotes showing 16 of 6 love survives in a bubble. Despite being born under an inauspicious horoscope, she is raised to be educated and independent by her eccentric grandfather. Teatime for the firefly shona patel presents her debut novel teatime for the firefly. What made the experience of listening to teatime for the firefly the most enjoyable. Buy the paperback book teatime for the firefly by shona patel at indigo.
For a young girl growing up in india in a time where womens lives were predeterminedif not by the stars, then by centuries of family tradition and social orderthis is bad news. Sep 24, 20 shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly. Teatime for the firefly kindle edition by patel, shona. Teatime for the firefly shona patel 9780778315476 netgalley.
Teatime for the firefly by shona patel book cover, description, publication history. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel reading guidebook. For a young girl growing up in india, this is bad news. It takes them a while to become intimate, and the scenes leading to that moment are sweetly depicted, but this is really a story of laylas and maniks life in the tea plantation, with the transition from colonialism providing a backdrop that comes. Teatime for the firefly is a debut novel from shona patel that was published last year. But navigating the tea garden set will hardly be her biggest challenge. Teatime for the firefly is set in 1940s india, a volatile and transitional time in the countrys fight for independence. I loved shona patel s flame tree road and recommend it without reservation.
Buy teatime for the firefly book online at low prices in. Shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly. Buy teatime for the firefly book online at best prices in india on. The title of the book itself welled up from the story. But by cleverly manipulating the hand fortune has dealt her, layla has found love with manik. Patel has won several awards for creative writing and is a trained graphic designer. It diffuses outer reality and reflects only what the heart wants to see. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel, paperback barnes.
Teatime for the firefly, book by shona patel paperback. There is plenty written on the subject and i have listed some books in the acknowledgments section of teatime for the firefly. Womens fiction teatime for the firefly by shona patel. See more ideas about tea time, novels and book worms.
Shona patel is represented by april eberhardt literary. This novel picks up the tradition of writing about british colonialism with that same romanticism mixed with realism that made her books so riveting. Shona patels debut novel is a fishoutofwater love story told partially through letters, and set within an exotic and enchanting world where social upheaval and the threat of world war ii lingers on their doorstep. Teatime for the firefly is a charming tale of unexpected romance between two misfits in traditional indian society.
Teatime for the firefly follows the story of layla roy. May 27, 2015 in conversation with shona patel author of teatime for the firefly on growing up in assams tea gardens, and a novel set there. I highly recommend shona patels debut novel, teatime for the firefly. Jan 29, 2018 my debut novel published by harlequin mira september 24, 20. Aug 08, 20 teatime for the firefly is shona patels debut novel. Sep 24, 20 harlequin enterprises ulc is located at bay adelaide centre, east tower, 22 adelaide street west, 41st floor, toronto, ontario, canada m5h 4e3 and sends informational and promotional emails on behalf of itself and harlequin digital sales corporation. Teatime for the firefly ebook king county library system. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel dear author. Rivers divide and merge, they braid and weave, the form complex wholes. A wee bit of research on the history of tea plantation management and the labor recruitment would clarify everything.
Teatime for the firefly book pima county public library. Events are seen through the eyes of layla, an indian girl who was born at an unlucky time. During this volatile and transitional time in the countrys fight for independence, layla is astrologically doomed never to marry. It is a love story set in a remote tea plantation in assam, india. Shona patel acclaimed author of teatime for the firefly and flame tree road raconteur, wannabe chef, assam tea advocate. Simply stated, teatime for the firefly is a true treasure.
Now living in the us, she brings in some vivid memories of assam in her first novel, teatime for the firefly, a poignant love story set in a remote tea estate in assam. Nov 07, 20 shona patels teatime for the firefly, a transporting novel of 1940s india looking at an unopened copy of teatime for the firefly, you may take it to be a delicate work of womens literature, something involving teadrinking and love letters, perhaps with an international flair. Debut author shona patel on teatime for the firefly. It is the story of layla, a beautiful and reclusive young girl who is astrologically doomed never to marry and manik, a man whose career and arranged marriage are charted for success. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel fantastic fiction. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel librarything. The daughter of a tea planter, she drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly.
You can read the synopsis and the first chapter by clicking on the red links. Maniks career and arranged marriage were charted for. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Her second novel flame tree road was published in june 2015. Teatime for the firefly, shona patel april eberhardt. I perused the list in the back of your book when i finished reading the story. Sep 24, 20 buy the paperback book teatime for the firefly by shona patel at indigo.
Her second book, song of the flame tree, is a prequel that will be out next year. Apr 17, 2015 shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly. Author of the critically acclaimed teatime for the firefly and flame tree road miraharper collins, july, 2015. Shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for her critically acclaimed debut novel teatime for the firefly. May 05, 2018 teatime for the firefly by shona patel is an interesting womens fiction set in 1940s india. As a planters daughter, all her early memories are of a childhood surrounded by tea gardens and of course, lots of assam tea. Oct 09, 20 shona patel, the daughter of an assam tea planter, drew upon her personal observations and experiences to create the vivid characters and setting for teatime for the firefly. Oct 04, 20 by shona patel, author of teatime for the firefly.
The only quibble i had with this book is that on occasion the descriptions would go on a tad long, bogging us. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel booksamillion. Teatime for the firefly was an engaging combination of indian culture, history, and. Im always looking for unusual historicals, and a book set in 1940s. I found this book very easy to read quickly both the charactarisation and flow of the story were good and easy to keep track of. Teatime for the firefly kindle edition by shona patel. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel, book cover. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel 20, paperback.
A lyrical novel that touches on themes both huge and intimate and, like layla, is so quietly bold. The dense rainforests of assam where i was born and raised is firefly country. I am almost certain that i will love the written version of this book but the narrator in this audible version is just horrible. Shona patel teatime for the firefly changing hands bookstore. An honors graduate in english literature from calcutta university, ms. I listened to a little over 2 hours of this book today during my commute. Shona patel is the author of the critically acclaimed novel teatime for the firefly harlequinmira october 20. This spectacular book is a gorgeous, gorgeous read. Shon patel writes a powerful story about india and especially the tea plantations in assam. Teatime for the firefly by shona patel is an interesting womens fiction set in 1940s india. Teatime for the firefly creates a vivid portrayal of the exotic world of the assam tea plantations and indian life. But everything began to change for me one spring day in 1943, when three unconnected incidents, like tiny droplets on a lily leaf, tipped and rolled into one. Shona patel quotes author of teatime for the firefly.
My sister and i liked to trap fireflies and drop them inside the pipelike stems of the papaya plant, where they glowed an eerie green. They move apart only to rejoin at a defferent point. Teatime for the firefly my name is layla and i was born under an unlucky star. It is the story of layla, a beautiful and reclusive young girl who is astrologically doomed never to marry and manik, a man whose career and.
Author of the critically acclaimed teatime for the firefly and flame tree road miraharper. Patel has won several awards for creative writing and is a trained graphic and architectural designer. Teatime for the firefly is an engrossing and beautifully written story of a young woman who finds love, adventure, and a new life with her husband on a tea plantation in a remote area of india in the 1940s. Shona patel s teatime for the firefly, a transporting novel of 1940s india looking at an unopened copy of teatime for the firefly, you may take it to be a delicate work of womens literature, something involving tea drinking and love letters, perhaps with an international flair. Patel was born and raised in a remote tea plantation in assam, india. Laylas remote home is not safe from the powerful changes sweeping india on the heels of the second world war. As i had spent part of my childhood in assam and had visited the tea plantations teatime with fireflies brought. When this book appeared on netgalley i was intrigued. Teatime for the firefly is accurately categorized as historical fiction rather than genre romance, and while the relationship between layla and manik is important to the story, there is little conflict since they are married early in the book. The first thing we learn is that layla roy was born under an unlucky star, that makes her a manglik,which is bad news for her. The writing is beautiful, and i learned a great deal about india during the colonial period in the 1940s. I read and thoroughly enjoyed her first novel, teatime for the firefly, and was anxious to revisit some of her characters in flame tree road.
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