The Storyteller's Secret, by Sejai Badani

 

Characters
Jaya 2000	Amisha – India in 1930s – 1940s
New York	Storyteller   Deepak – husband Chara – mother-in-law Father-in-law Janna – Deepak’s sister Omi – second wife, did not like Lena   Children: Jay Samir Paresh Lena   Ravi – untouchable, became Amisha’s servant Bina – Ravi’s cousin   British school in village: Amishi taught writing Lieutenant Stephen – tutored Amisha in English Neema – gifted student, set self on fire
Multiple miscarriages   Patrick – husband, separating   Father – doctor, seldom home Lena – mother, deceased Stepmother   When Lena came to America, her stepmother and father told her never to return to India   Amisha - grandmother
India
Ravi  - now head servant Rokie – dog   Amit – great grandson Misha – great granddaughter, crippled with polio

 

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the 2018 paperback edition.

1.      Did Amisha have a choice when she discovered that she was pregnant?  Could she have told Stephen the child was his?

2.      What did you think about Deepak keeping Stephen’s letters to Amisha without showing them to her?  Why did he do that?  Was he trying to redeem himself in the end?

3.      Discuss Lena in America.  Why was she so distant from Jaya?  Why didn’t she want the neighbors to know she was the one leaving food on their doorstep on page 184?

 

4.      At the very end, Jaya was reflecting on her mother with new understanding.  She also thought about her decision to keep trying to have a baby even though she kept having miscarriages.  She thought, “If I hadn’t tried, I always would have wondered” (page 383).  Did you understand her thoughts?  If she had had a baby, none of the story would have happened.

5.      As reported in the story, had the caste system in India changed much between the 1930’s – 1940’s in Amisha’ story and the 2000’s in Jaya’s?

6.      The book had a very satisfying ending – Patrick and Jaya reunited, adopting a child, Amit and Misha coming to America, giving the property to Ravi.  What did you like or dislike about it?

7.      As you were reading, what did you think the secret was?  Were you surprised when you learned the answer?

8.      Throughout the novel there were many statements made that I felt were important thoughts such as:

a.      Page 194: “People will forget many things, but they will never forget a person who shows them kindness.”

b.      Page 230: “Your grandmother once wrote a poem about the only thing we take from life to death being the people whose lives we have touched.”

c.      Page 279: Ravi said to Jaya, “Maybe today, in helping to ease others’ pain, you ease a little of your own?”

Were there any statements that stood out to you?

9.      Would you recommend this book to others?  Why or why not?