BOOK SYNOPSIS
Raised by Buddhist monks in Delhi after his mother’s untimely and tragic death, Eshaan sets out on the challenging quest to feed and nourish the hungry so they do not suffer her same fate. His attempts to achieve this monumental goal are constantly thwarted. And when his former girlfriend returns from Europe with a handsome fiancé in tow, his life becomes even more complicated.
A sliver of hope appears in the form of a local TV cooking competition. Winning would offer the solution to all his problems: money for his mission and the chance to impress the girl he loves. But to win this competition, Eshaan first must face a secret that has the potential to destroy his life and his dreams.
Can a young life that has been defined by a crisis ever really thrive? Will Eshaan’s pain-filled spirit ever hear the songs of salvation that the Universe sings for him, or will his demons ultimately win?
Celebrated food writer Monica Bhide dishes up a page-turning story of sacrifice, determination, and an honest exploration of the human spirit.
Set in contemporary India and seasoned with gentle love, dramatic loss, enchanting poetic verse, and exotic food, Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken will take you to a place where past and present keep uneasy yet delicious company
Eshaan was a very talented cook who had come up with a plan that involved setting up a kitchen in the monastery where people could come and do small tasks in exchange for a cooked meal. Unfortunately,he would swiftly discover that no matter which side of the social divide they lived on, many people are always happy to take but not so happy to give something back in return. Eshaan was such a kind hearted, caring individual and it was heart breaking watching him being taken for granted and his dreams crumbling to dust due to the greedy and thoughtless behaviour of others. Adding to Eshaan's problems was the unexpected return to Delhi of Kitt, the woman he loved and heart breaking reason behind her return. Despite all the set backs and determined not to give up on his plan, Eshaan auditions for a spot on a tv cooking competition. Are Eshaan's dreams destined to come true? What does fate hold in store for his kitchen and his future with Kitt?
I loved Eshaan and wise old Lama Dorge, I also liked Eshaan's loyal friends Loveleen, Radio Rani (yes that was her actual name) and Tenzin. I was even surprised that I actually liked a character called Nikolas by the time I reached the end of the book although I still found I had mixed feelings about both Kitt and Gina.
scattered throughout the story was extracts from Eshaan's journal which gave the reader insights into his inner thoughts and emotions.
This beautifully written story has a plot that covers a wide range of realistic and relatable issues including poverty, bullying, religion, discrimination and greed. The story has a cast of characters who are vivid and realistic, some of whom were more likeable than others. The author cleverly and skilfully combines stunning scenery, authentic characterisation, scrumptious sounding food and the good and bad sides of human nature to create a story that is captivating and enthralling. I really enjoyed being a passenger on Eshaan's journey and I look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.
AUTHOR INFO
Monica Bhide is an award-winning writer, accomplished literary coach, gifted poet, storyteller, and educator with a lyrical voice and universal appeal. As a bestselling fiction and internationally renowned cookbook author, Monica is known for sharing food, culture, mystery, and love in her writing.
A respected writing authority, Monica appears regularly on NPR and conducts sold -out workshops on writing, food, culture, and scheduled speaking events at prestigious venues as the Smithsonian Institution, Sackler Gallery, Les Dames d’Escoffier, Georgetown University, and Yale University. She has taught all over the world including conferences in London, Dubai, US etc. She has also been the “Writing Coach in Residence” for the annual conference of the Association of Food Journalists.
Monica’s short story collection, The Devil in Us, topped the list on Kindle as a bestseller in its category of Literary Short Fiction. Her memoir, A Life of Spice, was picked by Eat Your Books as one of the top five food memoirs of 2015.
Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi picked Bhide’s Modern Spice (Simon & Schuster, 2009), as one of the “Best Books Ever” for Newsweek in 2009. The Chicago Tribune named Monica “one of the seven food writers to watch in 2012”.
In April 2012, Mashable.com picked her as one of “the top ten food writers” on Twitter.
Her work has garnered numerous accolades and has been included in four Best Food Writing anthologies (2005, 2009, 2010, and 2014).
As a noted international food writer, Monica has built a diverse and solid audience through her books and articles in top-tier media such as: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Ladies Home Journal, AARP-the Magazine, Parents Chicago Tribune , Christian Science Monitor, Bon Appétit, Town and Country Travel, Food and Wine, Cooking Light, Coastal Living, Health, Better Nutrition, and many others.
Monica lives in Virginia with two sons.
Website: www.monicabhide.com .
Twitter: @mbhide
Instagram: @monicasaigalbhide
PURCHASE LINK...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Karma-Art-Butter-Chicken-novel-ebook/dp/B01IRIR3CO/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FUA54Z1VY6DU&keywords=Karma+and+the+art+of+butter+chicken+by+monica&qid=1647650260&s=books&sprefix=karma+and+the+art+of+butter+chicken+by+monica%2Cstripbooks%2C200&sr=1-1
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