The Dream Builders
a novel
Published on 13. July 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-915590-11-4 (ISBN)
Description
A stunning, multi-perspective epic about class division, the contraints of gender roles, and the history of India.
After living in the US for years, Maneka Roy returns home to India to mourn the loss of her mother and finds herself in a new world. The booming city of Hrishipur where her father now lives is nothing like the part of the country where she grew up, and the more she sees of this new, sparkling city, the more she learns that nothing - and no one - here is as it appears. Ultimately, it will take an unexpected tragic event for Maneka and those around her to finally understand just how fragile life is in this city built on aspirations.
Written from the perspectives of ten different characters, Oindrila Mukherjee's incisive debut novel explores class divisions, gender roles, and stories of survival within a society that is constantly changing and becoming increasingly Americanised. It's a story about India today, and people impacted by globalisation everywhere: a tale of ambition, longing, and bitter loss that asks what it really costs to try to build a dream.
After living in the US for years, Maneka Roy returns home to India to mourn the loss of her mother and finds herself in a new world. The booming city of Hrishipur where her father now lives is nothing like the part of the country where she grew up, and the more she sees of this new, sparkling city, the more she learns that nothing - and no one - here is as it appears. Ultimately, it will take an unexpected tragic event for Maneka and those around her to finally understand just how fragile life is in this city built on aspirations.
Written from the perspectives of ten different characters, Oindrila Mukherjee's incisive debut novel explores class divisions, gender roles, and stories of survival within a society that is constantly changing and becoming increasingly Americanised. It's a story about India today, and people impacted by globalisation everywhere: a tale of ambition, longing, and bitter loss that asks what it really costs to try to build a dream.
Reviews / Votes
'The Dream Builders is a novel of epic proportions that follows Maneka Roy and those around her as they each ponder the power of forgiveness and learn none of them can wield that power without first forgiving the self. Oindrila Mukherjee allows full life for these characters who are often real enough to remind us of ourselves, even as they betray one another ... even as they betray themselves. This is a lovely debut.' -- Jericho Brown, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of <i>The Tradition</i> 'Oindrila Mukherjee's The Dream Builders is such an impressive feat of storytelling, a novel that examines the constraints of class, of gender, of history, while showcasing the sheer expansiveness of the endeavour, skillfully shifting the point of view amongst a group of characters who each demand a claim on the story. It's a marvel of a structure, built by a great talent.' -- Kevin Wilson, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of <i>Nothing to See Here</i> 'Mukherjee has written a funny, moving, and often deliciously cynical novel about the illusive ideal we sometimes call the New India. Written from almost every angle imaginable, the novel demonstrates how each of us might be a hero in our own narratives while being the potential villain in someone else's.' -- Tiphanie Yanique, author of <i>Monster in the Middle</i> 'A multitude of voices and visions - arresting, wrenching, desiring - come together to create an astonishing, and astonishingly accurate, portrait of contemporary India. Oindrila Mukherjee has done a superb job.' -- Chitra Divakaruni, bestselling author of <i>The Mistress of Spices</i> 'The Dream Builders showcases a vibrant cast of characters whose complex lives are a testament to India's astonishing diversity. Oindrila Mukherjee has written a soulful novel that'll break your heart with its truth.' -- Samrat Upadhyay, author of <i>Mad Country</i> 'A sweeping debut ... [Mukherjee] does a great job capturing the setting and exploring the fateful power dynamics ... a penetrating look at the fast-growing country's shaky facade.' * Publishers Weekly * 'Epic ... A promising first novel.' * Booklist * 'Losses great and small haunt the denizens of a glittering new city in India ... Mukherjee artfully demonstrates that even a new civilisation can have its discontents.' * Kirkus Reviews * 'Sweeping.' -- <i>Foreword Reviews</i>, starred review 'Reminds me of a Robert Altman film ... You'll want more of every single character.' * Good Morning America * 'A winning tale ... with sensitivity, beauty and depth ... that derives its heat and heart from its characters' humanity.' * Star Tribune * 'A kaleidoscope of characters narrates this story of tragedy and grief. Mukherjee understands how to make characters leap off the page.' * Debutiful * 'Mukherjee's writing style is refreshingly direct ... keeping you tethered to a strong narrative thread while the perspective shifts and glides ... [The Dream Builders is] funny, deep, challenging and heartfelt all at once.' * Better Reading * 'With themes of class, gender and globalisation, this compelling debut by Oindrila Mukherjee pairs incisive social commentary with a memorable cast of diverse characters.' * The Herald Sun * 'In this astonishing debut, Oindrila Mukherjee tells a grand tale of class, gender and globalisation. This is a character-driven story of India today, masterfully told through ten alternating perspectives. While the perspective constantly shifts, you never feel lost or disoriented. Achieving this sense of ease within such an ambitious and innovative narrative structure reveals Mukherjee's true talent.' -- Cheryl Akle * The Australian *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
342 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-915590-11-4 (9781915590114)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Oindrila Mukherjee grew up in India and now lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she teaches creative writing at Grand Valley State University. She has a PhD in literature and creative writing from the University of Houston. A former journalist for India's oldest English-language newspaper The Statesman, she is a regular contributor to the Indian magazine Scroll, and a contributing editor for Aster(ix), a US-based literary and arts magazine committed to social justice. She has been the recipient of fellowships and scholarships from the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, Emory University, Inprint Houston, the Sewanee Writers Conference, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Her short fiction has been published in literary magazines in the US. The Dream Builders is her debut novel.