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Secret Daughter  By  cover art

Secret Daughter

By: Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
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Publisher's summary

Debut novelist Shilpi Somaya Gowda pens this compelling tale about two families, worlds apart, linked by one Indian child. After giving birth to a girl for a second time, impoverished Kavita must give her up to an orphanage. The baby, named Asha, is adopted by an American doctor and raised in California. But once grown, Asha decides to return to India.

©2010 Shilpi Somaya Gowda (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Gowda writes with compassion and uncanny perception … while portraying the vibrant traditions, sights, and sounds of modern India.” ( Booklist)

What listeners say about Secret Daughter

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Must Read

A engaging and fascinating story of one American family, their adopted daughter from India, her paternal Indian family, and their eventual acceptance of one another and treasured peaceful coexistence. I highly recommend this book.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

tear jerk

if you like heart warming stories of finding yourself, this is it. pull out the tissues and enjoy.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

What an amazing book! And the narrator did a beautiful job. Would definitely recommend it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully told story

This book was so beautiful. Beautifully written and narrated. The characters were so well developed and I found myself at the peak of so many emotions! Great read!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed it!

This is an A1 Narrator!
The story was touching and worth it!
I laughed, cried and felt like I was in India due to the well written & descriptive chapters. Well done!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Adoption not resolved

I was very disappointed that the adoptee and birth mom never met. The healing that can take place for both parties is life changing. You could have shown that part of the story instead of rambling on the way you did. I realize you implied that they’d communicate eventually, but it was not told in the story. Make it happen, and no one wants to hear your space filling, rambling expressions. Very disappointing, since being adopted is what the story was about.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So good!

Heart wrenching and heartwarming story! Love this narration! This was so good, must listen to!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book.

A dear friend recommended this book to me so I thought sure I would really enjoy it, but I didn't. The story is OK, and the reader does a fine job, there are just too many stereotypical characters. I couldn't believe in or relate to them. It just plods along to its inevitable conclusion. I have listened to many terrific books set in India and enjoyed them but this sadly was not one of them.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful story

loved the story it could've been 20 chapters shorter and still had the same affect.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

I enjoyed this book and the story that unfolded over the decades. I learned about the differences between the two countries and cultures and how healing can occur when we let it happen.

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