The Hungry Tide

By: Amitav Ghosh

Narrated by: Firdous Bamji

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Internationally best-selling author Amitav Ghosh, winner of the Pushcart Prize and numerous other prestigious accolades, pens a sweeping novel full of romantic adventure. Favorably compared to the masterworks of Joseph Conrad and V.S. Naipaul, The Hungry Tide is an atmospheric tale set in a world of wondrous sights...and terrible danger.

Off the eastern coast of India lies an extraordinary cluster of islands known as the Sundarbans. It is a raw but beautiful area, a place of man-eating tigers, river dolphins, huge crocodiles, and devastating tides that sweep across the terrain without remorse. In this exotic land, marine biologist Piya, fisherman Fokir, and translator Kanai meet. As they travel deep into the remote archipelago, they experience a territory at risk not only from natural disaster, but also from human foolishness and volatile politics.

Hailed as "a novelist of dazzling ingenuity" by the San Francisco Chronicle, Ghosh delivers a rich and evocative story of profound truths staged against an unforgettable backdrop.

©2005 Amitav Ghosh (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Another triumph of gorgeous writing, intelligent romance, and keen philosophical inquiries." (Booklist)
"One doesn't so much read Ghosh's masterful fifth novel as inhabit his characters and the alluring if treacherous Sundarban archipelago." (Publishers Weekly)

captivating

I agree with the others who have alredy reviewed this book. I was captivated by the stories told and the characters. The manner in which the culture and way of life were explored in the book was very interesting. The narration was well done and the characters' voices still echo in my head.

Great novel told brilliantly

I love Ghosh and this novel didnt disappoint. The performance was terrific with a variety of accents and correct pronunciation of words in Bengali and Hindi. Definitely enhanced the novel

beautiful story,

An elegantly written story set in the tidal Sundarbans that intertwines myth and the scientific ideal of discovery with characters that cross time and culture. Beautifully read.

Excellent book

One of the best books I have read or listened to. I can highly recommend it.

Just beautiful

Amitava Ghosh's writing is sublime and nuanced, and Firdous Bamji gets Ghosh. What more can I say? It is a beautiful book, and a beautiful audio rendition.

An adventure

I’m a fan of amitov Ghosh and love his long tales full of reflection on the inner richness of human experience. It’s all through the lens of Indian culture, history and nature commingling with influences from the West. I felt imbedded with the characters and so many themes: conservation, revolution, poetry, politics, work, language, friendship, activism, love. He’s a masterful writer.

1

A wonderful listen. Keeps one captivated right to the end. Highly recommended.

Lyrical prose and intriguing locale

I love Ghosh's writing. The major characters have interesting, sometimes mysterious backgrounds. No superficial cliches. The rural island location is also a major force in the story-line.
This story features cultural friction in an isolated island community: the American scientist (of Indian heritage) come to India, the sophisticated urban Indian returning to his roots, the activist intellectual couple who came to the country side and handle their new lives in very different ways, and the sometimes non-English-speaking locals whose life and community are being encroached upon by outsiders.
I have a weakness for narators who can handle multiple accents with aplomb. He also brought out the beauty of the prose.

Riveting from start to finish.

The book and audio performance are excellent.
The audio quality is excellent. It’s clear, precise, and easy to understand. The quality of literature and writing is informative, as well as extremely knowledgeable. The narrative flows like the river and sometimes it could be stormy.
Enjoyed it.

Beautifully written and told

A captivating story, set in the Sundarbans, a low lying mangrove area in the Bay of Bengal, skillfully narrated by Firdous Bamji. The Sundarbans come alive to the imagination in this enchanting tale. I could not stop listening, and I did not want this novel to end.