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)

Among the Best

Excelllent nuanced narration + historical epic event + a moving story + immersion into a very different culture + gifted writing = a great listen.
Should not be missed by anyone who values historical fiction.

A good story

I listened to this book after once attempting to read the hard cover version. As with the actual book, I was very bored early on and it wasn't easy to get into the story. But give it time. The author tells a great tale, and I learned a lot about the Sunderbans too. As an Indian American, I can relate a lot to the main character, Pia. A nice read.

Gloriously entertaining

What can I say except this author makes words become people, color, animals, poetry and sweeps you along breathlessly waiting to see what will happen next. I rank this as one of my favorites and will listen to it again as soon as I can come out of its spell.

Even better the 2nd time

So many interesting twists and turns.Great character development. A very satisfying tale that leaves one hungry for more.

Pleasant performance

I very much enjoyed this story and learning about an entirely different part of the world. It highlighted East Indian history, science, environmental, interesting cultural and geographical facts with only a whiff of romance. Good story.

Another Ghosh classic!

Story seemed long in some places, but once you reach the end, it all makes sense. A delightful story woven in the style of old-world storytelling.

Exciting story of a scientist and her adventures

Very touching and exciting story. It takes place in the islands off the shores of India and bangeledesh. The young female scientist studies ocean mammals with the help of a fisherman. A cyclone interrupts things and some survive and others do not. There is even a little romance in there too.

My new favorite book

I loved learning about the Sundarbans in the delta of the Ganges while being totally entertained by the story. Ghosh writes from a different cultural perspective that respects both the oral traditions and knowledge of Fokir, the fisherman as well as the educated principal and brave scientist from America. Their lives intertwine in sometimes funny, somtimes dramatic ways. Fabulous narrator!

Good but!

I do not want to discourage anyone from downloading this book. It is well written and life like. This book will give you a good idea of the poverty in the mangrove swamps of India. It is also the point of view of a scientist devoted to river wild life (dolphins). While there are some tense moments, for the most part it is a travelogue. The subject did not grab my attention enough to rate it higher. Still a talented author.

Very enjoyable

This novel was fascinating. The characters were well drawn, and the reader actually cares what happens to them. The plot held my attention from start to finish. The ending was satisfying, unlike so many novels. The extreme fascination with dolphins was a bit "off key" in this otherwise excellent read.