Guesthouse for Ganesha

A Novel

By: Judith Teitelman

Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi, Soneela Nankani

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1923, 17-year-old Esther Grünspan arrives in Köln "with a hardened heart as her sole luggage.” Thus begins a 22-year journey, woven against the backdrops of the European Holocaust and the Hindu Kali Yuga (the “Age of Darkness” when human civilization degenerates spiritually), in search of a place of sanctuary. Throughout her travails, using cunning and shrewdness, Esther relies on her masterful tailoring skills to help mask her Jewish heritage, navigate war-torn Europe, and emigrate to India.

Esther’s traveling companion and the novel’s narrator is Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu God worshipped by millions for his abilities to destroy obstacles, bestow wishes, and avenge evils. Impressed by Esther’s fortitude and relentless determination, born of her deep - though unconscious - understanding of the meaning and purpose of love, Ganesha, with compassion, insight, and poetry, chooses to highlight her story because he recognizes it is all of our stories - for truth resides at the essence of its telling.

Weaving Eastern beliefs and perspectives with Western realities and pragmatism, Guesthouse for Ganesha is a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed.

Cover photo by Michael Kellner at kellnerbookdesign.com.

©2019 Judith Teitelman (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

What a journey!

I loved being on Esther’s journey which was both in the real world and on a metaphoric, spiritual plane. The voices of the two main characters exemplified this and the readers were excellent. I did not know when I started it that the Holocaust played a role. I think it is important for all people to have a glimpse into how this impacted Esther and so many. Well written!

Stellar!

I don’t usually seek out magical realism, however the storyline was so intriguing, I had to get it. And I’m so glad I did! Beautiful writing and wonderful narrators. Brava!

A beautiful and powerful story!

The author weaves an incredible tale, rich with descriptive imagery that really draws you in. The actors are so skilled at capturing all the complexity of the characters. I was fully immersed in this wonderful book and can’t recommend it more highly.

Thrilling performance and story

I listened to this book as I drove from LA to Monterey. I loved it so much I couldn’t stop listening and finished it over the next two nights. It beautifully captures the transformation of mourning and loss into enlightenment and spiritual love.

A captivating and thought-provoking journey

Guesthouse for Ganesha is the award-winning debut literary novel of talented author Judith Teitelman. Told from the heart in a flowing and at times poetic writing style, this story will captivate and entertain from beginning to end.

In Guesthouse for Ganesha we embark on a 22-year long journey alongside two of the most vivid characters that I met in recent memory. The story is told by the Hindu god Ganesha and through his eyes we are witnessing the life changing events of our main character, Esther.

Set against the backdrops of the European Holocaust and the Hindu Kali Yuga (the “Age of Darkness”) Guesthouse for Ganesha weaves a poignant story of war, peace, self discovery, drama and spirituality.

This thought-provoking work of literature is even more enthralling in audiobook format thanks to fantastic performances delivered by two extremely talented actors. Experienced voice over artist and audiobook narrator Fajer Al-Kaisi brings to life the God Ganesha, while Esther is portrayed by classically trained Brooklyn-based actress and award-winning narrator, Soneela Nankani.

Each of them are doing a fantastic job with the already great content and at the same time bring their own, personal touch to the story. As such, they enrich the narrative experience and help the listeners immerse themselves into this award-winning adventure.

So, if you are in the mood for a thought-provoking, captivating and immersive drama set in the sub genre of magical realism, you should definitely check out Guesthouse for Ganesha. Trust me, you will thank me for the recommendation! 

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Amazing Story. Narrators were great

This first book by Judith Teitelman is so rich in its story, its sense of history and the spiritual life. The narrators brought the story and characters to life. I was immersed and touched through Esther’s journey.

Divine intervention from gods of the east in the west

Esther’s journey of survival is driven by a loveless will to overcome the senseless injustices of man and the nazi rise to power. Making her way as a skilled seamstress, the thread of her path is laid by the divine interventions of her first real love, the Hindu god Ganesha.

After a lifetime of remaining skillfully unseen, she rises above existential threats and limits imposed on the female, and is recognized for her courage. In the end she finds her power, her happiness and her divine love.

The two narrative voices are daring genius (the voice of a god?) performed so well in the audio version of the book as to be transcendental.

A Must Read!!

Guesthouse For Ganesha ignited my love of reading. It is beautifully written and the main character is so engaging. Her journey and the choices she had to make were challenging. As I read it, thinking, as a woman and a mother, oftentimes, I caught myself asking what I would do if I were in her place. Teitelman does a magnificent job transporting us to such a rich journey. It will expand your universe in tantalizing ways. I listened to the audio, which was beautiful.

Implausible Reality Conveys Truth (Must Read)

Guesthouse for Ganesha by Judith Teitelman is a great book for any time. However, its lessons and insights resonate even more strongly during a pandemic. The story is told to us by the Hindu deity, Ganesha. We begin following the main character, Esther when she is a young bride-to-be. She is Jewish and she is unaware of Ganesha’s role and presence in her life. Esther’s life is filled with many hardships and challenges. Esther overcomes so much but she also pays a very high price - her very heart. Much of the story takes place during World War II. Esther is more anti-hero than hero. She has intelligence and excellent manual skills. She has many facets and through some very painful encounters, she becomes very detached.

It is important to recognize that when humans are placed in extreme situations, they may lose some attachment and heart. This loss does not negate their humanity. Ganesha’s choice of Esther is something for all of us to consider, to ponder, and to ultimately embrace and understand. The themes and questions raised in this story are both disheartening and encouraging all at once

The writing itself is beautiful, even poetic at times. Guesthouse for Ganesha is a very strong example of the Magical Realism genre. I would recommend Guesthouse for Ganesha to anyone who would like to be taken away by a rich, magical story of love, loss, survival, sorrow, challenge, hope, renewal, and redemption. It is a special story that anyone who has experienced spiritual doubts should read. Fans of Magical Realism will appreciate the writing, world building, and the story structure. Readers who are not familiar with Magical Realism and even those who dislike it may come to love the genre when reading this book. In fact, I would love to see this book expanded and made into the first volume in a series.

The performances by Fajer Al-Kaisi and Soneela Nankani are outstanding.

Excellent first novel.

An interesting look at modern conversos during a time when denial of one's Judaism was not at all protective. Hitler made the Inquisition look better than it had any right to be. The magical realism is an added feature that makes this more compelling.