The Direction of the Wind

A Novel

By: Mansi Shah

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

A heartfelt story that spans continents and generations, about a young woman who searches for answers about a mother she barely remembers.

Sophie Shah was six when she learned her mother, Nita, had died. For twenty-two years, she shouldered the burden of that loss. But when her father passes away, Sophie discovers a cache of hidden letters revealing a shattering truth: her mother didn’t die. She left.

Nita Shah had everything most women dreamed of in her hometown of Ahmedabad, India—a loving husband, a doting daughter, financial security—but in her heart, she felt like she was living a lie. Fueled by her creative ambitions, Nita moved to Paris, the artists’ capital of the world—even though it meant leaving her family behind. But once in Paris, Nita’s decision and its consequences would haunt her in ways she never expected.

Now that Sophie knows the truth, she’s determined to find the mother who abandoned her. Sophie jets off to Paris, even though the impulsive trip may risk her impending arranged marriage. In the City of Light, she chases lead after lead that help her piece together a startling portrait of her mother. Though Sophie goes to Paris to find Nita, she may just also discover parts of herself she never knew.

©2023 Mansi Shah, all rights reserved. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“The Direction of the Wind is an unexpected and compelling exploration of the way culture shapes us. This is a gritty, lyrical, heartbreaking, and deeply moving novel. I found myself reading far into the night, unable to leave behind the quest of these two women, a generation apart. Mansi Shah writes with a fresh voice and clear eyes.”—Barbara O’Neal, USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids

“A tender novel about the push and pull between families and independence, obligation and freedom, and the past and the future. The Direction of the Wind will both break your heart and send it soaring. Bravo, Mansi Shah!”—Allison Winn Scotch, bestselling author of The Rewind

“Mansi Shah’s second novel, The Direction of the Wind, is an absorbing exploration of the price of passion and blazing one’s own path despite the weight of convention, family obligations, even motherhood. Using interlocking mother-daughter perspectives spanning decades and continents, Shah gives an unflinching portrayal of lost innocence, addiction, and misplaced romance. Despite heavy losses, this is a hopeful novel set in the city of light, where love prevails in unlikely friendships and the unbreakable bond of chosen family. Perfect reading for travelers and journeys of the heart.”—Yoojin Grace Wuertz, author of Everything Belongs to Us

good listening

I was thinking there would be more revealed in the end but still good. I also wanted to play matchmaker.

Fabulous

I enjoyed the story. The reader was very good. I hope to hear more from both the author and the reader.

Good book

I enjoyed this book very much. Interesting story. I particularly liked hearing about the Indian culture which I know very little about

Wonderful story

Attention keeping from start to finish. Informative along the way. Brilliant story and narration. Perfection

Touching story

This story was weaved in a enjoyable epic way. going back and forth as necessary between mother and daughter experiences and choices ending was touching and well done. recommend it

Great

The narrator was very good! Some of the story was so sad and emotional I had a hard time with Nita. But wanted to see how the story ended

Beautiful and unexpected

This was not what I was expecting and I love it for that! The ending was not contrived but real feeling with disappointment and loss and love and all that should be. Sophie’s journey gives her so much insight into herself as well as her mother’s history that it is impossible not to be moved by her experience. A beautiful book.

great narration

I really had a hard time with this book, I think I didn't like it until the end.

I can never understand someone like Nita, making the decision to leave her life her husband, and her daughter, I do agree if you want to leave your husband well is up to you no problem at all but leaving your daughter just because you didn't feel like this was your dream?

Nita's character for me was very naib and also very selfish, if you have a daughter you raise her and love her and treat her well you dont leave her and act like you are single and sleep with the whole town of Paris.

So No I dont understand Nita and I never will, if you're not happy you make your own happiness however you can but you don't go and destroy and make feel other people's life just because you want to find your own happiness is just so egoic and selfish.

anyway, this story was a dual time, we get to read Nita's life why she decided to leave, and all the mistakes she made, including getting involved with someone who rather than help her to achieve her dreams only serves to destroy her life even more. so what is the case to leave your life for something so terrible that only will end up making you end up digging your own grave?

this is going to sound terrible but she deserves everything she went through, including her last moments on this earth, I know we all make mistakes but she was very naive and selfish, she never once regretted leaving her daughter, no matter what the author wrote, Nita was the first heroine I ever read who didn't deserve to be a heroine, her daughter was for me the real protagonist of the story, the one who deserved everything, every happiness and love.

Anyway, I've found a pattern whenever I read these books, they're always very dramatic and the family never cares about the daughters, if you're a woman in these stories you're always the outcast the less important, and the one who doesn't have a voice and a choice, but if you're a man then you're the one who has everything in life very sad.

great narrations by Soneela Nankani

the ending was good other than that I had a hard time with Nita, she wasn't likable at all very naive, and always making the wrong decisions no matter what

Loved!

A story of growth and struggles. A coming of age and new found life in the ability to have a choice in life.

Movie Please

Very good book. I appreciated the development of all the characters. I did not expect the story line to be the way it was. Sophie definitely matured through the chapters of the book.

I would recommend to friends and family.