The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny

A Novel

De: Kiran Desai

Narrado por: Sneha Mathan

A spellbinding story of two young people whose fates intersect and diverge across continents and years—an epic of love and family, India and America, tradition and modernity, by the Booker Prize–winning author of The Inheritance of Loss

“A spectacular literary achievement. I wanted to pack a little suitcase and stay inside this book forever.”—Ann Patchett

“A novel so wonderful, when I got to the last page, I turned to the first and began again.”—Sandra Cisneros

“Devastating, lyrical, and deeply romantic . . . an unmitigated joy to read.”—Khaled Hosseini

“A grand and stirring love story, written in exquisite prose.”—Namwali Serpell

“Magnificent . . . A masterpiece.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

One of Publishers Weekly’s Top 10 New Books of the Fall • One of Book Riot’s Three Most Anticipated Books of the Fall

When Sonia and Sunny first glimpse each other on an overnight train, they are immediately captivated yet also embarrassed by the fact that their grandparents had once tried to matchmake them, a clumsy meddling that served only to drive Sonia and Sunny apart.

Sonia, an aspiring novelist who recently completed her studies in the snowy mountains of Vermont, has returned to her family in India. She fears that she is haunted by a dark spell cast by an artist to whom she had once turned for intimacy and inspiration. Sunny, a struggling journalist resettled in New York City, is attempting to flee his imperious mother and the violence of his warring clan. Uncertain of their future, Sonia and Sunny embark on a search for happiness together as they confront the many alienations of our modern world.

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is the sweeping tale of two young people navigating the many forces that shape their lives: country, class, race, history, and the complicated bonds that link one generation to the next. A love story, a family saga, and a rich novel of ideas, it is the most ambitious and accomplished work yet by one of our greatest novelists.

*Includes a downloadable PDF of the family trees in the book

Contrast of contrasts

Epic journey of the push and pull of the heart across chasms of culture and family

Warm Blanket for the Soul: A Book That Makes You Feel Less Lonely

The story flows beautifully through countries, cultures, characters touching on so many aspects of humans search for meaning within and outside themselves. Illuminating.

The first work of fiction I have wanted to finish in a very long time.

I really loved the protagonists’ development and how axillary characters added to their depth and the unfolding of the story.

Character's thought process

Very detailed, slow and too long to get to the point. Parts were too boring and could have been cut out.

The characters

The story could have been a bit more concise but overall I enjoyed the character development. I wanted a bit more of the happy ending.