A winning, irreverent debut novel about a family wrestling with its future and its past—for readers of J. Courtney Sullivan, Meg Wolitzer, Mona Simpson, and Jhumpa LahiriNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE BOSTON GLOBE, KIRKUS REVIEWS, BUSTLE, AND EMILY GOULD, THE MILLIONSWith depth, heart, and agility, debut novelist Mira Jacob takes us on a deftly plotted journey that ranges from … Jacob takes us on a deftly plotted journey that ranges from 1970s India to suburban 1980s New Mexico to Seattle during the dot.com boom. The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing is an epic, irreverent testimony to the bonds of love, the pull of hope, and the power of making peace with life’s uncertainties.
Celebrated brain surgeon Thomas Eapen has been sitting on his porch, talking to dead relatives. At least that is the story his wife, Kamala, prone to exaggeration, tells their daughter, Amina, a photographer living in Seattle.
Reluctantly Amina returns home and finds a situation that is far more complicated than her mother let on, with roots in a trip the family, including Amina’s rebellious brother Akhil, took to India twenty years earlier. Confronted by Thomas’s unwillingness to explain himself, strange looks from the hospital staff, and a series of puzzling items buried in her mother’s garden, Amina soon realizes that the only way she can help her father is by coming to terms with her family’s painful past. In doing so, she must reckon with the ghosts that haunt all of the Eapens.
Praise for The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing
“With wit and a rich understanding of human foibles, Jacob unspools a story that will touch your heart.”—People
“Optimistic, unpretentious and refreshingly witty.”—Associated Press
“By turns hilarious and tender and always attuned to shifts of emotion . . . [Jacob’s] characters shimmer with life.”—Entertainment Weekly
“A rich, engrossing debut told with lightness and care.”—The Kansas City Star
“[A] sprawling, poignant, often humorous novel . . . Told with humor and sympathy for its characters, the book serves as a bittersweet lesson in the binding power of family, even when we seek to break out from it.”—O: The Oprah Magazine
“Moving forward and back in time, Jacob balances comedy and romance with indelible sorrow. . . . When her plot springs surprises, she lets them happen just as they do in life: blindsidingly right in the middle of things.”—The Boston Globe
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A good read. Not on my favorites list but enjoyable.
Loved this book! It was unusual & a real treat to read. It’s not a Pollyanna story but very expressive of the weird ways family dynamics can be expressed.
Intrigued by the unusual title, I read this book without knowing anything about it except that it was a well-reviewed first novel. A number of Indian immigrant novels have been released in the past several years, with Jhumpa Lahiri leading the pack, but this was my first. As an introduction to Indian culture generally, and the immigrant experience, in particular, I was fascinated by the author’s description of family and food, arranged marriages and saris. Set in Albuquerque, the “family” includes not only the relatives left behind in India but adopted aunts and uncles who share gossip, meals, (the description of which leaves the reader’s mouth watering), and daily life. While the family depicted in the story is fictional, the book is dedicated to, (and based in part on), the author’s deceased father, Philip Jacob, a brilliant and lovely man, who practiced neurosurgery in Albuquerque.
When I read the last page, a wave of closure came over me. Through all the twists and turns this book took me on, it ended so beautifully. I smiled and I felt sadness in my heart throughout reading this book. I didn’t even realize I had read over half of it in one sitting. The characters are beautifully represented and have their own personalities. Only Mira Jacob could find the words to describe the moments that leave you speechless. Truly a beautiful book. Thank you Mira Jacob!!
I loved this book and have recommended it to friends who also enjoyed it. Great ending that made me think days after I finished the book. I thought Amina was well-developed and it was interesting to learn about Indian culture – both in India and also of Indians’ experience as immigrants in New Mexico. I especially loved looking up all the food that was mentioned!!
This story illustrates the family bond that is powerful beyond anything else, emigrating to a new country, death, disease. It is a sad story yet the characters bring humor and love to the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
Didn’t like the setting
Loved this book about immigrant families adjusting to America. And how love in families can triumph.
Excellent writing
I so enjoyed this book. Such a touching and we’ll done story. The characters were wonderful and I so sympathized with the families struggle in a new country. I highly recommend this book.
The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing is a rare and wonderful book. It has a host of complex, well drawn characters in complicated situations. Taking place briefly in India and then the US, the author does a wonderful job of bringing the worlds together and describing the tension within the family. The family dynamics portrayed are excellent and realistic, full of tragedy and comedy. I would highly recommend this book.
Delightful light reading.
I think this book shows how difficult it is to move to another country and to meld with the culture and people there. It educates you on a lot of Indian cultures and mind sets. It is easy to read and not stagnate.
Beautifully written, great book club read.
I enjoyed this book because i like to learn about other ethnic groups and their traditions. The characters were well rounded and at times throughout the book, I laughed out loud and later, felt teary eyed. I would recommend this book to others who are looking for a different story line.
I really enjoyed reading this story about a 30 year old Indian woman trying to find her own way even if it means going against family/cultural traditions.
This book deals with loss on many levels. It has excellent insight into how family dynamics are affected by the death of any one of its members. It also provides insight into people moving from one cultural to another. It was a compelling read.
I can’t remember it!
Wonderful character development. Exceptional writing and a great story.
I didn’t care for it. I found it boring.