The Woman Who Climbed Trees: A Novel [Paperback]

“A stunning chronicle of an Indian woman’s coming-of-age... This is electrifying.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Is this a ghost story?” Meena asked the barber’s wife who told the tale. “I don’t want to hear scary stories one night before I marry.”

 “Not all ghost stories are scary,” said the barber’s wife, laughing at Meena. “Besides, we have a long time before us, and stories are little baskets to carry time away in.”

Exquisitely written, a blend of ghost stories, myths, and song,The Woman Who Climbed Treesis a haunting, deeply felt multi-generational family saga that illuminates the transitional nature of women’s lives and the feeling of loss they experience, as they give up one home and family to become part of another.

When Meena enters an arranged marriage with a man from Nepal, she must leave behind her family and home in India to forge a new identity in a strange place. A moving work of South Asian literature,The Woman Who Climbed Treesfollows her, the women who surround her, and the daughter she eventually raises, as they carefully navigate the uncertain tides of their diasporic lives in this powerful coming-of-age story.

This unforgettable literary fiction explores:

“The Woman Who Climbed Treesis a searing tale of trauma, separation and the circumscription of women’s lives on either side of the Indo-Nepal border. This debut novel shines with vivid detail, weaving in folklore and modern cinematic references to create a portrait of heartbreak and maternal love.” -Annie Zaidi, author of Prelude to a Riot

“The Woman Who Climbed Treesis the achingly beautiful story of one family’s search for fulfilment amid the deep psychological wounds inflicted by Nepali society. With great empathy and skill, Ravindra captures thel3Õ