The Woman Who Climbed Trees: A Novel

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A stunning chronicle of an Indian womans coming-of-age... This is electrifying.Publishers Weekly, starred review

Is this a ghost story Meena asked the barbers wife who told the tale. I dont want to hear scary stories one night before I marry.

Not all ghost stories are scary, said the barbers 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 Trees is a haunting, deeply felt multi-generational story that illuminates the transitional nature of womens lives and the feeling of loss they experience, as they give up one home and family to become part of another.

When she marries a man from Nepal, Meena must leave behind her family and home in India and forge a new identity in a strange place. The Woman Who Climbed Trees follows her, the women who surround her, and the daughter she eventually raises, as they carefully navigate the uncertain tides of their diasporic lives.

Reviews

Ravindra debuts with a stunning chronicle of an Indian womans coming-of-age. The story opens with Meena, a 14-year-old girl from Darbhanga, preparing for her wedding to Manmohan, a 21-year-old Nepalese student.. . . Many Indian and Nepali stories, songs, and myths anchor the narrative, and by the end, which circles back to the witch story, their meaning in relation to Meena becomes increasingly complex. This is electrifying. Publishers Weekly (starred review) Through a mix of ghost stories, myths, and songs, Ravindra examines the way that women are expected to reshape their lives for men and the pain that comes with leaving everything behind. Harpers Bazaar "The Woman Who Climbed Trees is a lyrical, furious triumph of a novel, mapping the marital journey of its protagonist, Meena, from girlhood to motherhood, from India to Nepal, from prosaic realityto magical madness. In the tradition of Salman Rushdie and Isabelle Allende, Smriti Ravindra braids epic lore and myth to a narrative of claustrophobic domesticity, earthly damage, and incandescent love." Maria Dahvana Headley, New York Times-bestselling author of Beowulf: A New Translation and The Mere Wife Smriti Ravindras first novel is a magnificent tale of growing up as an outsider. Her protagonist combines a prickly individuality and a strange relatability. And this despite the brooding presence of a mother whose love is veined by her own demons. If you have loved and wondered why, you will want to read this book. Jerry Pinto, author of The Education of Yuri The Great Nepali Novel is here! I havent read a better book in ages. Prajwal Parajuly, author of The Gurkhas Daughter The Woman Who Climbed Trees is a searing tale of trauma, separation and the circumscription of womens 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 Trees is the achingly beautiful story of one familys search for fulfilment amid the deep psychological wounds inflicted by Nepali society. With great empathy and skill, Ravindra captures the longing, frustration, and hurt that marks the Madhesi experience. This is a remarkable novel by an exceptionally talented writer, and an essential read for those interested in Nepal and its borderlands. Manjushree Thapa, author of All of Us in Our Own Lives

Author Bio

Smriti Ravindra is a Fulbright scholar and holds an MFA in creative writing from North Carolina State University. Her fiction and journalism have been published in the US and in India. She currently resides in Mumbai.The Woman Who Climbed Treesis her first novel.