Tilt: A Novel on Intergenerational Trauma

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Kavya is an Indian-American professor and single mother struggling with debilitating panic attacks. Bombarded by flashbacks of cruelty and violence that disrupt her everyday life, she is left with no choice but to confront the intergenerational trauma tormenting her. At first, Kavya finds some relief in piecing together the legacies of her familys experiences with colonialism, colorism, and casteism. But just as she starts to recover, explosive confessions threaten to bring her world crashing down.
Tilt is an unflinching feminist novel about the devastating histories that haunt us and the unexpected beauty of facing our pasts.

Reviews

A slow-burning bittersweet story of intergenerational trauma across the minefield of diaspora. Nayak weaves together the antagonistic psychic life of the main character, Kavya, with the politics and pleasures of academia, with the vexing terrain of mothering, and with the possibility of, might we say, self-love. -- Moon Charania, author of Archive of Tongues: An Intimate History of Brownness
Tilt is a searing and revelatory investigation into how seemingly unrelated personal tragedies link to colonialism, mental health, and generational trauma across oceans and borders. -- Anjali Enjeti, author of The Parted Earth and Southbound
Nayak digs into the raw truths of our world to craft a profound and thought-provoking novel that left a lasting impact on me as a reader. The narrative is confident and crystal clear, skillfully exploring the complexities of intergenerational trauma with a no-holds-barred viewpoint that showcases emotional and psychological impact above all else. Nayaks poignant storytelling and nuanced character development are evident in every detail and atmospheric touch in the mood and settings, evoking empathy and introspection as we follow Kavyas struggles and triumphs. Overall, Tilt offers a compelling narrative that resonates long after the final page, and Id recommend it to fans of powerful dramatic novels everywhere. -- 5 star review, K.C. Finn, Readers Favorite
Determined to find out more about her family history and its effect on her life, Kavyas journey is inspirational and transformative. -- Kristi Elizabeth, Chicago Review of Books
Tilt is a necessary novel for anyone interested in transgenerational trauma. Through Nayak's engaging main character, Kavya, Tilt explores harmful legacies of colonialism, including racism, colorism, caste, and abandonment, to reckon with root causes of domestic violence and family dysfunction. Divided into four chapters organized by the seasons, Tilt moves between flashbacks and present day actions that show how therapy, history, and chosen family can heal. In the end, Tilt avoids the pitfall of ultimate redemption in favor of an uncertain future guided by ancestral hope and the power of breaking silences, no matter how messy the results may be. And there are mermaids! -- Jen Soriano, award-winning author of Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing
Nayaks protagonist, Professor Joshi, aims to counter sexism, colorism, casteism, and racism through her research and teaching. Her problem is that she also participates in these oppressions. Nayak wagers that fiction is best way to convey this ubiquitous pedagogical and existential paradox. The novel suggests that teachers teach to challenge their own limits. It shows rather than tells and thereby invites us to learn along with it. Nayak displays bold insight, weaves complex themes, creates compassion for all characters, and demonstrates a reverence for how history shapes us all. This book is a profound achievement. -- Naeem Inayatullah, Ithaca College

Author Bio

Meghana V. Nayak is Professor of Political Science and Chair of Womens and Gender Studies at Pace University-NYC. Her previous publications include Who is Worthy of Protection: Gender-Based Asylum and U.S. Immigration Politics and Decentering International Relations (with Eric Selbin).Her work on gender violence has been published in various journals and edited volumes and has been used by organizations working with asylum seekers. Tilt is her first novel.