Woman Who Climbed Trees

Smriti Ravindra holds an MFA in creative writing from North Carolina State University. As a Fulbright scholar, she studied women’s oral storytelling in the Terai region of her native Nepal. Her fiction and journalism have been published in the US and in India. The Woman Who Climbed Trees is her first novel. She currently resides in Mumbai.

“The Woman Who Climbed Trees is 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 Trees is 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 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"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 reality to 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“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.” — Harper’s Bazaar“Ravindra debuts with a stunning chronicle of an Indian woman’s 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)“The Great Nepali Novel is here! I haven’t read a better book in ages.” — Prajwal Parajuly, author of The Gurkha’s Daughter“Smriti Ravindra’s 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