Preethi Nair – författare

‘Preethi packs a powerful punch in this book about family, forgiveness and the power of truth.’ Guardian When her husband uproots their family from India to a small house in London, Nalini trusts he knows best. But when he abandons them for his secret family, Nalini is left battling for her family’s survival.Her maternal instincts in overdrive, Nalini protects her children by telling them he’s passed away. Yet for her teenage daughter, Maya, her heritage is as lost to her as her father is.Nalini starts a business from her kitchen and prays that the smells of home will lure her daughter back to her roots, while offering financial stability.But the truth threatens to surface, and Nalini fears that her lies will break her already fragile family for good… ‘An absorbing novel about mothers, daughters, food and truth.’ Closer ‘A genuinely moving novel’ Daily Express ‘A carefully woven tale that’s exceedingly good’ Company ‘A dynamic author.’ Good Housekeeping

‘A joyful story’ Good Housekeeping For all outward appearances, Nina is the perfect Indian daughter. But underneath, she feels like a fraud.In one day, she caught her secret (white) boyfriend having an affair, she walked out of her lucrative career as a lawyer to become an artist, and to cap it all off, a disturbing encounter with a spiritual guru has her questioning her faith.Unable to face shattering her parents’ ambitions of the perfect arranged marriage, she finally agrees to be matched.But as she dons a suit and pretends to go to work every day, the lies are beginning to stack up. Surely something’s got to give?Praise for Preethi Nair: ‘Packs a powerful punch’ Guardian ‘A genuinely moving novel’ Daily Express ‘A carefully woven tale that’s exceedingly good’ Company ‘A little gem of fiction’ New Woman

‘Dynamite’ Bookseller ‘A witty, evocative read that’ll keep you gripped’ Company Evita Vishavan is stuck in a 9 to 5 job and going nowhere fast.Raised in London to fulfil her parents’ dreams of respectability, Evita yearns for something more.Risking it all, and abandoning her career and life in London, her journey takes her back to her roots in Kerala where she discovers that perhaps what she’s wanted all along, is a little closer to home.What might happen if she dares live her dream? ‘A witty, evocative read that’ll keep you gripped’ Company Praise for Preethi Nair: ‘Packs a powerful punch’ Guardian ‘A genuinely moving novel’ Daily Express ‘Joyful’ Good Housekeeping

A novel of painting, pretence and the strange ways in which truth makes itself known, from the author of ONE HUNDRED SHADES OF WHITENina’s lost her job, boyfriend and faith in her guru in the space of 24 hours. Unable to tell her parents what has happened, she puts on a suit every day and pretends to go to work.What she’s really doing is escaping to a studio, where she begins to paint for the first time in years. But when her work is spotted by a top gallery owner, she cannot admit she is the painter, and pretends to be the agent instead. Meanwhile at home, she’s agreed to an arranged marriage to keep the peace. There are too many layers of pretence and something has to give way – but at what cost to Nina?This novel is based on the author’s own experience of self-publishing her first novel. To lend it credibilty, she invented Pru, a pushy publicist. Pru went on to be shortlisted for the PPC Publicist of the Year Award, but her cover was blown – it was Preethi all along.

Stunning novel in which a young Indian woman, raised in London to fulfil her parents’ dreams of respectability, sets off in search of her own dreams – and disrupts the whole family.`Tell me about your dreams, and if you have dared to follow them.’ This is the challenge for three members of the Vishavan family.Evita (real name Molu, but she’s always had a tendency towards the theatrical) is stuck in a 9-to-5 job until she hears the irresistible beat of a drum, summoning her to follow her dream. It takes her to faraway places and people, but the rhythm of change is also to be found closer to home.Sheila and Bali have raised Evita as their own child. Yet their sadness has kept them apart; holding on to their separate secrets, they have rejected the possibility of following any dreams. Neither expects the disruption that follows Evita’s return…From remote villages in Kerala to the heart of contemporary London, this is a story of discovery, love and what might happen if you dare to live your dream.

A magical mixture of East meets West, mothers in conflict with daughters, and the healing power of food.`I cannot easily put into words why I told my children their father had died. What was I supposed to tell them? The truth? `’Monu, Mol, your father has had enough of responsibility, he has another family, he’s gone, left us.’’ Maybe there are one hundred shades for explaining truth, a spectrum from light to dark, depending on the vulnerability of those who have to hear it. Things are not always clear cut, they are not either black or white, life just isn’t like that.’Nalini and her two young children are transplanted from luxury in India to the bewildering confusion of London, only to be abandoned by her negligent husband. At first survival is a struggle, but Nalini turns to what she does best: cooking. Her mouthwatering pickles bring financial stability and domestic happiness, as well as affecting everyone who tastes them.Everyone, that is, except for her daughter, Maya. Maya loves fish fingers, burgers and chips. She’s not interested in her history; that died with her father. Resisting the pull of her family, she follows her own chaotic journey which will take her back to India before she can face the truth about her parents, forgive them and herself – and admit that lime pickle is delicious, after all.

‘Packs a powerful punch in this book about family, forgiveness and the power of truth.’ Guardian‘I cannot easily put into words why I told my children their father had died. What was I supposed to tell them? The truth? ‘’Monu, Mol, your father has had enough of responsibility, he has another family, he’s gone, left us.’’ Maybe there are one hundred shades for explaining truth, a spectrum from light to dark, depending on the vulnerability of those who have to hear it. Things are not always clear cut, they are not either black or white, life just isn’t like that.’Nalini and her two young children are transplanted from luxury in India to the bewildering confusion of London, only to be abandoned by her negligent husband. At first survival is a struggle, but Nalini turns to what she does best: cooking. Her mouthwatering pickles bring financial stability and domestic happiness, as well as affecting everyone who tastes them.Everyone, that is, except for her daughter, Maya. Maya loves fish fingers, burgers and chips. She’s not interested in her history; that died with her father. Resisting the pull of her family, she follows her own chaotic journey which will take her back to India before she can face the truth about her parents, forgive them and herself – and admit that lime pickle is delicious, after all.

‘A joyful story’ Good HousekeepingFor all outward appearances, Nina is the perfect Indian daughter. But underneath, she feels like a fraud.In one day, she caught her secret (white) boyfriend having an affair, she walked out of her lucrative career as a lawyer to become an artist, and to cap it all off, a disturbing encounter with a spiritual guru has her questioning her faith.Unable to face shattering her parents’ ambitions of the perfect arranged marriage, she finally agrees to be matched.But as she dons a suit and pretends to go to work every day, the lies are beginning to stack up. Surely something’s got to give?Praise for Preethi Nair:‘Packs a powerful punch’ Guardian‘A genuinely moving novel’ Daily Express‘A carefully woven tale that’s exceedingly good’ Company‘A little gem of fiction’ New Woman

‘Dynamite’ Bookseller‘A witty, evocative read that’ll keep you gripped’ CompanyEvita Vishavan is stuck in a 9 to 5 job and going nowhere fast.Raised in London to fulfil her parents’ dreams of respectability, Evita yearns for something more.Risking it all, and abandoning her career and life in London, her journey takes her back to her roots in Kerala where she discovers that perhaps what she’s wanted all along, is a little closer to home.What might happen if she dares live her dream?‘A witty, evocative read that’ll keep you gripped’ CompanyPraise for Preethi Nair:‘Packs a powerful punch’ Guardian‘A genuinely moving novel’ Daily Express‘Joyful’ Good Housekeeping

Ein Roman wie ein Sari: sinnlich, farbenfroh und vielschichtig»Die Freischwimmerin« ist ein ebenso gefühlvoller wie spitzzüngig-witziger Roman über Ehe, Familie und den Mut, dein Leben in die eigenen Hände zu nehmen. Wie die Lagen eines Saris breitet die 59-jährige Bhanu ihr Leben vor uns aus und erzählt vom viel zu frühen Tod ihrer Mutter, dem Verschwinden ihres Vaters und ihrer Kindheit bei Onkel, Tante und Großmutter in einer indischen Gemeinde in Tansania. Dort entdeckt sie nicht nur ihre Liebe zur Poesie, sondern auch zu Deek.Doch die beiden werden getrennt, als Bhanus Familie nach England übersiedeln muss. Schließlich hört sie, dass Deek geheiratet hat, und willigt in die Ehe mit Hiten ein. Bhanu empfindet viel für ihren Mann und liebt ihre beiden wundervollen Kinder – aber führt sie wirklich das Leben, das richtig für sie ist? Die britisch-indische Autorin Preethi Nair lässt Bhanu ihre Geschichte mit einer gehörigen Portion Selbstironie erzählen. Einfühlsam und humorvoll zugleich widmet ihr Roman sich den großen Lebensthemen vieler Frauen: Liebe und Ehe, Mutterschaft und die Sehnsucht nach einem Leben, das sich richtig anfühlt. Entdecken Sie auch Preethi Nairs Mutter-Tochter-Roman »Koriandergrün und Safranrot« über die Magie des Kochens und die heilende Kraft köstlicher Speisen.