Sleeping on Jupiter by Anuradha Roy

"Sleeping on Jupiter" by Anuradha Roy. This book is published by Graywolf Press in 2016 and has 256 pages. This book was long-listed for Man Booker prize. 

Nomi was orphaned in India, was adopted by a European mother and lived in Norway. She decides to come back to Jarmuli-India to make a documentary and to search her routes. Here she meets a number of people. A guide, a photographer, three old women, a chaiwala & a monk. 

Will she find what she seeks? Will she meet someone from the past?

Characterization is vivid. Nomi was orphaned by war, the implication here is war against Naxalism. She is sheltered by an ashram run by a Guruji. Her sufferings leave her a broken girl. She does not really connect with her foster mother. She must come back to India to search for her identity and to achieve a sense of closure. She can not forget what she has gone through. She has a secret wish to disappear that is also shared by the photographer. Suraj, the photographer, is trying to come out of a broken marriage with Ayesha who is older than him as she is having an affair with his friend. To add to it, he does not have a stable work. Johny Tapo runs a tea stall. He has a soulful voice and sings often. He has started a new life in Jarmuli and refuses to talk or even think of his previous life. Badal is the guide who believes that his uncle has usurped everything after his father's death and resents working for uncle. He is attracted towards Raghu, a teen aged boy working for Johny. Vidya, Latika and Gouri are old ladies and close friends. They have embarked on this trip to enjoy, to visit Vishnu temple and to forget their aches and pains. 

The book brings forth naked and heinous truth about physical and sexual exploitation of young girls by Pedophile God men under the guise of shelter. It makes ones blood boil with indignation. 

Author's narration is lyrical. She has very good imagination and is capable to see to the things from a different perspective. She also manages not to get entangled in the story and remains a neutral narrator. 

The story builds up nicely upto a point and then quickly unravels. By the time readers come to term with this change, the book concludes abruptly. 

Why did I read this book? Title. 

What I didn't like? Abrupt end. 

What did I like? Author's take. 

Read if you have time.