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The Storyteller's Secret: A Novel Paperback – September 1, 2018

by Sejal Badani (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 85,509 ratings
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An Amazon Charts, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller.

From the bestselling author of Trail of Broken Wings comes an epic story of the unrelenting force of love, the power of healing, and the invincible desire to dream.

Nothing prepares Jaya, a New York journalist, for the heartbreak of her third miscarriage and the slow unraveling of her marriage in its wake. Desperate to assuage her deep anguish, she decides to go to India to uncover answers to her family’s past.

Intoxicated by the sights, smells, and sounds she experiences, Jaya becomes an eager student of the culture. But it is Ravi―her grandmother’s former servant and trusted confidant―who reveals the resilience, struggles, secret love, and tragic fall of Jaya’s pioneering grandmother during the British occupation. Through her courageous grandmother’s arrestingly romantic and heart-wrenching story, Jaya discovers the legacy bequeathed to her and a strength that, until now, she never knew was possible.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    399 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 1, 2018
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1542048273
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1542048279
  7. See all details
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  1. With humility may I reap my own power, and at the end of the journey, I hope I learn when to stand small so others can feel tall.
    Highlighted by 5,061 Kindle readers
  2. My power became dependent on the height of my achievements. But perfection may be an illusion and power a liability.
    Highlighted by 2,955 Kindle readers
  3. “It is believed that meditative energy flows from the feet upward,” he says. “Only with bare feet can you feel God within you.”
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“This stimulating novel reads like a true-to-life story…The descriptions of the lives of both common villagers and the well-off are informative. The insights into the local customs and traditions might be an eye-opener even for those familiar with Indians’ time-honored ways.” ―Historical Novel Society

“While the narrative at times reflects the dark elements of human nature, the tone is hopeful and enriching. Badani builds imagery with a gentleness that is soothing to take in and threads together rich descriptions of the landscape that are transportive.” ―USA Today’s Happy Ever After

“The Storyteller’s Secret is a lavishly told tale of secrets, love, and loyalty. It is a celebration of the beauty of story and its ability to help us be heard and understood.” ―New York Journal of Books

About the Author

A former attorney, Sejal Badani is the author of the bestselling novel and Goodreads Fiction Award finalist Trail of Broken Wings. When not writing, Sejal enjoys reading and traveling.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing; Reprint edition (September 1, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 399 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1542048273
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1542048279
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 85,509 ratings

About the author

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Sejal Badani

Sejal Badani

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A former attorney, Sejal Badani left the law to pursue writing full time. She is an Amazon Charts, USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author, Goodreads Fiction Award Finalist and ABC/DISNEY Writing Fellowship Finalist. When not writing, she loves reading and traveling. Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, and Ed Sheeran are always playing in the background.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
85,509 global ratings
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4 Stars
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Very well written, excellent literature and credibility and a good story line that keeps you interested.HJA Walters
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Top reviews from the United States

L. Larson
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally well-written story
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2024
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Others have spoken to the story line, so I'll not rehash that. What I will say is that this story is rich, full, and never gets bogged down. I think it is exceptionally well-crafted. It made me stop and reflect at times, but never too long, as I was eager to continue reading the story.
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Jean Carr
5.0 out of 5 stars a good read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024
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Most were Interesting characters full of love and concern. A sad but uplifting novel. Try it you will love it!
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C Wm (Andy) Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars "The Storyteller's Secret;” QUEST for DISCOVERY - No Cliffhanger; No...
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018
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EDITED at suggestion of a comments by James Crain and Kindle Reader Kit, below.

Last month the Amazon First books, and the short stories, all seemed to resonate with me. This month, only two stories provided any glimmer of interest for me. Then, a review of one of the two dissuaded me from reading that one. So, I took a chance on "The Storyteller’s Secret,” even though it sounded a bit too common. Would I be inspired? Would I be letdown? Is this story merely a good read, or is it something more?

Read on to learn what I found…

POV: Starts out in first person, but then shifts to third person.

THE WRITING: Frankly, the first three or four chapters were, well, sensitively written, but not particularly interesting for me. Essentially, they were written to show why our heroine travels to India. Parts were gripping, but other parts felt as if the author was trickling information instead of painting a picture. Yeah, it was a bit like my writing, so I shan’t be too critical. By Chapter 6, when we travel back in time to the 1930’s, the POV changes to third person and becomes much more engaging.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I did feel relieved to begin reading of Grandfather Deepak and Amisha. Suffice it to say that I lived in Egypt for a number of years and fell in love with an Egyptian lady and we married in 2002. To this day, I still tend to not fully fathom the society my wife was raised in. Even so, I am able to get a glimpse of the different views of Indian society and its strict adherence to their customs. If readers keep this in mind while reading “The Storyteller’s Secret,” it may help them navigate the nuances hinted at.

It is important to note that journalists, (of small newspapers and large) are always reminded to keep their opinions out of the stories they write, because it is important for readers to see what is happening so they can arrive at their own conclusions. I found this easy, usually, as did the protagonist in this tale of woe, which became an epiphany for her upon learning the sordid details of her grandmother. Saying such is not a spoiler, as without some sort of story arc, there would be no reason to relay such a tale of fiction that almost could be true.

BLUSH FACTOR: As for language and sex, no worries here.

ADVENTURE: To explore the fictional tale of a family history in a foreign land (India) is an adventure of sorts, but this is not an adventure on the scale of, say, Emerald Forest. This adventure is more of one from one society to another. Rather than refer to this tale as a story of adventure, it is more a quest for discovery.

SOUL: Yes, this has soul. When you can read the plight of someone raised in a society with vastly different customs, and the strict adherence by most to those customs, and still feel empathy for them, that is a story with soul. To some extent, I suppose, my view of Indians of Asian descent was enhanced because of this story. Not to an earthshaking extent, but I am moved.

EXCERPT

In this excerpt you will likely deduce that Amisha is a strong-willed Indian woman heavily influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Ghandhi, which some revered as revolutionary seeking more than mere independence from Britain, but independence from the shackles of custom. Amisha would pay the price for her convictions, but that is getting ahead of the story…

‘…Amisha remembered Chara’s order to find a servant she could trust. Because Ravi did not live in her village, he would not be part of the crowd whose loyalty would be to Chara first. She gnawed on her lip as her palms started to sweat and her heart fluttered. Even as the plan hatched, she feared she was inviting Chara’s wrath.

“You would work anywhere?”

“Who are you?” Frustration laced his words.

He kept glancing around them. Amisha knew he was afraid of being beaten. She had seen it before when an untouchable spoke to a woman of a higher caste.

“I am the daughter-in-law of the mill’s owner,” Amisha replied quickly. She said it without pride since her position in society mattered little to her. At the widening of his eyes, she added, “Work for me.” If she waited any longer, she feared talking herself out of it.

“It is cruel for you to joke.” Ravi turned away, barely masking his disgust.

“I am not laughing, and neither should you be.” The man’s desire to be more than what was allowed struck a chord deep within her, and Amisha couldn’t imagine a better comrade for herself. “Take the offer or don’t. Just decide quickly so I know to look elsewhere.”

“I am an untouchable.” Ravi hit the dirt with his bare foot and glanced away in shame. “It is important for you to know.”

“I am a woman.” Her reality always a looming shadow, she glanced at the sun. “We have now established our roles.”

“You are the mill owner’s daughter,” Ravi argued. “My parents and siblings are also vagrants. Begging is our destiny.” Furious, he paused before muttering, “No matter how hard I try to change it.”

“Daughter-in-law,” Amisha corrected. “Both of our circumstances dictate how we live.” When his gaze met hers, she refused to look away. “My mother-in-law treats me no better than a servant.”

“Is it acceptable for me to be a servant in your home?” Ravi seemed to accept that he couldn’t win the war of semantics with her.

Unwilling to admit the truth, Amisha deflected. “I should tell you the story of a handsome singer.”

“I would prefer you didn’t,” Ravi returned. She ignored him. “This singer wanted…’

Badani, Sejal. The Storyteller's Secret: A Novel (pp. 60-61). Lake Union Publishing. Kindle Edition.

BOTTOM LINE

A story of this richness and contrast might make for an interesting 90 minutes entertainment on TV. If the producers and directors can show the story without straying too far from the writer’s depiction, it might be a big hit on HBO or Showtime. I doubt that it would fare well on Hallmark Channel. At any rate, although the writing is not one of those 'life-changing' books, it is a good read by a talented writer of Indian descent. I definitely will be reading more of her books.

Four stars out of five.

I am writing a book for aspiring reviewers and for product suppliers seeking reviews in an effort to help improve the process and to understand the value of Amazon’s Customer Review process. I hope to incorporate many of the received comments, with attribution to those making the suggestions, into my books.

Together, you and I can build a great customer review process that helps everybody. Will you join me? It is people such as you who have helped me improve over the years. I'm still learning, and I have a great deal yet to learn. With your help, I'll improve every day.

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NOTE: I am unable to post replies to comments at my reviews. Not sure why. I will, though try to update reviews to incorporate suggestions or answers to questions. Further, feel free to use “Contact Us” at i-read-test-review dot com. I enjoy reading all comments, pro and con, so keep posting them as you wish. I even get a kick out of sarcastic comments from Onion Eaters!

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Amina
5.0 out of 5 stars The Storyteller's Secret
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
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While reading this book, tears fell and smiles found their way to my lips. I found myself saddened that the story ended, but it was an awesome experience.
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Sheila
5.0 out of 5 stars 2 days, that’s what it took me to read it!
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023
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I could not put it down. Once the trip to India started, I was hooked. I don’t want to give any spoilers so I will mostly speak of the travel…but the story held my whole heart the entire time. I could NOT put this book down.

My mother has passed away from cancer somewhat recently and I often feel stuck, in debt, in life, in the place I’ve grown up. My life is cushy compared to a lot of people, especially when you compare it to some of the people in the book. I dream of traveling and fulfill this in my books. This book helped me to travel to India, to learn about the customs, religion, traditions and people who live there. Learning about the Caste system, untouchables, and just how families live.

The descriptions of India and its people, the smells, tastes, and landscapes were more than I could have hoped for in a book. The story was a pleasant bonus which I could have kept reading for hundreds of more pages.
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teachlz
5.0 out of 5 stars Writing in the Family
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2018
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Sejal Badani, Author of “The Storyteller’s Secret” has written a captivating, intriguing, emotional , riveting, and emotional story. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction with a touch of Romance. The timeline is in both the present and the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The story is told in both the United States, and India. The author vividly describes the colorful cast of characters and the landscapes with great detail.

Jaya, a journalist is devastated after her third miscarriage, and feels that her marriage is falling apart. Jaya’s parents try to be there for her, but here is something that is missing in her relationship with her mother. Jaya feels that she is at loose ends and wants to find herself, and happiness again. While she is at her parent’s house, there is news that her mother’s father is dying, and the mother is requested to come to India. Instead Jaya uses this as an opportunity to heal and discover information about her family, that her mother has never talked about. Jaya’s mother has never wanted to go back to India, and doesn’t discuss what happened.

Jaya is determined as a journalist that she will write about her trip to India. Ravi, her grandmother’s former servant meets Jaya, and starts to tell her grandmother’s story. Java was not aware of the deep secrets, courage, hurt, and dreams that her grandmother had. Jaya’s grandmother was a writer as well. Why hasn’t Jaya’s mother ever told her about her grandmother? Jaya learns not only many Indian customs, she becomes aware of the history of India during the British occupation. She sees evidence of both poverty and beauty. Jaya visits the orphanage, and sees the discrimination among the different classes.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the customs, holidays, foods, and people in India. I appreciate that the author describes the Caste system, and provides the historical background that adds so much to India’s history. This is a story of dreams, love and finding oneself. I would highly recommend this for readers who enjoy Historical Fiction.
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Cathy
4.0 out of 5 stars informative about a foreign Country that is strong in customs and uniqueness.
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
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I do not like knowing shortly after the story starts that you figure out the story. Very captivating in making the scenes described throughout the book coming alive through the writers words.
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Top reviews from other countries

E. Day
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional writing, Incredible story.
Reviewed in Canada on March 8, 2024
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When you see over 80,000 almost 5 star reviews, you think…..I have to try this. The characters in this book really grabbed me and made me feel the emotional highs and lows they experienced. I also learned so much about Indian culture.it was quite an eye opener. This was one of the best books I’ve read. Bravo to the author Segal Bajani. I will choose another one of her books to continue my reading.
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Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars compelling read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 13, 2023
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Interesting themes explored, well written and fascinating cultural detail from two timelines in India. The descriptions of sights, sounds and smells of a country I have visited are highly evocative.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful novel
Reviewed in Brazil on April 12, 2021
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I'm awestruck by this work. The author gives us the bless of knowing a little more of India's incredible (and heartbreaking) culture. The story that is shaped by the intricate narrative is really beautiful and heartwarming. A lesson about love and family and how life can be harsh and incredibly at the same time.
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ramendra singh
5.0 out of 5 stars An emotionally surcharged story
Reviewed in India on June 20, 2023
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Well written . Emotionally surcharged. Moves across the continents to capture the aspiration of a woman who is in search of her roots and trying to douse the failure to attain motherhood.
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Charlie
5.0 out of 5 stars Ecxcellent
Reviewed in Spain on January 5, 2023
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Beautifully written. I really enjoyed reading the book. I love the journey into India’s cultures during the days of the British occupation. Although it is kind of predictable, I hardly put it down.
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