author and book a real treat
I got to meet J. A. Joshi yesterday. The book signing happened after all, though started late due to delayed shipping of her book. UPS got the shipment there around noon instead of a few days earlier. She is a delight to talk to. She's younger than I expected, four years younger than me. Her picture on the back makes her look so dignified, but she is cheerful and even lovelier in person. She even charmed C. Her family is from India, but she grew up in London, so her accent made him miss England. It was wonderful getting to meet her. Too bad the kid was bored from all the waiting and bashful once we finally got to meet her. He did the classic hide-behind-mommy's-skirt thing. Also C was struggling to stay awake, as he had not been to bed yet. I could have stayed all afternoon talking to her. I took the family over to my mom's house until we could go back to our apartment. I hope she sold several books. I had her sign mine as to my WD username.
I finished her book last night. Wow! It is a about Mira, a real woman in India's history though many details of her life are obscured in legend. The author researched the history and legends and wove them together into a rich tapestry. She also has several stories from Hindu lore blended in seamlessly as Mira learns of them from her guru. I recognized many of the names from the lore as I had just read The Serpent's Shadow by Lackey the day before. But as the book progressed, I was drawn deeper into the events swirling around Mira and her sincere devotion to Krishna. The logline of the book is: Mira loves Krishna. Bhoj loves Mira. And Vikram loves Bhoj's throne. By the end, I felt as though I had gained some insight into a woman in my own religious tradition: Tahirih, the Pure One. She also refused to allow society to dictate her actions. I give this book 5 stars. I recommend going to get your own copy.
I finished her book last night. Wow! It is a about Mira, a real woman in India's history though many details of her life are obscured in legend. The author researched the history and legends and wove them together into a rich tapestry. She also has several stories from Hindu lore blended in seamlessly as Mira learns of them from her guru. I recognized many of the names from the lore as I had just read The Serpent's Shadow by Lackey the day before. But as the book progressed, I was drawn deeper into the events swirling around Mira and her sincere devotion to Krishna. The logline of the book is: Mira loves Krishna. Bhoj loves Mira. And Vikram loves Bhoj's throne. By the end, I felt as though I had gained some insight into a woman in my own religious tradition: Tahirih, the Pure One. She also refused to allow society to dictate her actions. I give this book 5 stars. I recommend going to get your own copy.