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Veena Rao
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Purple Lotus: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Veena Rao (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 610 ratings
See all formats and editions

2021 WINNER, AMERICAN FICTION AWARD


A 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Award Finalist
Award-Winning Finalist, Women's Fiction, 2021 International Book Awards
Award-Winning Finalist, Multicultural Fiction, 2021 International Book Awards

Featured in Travel + Leisure’s "20 Most-anticipated Books for Fall”
“20 Classic and New Books About Feminism That Will Get You Thinking and Talking”
―Parade

“A moving and polished novel that highlights Rao’s literary promise.”
―Kirkus Reviews

“Rao’s resonant novel is an ode to the value of personal dignity and the importance of being true to oneself that carries on long after the final chapter.”
―Newsweek magazine

“Purple Lotus is the Atlanta novel you need to be reading this year… Tara is probably one of the strongest characters you’ll find in Southern fiction.”
—ArtsATL

“I’d recommend it to people who are fans of the expansive storytelling of Tayari Jones... and then to anyone who wants to add to their bookshelf of growing Atlanta literature.”
—PANK Magazine”

“The dazzling tale of an Indian-American woman finding her way through the labyrinth of tradition to self-awareness in the modern world. The writer employs an energetic prose style interspersed with melodic passages to make the writing itself a hybrid. Set in particular times and places, Purple Lotus nonetheless appeals to readers everywhere, especially women, to claim the full measure of their human rights. A vivid and resplendent novel for our time.”
―Elaine Neil Orr, critically acclaimed author of Swimming Between Worlds

Tara moves to the American South three years after her arranged marriage to tech executive Sanjay. Ignored and lonely, Tara finds herself regressing back to childhood memories that have scarred her for life. When she was eight, her parents had left her behind with her aging grandparents and a schizophrenic uncle in Mangalore, while taking her baby brother with them to make a new life for the family in Dubai.

Tara’s memories of abandonment and isolation mirror her present life of loneliness and escalating abuse at the hands of her husband. She accepts the help of kind-hearted American strangers to fight Sanjay, only to be pressured by her patriarchal family to make peace with her circumstances. Then, in a moment of truth, she discovers the importance of self-worth—a revelation that gives her the courage to break free, gently rebuild her life, and even risk being shunned by her community when she marries her childhood love, Cyrus Saldanha.

Life with Cyrus is beautiful, until old fears come knocking. Ultimately, Tara must face these fears to save her relationship with Cyrus—and to confront the victim-shaming society she was raised within.

Intimate and deeply moving, Purple Lotus is the story of one woman’s ascension from the dark depths of desolation toward the light of freedom.

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  1. Print length
    313 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    She Writes Press
  5. Publication date
    September 27, 2020
  6. File size
    3643 KB
  7. Page Flip
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The dazzling tale of an Indian-American woman finding her way through the labyrinth of tradition to self-awareness in the modern world. The writer employs an energetic prose style interspersed with melodic passages to make the writing itself a hybrid. Set in particular times and places, Purple Lotus nonetheless appeals to readers everywhere, especially women, to claim the full measure of their human rights. A vivid and resplendent novel for our time."
--Elaine Neil Orr, critically acclaimed author of Swimming Between Worlds.

Featured in Travel + Leisure’s "20 Most-anticipated Books for Fall"
"A moving and polished novel that highlights Rao’s literary promise." —Kirkus Reviews "The dazzling tale of an Indian-American woman finding her way through the labyrinth of tradition to self-awareness in the modern world. The writer employs an energetic prose style interspersed with melodic passages to make the writing itself a hybrid. Set in particular times and places, Purple Lotus nonetheless appeals to readers everywhere, especially women, to claim the full measure of their human rights. A vivid and resplendent novel for our time." —Elaine Neil Orr, critically acclaimed author of Swimming Between Worlds

Review

2021 American Fiction Award: Winner

A 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Award Finalist
2021 International Book Awards, Finalist: Women's Fiction
2021 International Book Awards, Finalist: Multicultural Fiction

Featured in Travel + Leisure’s "20 Most-anticipated Books for Fall”
“20 Classic and New Books About Feminism That Will Get You Thinking and Talking”
―Parade

“A moving and polished novel that highlights Rao’s literary promise.”
―Kirkus Reviews

“Rao’s resonant novel is an ode to the value of personal dignity and the importance of being true to oneself that carries on long after the final chapter.”
―Newsweek magazine

“Purple Lotus is the Atlanta novel you need to be reading this year… Tara is probably one of the strongest characters you’ll find in Southern fiction.”
—ArtsATL

“I’d recommend it to people who are fans of the expansive storytelling of Tayari Jones... and then to anyone who wants to add to their bookshelf of growing Atlanta literature.”
—PANK Magazine

“The dazzling tale of an Indian-American woman finding her way through the labyrinth of tradition to self-awareness in the modern world. The writer employs an energetic prose style interspersed with melodic passages to make the writing itself a hybrid. Set in particular times and places, Purple Lotus nonetheless appeals to readers everywhere, especially women, to claim the full measure of their human rights. A vivid and resplendent novel for our time.”
―Elaine Neil Orr, critically acclaimed author of Swimming Between Worlds

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0837LFC2N
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ She Writes Press (September 27, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 27, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3643 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 313 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 610 ratings

About the author

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Veena Rao

Veena Rao

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Veena Rao is an award-winning journalist and author. Purple Lotus, her recently released debut novel, is a 2021 American Fiction Award winner, a 2021 Georgia Author of the Year finalist, and an award-winning finalist in the multicultural and women’s fiction categories of the 2021 International Book Awards. She is the founding editor of NRI Pulse, an Atlanta-based news publication. She has been recognized by The Limca Book of Records as the first Indian woman to edit and publish a newspaper outside India. When she is not writing or meeting press deadlines, you will find her meditating or photographing the flora and fauna on her wooded walk route. To find out more about Veena, visit her website www.veenaspulse.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
610 global ratings
A feminist must-read, particularly for the South Asian community
5 Stars
A feminist must-read, particularly for the South Asian community
Purple Lotus is an inspiring, feminist novel about an Indian immigrant’s years-long journey to break from toxic South Asian societal norms regarding love, family, and marriage. The protagonist, Tara, endures an abusive marriage in Atlanta, GA. To keep up with her community’s traditional expectations back in India, her family implores her to make the marriage work.More than a riveting page-turner about a woman’s journey to find love and happiness, Purple Lotus emphasizes how important it is to fight the stigma associated with divorce, remarriage, and domestic abuse, particularly in the South Asian community. It is an appeal to change the way women are treated when they deviate from traditional norms. While Tara initially succumbs to familial pressure, she ultimately realizes she can’t be with her husband any longer. She recognizes that her struggles are representative of a broader, systemic issue with Indian communities and how women are treated within them.Rao brings a totally unique perspective to both American and Asian literature by synthesizing feminist issues through the lens of an immigrant. Her voice is intelligent, lucid, and compelling when unpacking what empowerment, individualism, and community mean for her protagonist. While exploring spousal abuse, remarriage and divorce, Rao also touches on mental illness, dowries, interfaith relationships, inter-caste/inter-community relationships, and more.I closed Purple Lotus feeling completely inspired. Rao’s novel is a refreshing page-turner and I am so glad I picked it up. Can’t wait for others to give it a read!
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Top reviews from the United States

Sohail Ahmed
5.0 out of 5 stars A great story beautifully told
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024
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“Not all monsters are egregious. Some stay hidden in plain sight…” says author Veena Rao in her novel Purple Lotus, about Tara, an Indian woman, who marries Sanjay and moves to Georgia, USA. For Tara, the monsters that haunt her come in various shapes; in the form of the rejection she suffered as a six-year-old from her parents who did not take her along to Dubai because she was a daughter and not a son; and in how Sanjay returns to the USA after the wedding, leaving her high and dry for three years to face the taunts and accusatory eyes of her relatives; in how Sanjay mistreats her even after she joins her in the USA. For her parents and many relatives, these are ordinary parts of every Indian woman’s life to be taken in her stride. But at one stage, Tara stands up against these monsters and wills to live her life the way she deems fit.
Tara does have her fair share of luck; she finds people in the USA who support her and protect her from an abusive marriage; she also finds her childhood love, Cyrus, in a serendipitous way. When I read those parts of the novel, I was inclined to think the story would end in a Bollywood style. But Rao does not take that route. Tara’s good luck is not the point in this story. The point is that even after these strokes of good luck, the monsters continue to scare her and she does not find peace until she has faced them.
Rao’s prose is beautiful and enriched with fresh metaphors. With monologues, flashbacks, and rich sensory details, she takes the readers inside Tara’s head and depicts her emotions in a nuanced manner. I especially like the seamless transition to and from Tara’s troubled childhood; which underscores how Tara’s present life cannot escape her childhood demons.
Tara’s character is relatable and loveable, someone you immediately want to root for. Cyrus is probably too nice but a believable character. Other characters are well fleshed out too.
A feminist story like Purple Lotus have been told many a times. But with Rao’s pen, the treatment is fresh and nuanced. A very enjoyable read.
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J. Ward
4.0 out of 5 stars Awakening to her value and independence
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2021
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Purple Lotus is a well-told and beautifully descriptive story about the traditional expectations of an arranged marriage clashing with the hopes and dreams of one of the individuals in it–a woman awakening to her value and her independence. Rao describes in rich detail the conservative Hindu culture of a family that promises their daughter, Tara, to a man she hardly knows, and then expects her to stay and make the marriage work despite the abuse she is subjected to. Tara, however, forms bonds with a sisterhood of women - her sanctuary - and this empowers her to not only survive but thrive. I adored this story arc of coming into one's own and recognizing one's intrinsic value as a human.
5 people found this helpful
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Jude
5.0 out of 5 stars passionate, thoughtful, and beautifully written
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2023
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In Purple Lotus, Tara finds herself at the crossroads where ancient and modern meet. It is a terrifying place to be because—like a lotus that has not opened—when she arrives in the US, she sees nothing but muddy water in all directions. Tara’s story instantly drew me in, and I could not put it down as I followed the unexpected twists and turns of her journey. Veena Rao both honors through her rich descriptions what is of value in tradition and also takes a strong stand against what is oppressive. Though some might see it as ironic, the blossoming of one’s true personal freedom and empowerment is not based on the eradication of one’s culture. A passionate and thoughtful read; highly recommended.
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Fan reader
3.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2021
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A decent read
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reddevil
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully told story of numerous immigrants; Thought provoking
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2024
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I read the book last week and some portions of the book are still so alive in my head.
The story of an immigrant woman is beautifully told. The writing uses the appropriate amount of detailing to paint a real picture of the protagonist's struggles and challenges without making the storyline melodramatic, but yet invokes deep empathy! The treatment of sensibilities and cultural nuances is so balanced and objective.
I truly enjoyed the book and wish the author all the success.
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Bruce and Kathy O'Gorman
4.0 out of 5 stars To Rise Above
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2023
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Tara was abandoned as a child when her mother, father, and brother move to Dubai, leaving her behind with her grandparents and a mentally ill uncle. She grew up feeling unloved and unimportant. At age 28, she was given into an arranged marriage. After marrying her, her husband moved to America, and Tara took the blame for him not sending for her for three years, even though it was not her fault. When she finally goes to America, she finds her husband to be cold and abusive.
As an Indian woman, she is told to rise above, to work harder at her marriage.
This was a fascinating look at Indian culture, where when a couple is married, they are bound through seven lifetimes. It is a story of overcoming stigma and finding one's voice. I really enjoyed Tara's story.
One person found this helpful
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Pratibha Salwan
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2021
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A modern day story of an educated immigrant woman from India trapped in an abusive arranged marriage. The story unfolds beautifully as Tara finds the courage to break the patriarchal shackles that have tied her down all her life and comes into her own as an independent woman. It's also a testament to sisterhood - the bond that she forms with other women in her adopted country and how that becomes a major support system for her to survive and thrive.

The book itself reads very easily, I wasn't able to put it down. I read it from cover to cover over 1.5 days. Her writing shifts easily between her childhood and the present. The book is also very timely on how it calls out institutional patriarchy at multiple levels, especially in the context of an Indian family both immediate and extended. I especially liked the ending essay on the demands placed on the woman even when she is a victim and voiceless. While the men equation get away scot-free despite being the aggressors. The emotions and feelings are so well articulated, I felt deeply invested in the narrative. Every aspect of the book is relatable if you have been part of an Indian social fabric.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Atika Nadaf
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read, powerful novel!
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2021
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Veena Rao’s debut novel "Purple Lotus” is not only a delightful read, but the resilience and journey of the protagonist Tara deeply resonates with every immigrant woman, especially a woman of colour, for whom adapting to the life of her new country is nothing short of a rebirth. Veena Rao writes about Tara’s longings and innermost feelings in stunning poetic detail. It’s hard not to fall in love with this charming novel. The most inspiring message is that if we are focused on our growth regardless of what happens to us, each one of us can bloom into our full potential just like Tara did. This gorgeous book simply brings back the love of literature and the joy of reading! A must-read, powerful novel!
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Atika Nadaf
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read, powerful novel!
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2021
Veena Rao’s debut novel "Purple Lotus” is not only a delightful read, but the resilience and journey of the protagonist Tara deeply resonates with every immigrant woman, especially a woman of colour, for whom adapting to the life of her new country is nothing short of a rebirth. Veena Rao writes about Tara’s longings and innermost feelings in stunning poetic detail. It’s hard not to fall in love with this charming novel. The most inspiring message is that if we are focused on our growth regardless of what happens to us, each one of us can bloom into our full potential just like Tara did. This gorgeous book simply brings back the love of literature and the joy of reading! A must-read, powerful novel!
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2 people found this helpful
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Hemangi
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have in your collection if you are a fighter beneath the coy demeanour you display....
Reviewed in India on October 31, 2020
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Such a beautiful story said in the most easy fashion. Characters who are relatable from every day people you meet.
The Indians here can identify with the protagonist Tara who fights demons named 'What will neighbours say? ' as also 'After all it was just one slap....

The international audience may identify with the protagonist's display of strength in trying times of her life.

In all a book that deserves a straight five stars...
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AV
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2023
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It’s an incisive book focusing on the popular myths about marrying NRIs that turns the conventional “fairy-tale wedding” approach on its ear. A decent girl from a well-to-do South Indian family marries an Indian-American engineer from Atlanta, who makes a handsome 6-figure income. The boy doesn’t like the girl but marries to please his parents and to make his white girlfriend, Liz jealous. To Liz, he’s merely a fling but he sees her as “holy grail slash true love”. Meanwhile this Indian girl, Tara—who neither dated anyone nor got cheated on by anyone till the age of 30—comes to US and suffers lies and misdeeds of her husband. Moreover, she’s come to US on a dependent visa. She doesn't know much about the visa process, the financial & legal aspects of life in US. She must live with her husband until she gets SIN number (that’d allow her to work here). So, this story is about Tara enduring those first few years of marriage and eventually standing on her own in US. The novel starts in the 70s, and then slowly moves into the 90s. A few words have been used in author’s native language, Kannada, which I wasn’t familiar with—just knew “Kola” because I’d watched the movie, “Kantara”. It was an interesting read overall.
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Urmili Pal
5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional read!
Reviewed in Canada on October 23, 2020
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Veena Rao's debut novel caught me in a whirlpool of emotions. The protagonist Tara's journey of life from a small town in India to Atlanta, USA, witnessing her many trials of life is so well penned that you just can't put the book down! It brings up many issues women of South Asian origin face where ever they are in the world, even far removed from India! Societal norms and cultural pressures from family to conform to a marriage that has left you broken has been a burden many an Indian woman has borne over the years - time to change that now for our daughters (and sons)! Awesome read and I will be sorry when I'm done devouring it.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent writing!
Reviewed in India on October 11, 2020
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It is a well written piece . It is about the journey of a woman in discovering herself.
There are well knit parallel plots and the transition from one plot to another is very smooth. I would highly recommend this gem to everyone.
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