Reviews
Praise for Tania James'sAtlas of Unknowns "Delightful. . . . James writes with poise, sly humor, and an acuity both cultural and sensuous. . . . The characters' love for one other radiates off the page." -The New York Times Book Review "Tania James comes at you like everyone you've ever cared about, like everyone you've ever lost. Wise and hilarious herAtlasis an astonishment of a debut, so radiant with life, with love, with good old human struggle that I had trouble detaching myself from its pages. James's prevaricating bikiniwaxing husbanddodging beautiful-crazy sisters followed me into my day, into my dreams. Take this book from someone, give it to someoneyou will not go wrong.Atlasis that damned good." -Junot Diaz, author ofThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao "Atlas of Unknownsis a plain masterful debut from a gifted writer. Tania James is a natural born storyteller, andAtlas of Unknownsis the torn-between-two-continents family saga to prove it." -Nathan Englander, author ofThe Ministry of Special CaseandFor the Relief of Unbearable Urges "Debut novelist Tania James maps her characters' yearnings and missteps with the skills of a seasoned cartographer. Dazzling, original, witty, and poignant,Atlas of Unknownsis one of the most beguiling first novels I've read in years." -Ann Packer, author ofThe Dive from Clausen's PierandSongs without Words "Atlas of Unkownsis the story of two sisters, separated by two countries-the United States and India-but also by jealousy and secrets. Tania James weaves these two narratives together seamlessly, threading together an intricate narrative that explores the nature of immigration and also the price paid by women struggling to find their place in the world. Share this book with your mother, your sister, your friendthey will thank you for it." -Hannah Tinti, author ofAnimal CrackersandThe Good Thief "A powerful and nuanced debut novel,Atlas of Unknownsdraws us into the complex lives of two sisters, each facing the demons of ancient family secrets and guilty new ones that they have created for themselves. Tania James paints the dual worlds of the novel-India and America-with masterful care, choosing beautiful, shocking details, and peopling them with characters we will remember long after closing the book." -Chitra Divakaruni, author ofMistress of SpicesandThe Palace of Illusions "A touching debut novel with a range of tones, from the sweet to the sordid." -Kirkus Reviews "James paints Kerala and immigrant New York with identical depth and ease. . . . [A] balance of well-crafted plot and artful emotion." -Publishers Weekly, "Dazzling and deeply absorbing. . . . One of the most exciting debut novels since Zadie Smith'sWhite Teeth." -San Francisco Chronicle "Delightful. . . . James writes with poise, sly humor, and an acuity both cultural and sensuous. . . . The characters' love for one other radiates off the page." -The New York Times Book Review "Wise and hilarious. . . . An astonishment of a debut, so radiant with life, with love, with good old human struggle that I had trouble detaching myself from its pages. . . . Tania James comes at you like everyone you've ever cared about, like everyone you've ever lost. . . . Her prevaricating bikini-waxing husband-dodging beautiful-crazy sisters followed me into my day, into my dreams. Take this book from someone, give it to someone-you will not go wrong.Atlasis that damned good." -Junot Diaz, author ofThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao "A beguiling tale of treachery and remorse. . . . James is a perceptive writer whose insights into immigration, American life and Indian customs enrich this appealing tale." -Richmond Times-Dispatch "Reminiscent of Pulitzer prize-winner Jhumpa Lahiri, this delightful debut is an insightful study of leave-taking and homecoming." -Daily Mail(London) "James brings a dazzling array of writerly skills to her debut novel. . . . She has a tender heart that feels for [her characters'] idiosyncrasies and yearnings, a sharp ear for dialogue, and an eye for the details of landscape and setting." -The Washington Times "Tania James maps her characters' yearnings and missteps with the skills of a seasoned cartographer. Dazzling, original, witty, and poignant, [this] is one of the most beguiling first novels I've read in years." -Ann Packer, author ofThe Dive from Clausen's Pier "Not your standard growing-up-in-India story. . . . James has concocted a charming seriocomic blend of individuals, cultures and expectations in which every component retains its individuality." -The Star-Ledger(Newark) "Touching and absorbing." -New YorkDaily News "Warm, beguiling, refreshingly smart. . . . A great strength of James' novel is the depth and vibrancy of her characters. She treats them with dignity, never withdrawing the possibility of redemption, and even the most marginal figures turn out to be mysterious, surprising creatures." -The New Leader "WithAtlas of Unknowns,Tania James proves herself a natural-born storyteller-she's the real deal." -Nathan Englander, author ofFor the Relief of Unbearable Urges "Painted with exquisite imagery. . . . Lines read as if they are extracted from poems, creating a story that is not only entertaining but a true piece of art." -The Missourian "One of the most engaging literary reads of the year. . . . James has made a brilliant debut, one which will be remembered for a long time." -Business World(India) "As spectacular a debut as any author could hope for. . . . With keen insight and seminal prose James has fashioned a Bildungsroman of a family saga. . . . The breadth and depth ofAtlas of Unknownsindicates that its author is as wise beyond her years as she is gifted." -The Courier-Journal(Louisville) "A powerful and nuanced debut. . . . Tania James paints the dual worlds of the novel-India and America-with masterful care, choosing beautiful, shocking details, and peopling them w