A Guardian and a Thief: Oprah's Book Club

A Novel

By: Megha Majumdar

Narrated by: Leela Tapryal, Sid Sagar, Rajib Bhattacharya, Soneela Nankani, Reena Dutt, Shawn K. Jain, Mayuri Bhandari

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE • Megha Majumdar’s electrifying new novel, following her acclaimed New York Times bestseller A Burning, is set in a near-future Kolkata, India in which two families seeking to protect their children must battle each other. A piercing and propulsive tour de force.

FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK

“Wondering if there’s a novel out there that gives Cormac McCarthy’s The Road a run for its money? Here you go.” —Stacy Schiff, author of Cleopatra: A Life

In a near-future Kolkata, Ma, her two-year-old daughter, and her elderly father are just days from leaving the collapsing city behind to join Ma’s husband in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After procuring long-awaited visas from the consulate, they pack their bags for the flight to America. But in the morning they awaken to discover that Ma’s purse, containing their treasured immigration documents, has been stolen.

Set over the course of one week, A Guardian and a Thief tells two stories: the story of Ma’s frantic search for the thief while keeping hunger at bay during a worsening food shortage; and the story of Boomba, the thief, whose desperation to care for his family drives him to commit a series of escalating crimes whose consequences he cannot fathom. With stunning control and command, Megha Majumdar paints a kaleidoscopic portrait of two families, each operating from a place of ferocious love and undefeated hope, each discovering how far they will go to secure their children’s future as they stave off encroaching catastrophe.

A masterful new work from one of the most exciting voices of her generation.

a garden and a theft

It was but, a little long in disruption at times . The narrators where good, I liked the characters.

The plot of the story.

The unexpected turn of events leading to the ending were sadly great ! In other words, I didn’t think that lives would be destroyed and end so easily in the story.

Ma

I really enjoyed this book, such a good story and great narrative. It kept you guessing as to what was going to happen and how the characters would react. I also liked that it wasn’t terribly long, so it was very easy to listen to on Audible.

Description

The ending seemed quite blunt and unexpected like the author just tired of the story.

Complex, compelling story

OMG...stayed up to listen to the end of this story. Amazing character development. Roller coaster of emotions. One of the best fiction books I've listened to. Highly recommended