The Spoiled Heart

A Novel

By: Sunjeev Sahota

Narrated by: Esh Alladi

“Will consume any reader who picks it up.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

A brilliant and riveting story of ambition, love, family secrets, and unintended consequences, from “bold storyteller” (The New Yorker) and two-time Booker Prize nominee Sunjeev Sahota

Nayan Olak keeps seeing Helen Fletcher around town. She’s returned with her teenage son to live in the run-down house at the end of the lane, and—though she’s strangely guarded—Nayan can’t help but be drawn to her. He hasn’t risked love since losing his young family in a terrible accident twenty years ago.

In the wake of the tragedy, Nayan’s labor union, long a cornerstone of his community, became the center of his life: a way for him to channel his energies into making the world a better—fairer, as he sees it—place. Now he’s decided to mount a run for the leadership. But his campaign pits him against a newcomer, Megha, who quickly proves to be a more formidable challenger than he anticipated.

As Nayan’s differences with Megha spin out of control, complicating the ideals he’s always held dear, he grows closer to Helen—and unknowingly barrels toward long-held secrets about how their pasts might be connected. Suddenly, much more is threatened than his chances of winning.

In one sense a tragedy in the classic mold, tracing one man’s seemingly inexorable fall, The Spoiled Heart is also an explosively contemporary story of how a few words or a single action—to one person careless, to another, charged—can trigger a cascade of unimaginable consequences. A vivid and multilayered exploration of the mysteries of the heart, how community is forged and broken, and the shattering impact of secrets and assumptions alike, it is a blazing achievement from one of Britain’s foremost living writers.

The Political Gets Personal

The Spoiled Heart was a little odd. It mixed an engaging political and psychological novel with a melodramatic romance. Not the best combination. Throughout the novel, there is a thoughtful debate comparing the merits of a class-based union struggle and a diversity-based struggle. There is also an interesting subplot on cancellation and mob action. But the family drama that’s woven through the political story stretches credibility and weakens the novel. I often felt annoyed with the characters, and I’m not sure that was the author’s intent. By the end, however, I was impressed with the author’s ability to wrap things up in surprising ways.

The narrator was strong, bringing the right level of drama to the reading.

Misunderstandings lead to life altercations

Great story on how perceptions of others, misunderstandings can lead to people’s lives being destroyed. Definitely recommend this book.