The Story Hour

A Novel

By: Thrity Umrigar

Narrated by: Sneha Mathan

“Thrity Umrigar has an uncanny ability to look deeply into the human heart and find the absolute truth of our lives. The Story Hour is stunning and beautiful. Lakshmi and Maggie will stay with readers for a very long time.” — Luis Alberto Urrea, author of The Hummingbird's Daughter

From the critically beloved, bestselling author of The World We Found and The Space Between Us, whom the New York Times Book Review calls a “perceptive and . . . piercing writer,” comes a profound, heartbreakingly honest novel about friendship, family, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances.

An experienced psychologist, Maggie carefully maintains emotional distance from her patients. But when she meets a young Indian woman who tried to kill herself, her professional detachment disintegrates. Cut off from her family in India, Lakshmi is desperately lonely and trapped in a loveless marriage to a domineering man who limits her world to their small restaurant and grocery store.

Moved by her plight, Maggie treats Lakshmi in her home office for free, quickly realizing that the despondent woman doesn’t need a shrink; she needs a friend. Determined to empower Lakshmi as a woman who feels valued in her own right, Maggie abandons protocol, and soon doctor and patient have become close friends.

But while their relationship is deeply affectionate, it is also warped by conflicting expectations. When Maggie and Lakshmi open up and share long-buried secrets, the revelations will jeopardize their close bond, shake their faith in each other, and force them to confront painful choices.

Character development

I thought it was a sweet story but wish o could’ve known how it ended for Maggie. Love the narrator’s voice. She is excellent!

A story of “how you can love unconditionally”

Regardless of where you were born, where you were schooled, the menial jobs some hold or the highly professional ones, as humans we need unconditional love and support to become the best versions of ourselves. I loved every chapter of this book for the authenticity of the story and the characters.

Beautiful story with excellent narration

I loved the story and the strong clear characters. All characters are so different and sympathetic. The narration brought the characters to life in a beautiful way!
Didn’t want it to end !

Lovely and interesting interactions

A sweet story of humans trying their best to be their best selves, but failing of course. How to bridge vast differences in creed, color, faith and deepseeded cultural values and myths? Very enjoyable.

A Beautiful Story Through and Through

Thrity Umrigar is a master storyteller and the story of Lakshmi and Maggie is a beautiful example. I didn’t want the story to end. In every book I have read from this author, the characters have so much depth, the storylines are so beautiful and each book provokes so much introspection. That is exactly the case in The Story Hour with Lakshmi and Maggie. Their stories touch your heart and make you wonder what you would do in their situation. Bravo Thrity Umrigar!