Book Review: The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani

Beautiful. Tragic. Humbling. Jaya, a journalist in New York City at the time of sonograms and invitro fertilization, is devastated and lost. She blames herself for the loss of all three pregnancies and, because of her frozen grief, loses her marriage. 

Amisha, a joyful young woman at the time of the British Invasion of India, is bound tightly by the cultural norms and mores of her India. Her stories whirl and dance in her head and, ever since she learned to write as a child, she began putting them to paper. Amisha was Jaya’s grandmother, a grandmother that she never knew but learned from.

I could say that this is a story about women and for women. However, very prominently in the background, men play a strong part in the lives of women, for better or for worse. This was especially true in Amisha’s time and country. Author Sejal Badani’s storytelling had me enthralled. Jaya, the protagonist, has a very difficult relationship with her mother. Her mother and father had immigrated to America before Jaya was born. Her mother was told by her father to never return to India. Therein lies one of the secrets. 

Amisha’s story, full of family secrets and oppression, is told to Jaya by Ravi. Amisha defies many of the cultural mores, dancing at her wedding, writing her stories, bringing Ravi, of the caste untouchables, into her marriage home. Ravi, tells Jaya her grandmother’s story and the early days of her mother’s story. It is some of these issues that earned the disbelief of some of more uncharitable reviewers I read on the Goodreads site. 

Throughout it all, the sights and sounds of India, the ceremonies and holidays of India, were described in beautiful, colourful detail. The poverty and squalor of India was described in heartbreaking detail. Sejal Badani has written scenes of insane cruelty and of deep abiding love and friendship. 

“With humility may I reap my own power, and at the end of the journey 

I hope to stand small so others can feel tall.”

~ Sejal Badani, The Storytelle’s Secret

Title: The Storyteller’s Secret

Author: Sejal Badani

Copyright 2018

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing, Seattle

Type: Fiction

Format: Novel

ISBN: 13: 9781503949089 (hardcover)

ISBN: 10: 1503949087 (hardcover)

ISBN: 13: 9781542048279 (paperback)

ISBN: 10: 1542048273 (paperback)

Hitting Pause

For each of 165 days, I have written short episodes about two fictional characters - Desperanza Eliot and her sister Emelina Beaufort in Situationally Theirs. I unwittingly began this little saga on March 25th, about two weeks after restrictions were recommended to decrease the transmissibility of the Covid19 virus. Regretfully and yet joyfully, I am hitting pause on new episodes of Situationally Theirs throughout the upcoming weekend. All my characters have gathered 'round me in the alone times and I have been glad to share them with all with my readers. However, maintaining a cohesive story line for these wonderful characters is becoming very awkward for them and for me. This funny little community will be rethinking how they wish to continue, but I will continue with morning Revisions of earlier Episodes to further support their stories.

Since returning to Regina, I have been spending wonderful time with family and friends, while maintaining my writing practice, and establishing myself in my home community. Writing, for me, has been a life saver in this era of pandemic restrictions. The act of writing has kept me focused on my life by traveling into the life of my characters. My readers have supported my writing no matter how awkward it has been. I absolutely love being in regular contact with family and friends. Often, I spend about six to eight hours a day writing posts, more time reading about writing, and I wish to resume writing a monthly book review. All this while recreating my life here in Regina.

My first book review, tomorrow evening’s post, is The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Bedani - a beautiful, tragic story of love, growth and loss that crosses family traditions, cultural norms, and societies rules.

“It’s not so much knowing when to speak…..but when to pause.”

~ Jack Benny

Chapter One, Episode 165 - Out on a Limb - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

There were few edits required for this episode - minor wording changes, removal of an unnecessary space, and the addition of a missing quotation mark. 

Voice and Tone are the next writing issues any writer must deal with. Quoting again from The Art and Craft of Storytelling is Voice: “the quality of the narration, regardless of whether it's told in first or third person.” A further quotation about voice, which I find amusing but very valid, is: “...shed your old one. The school voice. The please-the-teacher voice. And - horrors - the college-term-paper voice.”

Regarding Tone, it is “the atmosphere of the book”  as well as the rhythm or varying moods of any written work - in this case the serial like story Situationally Theirs.  My questions to myself today are - could this scenario be an ending of sorts? It is certainly a possibility. Did I get an authentic voice in this and other episodes? Was the tone in each episode consistent with the characters or the scene? 

Out on a Limb

There are times when a burst of energy and confidence can be exactly what is needed. However, bursts don’t last long. Momentum keeps someone moving forward. After Emelina had made her pronouncement that ‘things will be different around here’, she had just enough momentum to reassure Martha, her sister Dez and Cook that she was better. No more staying in bed. After the energetic whirlwind of cleaning and dressing to the nines, she had gone to the kitchen and sat down. The energy she had felt coursing through her, slowly dissipated. Cook went back to her food preparation area and Martha to her office. Emmie leaned towards Dez and in a forced whisper, she hissed “Dez. You’ve got to help me. I don’t know what I meant when I said ‘things will be different around here’.” Forcing herself to sit ramrod straight, she finished her coffee and calmly said “Dez, can we talk upstairs. I want to ask your opinion about my bedroom.” Dez could barely contain herself. Watching her sister slowly deflate as the four women sat and talked was almost amusing. She was overly polite, sat just a little too calmly except for the way she kept moving her coffee mug around. She only did that when she was nervous or anxious about something. 

Dez took her mug to the sink, picked up her backpack and headed to the stairs. “Let’s go, Em. I’ve brought some overnight things I want to put away. Martha thought I should come ready to stay at least one night. Looks like you’re doing much better, but I’ll stay one night anyway.” Her sister was already half way up to the second floor. When Dez reached the second floor, her sister was standing at the living room window. Musing aloud, she said “The yard looks beautiful. I don’t know how Samuel does it. I suppose he has his own system so he keeps on top of everything..... Oh, Dez, there you are. I’m so tired now. I may just go back to bed.” 

Red flags flying, Dez dropped her overnight bag on the floor. “Oh no you don’t Emmie. You're coming with me and we’re going outside.” She was scrabbling around for something to keep her sister from retreating again. “Where’s your purse?” Distracted, her sister waved her hand towards her room. “It’s in there. I’ll get it.” Dez blocked her way and said. “Never mind your purse, I’ve got mine. Come on with me.” As obedient as a child, her sister allowed herself to be led outside. Dez saw her wipe a tear away from her eye. 

~~~~~

Afternoon stretched into evening. Dez listened as her sister talked about her devastation when Carrie was gone, with no real resolution to their mutual past. “I got caught up in it Dez. I wanted so much to learn what had happened to my baby. I was so, incredibly angry at Jeremy for thinking I could make a difference in Carrie’s life. And now here I am, alone again with that past hanging over me. Feeling sorry for myself. What do I do, Dez?”

Dez sighed. She had watched Emmie since they were tiny. Always the centre of attention without even trying. And now she wants me to tell her what she should do. She has more money than I’ll ever have, she has everything she wants and needs right here. But she’s still lost. Dez thought all these things while she looked at her big sister. “Emmie, you already know what you want to do. I heard you say so when you were tearing the place apart cleaning every bit of dust in the place. You want your old bedroom back - that makes perfect sense. You want a new bed. You don’t want to jump and run when anyone calls. But let’s start with the bedroom - that’s what you can do today. I’ll help you - you're not alone.” Now Dez watched all the built up tension drain away from her sister, her shoulders sagging, the stiff smile gone. No wonder she’s tired. “But not here, Em. We’re going for a drive into town. First we’ll stop at the park and get some ice cream and then I want you to tell me whether you want your walls painted or wall papered.” Emmie perked up at the mention of redecorating. “Dez, if I’m going redecorate the bedroom then the ensuite bathroom needs freshening up too.”

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.”

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust, First Part

Chapter One, Episode 164 - Talking Business - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

There was a section of this episode I almost deleted. The fashion statement. It was far too much like reading a column in a fashion magazine. I did want to keep it, but altered it to be “read as part of Martha's observations. Not certain it is still necessary - especially the part about the Italian leather shoes.

For this episode, I considered the issues of Premise and Theme of a story. Learning to write is definitely not a piece if cake. Once more, Nancy Lamb, The Art and Craft of Storytelling, has clarified it for me:  Premise: “....think of premise as the foundation of your plot, the essential truth you want to convey.” Theme: “.....the narrative concept behind your story - the idea explored within the context of what your book is about.” In my own defence, this saga Situationally Their's did not start out as anything more than one blog post at a time. No intention for it to evolve into anything greater. However, it has made me curious, watching the story centre around two sisters and their support of each other (?Premise) and the experiences surrounding them (Theme?). There have been suggestions that this saga has book potential and have taken it to heart. Wow! A bigger than huge writing exercise. Thank you readers for encouraging me on.  

Talking Business

Dez took two backward steps down the stairs. She stopped, grinned, turned and ran down to the kitchen. “Martha? Cook? Where is Brigitte? I thought you were all worried about my sister. You called me in a panic, Martha:  ‘Miss Emelina has taken to her bed just like after Mr. Michael died. You have to come. You’re the only one that she might listen to. Please come, Miss Dez.’ Well I'm here now, and my sister is up and just out of the shower. She’s talking like she means business. Something about ‘……they’d better think again.’ I’ve only heard her talk like that a couple of times when we were teenagers and then she was really p.o'd - oops, sorry ladies...I mean she was really angry with somebody. I got out of her way then, I’ll stay out of her way until she's ready to talk.”

Martha was indignant. She was not in the habit of making panicked phone calls unless it was necessary. “What on earth are you talking about? She’s been up there for days, only calling down for tea, sometimes some toast. Treating Brigitte like she was her maid again.” Cook just chuckled and shook her head, she knew Martha had more to say. “I’ve given Brigitte the day off. She has been run off her feet and if Miss Emelina fires me because of it, well then I guess she does.” Martha did feel a bit hurt about the cavalier way that Miss Dez was treating this very serious situation. Then she heard someone on the stairs. Turning her gaze towards the sound, she saw her employer. She was.....“Well, aren't you all turned out!” Her employer, dressed in black jeans and a black tunic splashed with red poppies had her hair tied back with a red silk scarf with barely had any jewelry on. Her comfortable low heeled shoes were red Italian leather, the shoes she had recently purchased and shown off to everyone. Martha could have written a fashion column. Emelina smiled at her worried Housekeeper. “That was a wise decision, Martha. I was running Brigitte off of her feet. When the three of you are finished staring at me, please join me for tea or coffee. Cook, are there any goodies to go with it? I’m really hungry, but it’s too early for a good meal of meat and potatoes.” She took cups out of the cupboard for herself and Dez, and before closing the cupboard doors, checked to be certain that Martha and Cook had cups. From the silver thermal pot, she poured coffee in each cup or mug. “Now, let’s all sit down and just have a good visit. I haven’t heard anything but my own mind train for the last week. Martha, what’s been happening around here? Cook, what’s on the menu for supper tonight? Dez, are you here for supper or for a sleep over?”

A plate of warmed cinnamon buns, butter, knives and plates materialized on the table. The four women sat down with each other. Knowing that her staff had truly been frightened for her, Emelina answered all of their questions, while Dez watched, listened and thought This is another beginning for Em.

“Set fire to the broken pieces; start anew.”

~ Lauren DeStefano, Sever

Chapter One, Episode 163 - Awake - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

Returning to the issue of Point of View (POV) from The Art and Craft of Storytelling, this short episode seems to fit the description of the Omniscient Point of View: “.....the omniscient narrator's voice speaks with a power all its own” and “Omniscient means that the narrator is all-seeing, all-knowing.”Although this episode really seems to be a setting of a scene, it is also an unwitting practice run at this particular POV. 

Many authors of writing, suggest planning for the many details of writing. My present style of stream of consciousness writing for my initial drafts has really never taken them into consideration. I merely want my characters, my stories, to be authentic and credible. 

In my review, I found little to alter, except for one or two minor wording changes.

Awake

At some time we all go into hibernation. Not just when winter winds blow and the rain or snow forces us in doors. But when the weather of our soul swirls with cold and damp. Ignoring the cold only drives us deeper into the deep emotional storm. 

Emmie had not been so aware of it as she was the day she saw the spider web. The web wasn't anything grand. She only noticed it because she had been staring at the ceiling as she was coming out of the deep blue funk she had been resting in. When she got up, put on her housecoat and left her bedroom it wasn’t to go to the shower. She strode down the hall to a tiny cupboard disguised as a panel in the wall. She pressed her hand lightly to one side on the decorative trim. A door slid open to a small closet. A slim vacuum cleaner hung on the wall, a broom and a floor mop leaned into one corner. A narrow shelf held a variety of cleaners and cleaning rags. Emmie picked up a broom and a caddy filled with cleaning supplies. Leaving the door open, she returned to her room. Her first task? Get rid of that spider web. Wielding the broom, she swept the ceiling clean and that poor spider was suddenly homeless. 

Emmie set about cleaning her bedroom. Anything hiding in any corner, under her bed, was subjected to her awakened energy. Bed sheets were stripped from the bed and shoved in the laundry hamper. The track clothes she’d worn over the last week were unceremoniously dumped on top of the sheets. Everything was dusted and polished until it looked new again. The books in the book shelf seemed to sit up straighter. Even the large bay window, washed and sparkling, smiled in the blue sky. She returned everything to the cupboard, picked up the vacuum cleaner and continued with her cleaning mission. Once she was satisfied, she gathered up a set of clean clothes and soon the shower was billowing with steam. Over the sound of the water hitting the walls of the shower room could be heard “The bed has to go. I’ll tell Digby today to order a new one. I’m moving back to my room, but I need a new bed.” Water turned off, her hair turbaned in a thick white towel, wearing a thick Terry robe, her reflexion smiled at her from the mirror. “Things are going to be different around here. If anyone expects that I will come running just because they call, they’d better think again.”

Dez was at the top of the stairs when she heard the last few words of Emmie’s dictum. “Maybe I’ll just go back downstairs to talk with Cook or with Martha. I don’t think it’s quite time to see how bad off my sister is, but she sure isn’t in bed anymore.”

“Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.”

~ Carl Jung

Chapter One, Episode 162 - Lift and Let Go - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

Point of View. Trying to understand the various types of Point of View (POV), for me, is like trying to understand mathematics. Gives me a headache. Quoting again from The Art and Craft of Storytelling, Nancy Lamb poses a huge challenge for me: "The writer's task is to choose the most effective character or characters to tell the tale." With the writing of each episode, usually a specific character steps forward wishing to speak. Sometimes it will be more than one - the loudest or most determined one gets the stage. In this episode of Situationally Theirs, when Emelina takes to her bed, she needed others to speak for her. Those people that cared for her prior to the pandemic lockdown - her employees and friends. Writing dialogue and having distinctly different characters directed the Point of View that I unconsciously utilized. 

Lift and Let Go

She could hear only her footfalls splashing on the gravelled track. The rain helped her focus. Gave her direction. She was so cold and had been since getting Carrie’s letter. Her flashes of anger at Jeremy, at Carrie and at herself came in bursts, pushing her out onto the track at the Estate. Running in the rain that came everyday was the only time she could feel anything other than anger and frustration. Coming in out of the rain she could warm up. Hot tea, a hot bath and a warm bed. She felt safe in bed. 

~~~~~

Brigitte was worried. Really worried. She recognized what was happening to her employer - her friend. Instead of going out to charity functions, she would run and run or stay in bed. She wasn’t eating. She wasn’t talking with anyone. If Brigitte reminded her of an appointment or asked her about any of their plans, she would only say “You take care of it.” and turn away. Brigitte went first to Martha. “I don’t know what to do for her, Martha. Seeing her turn back into her shell after all she’s been doing for the last many months, is painful and it’s just….well.... wrong!” Martha had been just as concerned. The mood at the Estate seemed joyless again, no matter how cheerful everyone acted. In the sullen kitchen, Martha shared her worries with her friend. “Elizabeth, what should we do? Has anyone talked to James?” Cook added the last ingredients to the soup pot. She took her sealed jar of bay leaves from the spice cupboard, removed three of the dry savoury leaves and put them in last. The lid went on. She filled up her mug with the fresh steeped tea and held out the teapot to her friend. “Martha, come sit down. First, we call her sister to come out. She probably doesn’t even know how bad it’s gotten. Then, we’ll talk to James. Brigitte may already have talked with him. There’s nothing else we can do. Miss Emelina is going through something kind of like a shock wave. All those years when she took to her bed after Mr. Michael died can’t just go ‘poof’ and never happen again. We just leave her alone in her grief.” 

“You’re quite right, Elizabeth. She did have quite a shock. Wrote all those letters. Got her hopes up - about what I don’t know. She’d never tell us what it was all about - like it was a secret or something. Just go through the mail everyday like she was expecting a million dollars.”

~~~~~

Emelina threw off her covers. Hot and uncomfortable, she lay quietly on her bed. There was a spider crawling across the ceiling to a web that Joey must have missed. She got up, opened her curtains squinting at the brightness that shone through the clouds. She flipped the covers up on her bed, put her housecoat on and walked out of her bedroom. 

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”

~ Havelock Ellis (1859 - 1939)

English essayist and physician