Satyal's lovely coming-of-age debut charts an Indian-American boy's transformation from mere mortal to Krishnaji, the blue-skinned Hindu deity. Twelve-year-old Kiran Sharma's a bit of an outcast: he likes ballet and playing with his mother's makeup. He also reveres his Indian heritage and convinces himself that the reason he's having trouble fitting in is because he's actually the 10th reincarnation of Krishnaji. He plans to come out to the world at the 1992 Martin Van Buren Elementary School talent show, and much of the book revels in his comical preparations as he creates his costume, plays the flute and practices his dance moves to a Whitney Houston song. But as the performance approaches, something strange happens: Kiran's skin begins to turn blue. Satyal writes with a graceful ease, finding new humor in common awkward pre-teen moments and giving readers a delightful and lively young protagonist. (May)
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Blue Boy
Narrated by Vikas Adam
Rakesh SatyalUnabridged — 9 hours, 41 minutes
Blue Boy
Narrated by Vikas Adam
Rakesh SatyalUnabridged — 9 hours, 41 minutes
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Overview
As an only son, Kiran has obligations-to excel in his studies, to honor the deities, to find a nice Indian girl, and, above all, to make his mother and father proud-standard stuff for a boy of his background. If only Kiran had anything in common with the other Indian kids besides the color of his skin. They reject him at every turn, and his cretinous public schoolmates are no better. Cincinnati in the early 1990s isn't exactly a hotbed of cultural diversity, and Kiran's not-so-well-kept secrets don't endear him to any group. Playing with dolls, choosing ballet over basketball, taking the annual talent show way too seriously . . . the very things that make Kiran who he is also make him the star of his own personal freak show.
Surrounded by examples of upstanding Indian Americans-in his own home, in his temple, at the weekly parties given by his parents' friends-Kiran nevertheless finds it impossible to get the knack of "normalcy." And then one fateful day, a revelation: perhaps his desires aren't too earthly, but too divine. Perhaps the solution to the mystery of his existence has been before him since birth.
Editorial Reviews
Has the god Krishna returned? Only in the fantasies of a troubled Indian-American kid, explored at length in this tragicomedy of alienation by debut novelist Satyal. First the lipstick, then the eyeliner: Kiran is raiding his mother's cosmetics again. The 12-year-old only child finds his life divided between his almost all-white school in a Cincinnati suburb and his parents' all-Indian world of Sunday school after Hindu temple and potluck parties every Saturday night at a rotating series of houses owned by affluent immigrants just like them. Afflicted with severe migraines and blackouts, Kiran finds solace in makeup sessions, ballet classes and playing with dolls. For his school's upcoming talent show, he decides to devise a ballet based on Krishna, whose icon rests by his mother's bed. Then an idea takes hold: Might he be the tenth, hitherto withheld incarnation of the god? Blue-skinned Krishna played the flute, gorged on butter and was a famous lover; Kiran buys a recorder, increases his butter consumption and notices blue tints to his skin. Being a lover is the hard part, for our hero doesn't yet understand sex, though his eventual orientation is clear. Kiran studies Penthouse and Playboy. He happens on some teens having wild group sex in the park. He spies on a boy and girl making out at a house party. This spectacle gives rise to a most un-Krishna-like jealousy, and he tells on them. A snitch, a crybaby and at one point an arsonist, Kiran is not easy to love, and his voice veers erratically between that of a child and an adult. The author never manages to come up with much of a plot or develop credible supporting characters, leaving readers stuck inside Kiran's head as his illusionsbecome ever more grandiose, until he finally declares himself "just as great, just as godly, just as genius as Krishna." The climactic talent show fails to provide resolution. Loses its way after a promisingly edgy start. Agent: Maria Massie/Lippincott Massie McQuilkin
"Listeners will appreciate Adam's handling of a story in which a queer teen asserts his identity in the face of both Indian and American conservatives."---AudioFile
10/01/2019
Kiran Sharma is a young boy living in Cincinnati in the early 1990s. Listeners follow Kiran as he becomes more curious about his sexuality, his religion, and spirituality, and how he deals with his troubles at school with both student bullies and biased teachers. He is the son of Indian immigrants who raise him to strict cultural standards, but he follows his own path. He plays with dolls, puts on makeup, and wants to be a ballet dancer instead of a basketball player. The humorous takes and scenes throughout provide an outlet to the seriousness of Kiran's troubles. Satyal (No One Can Pronounce My Name) uses his own experiences as a son of immigrants as he grew up in Cincinnati to make this a more realistic study of adolescent behavior. Vikas Adam performs the characters, especially Kiran, with true skill. Listeners will be pulled into the boy's world with the superb writing and narrating. VERDICT Kiran's story shows the universal challenges for everyone at these awkward ages. Recommended for fans of coming-of-age tales.—Jason L. Steagall, Arapahoe Libs., Centennial, Colorado
Vikas Adam is an experienced narrator who often voices South Asian-themed titles with a vigor that helps them shine. This coming-of-age novel is no exception. Adam becomes Kiran Sharma, a first-generation Indian-American immigrant son who disappoints his parents and some of his teachers and friends. Adam infuses Kiran with the poignancy of a teenager struggling to be himself while constantly being told by others to change. Adam’s accent for Kiran is broadly American; some of the adults around him are given an English intonation. Listeners will appreciate Adam's handling of a story in which a queer teen asserts his identity in the face of both Indian and American conservatives. M.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940171267216 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tantor Audio |
| Publication date: | 07/02/2019 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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