52 pages 1 hour read

The Hero's Walk

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2000

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Book Brief

Anita Rau Badami

The Hero's Walk

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2000
Book Details
Pages

359

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Coastal town, India • 1990s

Publication Year

2000

Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Hero's Walk by Anita Rau Badami follows Sripathi Rao, a man in southern India whose life changes when his estranged daughter Maya dies in a car accident, leaving behind a granddaughter, Nandana. Sripathi brings Nandana to India, and the family grapples with grief, financial struggles, and the path to healing and connection within a fractured household. Themes include death, family conflict, and cultural displacement.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Emotional

Heartwarming

Reviews & Readership

3.8

4,478 ratings

63%

Loved it

29%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Hero's Walk by Anita Rau Badami has garnered praise for its rich character development and evocative depiction of an Indian family's struggles. Reviewers appreciate the emotional depth and relatable themes of loss and resilience. However, some criticize its pacing as slow. Overall, it is viewed as a poignant exploration of familial bonds and cultural identity.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Hero's Walk?

Readers who appreciate richly-woven family dramas set against an Indian backdrop and enjoy delving into intricate character relationships would find great pleasure in reading The Hero's Walk by Anita Rau Badami. Comparable to Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, it targets those interested in cultural identity and diaspora narratives.

3.8

4,478 ratings

63%

Loved it

29%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Character List

Ammayya Rao

A traditional matriarch who holds strong to familial honor and traditions, particularly the caste system. She is frustrated by her late husband's financial ruin and her son’s failure to meet her expectations.

A 58-year-old man who works in advertising and is torn between traditional family duties and modern values. He struggles with his family relationships, particularly with his activist son and his late daughter, whose decisions once conflicted with his own ideals.

A woman raised with traditional values, who initially follows the will of her husband but gradually finds her own strength and independence after their daughter’s death.

A 42-year-old woman who desires marriage and is constrained by traditional family roles. Her aspirations are often overshadowed by her mother’s disapproval and her brother’s indifference.

An activist in his late 20s and Sripathi's son, who is pursuing a doctorate in social work. He represents the younger generation that challenges traditional roles and seeks social justice.

Sripathi's and Nirmala’s intelligent and ambitious daughter, whose untimely death serves as a pivotal point for change within the family dynamic.

The young daughter of Maya and Alan Baker, who becomes an orphan and moves to India after her parents' death. She struggles with her new life and serves as a symbol of redemption for her grandfather.

Book Details
Pages

359

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Coastal town, India • 1990s

Publication Year

2000

Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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