The Obscure Logic of the Heart

Epic 21st century Romeo and Juliet, set on the landscape of Kenya and urban Britain, for fans of HALF OF A YELLOW SUN and THE MEMORY OF LOVE An epic Romeo and Juliet for the 21st century In a bustling London cafe, Anil, now a famous architect, sits waiting for Lina. It is years since he last laid eyes on her, the love of his life. Lina is running for the train - punctuality has never been her strength. After all this time she cannot be late to meet Anil. Together, they think back to tragedies both personal and political, betrayals large and small. A past played out across three continents that house their rival worlds- Sikh and Muslim, wealthy and modest, liberal and orthodox, corrupt and moral.... Lina has one more revelation that must be shared with Anil. Might it unite them once and for all, or has it come too late?

About the Author :
Priya Basil was born in London and grew up in Kenya. She now lives in London and Berlin. Her first novel, Ishq and Mushq, was shortlisted for a Commonwealth Writer's Prize, and longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize for Young Writers and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Priya's novella, Strangers on the 16-02, was one of the annual ten Quick Reads published in February 2011. In 2010 Priya co-founded Authors for Peace - a platform from which writers can actively use literature in different ways to promote peace. Please visit her website- www.priyabasil.com

Review :
A rich saga of tangled relationships and strained loyalties... subtly played out; passionate and intelligent in scope Priya has done a wonderful job of characterisation. Her description of the turmoil faced by people in love makes the book an interesting and satisfying read A searing love story... burns and scorches with wry conviction about young love that refuses to say die A brilliant second book and one that makes a stand to address the complex battle and struggle for identity and independence faced by the modern Asian woman Montagues and Capulets are redrawn for the 21st century, and it's this utterly convincing conflict of family values that makes for such a compelling narrative The book is beautiful and rich in prose, bold and deeply moving. The story is brilliantly narrated. It has characters that you will remember for days to come. A highly recommended book which you must pick up today, if you haven't already! This book has to be at the top of your to read list! What makes Priya Basil's second novel so interesting is the complexity of the scenario it presents. One can imagine this kind of story being treated rather simplistically (as, for example, a tale of the heroic lovers striving to overcome all the obstacles life places in their way), but Basil doesn't do that - all her characters face difficult questions, and there are no easy answers... Adding a further layer to the novel is the way that events in its wider world interact with and reflect the personal stories of the protagonists... In all this, I haven't mentioned that Basil's novel is a good read purely in terms of its plot, as she manages several times to wrong-foot the reader over what will happen (or has happened). Yet there's so much more here besides, and it all makes The Obscure Logic of the Heart very satisfying to read. What really sets this book apart from others is the beautiful prose used by the author. The descriptions that she uses are breathtaking and you really feel as though you are there with the characters, seeing everything that they are able to see... the ending was so powerful that it will remain with you long after you have finished