Ode to Lata

Banker by day and denizen of Los Angeles’ clubs by night, the protagonist of Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla’s groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed novel has left behind a tempestuous childhood in postcolonial Kenya, the mother who raised him on a steady diet of Bollywood cinema, an emotionally abusive bisexual lover, and inescapable memories of his father’s violent death at the hands of a mistress. Passionate and unflinchingly honest, Ode to Lata scavenges the depths of one man’s misguided and relentless search for love in a world of emotionally void encounters and tangled memories. All the while Ali’s story is intertwined with the unraveling of his parents’ own doomed relationship and the film music of Bollywood’s eminent singer, Lata Mangeshkar. And it is this hopelessly romantic music that scores their tormented lives and goads them to pursue love through chaos and ecstasy. This commemorative 10th Anniversary Edition includes Dhalla’s short story, A about a poignant last night between two lovers facing separation.

Literature & Fiction

Dhalla, Ghalib Shiraz

Literary

Final Word Books

<p>Banker by day, and denizen of Los Angeles' clubs by night, the protagonist of Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla's first novel is navigating between more than just a day job and an active social life.  In Ode to Lata, Ali has left behind a tempestuous childhood in postcolonial Kenya, the overprotective mother who raised him on a steady diet of Hindi cinema, an emotionally abusive bisexual lover, and confused memories of his father's violent death at the hands of his mistress.  Now his mother's messages ramble on his answering machine when he wants no one but his one obsession, Richard to call.   Passionate and unflinchingly honest in its narrative, Ode to Lata scavenges the depths of one man's misguided search for love in a world of emotionally-void encounters and tangled memories.  All the while, Alis' story is intertwined with the unraveling of his parents' own doomed relationship and the film music of Bollywood's eminent singer Lata Mangeshkar (Diva of Indian film music and the namesake of the book's title).  And it is this hopelessly romantic music that scores their tormented lives and goads them to pursue love through chaos and ecstasy.  A special "Author's Edition" on Kindle includes the bonus short story, "A."</p>

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Ode to Lata

Ode to Lata