Many thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me so long to read and for good reason. As someone who have always felt suffocated by the restrictions Indian societal and cultural norms place on people especially women while catering to literally no one, you can imagine how infuriating this read was (in a good way).

The Direction of the Wind follows the story of Sophie who finds out after her father's passing that her mother who she was told was dead had actually run away from home when she was a young girl. Now all her extended family that includes her aunts wants her to do is one thing - 'get married' (to a man obviously) because having a man in your life is the most important thing for a young girl. While all Sophie wants is to find her mother, know her story and reunite with the one person she never really got to know and have always yearned to.

We are then introduced to Nita, Sophie's mother who took the brave step (some might call it foolish) to pack up and leave away from the shackles and limitations the society put on her to explore her dreams and ambitions. The story continues in a parallelity of these 2 women existing and testing boundaries that were set on them by others based on prejudices and struggling to hold it all together until Sophie gets answers and makes discoveries about her long lost parent and in the end gets closure enough to be able to take steps towards her future.

Nita's story is what both young women in India are scared of and what the elders are equally scared of. It is such a weird amalgamation of a 2-sided tale of caution. Yet both Nita's story and Sophie's story clearly shows how in the name of keeping our women safe, we more than often times shelter them so much that they lack the basic life skills and awareness to the point that it is life threatening. The way Nita struggles and decades later Sophie struggles in the same fashion is a testament to how we are constantly failing our women by weaponizing any kind of independence as western and not "suitable for cultured and well-bred Indian women" despite constant stories proving otherwise.

The forever non-ending war between individualism which is seen as western especially if embodied by women and collectivism which is the untouchable patriarchal structure is very well portrayed through simple nuances in this story. Be it Nita struggling as a homemaker or Sophie trusting the Indian family that robs her. I can keep on talking about this as this is a topic so close to my very soul and very existence. Any that is to say, I will recommend this book to everyone and anyone who wants to feel everything a woman feels under the societal pressure that is put on us from the day we are born.

TW: Parental death, Parental abandonment, casual sexism, misogyny, homophobia, mental health issues, substance abuse, death, domestic abuse etc.

This was such a beautiful book. As someone who was also abandoned by her mother at a young age, I really resonated with Sophie's character and the hurt and confusion she feels. I did like that the book was told from both women's perspectives, especially since Sophie also seems to be trying to figure out who and what she is outside of her arranged marriage and the societal expectations of her community.

Fabulous book.

This book has incredible story telling. The story was told over a dual timeline. I couldn’t warm to all of the characters. I did like the way it ended

Heartfelt but emotionally gratifying.
Nita felt she's trapped wirh her being a mother, being a wife or being in a relationship that became very toxic. Like a bird you put in a cage, she wants to fly with the wind.
I love Sophie's perspective on the other hand, with her views in life for looking and searching her mother to Paris.

It's infuriating to read. I can't help myself being judgemental with this story. But surely this is a good read.

This is a profoundly sad tale. a wonderful blending of cultures and traditions. The attempt of traditions to endure despite cultural shifts throughout time is an intriguing paradox.

In the present Sophie and the past Nita, the novel is written from both Sophie and Nita's perspectives. It is a really moving tale with fantastically realistic people and problems. I do have a better understanding of Indian traditions than French ones. I can thus confirm that the Indian ones are accurate.

The Direction of the Wind was a compelling, heartfelt multigenerational story. Ultimately the story was a bit too slow burning for me, but drew a vivid and character driven tale.

I wanted to like this one: dual timeline, a family secret, mother-daughter relationships all felt like a promising beginning. But I struggled with connecting with both of our main characters. I appreciated the attempt to show what might bring someone to a life of drugs and addiction who didn't grow up in poverty, but it ended up coloring the whole feel of the book for me and making it feel depressing instead of hard but hopeful. The pacing felt off, especially with a bit of a rushed ending for me. This one didn't work for me.

if you're looking for something quick, this isn't for you. its a slowburn and tender story. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the arc, in exchange for an honest review!

Sophie always thought her mother died when she was young - when her father passes away she discovers the truth - Nita abandoned them for a life in Paris.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

The narrative is split between Now (Sophie) and 20 years ago (Nita).
Nita has always dreamt of being an artist in Paris, but growing up in Ahmedabad, there were certain expectations - that she would marry he man her family picked, and raise children. An obedient daughter, Nita does as she's told, and tries to bury her dreams, until it all becomes too much and she flees to Paris.

Sophie hasn't led the most conventional of lives. As far as she is aware, her mother died when she was young. Her father doted on her, and never pushed her to get married - being single at 28 is very unusual for their class in Ahmedabad. She also worked - doing accounts for her father.
When Sophie loses her father, she also learns that her mother abandoned them, and everything she thought she knew was wrong.
Sophie sets out to go to Paris, to try and track down her mother, and find out the truth.

I'm split on this book.
With Nita's story - it does such a good job at making you understand how a woman could leave her young child and doting husband. Not enough to completely forgive her, or make it OK; but to understand why she did what she did. Which I think showed really powerful writing and characterisation.
Then... this trapped woman who flees half-way across the world to finally achieve her dreams... loses all agency. I get that her life was sheltered, and doesn't know how to be independent; but she spends the whole book drifting wherever the wind blows her, letting men run her entire life again.
I know there's something darker behind some of her bad decisions, but I was disappointed in most of her story.

Sophie's story is stronger all round. She's the opposite of Nita - she had a relatively large amount of freedom growing up, and she has no problem getting married to the man her aunts have picked for her. She doesn't want to run away to Paris - she only goes to try and find her mother. But whilst she's searching for old signs of Nita, Sophie realises how sheltered her life has been. Her time in Paris isn't easy, but Sophie find that she's not entirely useless, and she quite likes the independence.
I really liked how her story finished, you felt that Sophie was stronger because of her time in Paris. She's clearer on what she wants, and she manages to weave together what she wants from a traditional life and a modern one.

I felt that the overall plots of the book were very uneven.
It was lovely and unhurried in the beginning, exploring the anguish of these two different women and how if affects them. It takes the time to look into each character, as they have to deal with little daily challenges that we take for granted.
Nothing is rushed in the progression of the characters.
Then it got to about 80%, and I was wondering how it would all wrap up, as it felt like there was no resolution. The last 20% had everything thrown in, new characters, new tragedies, happy ever afters... It was a disappointing rush after the steady pace preceding it.

A nice blend of customs and civilizations. Different cultures change with time, but some traditions stay the same. I really liked how the author wrote about Nita leaving her marriage back in the 1980s to follow her love for Paris and art. This book is amazing. It is written in a way that made me feel empathy for the characters. This story is about a mom and daughter who don't get along and it's really sad. It also talks about how your family and culture can hold you back and how some people can be really mean. The story also touches on mental health, addiction, and how your home is more than just where you live. There were many small characters who all had their own unique personalities and stories from their past. It is about trying to meet the standards that society and they themselves set. It was interesting.

“The direction of the wind cannot be changed, but you can adjust your sails.”
⠀
The Direction of the Wind is the latest novel
by Mansi Shah, who also wrote A Taste of Ginger, which I enjoyed. This lovely book mixes cultures and tradition with their expectations and reality.
⠀
Sophie had her life in India figured out. She had a career, a nice home with her father, and figured marriage could come later, if ever. Then her father died and her family quickly arranged a marriage for her. Her home she has always known will be sold and she will live with her new husband and his family.
⠀
While going through closets, making sure all valuables had been taken to family, Sophie learns that the mother she had thought dead for many years, was alive in Paris. Sophie immediately heads to Paris, risking her impending marriage and her relationship with her family, determined to find her mother.
⠀
We get both Sophie’s story and the story of her mother’s, Nita’s, life in Paris, told in dual POVs beautifully by Shah. This is a story of discovery, sacrifice, consequences and family.

The overall storyline was interesting but I felt like it was very slow and tended to drag on. The chapters were mostly short but the constant back and forth between the mother's story and the daughter's story while each of their storylines moving slowly was a bit hard to follow. Overall good writing and story, just not for me.

it's an automatic five just because mansi wrote it.

but also because this continual discussion of not fitting into the perfect desi norm (particularly in india) is a seriously important discussion and narrative. the pressures that nita goes through before uprooting herself from sophie and ranjiv's life is something that i excused and often felt sympathy for due to her inability to feel like a mother, to feel like she had to just fit in socially and culturally rather than the way she wanted. in some ways, i felt more connected to nita than sophie (though i understood and felt for both), but god...

this journey for both that span twenty years...breathtaking and phenomenal.

𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨!

What a beautifully writen story, it captured me completely since the first chapters. Two stories, a self-discovery journey, the power of love and new beginnings. It was fascinating!

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱 by Mansi Shah released February 1, 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

What a touching read. Sophie only has her aunts as her remaining relatives after her father’s death, only to learn her mother abandoned her to live in Paris. Sophie’s journey to unlock the life of her mother has many turns. She discovers what actually happened and made some friends along the way.
I liked Sophie. I thought she handled everything very well for being a very sheltered woman. I also liked how Kiran flew to Paris to see her.
I thought Nita’s story was sad and I almost cried at the point about the anniversary spot at the Eiffel Tower (no spoiler). However, I also thought Nita made very poor choices and paid dearly for them.
Sophie realizes although her family has dwindled she is still very loved and wanted.

I really love this author and she didn't disappoint me again. The story is emotional and extremely well written, it was a real pleasure to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC

I enjoyed this dual-timeline story and learning about Sophie and Nita’s journey. The story was well thought out, with relatable and inspiring characters. A great mix of traditions and cultures. I highly recommend it.

A moving and emotional story of a mother and daughter, facing the impact of their culture on the choices they make. Chapters alternate with the story of Sophie and her mother Nita. When Sophie’s father dies of a heart attack, she overhears her aunts talking about the mother she thought died when she was just a young girl. Sophie discovers her mother did not die, but fled to Paris to escape the limits she felt from motherhood, stunting her desires to be an artist. Sophie is determined to find her mother now that her father, Rajiv, died. The story delves into the restrictions of Indian culture on women, drug abuse, mental illness and more. This is a rewarding read, recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Direction of the Wind by Mansi Shah
Fiction / Historical Fiction
320 pages
Out as of February 1, 2023

Thanks to @mansishahwrites @amazonpublishing @letstalkbookspromo for the gifted copy of this book!

“The direction of the wind cannot be changed, but we can change the direction of our sails.”

Nita Shah has the perfect life in Ahmedabad, but feels like she’s living a lie. She decides to leave her family and head to Paris to be an artist, where she struggles more than she anticipates. Years later, her daughter, Sophie, discovers that her mother didn’t die when she was six - she decided to leave their family. As she goes on a search for her mother, we get flashbacks to Nita’s journey of creativity, love, lust, and drug addiction in Paris. Sophie doesn’t discover what she expects, but learns a lot about her family history, about the destruction a person’s actions can have on a family, and about herself.

Read if you like:
- multi-generational stories
- messy family drama
- dual timelines
- a sad and hopeful storyline

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for the purpose of this review.

I'm giving this book three stars. I liked Shah's writing style and was more in love with the idea of this story more than the book for some reason. Parts of it felt really long to me and I'm wondering if her other work is the same or not.