The author cleverly takes you through the lives of two main characters, mother and daughter. Winding us back and forth between Nita and Sophie. We begin with the belief that Sophie, after losing her mother at the age of six, has been raised by her loving father and extended family in an affluent area of Ahmedabad India, where family honor is everything and women know their place. After her father's passing, Sophie finds abox of letters among her father's items revealing her mother had not died as Sophie had believed. Without the risk of giving too much away, this is a story of mental illness, addiction, loss of self, loss of family and the struggle to find one's own true self. This one will make you think.

This book didn't quite live up to expectations. The imagery used in this book is very vivid and I really enjoyed reading about Ahmedabad and Paris. It was very easy to picture those locations as I was reading. However, the characters fell flat for me. Each thought and feeling is described in so much detail that it leaves little room for the reader's interpretation. A lot is told to you rather than shown and it felt like there was a lot of repetition in the way feelings were described, to the point where I thought I was re-reading pages.

I wanted to finish the book to see where it would go but I didn't really connect with the characters or the story.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the way the chapters alternated between Nita and Sophie which kept the momentum going and produced interesting parallels and comparisons. I hadn’t anticipated where Nita’s story was going but I felt it had a fitting conclusion. Likewise I was very invested in Sophie’s story and her personal growth and discoveries.

I like learning about different cultures and the norms surrounding families and love so found both the Indian and French fascinating. This was a thought provoking story about the choices parents make and the repercussions for their children, even years later. Despite the sadness and loss this was quite a hopeful story about home, family and a sense of belonging.

This was a touching story about a girl who, after finding out a family secret, left her home to discover more. This offers a great perspective into other cultures, and understanding why people choose to make the choices they make, even if it goes against cultural norms. I loved the main character, and seeing her develop through the story, however I wish we got more of her backstory, and more of the backstory of a few other characters. I hope the author continues writing because she has some great stories to tell.

'The Direction of the Wind' follows Sophie, a Gujarati woman whose father has just died leaving her as a bit of a problem for her aunts. A woman in her late 20s can't be allowed to just live alone - she must be married off as quickly as possible before people start to gossip. It was OK to be well over marriageable age whilst looking after her father, but with him gone, things need sorting out quickly. We are told that the Gujarati way is to do things quickly. Most people would spend more time choosing a new car than Sophie's aunts put into finding her a husband.

Sophie has the shock of her life when she discovers letters amongst her father's things; letters that reveal that her mother who had died in a car crash when Sophie was a child, didn't. She learns that her mother, Nita, left her father and took off to Paris to pursue a life as an artist. Before Sophie can settle down to life as a wife and, potentially, a mother, she needs to find out what happened to Nita. She flees to Paris in search of answers.

With dual timelines and different points of view, I prefer that there's a clear differentiation between the parallel stories. This isn't the case in this book although it's pretty easy to keep a track of who is who even though there are no significant style cues.

Some of what happens can seem quite hard to follow. The amount Sophie achieves in a very short time seemed unbelievable, but I could put that to one side for the sake of the story.

It's a well-worn technique to send protagonists off to India to 'find themselves' but this book sends Indians to Paris in search of their reasons to be. It's rather different for doing that. I liked Sophie leaving her privileged life of servants and support networks and finding herself penniless and working in a restaurant kitchen. I was very sad at Nita's terrible choices in men.

There's a lot that can't be said for fear of giving away too much. All in all, I found this a rather satisfying read and appreciated the care the writer took with Sophie, getting her a suitor who was better than we might have expected and giving her a happier ending than might have been predicted.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for my copy

An engaging tale of seeking one’s identity from two different generations and two different solutions. The story of a mother and daughter and how they come to know who they are and follow their life paths—one leads to destruction and one leads to acceptance. Also the story of the implications of a life-long lie where Sophie the daughter is deceived about the truth of her mother’s death, discovering late that the reported death is not true, that her mother did not die but went to Paris. A heart wrenching love story as Sophie’s father goes to Paris and stands at the Eiffel tower on the night of his anniversary every year. Oh, to love someone so much. The writing is strong, it gives us glimpses into another culture and gives strength to a daughter’s love. The demise of one woman and the rise of another. A book worth reading!

A heartfelt story that spans continents and generations, about a young woman who searches for answers about a mother she barely remembers. This read that is simply delightful. An irresistible page-turner sprinkled with warmth, wit and a whole lot of heart . . . pure magic from start to finish.

The Direction of the Wind by Mansi Shah. Sophie flees from an arranged marriage in India to Paris in search of her mother, who abandoned her when she was six years old. She later discovers the ugly truth about her mother and discovers parts of herself she never knew. I didn't expect this to be a heavy read. Full of emotion and intrigue.

Shah channels one of my favorites Sejal Bedani (Storyteller's Secret) in this touching story of finding oneself through one's history.

Sophie Shah lost her mother, Nita, at the age of six, so when her father dies years later, 28-year-old Sophie believes she's an orphan. Only, Sophie's mother didn't die. She abandoned her husband and daughter, leaving India and her rules and customs for the allure of Paris. Now Sophie is on a quest to reclaim what's she's lost.

This dual timeline follows Nita and Sophie as their fates intersect. A beautifully written tale of tradition and following one's heart, Shah captures the passion and pain that come from tough choices. Both moving and insightful, The Direction of The Wind manages to lead us on an extraordinary journey where home is deeply rooted in the heart.

Mansi Shah created a fantastic story here of a search for individuality in a culture where it is expected of you to do what everyone else before you has done.
Sophie is a young woman from Ahmedabad, India. After losing her mother at a young age, she was brought up by a loving father and her aunts until tragedy struck again, and she lost her father, too.
The thing is, she finds out a family secret after hearing her aunts talk and through some intriguing letters that her father had always kept. Her mother didn't die but left her and her dad to go to France.
The story plays out on a dual timeline, as we follow the young Nita to Paris, hoping to realise her dream of becoming an artist rather than staying at home being a wife and mother, and we follow a modern-day similar journey with Sophie. She goes to Paris to try and find the only family she has left.
The story moved along beautifully, and I felt for Nita, stuck in a life she didn't want to be living, and how the twists and turns of fate treated her in Paris.
Equally, the shock and hurt of Sophie's predicament kept me hooked.
I almost wish the ending weren't as rushed, but there was sadness and some joy to finish the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this! It's the story of a mother and a daughter exploring what it means to be "yourself" and how that is possible while navigating society and family around you.

I liked the short chapters and how the alternating POVs told the same story in different time periods. It kept me guessing while also allowing me to follow the stories of the two women thoroughly.

Sadly, the narration occasionally goes in circles, which makes the story slighty slow.

However, I still enjoyed reading this book!

The Direction of the Wind is a story of lost family and the search for the place you are meant to be. Sophie discovers her mother did not die and left her to pursue her dreams of becoming an artist in Paris. The story goes back and forth in time between mother and daughter and the sad reality of life that both face.

I really wanted to love this book. The beginning of the book did not grab my attention and felt a bit stilted. It did not flow as well as it could have. I’m glad I continued to read it because the story improved as it progressed.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this advice copy.

Wow, what a powerful book. Full of emotion and intrigue.
Sophie was told her mummy had died, she was 6 years old. 22 years later her father dies and as she’s clearing his room in India, she comes across some letters from her mummy to her papa dated after Sophie had been told she’d died. All she knows is that they came from Paris. Sophie heads to Paris to find her mummy and try to work out what happened all those years ago. She learns there are some people that she can trust and some people she can’t, and sometimes it’s the most unlikely people that help her the most.
Meanwhile, we move back in time 20 years to hear Nita’s story, why she left - how she dreamed of being an artist in Paris. We learn of her wanting to be free, to find herself. We learn of her friendships and more, her highs and her lows, her successes and her troubles.
As the author moves us back and forth between Sophie and Nita’s lives, it’s a real emotional rollercoaster. The differences between India and Paris, what’s acceptable in one place and frowned upon in another.
I loved the writing and was drawn into the story, which picked up pace as it went along.

(I read on my kindle and some formatting wasn’t great, particularly towards the end, and the book title and author’s name would appear and break up sentences. That said, I was enjoying the story so much it was only a slight distraction).

The Direction of the Wind by Mansi Shah

The Direction of the Wind follows Sophie as she flees an arranged marriage in India in search of the truth about her mother. The book is set mainly in Paris and there are some lovely descriptions of Parisian scenes. The book discusses addiction, arranged marriage, coercive relationships and more. It is a heavy read but deals with these topics sensitively. Sophie is a charming and sincere main character and I was really rooting for her throughout.

The writing felt a little stilted and formal for the first half of the book, before coming more into its own flow. The ending was sad, but satisfying. I really enjoyed this overall!

Thank you to Netgalley and Mansi Shah for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This title is due for publishing on 17/1/23💕

#bookstagram #books #summerreads #irishbookstagram #booktok #beachreads #arc #netgalley #thedirectionofthewind

What a ride!! The book alternates the story of Sophie, who goes on a quest to understand her past when her father dies; and Nita, Sophie's (dead?) mother. The novel is set in India and France, with plenty of evocative descriptions of the settings. Plenty of emotions and character development. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this one.

This fascinating, somewhat shocking story grabbed my heart from the first page. Sophie Shah was born and raised in India and since she was 6 years old has been raised only by her father, where she enjoyed a privileged lifestyle. Her mother was obsessive about art and the French culture so that is why a girl from India has a French name.

At age 6 her dear Papa told her that her mother died in a car accident, so going forward it was just the two of them, along with the household servants who tended to their every need. Sophia managed to avoid an arranged marriage and chose to go to college and take a job instead.

At age 28, Papa dies unexpectedly and a couple days later his two sisters are in his room, packing up his clothing and personal items. Sophie overhears a conversation between her two aunts that sounds as though her mother didn’t die at all, but simply left all those many years ago. They also are discussing Sophie’s unmarried status. The aunts tell her that they have found a suitor for her that is available for marriage.
Sophia missed not having her mother and now that her papa is gone too, she desires to find her mother. When she finds a box of letters tucked in the back of her Papa’s closet, she learns that her mother, Nita, is probably still alive, living in Paris. She is determined to find her.

This story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The story goes back and forth between a span of 20 years. Nita does end up in Paris with her art supplies and begins painting but also has to find a job. She is used to the privileged life she enjoyed so finding a job is not easy. Years later, finding Nita is not easy as Sophie discovers.

As the years pass there are many facets to Nita’s story that are revealed. When Sophie arrives in Paris years later, she embarks on an adventure as secrets are discovered, old friends of Nita’s are found and Sophie herself makes new friends. This captivating story is a page-turner I found difficult to put down.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions and comments are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley I just finished this beautifully told, often sad but ultimately hopeful story of Sophie and her mother Nita. The novel begins in India, where, following the death of her father, Sophie makes a shocking discovery that prompts her to leave all she knows behind and travel to Paris, a whole world away for her.
The intertwined stories of mother and daughter are told through alternating chapters, and the novel is a fast-paced, easy read. Shah offers a fascinating insight into the cultural constraints experienced by both Nita and Sophie, and also the different ways in which these constraints can be tested.
I enjoyed this one! #BookReview #Bookstagram #netgalley #TheDirectionoftheWind

I enjoyed reading The Direction of the Wind. It was captivating and written clearly, and the story didn't end up exactly where I thought it would. There are a fair number of plot contrivances (but I didn't really mind them; they kept the momentum going) and the writing spends a little too much time making sure the reader understands the characters' actions and thoughts (not really my preferred style). But, I tore through this novel in a day, and that HAS to count for a lot.

A fascinating and compelling story set in two continents.

After the death of her father, Sophie discovers that her mother, Nita, who she understood died when Sophie was six, deserted her family in India over twenty years ago and moved to Paris intending to become an artist. Now she know she's alive and desperate to find her mother, Sophie travels to Paris with only a handful of newly discovered letters providing vague clues for her search.

Set in India and France with Nita's arrival in Paris in 1998 and Sophie's search in 2019.

The characters and locations are vividly described with an excellent and unusual storyline.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

A story that pulls at the heart strings and tackles the deepest of human emotions. Finding out she had been lied to all her life about her mothers death, the protagonist embarks upon a journey of discovery in more than one sense of the word. Really enjoyed this story.