Part Star Part Dust

This debut novel was quite an experience! From time as its narrator to the captivating interwoven stories which delved into challenging situations, LM Valiram has a great deal to offer readers.

I was mesmerized by this book – that’s the only word I can use. It’s such a short novella but manages to touch your heart in a very unexpected way. The strength of the book is its prose – it’s lyrical and beautiful and so full of meaning that I had to reread certain lines to imbibe them better.

As the premise suggests, this is the story of three people – a millionaire, a widow and a monk. Radha, an adopted child adored by her parents has everything that she could ask for but senses something missing and decides to seek out answers. Mira, married off to a stranger is happy in her motherhood and finds fulfillment in her son and his family even after she is widowed. But sudden changes force her to evaluate her purpose in life. Gaurav has grown up poor with dreams of a rich life that stares at him right across his window. He has known a great love and thinks he is content with it until he has to make a choice between his dreams and reality. How all their lives come together forms the rest of the story.

I love the way the three characters are interwoven in each other’s lives. It’s so subtle that even the reader may miss it. The descriptions of Mumbai city, the traffic, the rains, the food are so vivid that I felt nostalgic and reminded of home. The book is full of wonderful philosophical words of wisdom, especially the letters of Babaji – touching upon life, death, happiness, destiny, karma and most importantly choices. That’s what this book is about. That’s also what makes this book so authentically Indian.

Wonderfully written, well thought of, and very moving.

Part Star Part Dust
L.M. Valiram
A millionaire, a widow, and a monk…time, destiny, eternity.
“I AM YOUR NARRATOR…We are more intimate than you care to appreciate…”

These first words are the beginning ‘threads’ of Valiram’s debut novel. She manages to weave the stories of a millionaire, a widow, and a monk into a finely woven tapestry. The choices of these three are revealed to us in a manner which is richly textured, although uncomfortable at times. The book is set in India, and her descriptions are both exquisite and believable. The writer did not take any shortcuts or lose steam in her writing as some first time writers tend to do.
After I finished the book, I immediately wanted to read it again, which rarely happens.
As a lover of history, and a harsh critic of Historical Fiction, I was quite surprised by this book. Prior to picking it up, I intentionally did not read any reviews, nor research the writer. I simply chose it for the title and cover, without a pre-conceived idea of the content. Then I decided to write the type of review I would like to see once in a while.

This is a hard book to review because I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. The whole book is beautifully written. But the description tells you the entire story. I do recommend it but I feel there would be a more punch if I didn't know about the plane crash.

Hard to believe this is a debut novel! Initially it sounds like a bad bar joke--a millionaire, a widow, and a monk get on a plane....But it is so much more! Three interwoven stories set in India and we really don't see the connections until the end. But this a beautifully written, lyrical novel about heartbreak, loss, grieving, family, and love. This is one that I will definitely re-read (and I typically never do that) simply because it reminds us of the power of fate, coincidence, and free will. So lovely!

Time narrates this beautiful book that looks at three lives and ultimately reminds us that we are all connected and that Time is precious and unknown. Radha is an orphan adopted by a loving couple and grows up to be a famous Bollywood actress who feels something is missing in her life. Mira, the young bride who marries a man she doesn't love or even know and ends up finding herself in a life she doesn't like. And lastly, Gaurav, a man who has to decide between money and love and live with his decision. Each story is wonderful on its own but the gentle weaving of the stories together helps remind the reader of the interconnections in life. While I would have prefered a bit more closure at the end of the book, this too is a subtle reminder that Time does not necessarily do what we want it to. Don't be penned in by the genre 'womens fiction.' This book will be enjoyed by anyone interested in a touching and well thought out presentation of life.

As soon as I read the blurb I wanted to devour this book, and it did not disappoint. Learning about the three central character’s lives, following them over time and seeing how their lives intertwined through time was fascinating. I loced this quote towrds the end of the book and think it sums up the book really well and gets you thinking –

‘Do you believe in fate? Do you believe in destiny? Or are you ohne of those that believe in choice alone?

Do you make your choices or do your choices make you?’

It makes you think deeper about the book and you wonder if fate was in control all along or whether the choices you see these characters make control what happens at the end of the story. A stunning read and highly recommended.

*I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*


L. M. Valiram paints a beautiful interwoven story about kismet, loosely translated as synchronicity or fate/destiny in Mumbai. Her story follows three seemingly unrelated individuals - a widow, a monk and a millionaire - as they tread through life and eventually one fated day - all board their last flight. If you do not believe in a higher source, Valiram’s novel will cause you to question as the reader is left wondering, if they have met their kismet counterparts. I definitely will be reading this novel again. The imagery she painted of Mumbai plus her storytelling ability, is phenomenal! Definitely permanent collection worthy.