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WORK TITLE: The Color of Our Sky
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.amitatrasi.com/book/the-color-of-our-sk
CITY: Houston
STATE: TX
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Mumbia, India; married.
EDUCATION:Holds an M.B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and businesswoman.
AVOCATIONS:Traveling.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Amita Trasi is a writer and businesswoman based in Houston, TX. She was born in Mumbai, India and has worked in human resources for international corporations.
Her first novel, The Color of Our Sky, is based in her birthplace, Mumbai. It tells of an unlikely friendship between two girls, Tara and Mukta. Mukta’s mother sends her to live with a rich family in hopes that she will not follow in her footsteps and become a prostitute. However, Mukta is kidnapped and possibly sold into sex slavery. An adult Tara travels from her home in the U.S. back to India to find out what happened to her childhood friend.
In an interview with Victoria Sandbrook Flynn, contributor to Publishers Weekly Online, Trasi commented on the connections between her own life and the narrative in The Color of Our Sky. She remarked: “I didn’t intend to fictionalize my memories when I began writing this book. But the deeper I explored this story; certain memories emerged to give color to the characters and scenes. … The character of Mukta is largely inspired by a servant girl I knew.” As for the character of Tara, Trasi told a writer on the Reader’s Room website: “Tara does have some elements of me but she is a very different character in her own right. I think more than anything else, with Tara, I wanted to show a child who is caught between her mother’s old fashioned ways and her father’s need for doing what is right. This leaves her confused about her own compassion toward Mukta.” She added: “I wrote this novel because I really wanted to bring to light the life of a girl like Mukta (not that there haven’t been other authors who have done it before me). I find fiction to be a great way of getting us closer to a character and delving into their lives. For me, this book was really a means of creating awareness about human trafficking. So, as readers, if you have the opportunity and the means, please do consider donating to organizations who are involved in helping such kids.” In an interview with a contributor to the Bookish Angel website, Trasi stated: “I think the most challenging part of writing this novel was writing the difficult scenes. It was challenging stepping into the shoes of a woman who endures so much and still retains her spirit. There were moments I went days without writing those scenes because it was too painful. It was also challenging to balance the two different POV’s and the different timelines while making the story surge forward and not letting the tension sag.”
Reviews of The Color of Our Sky were mostly favorable. Irene D’Souza, critic in Herizons, asserted: “Trasi’s penchant for melodrama can be somewhat disconcerting, yet her compelling and harrowing story will not soon be forgotten by this reader.” Booklist writer, Courtney Earthorne, suggested: “Trasi’s book is gut-wrenching and timeless. The relentless female characters give representation to millions of voiceless women.” “Grounded in Trasi’s own childhood in Mumbai, this is a graceful, bittersweet novel of tragedy and tradition,” commented a reviewer in Publishers Weekly. Tina Panik, a Library Journal contributor noted: “An emotional tone … resonates after the final page is turned.” The same contributor also stated that the book featured “a skillful tapestry of storytelling with contemporary appeal.” A critic in Kirkus Reviews called the book “a haunting debut novel.” The critic concluded: “The story’s major twist is fairly predictable, and the finale somewhat melodramatic, but for readers familiar with the spiritual significance of the Ganges River, the final pages may still provoke tears.” “The Color of the Sky is a heart-wrenching tale of a beautiful bond turned to shambles, igniting the hope for many such to bloom,” remarked a writer in the Times of India.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 1, 2017, Courtney Eathorne, review of The Color of Our Sky, p. 36.
Herizons, summer, 2017, Irene D’Souza, review of The Color of Our Sky, p. 33.
Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2015, review of The Color of Our Sky.
Library Journal, February 1, 2017, Tina Panik, review of The Color of Our Sky, p. 76.
Publishers Weekly, February 13, 2017, review of The Color of Our Sky, p. 47.
Times of India, June 3, 2017, review of The Color of Our Sky.
ONLINE
Amita Trasi Website, http://www.amitatrasi.com (October 30, 2017).
Bookish Angel, http://thebookishangel.reads-it.com/ (October 30, 2017), author interview.
Publishers Weekly Online, https://www.publishersweekly.com/ (May 1, 2017), Victoria Sandbrook Flynn, author interview.
Reader’s Room, https://thereadersroom.org/ (July 1, 2015), author interview.
Author
Amita Trasi - author of The color of our Sky - a novel set in India
Amita Trasi – author of The color of our Sky – a novel set in India
Amita Trasi is the author of the novel THE COLOR OF OUR SKY. She was born and raised in Mumbai, India. She has an MBA in Human Resource Management and has worked with various International corporations for seven years.She loves traveling to different countries to immerse herself in different cultures and understand their history. She also regularly supports and donates to organisations that fight human trafficking. She currently lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two cats. The Color of our Sky is is her debut novel.
QUOTED: "I think the most challenging part of writing this novel was writing the difficult scenes. It was challenging stepping into the shoes of a woman who endures so much and still retains her spirit. There were moments I went days without writing those scenes because it was too painful. It was also challenging to balance the two different POV’s and the different timelines while making the story surge forward and not letting the tension sag."
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Amita Trasi (The Color of Our Sky)
September 2, 2015 - Angelica
Author Interview Amita Trasi
Hey guys! Welcome to my first author interview which is so exciting because I’ll be featuring the author who wrote one of my top favorite books EVER!
The Color of Our Sky by Amita Trasi is a book I always recommend on my Twitter, Instagram and even to comments on other blogs. I think that this book is important and that everyone needs to read it. If you want to more about my thoughts on this wonderful book then read my review for The Color of Our Sky.
Here is the interview!
AMITA: Hi everybody, it’s so wonderful being here today. The Color of our Sky has been my baby for four years, and I am happy to see it go out into the world and get an overwhelming response. I am happy to answer any questions about my writing journey and/or the book.
ANGEL: Hi Amita! Thank you for agreeing for an interview here at The Bookish Angel! The Color of Our Sky is on my top favorite books ever so it’s a dream come true to interview you!
AMITA: Thanks , Angelica! It’s my pleasure!
ANGEL: I’m curious—how long did it take you to finish The Color of Our Sky? What are some of the writing struggles you have encountered while writing it?
AMITA: It took me more than four years to finish the book. At the beginning, I wanted to write about the friendship between two girls. So I started writing from their birth in different caste systems in India (in a village vs. a city). I wrote detailed scenes with them growing up and retaining their friendship for three decades. The characters actually took me to where the story is now. I wrote more than 300 pages just to get to know my characters and the plot. Once I knew my characters well enough, and knew the story I wanted to tell, I got rid of more than half that writing, and reworked through many drafts to start the novel at critical points in each character’s life.
As for the writing struggles, I think the most challenging part of writing this novel was writing the difficult scenes. It was challenging stepping into the shoes of a woman who endures so much and still retains her spirit. There were moments I went days without writing those scenes because it was too painful. It was also challenging to balance the two different POV’s and the different timelines while making the story surge forward and not letting the tension sag.
Another part that proved to be difficult was the research. There were so many brutalities /horrors I discovered during my research. I don’t think I’ve covered even one fourth of those in my novel—it would be too difficult to digest. I try to be as sensitive as possible with the more difficult scenes and use language to cushion the blow because it is a topic that must be heard. So this novel has been an emotional ride. Writing about pain is one of the most difficult things to do and I hope I have done it some justice.
ANGEL: Are you working on anything right now? (Even if it’s only your grocery list, I’d still read it!)
AMITA: Oh, that’s so sweet! I appreciate the sentiment. I wonder if it’s too early to say anything about the book I am writing. I can clearly see it’s going to be a love story in a time of conflict but ideas change and the pattern of a plot often changes along the way. . I am also going to release a few short stories soon!
ANGEL: Who are your favorite authors?
AMITA: I love writing that’s poetic. I am also drawn to writing that can embrace a simple emotion and present it in a way that you can feel it in your bones. The authors who really do this for me are: Arundhati Roy, Elizabeth Strout, Khaled Hosseini, Abraham Verghese, Alice Munro— just to name a few.
ANGEL: If Mukta and Tara (the two main characters on The Color of Our Sky) can have a weeklong vacation, where in the world do you think they would go?
AMITA: I think I’d like to see them go backpacking around the world. 🙂
ANGEL: Do you have a favorite Bollywood movie? What is it?
AMITA: It is difficult to point out one favorite movie but I like many of the old Amitabh Bachchan movies (since I was brought up on a steady diet of it – my father was a huge fan!) J I love some of the new movies emerging on the Bollywood scene like ‘Wake up Sid’ and ‘Queen’ —it portrays a new India.
ANGEL: Do you have any books that are set in India that you can recommend to us?
AMITA:
I love Shantaram -by Gregory David Roberts (I am from Bombay and he shows the horrid underbelly of this city very well)
God of small things – by Arundhati Roy – I love the beauty of language in this book besides the story of course.
A fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Sea of poppies by Amitav Ghosh
ANGEL: For aspiring authors (like me!) can you tell us some tips on how to incorporate the culture of our country in our story?
AMITA: I think describing the culture of a country lies in the smaller details of everyday life— A simple handshake, a nod of the head, the way people dress or greet each other, their eating habits, certain mannerisms etc. If a writer immerses himself/herself in the culture of a particular country by observing these small details, they can incorporate it into their writing quite easily.
ANGEL: That’s the end of the interview! Amita, thank you for agreeing in this interview and I can’t wait to read all your upcoming works! 😀
AMITA: Thanks Angelica for the wonderful interview. It was a pleasure. The following are my social media links. Feel free to message me on FB or tweet. I’d be happy to respond.
AUTHOR BIO
Amita Trasi - author of the Color of our Sky
Amita Trasi was born and raised in Mumbai, India. She has an MBA in Human Resource Management, and currently lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two cats. This is her first novel. Visit her website atwww.amitatrasi.com
QUOTED: "I didn’t intend to fictionalize my memories when I began writing this book. But the deeper I explored this story; certain memories emerged to give color to the characters and scenes. ... The character of Mukta is largely inspired by a servant girl I knew."
Digging Deeper: PW Talks with Amita Trasi
by Victoria Sandbrook Flynn | May 01, 2017
Comments subscribe by the month
Trasi’s debut novel, The Color of Our Sky, follows unlikely friends, torn apart by tragedy and connected by a deeper history. Set in Mumbai, their story is both hopeful and heartbreaking.
You've said before that this story has roots in your own childhood. What challenges did you face as you fictionalized people and places so important to you?
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I didn’t intend to fictionalize my memories when I began writing this book. But the deeper I explored this story; certain memories emerged to give color to the characters and scenes. As the character of Mukta is largely inspired by a servant girl I knew, it was excruciating to walk in her shoes and imagine her life as a sex slave. Another challenge was writing certain scenes that required me to confront agonizing memories: encountering harassment by men on the street or finding a dead infant buried on the side of a dirt road (a case of female infanticide) or navigating a red-light area.
Tara and Mukta's friendship takes center stage throughout, was that always the story? What about their friendship was most meaningful to you as a writer?
Yes, the foundation of this story was always their friendship. What I find most meaningful as a writer is that they are there for each other defying social norms and establishing a strong bond which is rare in a predominantly caste and class based Indian society.
The book also tackles sex trafficking and the experiences of women forced into prostitution. What aspects of this terrible reality were most important for you to convey to your readers?
Prostitution is typically viewed in black-and-white terms without adequate thought about the lives of these women and what forces them into this trade in India. My endeavor is to humanize the lives of prostitutes like Mukta and bring to light age-old traditions like the Devdasi that still trouble India today. I also attempt to highlight the horrors of a life confined by sexual slavery.
Despite many sources of grief there is a great deal of optimism in your novel. What can readers learn from Mukta and Tara that might give them the same sense of clarity and strength?
Despite the hard, brutal life Mukta is facing, she doesn’t give up. Her resilience to numerous hardships lies in her extraordinarily sensitive nature which allows her to see beauty in small things. This invigorates and strengthens her during tough times. Tara is strong-willed, faces her fears and is willing to go to any lengths to save Mukta. Her need to help those in trouble also exemplifies her compassion. I hope that readers find through both of these characters that our strength lies in different facets of our humanity— be it extraordinary compassion and courage or just a simple sensitivity to the beauty of life.
QUOTED: "Tara does have some elements of me but she is a very different character in her own right. I think more than anything else, with Tara, I wanted to show a child who is caught between her mother’s old fashioned ways and her father’s need for doing what is right. This leaves her confused about her own compassion toward Mukta."
"I wrote this novel because I really wanted to bring to light the life of a girl like Mukta (not that there haven’t been other authors who have done it before me). I find fiction to be a great way of getting us closer to a character and delving into their lives. For me, this book was really a means of creating awareness about human trafficking. So, as readers, if you have the opportunity and the means, please do consider donating to organizations who are involved in helping such kids."
Author Interview: Amita Trasi
by jenp27 on July 1, 2015
color of our sky
In May I had the pleasure of reading Amita Trasi’s debut novel, The Color of Our Sky, a beautifully rendered and inspiring story of an improbable friendship set against the dark underbelly of human trafficking. You can read my full review of her novel here and I hope you pick up a copy for yourself!
In addition to writing a wonderful book, Amita was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions about her book and herself. Check them out
Amita-TrasiThe Color of Our Sky is your debut novel. Can you tell us a little bit about how you prepared for writing the book (e.g., your writing process, the research, etc.)?
It wasn’t a very straightforward process. I didn’t really start off knowing that I’d write about the Devdasi cult that still exists in India. I wanted to write about the friendship between two girls from different caste/class systems (inspired by my own experience). So, that’s where I began.
I started writing from their birth in different caste systems (in a village vs. a city) and I wrote detailed scenes with them growing up and retaining their friendship for three decades. The characters actually took me to where the story is now. I wrote more than 300 pages just to get to know my characters. Once I knew my characters well enough, and knew the story I wanted to tell, I got rid of more than half the writing, and reworked through many drafts to start the novel at critical points in each character’s life.
I like to keep my characters very human because we all struggle with complex emotions at some point in our lives that often influences the path we take. The challenging part was to make the two characters sound different—Mukta had to exhibit a kindhearted, generous and humble nature while Tara had to be bold and high-spirited. I must say, I found it easier to write Mukta’s storyline. Her character just drew me in and I really felt for her. It was emotionally draining to write some of the traumatic/difficult scenes.
From a research stand point, I have ben following the work of many NGO’s who have been successful in rescuing many girls/women from the human trafficking business— one in particular being the Apne Aap foundation in India. This is an area I truly care about and is close to my heart. Their work truly inspires me and a lot of my research comes from what they’ve done.
You mention on your website that you were inspired to write this story in part due to your experiences with the daughter of a servant who worked for your family. Why did you decide to add the element of the Devdasi into her storyline?
Yes, I set out to write about a friendship between two girls and the character of Mukta was inspired by the girl, Shaku, who I met when I was nine years old. There are many elements of Shaku in Mukta including her generous and kind nature. As for the Devdasi storyline, I suppose when I was writing, the character of Mukta just took me there. Ending child sexual slavery is a cause I care about. So I suppose something in me was screaming to let a voice like Mukta be heard.
Mukta and Tara are both very resilient and strong women. Did you model them after anyone specific? Do you see elements of yourself in Tara (seeking redemption for girls like Mukta)?
Mukta has elements of Shaku and yes, Tara does have some elements of me but she is a very different character in her own right. I think more than anything else, with Tara, I wanted to show a child who is caught between her mother’s old fashioned ways and her father’s need for doing what is right. This leaves her confused about her own compassion toward Mukta. At one level, she justifies her compassion by telling herself she is being loyal to her father and at another, she feels guilty that she even feels compassion for someone like Mukta. I think these are very complex emotions for anyone to handle, let alone a child.
As for seeking redemption for girls like Mukta, I do my bit. I think everyone has their own role to play. Spreading awareness, participating in fundraisers etc all contribute toward the cause. I don’t think we are all cut out to get out there and raid brothels. It can be emotionally wrecking for people who aren’t cut out for it. But I do think we can support people who are actually at the forefront in whatever way possible- volunteering, donations etc
Mukta and Tara develop a strong friendship despite their caste differences. Do you feel that these sorts of friendships are possible in India today?
In my opinion, it could be possible in cities where the lower castes have acquired a middle class “status” due to their education or rise in income and there are enough open minded people to accept such friendships. But if the lower caste child belongs to the poorer sections of society, such a friendship would be highly impossible, even in a city. The caste division is deeply ingrained in the day to day life of villagers in the rural areas. But I am hoping such friendships are possible on the sly.
You write some very difficult scenes in your book and while you never shy away from the darker elements, you chose not to be overly graphic or explicit in your descriptions of sexual abuse or violence (something I appreciated). Was this a conscious decision?
Yes, very much so. I don’t believe any scene of sexual abuse or violence has to be overly explicit or graphic in any way to get the point across. Readers are very intelligent people and I trust their intelligence. During my research, I came across some really horrendous and indescribable events in children’s lives. I haven’t described even a fourth of those horrors. As a woman, I have tried to be sensitive in portraying the abuse of a child, and as writer I have tried to deliberately weave words such that it cushions the blow. I believe these are some hard and bitter facts that have to be said— it’s a topic that needs to be heard. If we don’t want to hear of what is happening out there in the world, what chance do we have of helping in whatever way we can or even bring about a change in the slightest way?
In many ways The Color of Our Sky is an uplifting story that inspires hope, but it also highlights a social system with negative qualities. What do you hope is the main message that readers come away with after reading this book?
Well, you said it—- I hope it inspires hope. A hope that girls like Mukta out there have the support of people whose constant endeavor is to save such girls.
And a few questions about you as a writer and reader. Which authors inspire you?
I love writing that’s poetic. I am also drawn to writing that can embrace a simple emotion and present it in a way that you can feel it in your bones. The authors who really do this for me are: Arundhati Roy, Elizabeth Strout, Khaled Hosseini, Abraham Verghese, Alice Munro— just to name a few.
What books do you currently have on your nightstand?
Oh, I have quite a few. I read different genres as long as the writing is good. I just finished The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. I am listening to The Hypnotists Love Story via Audible and reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry on my Kindle. I also have a paperback of Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now which I go back to from time to time.
Do you have any strange writing habits?
Not really. I just write when I feel like it which is most of the time. My friends do complain that I go into a sort of “creative haze” when I am working on something and essentially become a recluse —their words, not mine.
Are you working on, or do you have plans for another book?
Yes, but I wonder if it’s too early to say anything about the book. I can clearly see it’s going to be a love story in a time of conflict but ideas change and the pattern of a plot often changes along the way.
Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your book with readers?
I wrote this novel because I really wanted to bring to light the life of a girl like Mukta (not that there haven’t been other authors who have done it before me). I find fiction to be a great way of getting us closer to a character and delving into their lives. For me, this book was really a means of creating awareness about human trafficking. So, as readers, if you have the opportunity and the means, please do consider donating to organizations who are involved in helping such kids.
There are many organizations that help girls like Mukta:
The Apne Aap foundation : http://apneaap.org/
The Bachpan Bachao Andolan : http://www.bba.org.in/
Maiti Nepal : http://www.maitinepal.org/
Prerna : http://preranaantitrafficking.org/
Are you intrigued? You can now pick up a copy of Amita’s debut novel, The Color of Our Sky. I encourage you to try it for yourself. Find it here: The Color of our Sky
QUOTED: "Trasi's penchant for melodrama can be somewhat disconcerting, yet her compelling and harrowing story will not soon be forgotten by this reader."
The Color of Our Sky
Irene D'Souza
Herizons.
31.1 (Summer 2017): p33.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Herizons Magazine, Inc.
Full Text:
THE COLOR OF OUR SKY
AMITA TRASI
HarperCollins
Amita Trasi's debut novel sheds light on temple prostitutes known as devadasis in the southern and western parts of
India At one time, devadasis took care of the temple, performed rituals and enjoyed a high social status; they dedicated
their lives to the goddess Yellama. In more recent times, the sexual exploitation of young girls in the name of the
devadasi tradition has drawn criticism While the practice has been outlawed since 1988, it is with a wink and a nod that
politicians and police today still shrug their shoulders. After all, it is destiny and tradition--how can they interfere?
Trasi's story is primarily set in Mumbai, where the whirring cellphones of modern-day India do not clash with the
archaic practice that sees young, lower-caste girls trapped by misogynistic traditions. Those who see devadasis, Trasi
writes, "will feel sad and cringe that a life like this exists. " But they will soon forget.
Trasi brilliantly captures the idea that it is a lottery of birth for her two young heroines whose fates are predetermined
by their parentage.
Mukta lives in a village with her mother and grandmother, who is grooming her to take over the family (devadasi)
business. Mukta's mother wants another life for her daughter, but the grandmother tricks 10-year-old Mukta into
participating in the religious ritual and servicing her first customer.
Mukta is temporarily rescued from a life of prostitution and enters a life of servitude for a family in Mumbai. Tara, the
family's eight-year-old daughter, teaches Mukta to read, write and speak in English. A tenuous friendship is formed
over five years, but Mukta is always aware that she is less than Tara. Mukta is kidnapped. Tara later moves to America,
but she returns after 11 years to find Mukta. At this point, the family's secrets are revealed.
Trasi's penchant for melodrama can be somewhat disconcerting, yet her compelling and harrowing story will not soon
be forgotten by this reader.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
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D'Souza, Irene. "The Color of Our Sky." Herizons, Summer 2017, p. 33+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA500969308&it=r&asid=c42c2b7e24bfd9ae6f3ad6873e4a7b9a.
Accessed 15 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A500969308
QUOTED: "Trasi's book is gut-wrenching and timeless. The relentless female characters give representation to millions of voiceless women."
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The Color of Our Sky
Courtney Eathorne
Booklist.
113.13 (Mar. 1, 2017): p36.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The Color of Our Sky.
By Amita Trasi.
Apr. 2017.41 Bp. Morrow, paper, $15.99 (9780062474070); e-book (9780062474087).
Trasi was born and raised in Mumbai, India, just like the protagonists of her debut novel. The story, told from
alternating points of view, follows Tara and Mukta. When Tara is 8 years old, her father brings home Mukta, 10 years
old and from a lower caste, after a trip to his home village. The young girls become playmates and quickly advance to
sisters of the heart, but their blissful fate is not guaranteed. Tara's mother is killed in a violent bombing, and Mukta is
kidnapped from their home soon after. Drowning in grief, Tara and her father pursue a new life in America. Eleven
years later, Tara is determined to find her long-lost sister. She returns to Mumbai and is slapped with the heavy
memories of her tumultuous childhood. All signs of Mukta lead to human trafficking, so Tara joins forces with various
humanitarian nonprofits to raid Indian brothels. Trasi's book is gut-wrenching and timeless. The relentless female
characters give representation to millions of voiceless women, and display oceans of resilience and strength.--Courtney
Eathorne
YA: Older teen readers will appreciate the important feminist themes of Mukta's experiences in human trafficking, and
relish this portrayal of young female friendship. CE.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Eathorne, Courtney. "The Color of Our Sky." Booklist, 1 Mar. 2017, p. 36+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA488689477&it=r&asid=35040844a1619e50d48e878cc20c96d2.
Accessed 15 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A488689477
QUOTED: "Grounded in Trasi's own childhood in Mumbai, this is a graceful, bittersweet novel of tragedy and tradition."
10/15/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1508105465015 4/7
The Color of Our Sky
Publishers Weekly.
264.7 (Feb. 13, 2017): p47.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Color of Our Sky
Amita Trasi. Morrow, $16.99 trade paper (416p) ISBN 978-0-06-247407-0
Finely woven threads of friendship, womanhood, and hope sustain Trasi's striking debut novel. In an upper-caste
neighborhood in 1988 Mumbai, eight year-old Tara and 10-year-old Mukta form an unlikely bond that seeds
tumultuous change. Born the daughter of a temple prostitute in the countryside, Mukta serves Tara's family in return for
salvation from the hard, dark life to which she had been consigned. Precocious, bold Tara ignores their differences and
wins over grief-stricken Mukta. But after the tragic 1993 bombings in Mumbai forever change Tara and her activist
father, Mukta is kidnapped. The girls' bifurcated story spans 14 years. Tara and her father move to the United States but
fail to outrun their grief. Mukta is sold back into the sex trade, where her poetic heart, reality-tempered optimism, and
memories of Tara's friendship sustain her. But Tara returns to face her past and her guilt, and to seek her friend in the
sprawl of Mumbai. The novel eschews the monolithic spectacle of India as a giant colorful circus (or worse, a giant,
squalid slum) for a chiaroscuro of hope and grief, and trades worn westernized tropes for depth of character. Grounded
in Trasi's own childhood in Mumbai, this is a graceful, bittersweet novel of tragedy and tradition. Agent: Priya
Doraswamy, Lotus Lane Literary. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Color of Our Sky." Publishers Weekly, 13 Feb. 2017, p. 47+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA482198139&it=r&asid=6a41c3b4ac78a2706382ff0d08878ee5.
Accessed 15 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A482198139
QUOTED: "An emotional tone ... resonates after the final page is turned."
"a skillful tapestry of storytelling with contemporary appeal."
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Trasi, Amita. The Color of Our Sky
Tina Panik
Library Journal.
142.2 (Feb. 1, 2017): p76.
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permitted.
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Full Text:
* Trasi, Amita. The Color of Our Sky. Morrow. Apr. 2017. 416p. ISBN 9780062474070. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN
9780062474087. F
This first novel, originally self-published, opens with Tara's memory of the kidnapping of Mukta, a ten-year-old girl her
father took into their home during her childhood. It's been 11 years since Mukta's disappearance, and Tara returns to
India in order to reconcile her role in this tragedy with her father's abandoned quest to find Mukta. This isn't a thriller or
a classic whodunit; it's a story about blended families, the lies and betrayals within those relationships, and the devadasi
tradition of temple dancers in India that forces young girls into prostitution. In the hands of a lesser writer, this story
would be too massive and complex as both Tara and Mukta shift their narratives between the past and present, but
under Trasi's deft hand a satisfying intersection of the stories emerges, with an emotional tone that resonates after the
final page is turned. The social issues of contemporary India, including poverty and women's rights, provide a strong
backdrop. VERDICT A skillful tapestry of storytelling with contemporary appeal that will please fans of Thrity
Umrigar and women's fiction.--Tina Panik, Avon Free P.L., CT
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Panik, Tina. "Trasi, Amita. The Color of Our Sky." Library Journal, 1 Feb. 2017, p. 76+. General OneFile,
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p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA479301226&it=r&asid=b024d502bb27841eda9436f30d2f9d0c.
Accessed 15 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A479301226
QUOTED: "a haunting debut novel."
"The story's major twist is fairly predictable, and the finale somewhat melodramatic, but for readers familiar with the spiritual significance of the Ganges River, the final pages may still provoke tears."
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Trasi, Amita: The Color of our Sky
Kirkus Reviews.
(July 1, 2015):
COPYRIGHT 2015 Kirkus Media LLC
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Full Text:
Trasi, Amita THE COLOR OF OUR SKY Bloomhill Books (Indie Fiction) $14.99 7, 2 ISBN: 978-0-9861556-0-4
A haunting debut novel about two young women in Mumbai that brings the brutal realities of modern India into
focus.Trasi cleverly divides her tale into two narratives: in one that begins in 1986, readers follow young Mukta, the
child of a prostitute, who seems doomed to eventually work in the sex trade herself. Thanks to her mother's efforts,
however, she instead becomes a foster child in an upper-class household. There, she meets Tara, a spirited young
woman who's never known poverty. The second narrative flashes forward to Tara as an adult in 2004, living in Los
Angeles. She returns to India in order to find Mukta, who had been kidnapped 11 years earlier. Although the tandem
timelines and alternating points of view could have potentially caused confusion, Trasi capably steers readers through
each scene, developing both plotlines until they finally converge. For readers unfamiliar with the most populous city in
India, the prose vividly re-creates everyday life there, but the most powerful aspect of Trasi's book is its prince-and-thepauper
motif: the disparity between rich and poor is evident from the first chapters, and Mukta often seems resigned to
a terrible fate, even after five years of comfort and safety in Tara's family's home. The descriptions and dialogue are
rich and believable, particularly when Trasi writes from a child's perspective ("my thoughts would race along with the
wind, crossing our village, whistling through mountains, between boulders and rocks, ruffling the leaves on trees, flying
with the birds"). The story also takes on difficult subject matter, such as child abuse, HIV, and early mortality, with
unflinching seriousness. Even Tara's interactions with the police demonstrate how chronic disorganization plagues
Indian society, allowing countless youths to vanish into bordellos. The two main characters serve as symbols of the
entire caste system, and Mukta's memory of her dreary village consistently reminds readers how rigid and prosaic many
ancient traditions can be. Although both main characters must contend with destiny--a recurring concept--the story
makes clear that there may still be hope for their children. The story's major twist is fairly predictable, and the finale
somewhat melodramatic, but for readers familiar with the spiritual significance of the Ganges River, the final pages
may still provoke tears.A sad, soulful, and revelatory story about a deeply troubled nation in transition.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Trasi, Amita: The Color of our Sky." Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2015. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA419698358&it=r&asid=48b8b843e53f26abd826032a4f295bf2.
Accessed 15 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A419698358
QUOTED: "The Color of the Sky is a heart-wrenching tale of a beautiful bond turned to shambles, igniting the hope for many such to bloom."
Micro review: 'The Color of Our Sky' paints a tragic picture of friendship and loss
The Times of India. (June 3, 2017): News:
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.
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Full Text:
Amita Trasi's debut novel The Color of Our Sky is a tale of hope, womanhood, and friendship, woven together to create a fresh perspective on known experiences. A beautiful story, Trasi's work of fiction becomes a haunting reflection of the brutal reality of modern India. While portraying a fascinating bond between two young girls from different social backgrounds, Amita Trasi seeks for us to acknowledge the horrors of the Indian caste system and the Devadasi tradition. Eight-year-old Tara from upper-class Mumbai forms an unlikely bond with 10-year-old Mukta, the child of a temple prostitute, who seems to be doomed to work in the sex trade eventually. But due to her mother's tireless efforts, she goes into foster care, which too, comes with a price. An unfortunate situation throws Mukta back to her grief and a turn of events land Tara on a far-away land, far from the reach of Mukta. The Color of Our Sky presents to the readers two narratives: the first one follows the story of Mukta in 1986. The second one flashes to Tara's story, set in 2004 Los Angeles. The novel tells the story of Mukta and Tara, and an omnipresent city that fails to escape a dreadful reality. Trasi's language moves beyond illustrating the prince-and-the-pauper probe. She effectively creates an engaging plotline with her non-linear narrative and her vivid descriptions of Mumbai, and tragic encounters of the already repressed population. The Color of the Sky is a heart-wrenching tale of a beautiful bond turned to shambles, igniting the hope for many such to bloom. How critics view the book: Author Shilpi Somaya Gowda writes, "This is an important story, sensitive and unflinching, of two childhood friends and their indelible bond."
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