‘Superb. She had me at page one’Chris Cleave, author of Everyone Brave is Forgiven‘It’s the artful pleating of this subtle, psychologically astute novel that sets it apart’ DAILY MAILThe kaleidoscopic story of one woman as seen through the eyes of those she has loved or been loved by.Nine people illuminate one woman in the particular light of how they see her, each voice casting her from a new angle. Taking her from a lonely child in the classroom to a fierce woman weathering life’s battles and triumphs, The Nine-Chambered Heart is a masterful portrait, as intimate as it is brave.
Nem was not like his college classmates. Instead of crowding around a TV set, Nem opted for lonely walks where he could indulge his passion for photography, until the night he saw Nicholas, a young professor from London, with another male student. The affair is passionate and brief. When Nicholas returns to London, Nem must move on. He graduates and soon finds success as a critic in Mumbai’s burgeoning art world. Then comes an invitation to speak to artists in London, and the past is suddenly resurrected. As London's cosmopolitan art scene envelops Nem, he is haunted by the possibilities of a life with Nicholas. But Nicholas eludes Nem, avoiding a reunion with his old student, but leaving clues that lead to someone else: Myra, a woman Nem thought was Nicholas's sister. Brought together by their love for Nicholas, Nem and Myra embark on a surprising friendship.Janice Pariat explores the concept of emotional memory with the inquisitive mind of a scientist and the prowess of a poet. Rich, immersive prose drives a story with international scope, one that seeks answers to the age-old mystery of what binds us to others, and how we can ever let them go.