Beyond the Book: Background information when reading The Conch Bearer

Beyond the Book

This article relates to The Conch Bearer

Divakaruni says she wrote the book for two reasons; firstly to give her two sons bragging rights that their mom had written a book and two of the heroes were named after them (sorry, I don't know which two!); and in our post 9/11 world, to give American children a book about children who might superficially seem very different to them, but in fact are not that different after all.

The Conch Bearer is the first in a planned trilogy. The second book, The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming is due to be released in September. Unlike many series books, The Conch Bearer reaches a satisfying conclusion in its own right.

Bibliography

The Brotherhood of the Conch Trilogy (Children)

• The Conch Bearer (2003)
• The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming (Sept 2005)

Novels

• The Mistress of Spices (1997)
• Sister of My Heart (1999)
• Neela: Victory Song (2002)
• The Vine of Desire (2002 - continuation of story started in Sister of My Heart)
• Queen of Dreams (2004)

Short Stories/Collections

• Reason for Nasturtiums (poems) (1990)
• Black Candle: Poems About Women from India, Pakistan, And Bangladesh (1991)
• Arranged Marriage: Stories (1996)
• Leaving Yuba City: Poems (1997)
• The Unknown Errors of Our Lives (Short stories 2001)

Filed under

This article relates to The Conch Bearer. It first ran in the March 2, 2005 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.

This review is available to non-members for a limited time. For full access become a member today.