
America for Beginners
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Soneela Nankani
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By:
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Leah Franqui
Recalling contemporary classics such as Americanah, Behold the Dreamers, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a funny, poignant, and insightful debut novel that explores the complexities of family, immigration, prejudice, and the American dream through meaningful and unlikely friendships forged in unusual circumstances.
Pival Sengupta has done something she never expected: She has booked a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company. But unlike other upper-class Indians on a foreign holiday, the recently widowed Pival is not interested in sightseeing. She is traveling thousands of miles from Kolkota to New York on a cross-country journey to California, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her beloved son, Rahi. A year ago, Rahi devastated his very traditional parents when he told them he was gay. Then, Pival’s husband, Ram, told her that their son had died suddenly - heartbreaking news she still refuses to accept. Now, with Ram gone, she is going to America to find Rahi, alive and whole or dead and gone, and come to terms with her own life.
Arriving in New York, the tour proves to be more complicated than anticipated. Planned by the company’s indefatigable owner, Ronnie Munshi - a hardworking immigrant and entrepreneur hungry for his own taste of the American dream - it is a work of haphazard improvisation. Pavil’s guide is the company’s new hire, the guileless and wonderfully resourceful Satya, who has been in America for one year - and has never actually left the five boroughs. For modesty’s sake Pival and Satya will be accompanied by Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring young actress. Eager for a paying gig, she’s along for the ride, because how hard can a two-week "working" vacation traveling across America be?
Slowly making her way from coast to coast with her unlikely companions, Pival finds that her understanding of her son - and her hopes of a reunion with him - are challenged by her growing knowledge of his adoptive country. As the bonds between this odd trio deepens, Pival, Satya, and Rebecca learn to see America - and themselves - in different and profound new ways.
A bittersweet and bighearted tale of forgiveness, hope, and acceptance, America for Beginners illuminates the unexpected enchantments life can hold and reminds us that our most precious connections aren’t always the ones we seek.
This audiobook includes an episode of the Book Club Girl Podcast, featuring an interview with Leah Franqui about America for Beginners.
©2018 Leah Franqui (P)2018 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...





















Editor's Pick
A charming tale of travel and transformation
"This was one of my personal favorites last year. On the surface, it’s about unlikely travel companions on a tour across the country, but the real story is in the quiet transformations the characters undergo while learning about themselves and one another. Together, they confront their respective burdens of loss, repression, unfulfilled dreams, intercultural and inter-generational conflict, and ignorance of the world beyond their own little corner."
—Lavina K., Audible Editor
Completely wonderful production!
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Something Different for Me
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So good. Just read or listen to it.
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Good.
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A moving story
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A it flat
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an interesting listen, but somewhat stereotyped
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Coming of age for all ages
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I didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters
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Unfortunately, I found Soneela Nankani's performance irritating. Her voice is a bit breathy, but my main complaint is that at the end of most sentences she raises both the tone and the volume/emphasis so that it sounds like she is a bit incredulous, as though she is really amazed by the statement, no matter how mundane it is, e.g.: "Then she stepped out of the BUS!!... They had dal for dinner AGAIN!!..The widow was TIRED!!..." I gave 2 stars instead of 1 because I realize not everyone is going to be as put off by her reading as I was (and she did fairly well with different voices and accents).
I stuck it out to the end because we were doing the book for our book club, but it was a bit painful listening.
UPDATE: I just tried to listen to another book club book, also narrated by Soneela Nankani, and had to return it. I simply can't tolerate listening to her reading. I will get the eBook and read it instead.
A pleasant story, wish I liked the reading more
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