
Guesthouse for Ganesha
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Fajer Al-Kaisi
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Soneela Nankani
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By:
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Judith Teitelman
About this listen
In 1923, 17-year-old Esther Grünspan arrives in Köln "with a hardened heart as her sole luggage.” Thus begins a 22-year journey, woven against the backdrops of the European Holocaust and the Hindu Kali Yuga (the “Age of Darkness” when human civilization degenerates spiritually), in search of a place of sanctuary. Throughout her travails, using cunning and shrewdness, Esther relies on her masterful tailoring skills to help mask her Jewish heritage, navigate war-torn Europe, and emigrate to India.
Esther’s traveling companion and the novel’s narrator is Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu God worshipped by millions for his abilities to destroy obstacles, bestow wishes, and avenge evils. Impressed by Esther’s fortitude and relentless determination, born of her deep - though unconscious - understanding of the meaning and purpose of love, Ganesha, with compassion, insight, and poetry, chooses to highlight her story because he recognizes it is all of our stories - for truth resides at the essence of its telling.
Weaving Eastern beliefs and perspectives with Western realities and pragmatism, Guesthouse for Ganesha is a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed.
Cover photo by Michael Kellner at kellnerbookdesign.com.
©2019 Judith Teitelman (P)2019 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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What a journey!
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A beautiful and powerful story!
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Stellar!
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Amazing Story. Narrators were great
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Thrilling performance and story
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In Guesthouse for Ganesha we embark on a 22-year long journey alongside two of the most vivid characters that I met in recent memory. The story is told by the Hindu god Ganesha and through his eyes we are witnessing the life changing events of our main character, Esther.
Set against the backdrops of the European Holocaust and the Hindu Kali Yuga (the “Age of Darkness”) Guesthouse for Ganesha weaves a poignant story of war, peace, self discovery, drama and spirituality.
This thought-provoking work of literature is even more enthralling in audiobook format thanks to fantastic performances delivered by two extremely talented actors. Experienced voice over artist and audiobook narrator Fajer Al-Kaisi brings to life the God Ganesha, while Esther is portrayed by classically trained Brooklyn-based actress and award-winning narrator, Soneela Nankani.
Each of them are doing a fantastic job with the already great content and at the same time bring their own, personal touch to the story. As such, they enrich the narrative experience and help the listeners immerse themselves into this award-winning adventure.
So, if you are in the mood for a thought-provoking, captivating and immersive drama set in the sub genre of magical realism, you should definitely check out Guesthouse for Ganesha. Trust me, you will thank me for the recommendation!
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A captivating and thought-provoking journey
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After a lifetime of remaining skillfully unseen, she rises above existential threats and limits imposed on the female, and is recognized for her courage. In the end she finds her power, her happiness and her divine love.
The two narrative voices are daring genius (the voice of a god?) performed so well in the audio version of the book as to be transcendental.
Divine intervention from gods of the east in the west
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A Must Read!!
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It is important to recognize that when humans are placed in extreme situations, they may lose some attachment and heart. This loss does not negate their humanity. Ganesha’s choice of Esther is something for all of us to consider, to ponder, and to ultimately embrace and understand. The themes and questions raised in this story are both disheartening and encouraging all at once
The writing itself is beautiful, even poetic at times. Guesthouse for Ganesha is a very strong example of the Magical Realism genre. I would recommend Guesthouse for Ganesha to anyone who would like to be taken away by a rich, magical story of love, loss, survival, sorrow, challenge, hope, renewal, and redemption. It is a special story that anyone who has experienced spiritual doubts should read. Fans of Magical Realism will appreciate the writing, world building, and the story structure. Readers who are not familiar with Magical Realism and even those who dislike it may come to love the genre when reading this book. In fact, I would love to see this book expanded and made into the first volume in a series.
The performances by Fajer Al-Kaisi and Soneela Nankani are outstanding.
Implausible Reality Conveys Truth (Must Read)
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Excellent first novel.
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