Why a Booktrail?
2000s: In a small fishing villlage near Bombay…
The Village by the Sea
What you need to know before your trail
Set in a small fishing villlage near Bombay, Lila and Hari, aged 13 and 12, struggle to keep the family, including two young sisters, going when their mother is ill and their father usually the worse for drink. When Hari goes to Bombay to find work, Lila seems to be responsible for everything. Although the book paints a picture of extreme poverty, it demonstrates the strength of the family even in the most extreme circumstances and offers a powerful picture of another culture.
Travel Guide
Travel to Thul in India
This story is based entirely on fact. Thul is a real village on the western coast of India and all the character in this book are based on people who live in this village; only their names have been altered.
A few of the Indian words in this story will not be explained by their context and many be unfamiliar to young English readers. Often they have no direct English Equivalent but here is a short list:
Bai – mistress or Mrs
Bhai – brother
Chapati – a flat disc of unleavened bread
Dhoti – a garment worn by men in India
Lakh – 100 000
Puja – a religious ceremony
Rangoli – decorative patterns drawn on the ground with white or coloured powders.
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Village by the Sea
Destination/location: Bombay, Thul Author/guide: Anita Desai Departure Time: 2000s
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