The Music Room

A Memoir

By Devidayal, Namita

Publishers Summary:
When Namita is ten years old, her mother takes her to Kennedy Bridge, a seamy neighborhood in Bombay, home to hookers and dance girls. There, in a cramped one-room apartment lives Dhondutai, the last living disciple of two of the finest Indian classical singers of the twentieth century: the legendary Alladiya Khan and the great songbird Kesarbai Kerkar. Namita begins to learn singing from Dhondutai, at first reluctantly and then, as the years pass, with growing passion. Dhondutai sees in her a second Kesarbai, but does Namita have the dedication to give herself up completely to the discipline like her teacher? Or will there always be too many late nights and cigarettes? And where do love and marriage fit into all of this? A bestseller in India, where it was a literary sensation, The Music Room is a deeply moving meditation on how traditions and life lessons are passed along generations, on the sacrifices made by women through the ages, and on a largely unknown, but vital aspect of Indian life and culture that will utterly fascinate American readers.

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ISBN
978-0-31253-664-0
Publisher
Thomas Dunne Books


REVIEWS

Library Journal

Reviewed on December 15, 2008

Part coming-of-age story, part meditation on the classical music traditions of India, this book tells of the relationship between Devidayal, a young musical prodigy and daughter of privilege, and Dhondutai, her dignified, gifted teacher. From Dhondutai, the author learns...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

School Library Journal

Reviewed on February 1, 2009

Adult/High School This highly accessible memoir describes the journey of a 10-year-old girl into the higher reaches of classical Indian music. It also tells the history of this ancient art form and the story of some of its greatest performers. Devidayal has now studied with the same teacher, Dhondutai, for more than 20 years. She succeeds in making her extraordinary s...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

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