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The highly acclaimed author of Where Earth Meets Water returns with an arresting exploration of family and culture
When native New Yorker Nicholas Grand applies for an international student exchange program, he thinks it’s an opportunity to broaden his horizons and meet some interesting people. He never imagines that a single year would have repercussions that would follow him throughout his lifetime.
Nicholas is sent to Estonia, where he meets shy, sensitive Paavo, his beautiful sister, Mari, and their gruff father, Leo—a family grappling with the challenges of life in a small country struggling to assert its post-Soviet identity. Nicholas sets off on an unforgettable journey through a foreign landscape that ultimately teaches him that some bonds can never be broken.
Bridging two uniquely captivating cities, The Faces of Strangers traces the intertwined lives of two seemingly symmetrical families from extraordinarily different worlds. This compelling odyssey through friendship and self-discovery illuminates the universality of how deeply we are defined by our connections with others.
Praise for Where Earth Meets Water
“Padukone has created a rich cast of unforgettable characters…. Her debut novel demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of the cultures of both America and India, a sense of the world as a powerful place, and the redeeming values of adoration and belief in the person you love. A powerful read for those who enjoy beautifully written multicultural fiction.”
—Library Journal
“[Where Earth Meets Water] is compelling as [Padukone] writes with grace and wit about grief, moving on, and accepting love.”
—Booklist
“[Where Earth Meets Water] has an elegance that defies the bread-crumb trail Padukone leaves for readers…this story of learning to love what you have should not be missed.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Smart and insightful. A worthy addition to the burgeoning field of new Indian literature.”
—Gary Shteyngart, New York Times bestselling author of
Absurdistan and Little Failure: A Memoir
“Padukone offers a gripping tale of one man’s haunting sorrows, the wounds that bind a people, and the redemptive power of love. An unforgettable debut by a very promising young writer.”
—Patricia Engel, author of It’s Not Love, It’s Just Paris and Vida
“Pia Padukone adeptly captures the aspirations and heartbreak of her engaging characters.”
—Manil Suri, author of The City of Devi
The Faces of Strangers
Pia Padukone
For my mother, Nina, who started my story.
For my daughter, Salma, who continues it.
Contents
Praise for Where Earth Meets Water
PAAVO
MARI
NICO
NORA
NICO
LEO
MARI
NICO
NICO
PAAVO
NICO
NORA
MARI
NORA
MARI
September 2004
PAAVO
NORA
NICO
From: EESTIRIDDLER723
PAAVO
NICO
From: EESTIRIDDLER723
NICO
NORA
NICO
NICO
PAAVO
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
