The Sleeping Dictionary

By: Sujata Massey

Narrated by: Sneha Mathan

The term "sleeping dictionary" was coined for young Indian women who slept with British men and educated them in the ways of India. Set between 1925 and the end of World War II, The Sleeping Dictionary is the story of Kamala, born to a peasant family in West Bengal, who makes her way to Calcutta of the 1930s. Haunted by a forbidden love, she is caught between the raging independence movement and the British colonial society she finds herself inhabiting. This portrait of late Raj India is both a saga and a passionate love story.

©2013 Sujata Massey (P)2013 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

" The Sleeping Dictionary, an utterly engrossing tale of love, espionage, betrayal, and survival, is historical fiction at its best, accessible to all audiences." ( Booklist)

"A love story richly woven with India's history and struggle for independence, The Sleeping Dictionary took me on captivating journey through one woman's devastation, resilience, truth and triumph." (Lisa Genova, New York Times best-selling author of Still Alice and Love Anthony.)

" The Sleeping Dictionary is the book that Sujata Massey was meant to write - an ambitious story of suspense and love and identity, rendered in lush, captivating language. To read it is to step into a fast-moving time machine that delivers us to places and events that will be new to many readers. An exciting, bold work." (Laura Lippman, New York Times best-selling author of And When She Was Good)

Best of S. Massey

I’ve read two other books by this author, and enjoyed this one most of all. While telling the story of a young girl’s survival following a hurricane, Massey tells the history of India’s quest for self rule.

Engrossing

Riveting historical/political fiction. I am looking forward to reading more Sujata Massey books. The performance is brilliant. Sneha Mathan astounds every time.

Loved this book and the performer

I was literally swept away by this book. What a grand narrative development told from the perspective of a young girl whose world expands in tandem with the great historical events in India and the world in the first half of the twentieth century.

You will love the way the author plus performer brings these characters to life. You will experience a full range of emotions from family love, passion, grief, curiosity, terror, resilience, self-reliance, and the height of joy.

A very satisfying ending.

very interesting book

Loved the narration and the story. The story does drag a little bit for some time and I wished the author had spent more time on the ending because the build-up was several chapters and the ending seemed rushed and unconvincing. I love every single books narrated by Sneha! She is phenomenal at what she does. I look forward to listening to all of Sujata Massey's audiobooks.

life within history.

I liked the historical setting with the story of survival and how that history may have affected lives of different kinds of people

I love the history and beauty of India.

The reader was excellent! It adds so much to the story to hear the Indian language spoken so beautifully!

Wonderful, gripping historical saga

I loved the rich descriptions of the people, places and food. It was a moving story with joy and heartache, educational and honest. I couldn't put it down.

love this story

I love books about India and this one is no disappointment. the narrator is amazing and I love the storyline. I think I've listened to the novel about 5 times.

A companion of Letters

What did you love best about The Sleeping Dictionary?

I loved the vivid descriptions of India, both before and during the war. I wish there were more well-rounded male characters, but that's a minor quibble. Massey has a wonderful gift of language.

What does Sneha Mathan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love love LOVE this narrator... I would read just about anything she performs!

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book immensely, more as a character development than a plot-driven one - the plot relies on a couple of coincidences that might have, in less skillful hands, caused me to put the book down. But Massey can turn a phrase with a poetic ring that does not dip down to sentimentalism.

There are portions that are difficult to read, but not explicit for their own sake; I had concerns about this based on the synopsis regarding what a "sleeping dictionary" is. I am glad that this book is so well-done and well-read!

What a great book

A wonderful story, beautifully written and movingly performed. I loved this book, and wish it had lasted longer.