Tiger Hills
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

*Starred Review* Set in Southern India at the end of the nineteenth century, Mandanna's magnificent debut follows the fortunes of two childhood friends throughout their lives. Precocious, sparkling Devi, adored by her parents, reaches out to Devanna, whose mother left his father and committed suicide, leaving the boy's place in his family uncertain. Devi and Devanna become the closest of friends, but as they grow older, Devanna develops feelings for Devi that she doesn't share. Devi has eyes for only one man, Machu, a cousin of Devanna's who is renowned for killing a tiger during a hunt. When Devi reaches her teens, she pursues the older Machu, vowing he's the only man she'll marry. Devanna studies science and herbal remedies with a German missionary, who thinks of him as a son and helps him gain entrance to a university in Bangalore to study medicine. A brutish fellow student makes Devanna's experience at the university miserable, and a final monstrous transgression sends Devanna running back home to commit an act that will change the course of his life and Devi's forever. Once the story gets going, it is impossible to stop reading Mandanna's spellbinding epic.--Huntley, Kristine Copyright 2010 Booklist

Set in southern India, Mandanna's epic if overly dramatic debut follows the fortunes of two intertwined families from the late 19th century to the eve of WWII. Devanna is a young boy when his mother commits suicide, and the one person he relates to is his best friend, the lovely and adored Devi: "They became a staple sight in the village, the pale-skinned firebrand and her scrawny worshipper; if Devi had fascinated him before, Devanna now clung to her like a bedraggled puppy." But when she's 10 years old, Devi meets Devanna's adult cousin, Machu, a hero for having killed a tiger, and from that day, decides that she will marry only Machu. This childish notion becomes the driving force in her life. Years pass before she is able to arrange a meeting with Machu, but to Devi's dismay, he seems immune to her beauty. Unaware of Devi's desire, Devanna begins his medical school studies and plans a future with her. At school, though, he endures cruel hazing and he returns home a different man, which changes the course of many lives. Mandanna's sweeping saga is ambitious, engaging, and relentlessly tragic. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Set on a coffee plantation in India called Tiger Hills, this first novel tells the story of the spirited Devi Nachimada. The only girl in her family for many years, Devi is adored by almost everyone, especially the young boy Devanna, and she is her father's favored, much-doted-on child. Devi uses her special status to get whatever she wants-and the one thing she knows she wants from an early age is to marry the mesmerizing and celebrated tiger killer, Machu. Devi pursues Machu steadfastly, much to the sorrow of the devoted Devanna. While Devi's scheme does not go exactly as planned, she does become a powerful force on her plantation. Spanning years and multiple locations, the novel introduces a variety of well-developed characters, and plot twists keep the reader wondering how all the drama will play out. VERDICT A great read that will have many points of discussion for any book group; highly recommended.-Leann Restaino, Girard, OH (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Star-crossed lovers in India at the turn of the 20th century, drawn from first-time novelist Mandanna's family history.In the lush region of Coorg in southwestern India, three interrelated noble families, the Nachimandas, Kambeymadas and Palladas, dominate a bucolic mountain valley. A flight of herons marks the birth of Devi, whom her grandmother Tayi recognizes as a special child. Similarly, herons are present when young Machu, a scion of the Kambeymadas, admiresbaby Devi'slungpower. Devi grows up with her cousin Devanna, who is adopted by her father after his mother's suicide. The two are inseparable playmates, until Devanna's burgeoning interest in botany and scholarly mien attracts a mentor, Reverend Gundert, the founder of a nearby mission school. Devi, a beauty, has a long history with Machu. At ten, she attends a tiger wedding celebrating Machu's daring conquest of a tiger. From thence Machu will be known as the "tiger killer." For years, Devi, determined to wed Machu, refuses proposals from many other suitors. Devanna, meanwhile, excels at his studies, and Gundert secures his admission to Bangalore Medical College, where he is mercilessly hazed by upperclassmen who envy his genius. Although the attraction between Machu and Devi is palpable, he won't acknowledge it because he has, to honor a Hindu god, vowed to remain celibate for 12 years. However, Devi promises to wait for him, and in the meantime they meet in the jungle for chaste but impassioned encounters. Devanna, who has always loved Devi, is driven mad when his tormentors sodomize him and murder his beloved pet. Returning home blind drunk, he rapes Devi, and her family can find no other solution than to force a marriage between them. She gives birth to a son, Nanjappa. Sworn to secrecy by Tayi, Devi cannot reveal to the devastated Machu why she broke her promise. Tragic consequences ensue, which will alter the destinies of the three clans.Beautiful prose and delicate handling prevent this melodrama from becoming maudlin.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* Set in Southern India at the end of the nineteenth century, Mandanna's magnificent debut follows the fortunes of two childhood friends throughout their lives. Precocious, sparkling Devi, adored by her parents, reaches out to Devanna, whose mother left his father and committed suicide, leaving the boy's place in his family uncertain. Devi and Devanna become the closest of friends, but as they grow older, Devanna develops feelings for Devi that she doesn't share. Devi has eyes for only one man, Machu, a cousin of Devanna's who is renowned for killing a tiger during a hunt. When Devi reaches her teens, she pursues the older Machu, vowing he's the only man she'll marry. Devanna studies science and herbal remedies with a German missionary, who thinks of him as a son and helps him gain entrance to a university in Bangalore to study medicine. A brutish fellow student makes Devanna's experience at the university miserable, and a final monstrous transgression sends Devanna running back home to commit an act that will change the course of his life and Devi's forever. Once the story gets going, it is impossible to stop reading Mandanna's spellbinding epic. Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews.

Set on a coffee plantation in India called Tiger Hills, this first novel tells the story of the spirited Devi Nachimada. The only girl in her family for many years, Devi is adored by almost everyone, especially the young boy Devanna, and she is her father's favored, much-doted-on child. Devi uses her special status to get whatever she wants—and the one thing she knows she wants from an early age is to marry the mesmerizing and celebrated tiger killer, Machu. Devi pursues Machu steadfastly, much to the sorrow of the devoted Devanna. While Devi's scheme does not go exactly as planned, she does become a powerful force on her plantation. Spanning years and multiple locations, the novel introduces a variety of well-developed characters, and plot twists keep the reader wondering how all the drama will play out. VERDICT A great read that will have many points of discussion for any book group; highly recommended.—Leann Restaino, Girard, OH

Set in southern India, Mandanna's epic if overly dramatic debut follows the fortunes of two intertwined families from the late 19th century to the eve of WWII. Devanna is a young boy when his mother commits suicide, and the one person he relates to is his best friend, the lovely and adored Devi: "They became a staple sight in the village, the pale-skinned firebrand and her scrawny worshipper; if Devi had fascinated him before, Devanna now clung to her like a bedraggled puppy." But when she's 10 years old, Devi meets Devanna's adult cousin, Machu, a hero for having killed a tiger, and from that day, decides that she will marry only Machu. This childish notion becomes the driving force in her life. Years pass before she is able to arrange a meeting with Machu, but to Devi's dismay, he seems immune to her beauty. Unaware of Devi's desire, Devanna begins his medical school studies and plans a future with her. At school, though, he endures cruel hazing and he returns home a different man, which changes the course of many lives. Mandanna's sweeping saga is ambitious, engaging, and relentlessly tragic. (Mar.)