Still Lives

PK Malik, a 55-year-old man, leaves Bombay to start a new life in America but falls out of love with life and has an affair with Esther, the wife of his business competitor. "Still Lives" is a tightly woven, haunting work that pulls apart the threads of a family and plays with notions of identity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 29 June 2022
Publisher: Renard Press Ltd

The intensity of my cigarette's light reveals a shadowy figure lying on the ground. I kneel to inspect it more closely. It turns out to be a deceased sparrow. I couldn't help but ponder if I had somehow transformed into that lost bird, disoriented and bewildered. At the young age of twenty-five, PK Malik embarks on a journey to start a new life in America, leaving behind the familiar surroundings of Bombay. During his stopover in Manchester, he encounters an old friend and is struck by a potential business opportunity. Consequently, he decides to prolong his stay in the city. Now approaching fifty-five, PK has grown weary of life's monotony. His business is facing challenges, and his wife, Geeta, yearns for the India she left behind. One fateful day, PK crosses paths with Esther, the wife of his business competitor. Their affair begins in shabby hotel rooms, shrouded in the constant fear of being discovered. "Still Lives" is a meticulously crafted masterpiece that intricately unravels the intricate tapestry of a family. It explores profound notions of identity and leaves a lasting impact on the reader. Notably, this remarkable work has been shortlisted for the prestigious SI Leeds Literary Prize and has also claimed the Reader's Choice Award at the Diverse Book Awards 2023.

Weight: 306g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913724580