Gifts of Passage, by Santha Rama Rau

Gifts of Passage, by Santha Rama Rau – Review by Jaanu

Some books are so descriptive and so immersive that you can’t stop reading them until you’ve reached the end, at which point you flip over the cover and look for more pages. Gifts of Passage was one such book. Written by witty world traveler Santha Rama Rau, Gifts of Passage takes readers on a journey with the author from her childhood to her grown-up-ness. Along the way, she documents a changing India and preserves the colorful, unique beauty of the nation. Rama Rau links seemingly disparate episodes together to tell a long story of life. It is really an amazing novel, good for adults and kids alike. From humourous tales of her youth in India to a spy story in South America to more experiences in Russia, South Africa, and other far places, Rama Rau tackles difficult subjects and dangerous times with poise and neat skills.

It’s not a perfect book, but it is a deeply engaging one. Take an hour or two and dive into this book, into countries, situations, and marketplaces far away. It’ll be worth it.

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