Half Light

<p>'A stunning novel, gorgeously written'<b> Kamila Shamsie, author of <i>Best of Friends</i></b></p><p>'Intelligent, keenly observed' <b>Tash Aw, <i>TLS</i></b></p><p>'A poignant study of loneliness, and a perceptive examination of the struggle for acceptance and understanding'<i><b> Telegraph</b></i></p><p>'A tender yet piercing exploration of what it means to live in the shadows' <i><b>Service95</i></b></p><p>High in the mountains of Darjeeling, a landslide traps the guests and staff of a crumbling hotel. Cooped up inside, two men exchange lingering glances. For Neville, this is one of many thrilling encounters - urgent kisses in stairwells and parked cars. But for hotel employee Pavan, their connection threatens to unravel everything he has kept hidden.</p><p>Years later, their paths collide once more, surrounded by the towering skyscrapers and ghostly smog of Mumbai. Neville is now a restless graduate, adrift in the city, while Pavan has started a new life, away from the hills. When Neville strides into his workplace demanding a meeting, their flirtation turns fraught, and long-buried secrets threaten to tumble into the light.</p><p>Set on the cusp of India's landmark ruling to decriminalise homosexuality, this is a tender, richly atmospheric and elegantly wry story of outlawed desire - and the fragile hope for a life beyond concealment.</p><p><b>Praise for <i>Half Light</i>:</b></p><p> 'A thoughtful, moving novel that takes its time to explore its characters' inner lives and invites the reader into the dual heritage of a country in an unusual and rewarding way' <b><i>Irish Times</i></b></p><p>'Thoughtful, tender storytelling at its finest' <i><b>Marie Claire</i></b></p><p>'A quietly lovely exploration of desire and self loathing in India in the years leading up to the decriminalization of homosexuality' <b><i>Daily Mail</i></b><p>'Highly enjoyable. . . offer[s] a glimmer of hope for a new world that could come into being' <b><i>Guardian</b></i></p><p>'<i>Half Light</i> is a novel steeped to a sublime perfection, and an astonishing literary achievement' <b>Rabih Alameddine, author of <i>The Wrong End of the Telescope</i></b></p><p>'A searing tour de force of shame, sex, love and identity. I was enchanted' <b>Thomas Stewart, author of <i>Real Boys</i></b></p><p>'Tender and timeless. A quiet story of hope and survival that took my breath away' <b>Soula Emmanuel, author of <i>Wild Geese</i></b></p><p> 'More than meets the expectations aroused by his debut' <b>Patrick Gale, author of <i>Mother's Boy</i></b></p>