The Inheritance of Loss - Kiran Desai

In India, Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss (I swear I read someone on the Booker blog refer to it as The Loss of Inheritance) has been in the news ever since January. That is when all the papers did their interviews, reviews, references to famous mother and so on. Then there was quiet until Desai landed on the Booker 2006 longlist, shortlist. Indian media woke up again to make suitable noises.

By now, we know that the keywords of Kiran Desai's biography are 1971 / Anita Desai / Mirrorwork / 1998 debut Hullabaloo / Betty Trask / eight years second book The Inheritance of Loss / Booker 2006 shortlist.

But what the biography doesn't tell and the interviews show is that she is down to earth and very endearing.

All sorts of links:
A very likeable Kiran Desai in conversation soon after The Inheritance of Loss was out

An extract of this Booker shortlistee at LoveReading (needs registration, free)

Indians have been talking about this book for a while now. Some handpicked reviews.

Of course a hullabaloo!

Somehow, I love this review.

Desai interview at BookBrowse after Hullabaloo

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard Excerpt

What are the odds of the Loss winning? Lots of positive noises lately. Fingers stay crossed.

Update Oct 11: Yes! Desai is the 2006 winner. Take a look at this meet the author video as well.