Transatlantic is thrilled to see HOWEVER FAR AWAY by Rajinderpal S. Pal featured on the Canada Reads longlist!
This year, the iconic Canadian book debate is on a quest to find one book that has the potential to change the narrative. The titles on this year’s longlist each hold the power to transform the way we perceive, share, and engage with the world around us.
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However Far Away explores love, compromise and family set at a Sikh wedding. The book follows Devinder Gill who must navigate the emotional minefield of both his wife and his ex-girlfriend, with whom he’s been having an affair, attending his nephew’s wedding.
At first, Dev is certain nothing will come between him and his wife Kuldip, but as the day goes on, he realizes he does not have the control he thought. A series of threats including a curious daughter and an unwelcome guest only throw Dev’s life into further disarray.
“I wanted a story that was sort of steeped in the Canadian Sikh culture,” said Pal in an interview on The Next Chapter. “When I thought about what defines Canadian Sikh culture, wedding days are also extremely important in the culture.”
“It’s a multi-day event and lavish parties, lavish receptions. Almost a game of one-up-manship. If your son or daughter is getting married, it has to be bigger and better than somebody else’s son or daughter’s weddings, right? So that’s what drew me to centering it around the wedding day. It also gives me a way of introducing so many aspects of the culture.”
I wanted a story that was sort of steeped in the Canadian Sikh culture.- Rajinderpal S. Pal
Pal is a writer and stage performer based in Toronto. He has written the poetry collections pappaji wrote poetry in a language i cannot read and pulse. However Far Away is his first novel.
Rajinderpal is represented by Carolyn Forde.
Congratulations, Rajinderpal!