PRAISE FOR ‘THE SMOKE IS RISING’

‘An auspicious debut – its comedy is dry and biting, its perceptiveness acute, and its picture of India ringingly truthful.’ – Neel Mukherjee

‘A subtle, tender and withering portrait of a society in confused transition. This is an exceptionally accomplished novel.’ – Siddhartha Deb

‘Excellent. A fascinating drama of Mysore’s halting journey into an uncertain future . . . it left me wanting more.’ – Guardian

‘A darkly comic novel . . . Rao veers between sharp, economic dialogue that can be both hilarious and disquieting.’ – Spectator

‘The medieval and the modern India are depicted here as co-existing, and Rao has succeeded in capturing this with delicacy and insight.’ – Times Literary Supplement

‘Droll wit meets dull-ache musing and you’ll want to weep for his endearing everyman characters.’ – Elle (India), featured in their list of ‘The Top 20 Faces to Watch Out For in 2014’

‘”The Smoke is Rising”, set around the aspirations of Mysore, inherits the mantle of the Great Indian Novel.’ – Hindu Business Line 

‘An air of authenticity permeates every page of “The Smoke is Rising”…’ – DNA (India)

‘The first thing you notice about The Smoke Is Rising is the quality of Rao’s prose. It’s polished, languid and full of sophisticated and hilarious observations.’ – Shiny New Books