A novel food concept (Beta version)
Spice is such an integral part of the South Asian identity that whenever I smell Naga chilli, tandoori masala, or butter ghee I am instantly taken back to the kitchen where I did my homework whilst mum cooked the tea. When readers told me that my novel Sakthi left them feeling constantly hungry, I wondered if I could bring them with me back to that happy place. This site shows you how to make many of the dishes in the story. So crack open the spice cupboard, get your fellow book clubbers round to rustle up one of the mouth-watering, easy to follow recipes and dive into Sakthi’s world.
About Sakthi
When her mother dies, Sakthi must unravel the truth to escape the same fate, but with tragic consequences for everyone close to her. Set in the red brick terraces of England and the rolling tea gardens of Bangladesh, SAKTHI is a dark, heart-wrenching story of love, sacrifice and hope.
‘A bold, brave novel that fearlessly examines and confronts issues of patriarchy, religion and racism.’ – Monica Ali
‘A whirlwind of colours, sound and spices that takes you behind the veil. Sakthi is a coming of age story that serves as a reminder of the powerful force that lies within immigrants. Smart, funny, this book speaks to the next generation of change makers. Simply breathtaking!’ – Nicolas Haque
‘Misha Hussain’s ambitious novel takes us through large forces such as religion, language, culture, nationality, and identity. When in harmony, these forces can turn us into our better selves, but when they clash, they can destroy and consume us. Sakthi’s comedy is bleak and it reminds you of the power of human resilience.’ – Salil Tripathi
‘Sakthi’s story of choosing a path free of violence and coercion will find resonance for every young person who is confronting barriers created by language, race, religion, age, nationality and history.’ – Sara Hossain
‘Misha Hussain writes with tongue firmly in cheek, with wit and wryness to spare. But beneath the humour, there is heart. He captures the joys and agonies of living and loving between two cultures, two countries, two sexes, and two generations, transforming immigrant stereotypes into characters we cheer on and cherish.’ – Huma Yusuf
About the author
Misha Hussain was born in Sylhet and brought up in the UK. His reportage covers a wide range of issues from conflict to contagion to climate change. His bylines appear in The Guardian, Reuters, Time, Newsweek and the New Statesman. He has an MSc from LSHTM in Global Health Policy and has worked for a number of international NGOs. He lives in Haarlem with his wife and two children.