“Once in a while, a novel comes along that makes you wonder why people don’t read more fiction–why, given the right book, anyone would choose to do anything else. Atlas of Unknowns, the dazzling, original and deeply absorbing debut by Tania James, is this rare book…Atlas of Unknowns is one of the most exciting debut novels since Zadie Smith’s White Teeth. Both books share a 19th century largesse, sprawling into different points of view while remaining tightly plotted, with characters recognizable from real life but new to the printed page. Tania James is a fresh voice to keep listening to, who will surely deliver again on the enormous promise of this first novel.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“Not your standard growing-up-in-India story. . . . James has concocted a charming seriocomic blend of individuals, cultures and expectations in which every component retains its individuality.” —The Star-Ledger (Newark)

“Delightful. . . . James writes with poise, sly humor, and an acuity both cultural and sensuous. . . . The characters’ love for one other radiates off the page.” (a New York Times Editor’s Choice) —The New York Times Book Review

“As spectacular a debut as any author could hope for. . . . With keen insight and seminal prose James has fashioned a Bildungsroman of a family saga. . . . The breadth and depth of Atlas of Unknowns indicates that its author is as wise beyond her years as she is gifted.” —The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

“Following the lives of two Indian sisters coping with the subtle shame of otherness, James’ incandescent debut novel is a skillfully nuanced examination of the immigrant experience from the perspectives of those who leave and those who are left behind…Embracing multifaceted themes of cultural dissonance within a focused contemporary worldview, James writes with a silken elegance and solid assurance that will garner inevitable comparisons to Jhumpa Lahiri, accolades that are both apt and well-deserved.” —Booklist

“Atlas of Unkowns is the story of two sisters, separated by two countries-the United States and India-but also by jealousy and secrets. Tania James weaves these two narratives together seamlessly, threading together an intricate narrative that explores the nature of immigration and also the price paid by women struggling to find their place in the world. Share this book with your mother, your sister, your friend-they will thank you for it.”

–Hannah Tinti, author of Animal Crackers and The Good Thief

“A powerful and nuanced debut novel, Atlas of Unknowns draws us into the complex lives of two sisters, each facing the demons of ancient family secrets and guilty new ones that they have created for themselves. Tania James paints the dual worlds of the novel-India and America-with masterful care, choosing beautiful, shocking details, and peopling them with characters we will remember long after closing the book.”

–Chitra Divakaruni, author of Mistress of Spices and The Palace of Illusions

“A refreshing new voice. . . . James subtly integrates the variances in colors, textures, odors, tastes and spaces that dance throughout the novel. This is never done with excess flair but imperceptibly, creating a true sense of place and allowing for journey-transforming markers.” —Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

“Tania James acutely charts the shifting sands of the siblings’ relationship – supportive, rivialrous, loyal and loving – with tender compassion. Equally irresistible is her sense of place; India and America are described with an artful exactitude that reveals the strangeness and familiarity of each location…[T]his delightful debut is an insightful study of leave-taking and homecoming.” —Daily Mail (London)

“Tania James’s debut novel has a complex plotline with eccentric characters, yet is one of the most engaging literary reads of the year…[T]he novel’s most striking feature is multi-culturalism, best reflected in Anju’s interactions with her hosts in New York, the Solankis. Mrs Solanki anchors a television show, Four Corners, debating possibly every issue under the sun — feminism to Indian politics — highlighting a hilarious disconnect between India and its diaspora. In sum, James has made a brilliant debut, one which will be remembered for a long time.” —Business World

“[W]arm, beguiling, refreshingly smart…Broadly speaking, [Atlas] concerns the interweaving of globalization and desire — how channels of love and longing bend (or break) when forced into the arcs linking today’s culturally crisscrossed societies…A great strength of James’ novel is the depth and vibrancy of her characters. She treats them with dignity, never withdrawing the possibility of redemption, and even the most marginal figures turn out to be mysterious, surprising creatures…James’ story of sisterhood is a colorful, deftly woven fantasy that brings our attention to the more pervasive fantasies we indulge in every day.” —The New Leader

“James brings a dazzling array of writerly skills to her debut novel. . . . She has a tender heart that feels for [her characters’] idiosyncrasies and yearnings, a sharp ear for dialogue, and an eye for the details of landscape and setting.” —The Washington Times

“A brilliant panorama of the human condition. . . . An unputdownable page-turner. So assured is the narration, so finished the skill, that you keep reminding yourself it is the work of a first time novelist. . . . James stands out for her unique voice and imaginative narration.” —India Abroad (New York)

“Painted with exquisite imagery…Lines read as if they are extracted from poems, creating a story that is not only entertaining but a true piece of art.” —Washington Missourian

“A beguiling tale of treachery and remorse…James is a perceptive writer whose insights into immigration, American life, and Indian customs enrich this appealing tale.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch

“This warm and, at times, very funny story could be about sisters and families everywhere, with its secrets, eccentricities, and misunderstandings. An absolute joy to read.” —Australian Women’s Weekly

“James has created a vivacious domestic drama on a cross-cultural canvas that has an appealing Austen-like attention to character and social setting.” —The Age (Australia)

“A wonderful achievement. . . . The beautifully observed characters are engaging and draw the reader effortlessly into their different dreams and aspirations.” —The Courier Mail (Australia)

“Sharp yet sympathetic, Tania James confidently and skillfully portrays a family and world strained by secrets from the past. Certainties once held are revealed as illusions, and her characters, at once inspiring and pitiable, must ultimately deal with their demons or be forever lost. A wonderful debut!” —Reading’s