Kiran Desai Books in Order

Unhappy with his ordinary life, Sampath Chawla escapes into a guava tree, hoping to be left alone. Instead, his neighbors mistake him for a holy man, turning his retreat into an increasingly chaotic public spectacle.

In the Himalayan foothills, an embittered retired judge reluctantly takes in his orphaned granddaughter, Sai. Their household’s struggles intersect with those of the cook’s son, an undocumented immigrant trying to survive in New York.

Sonia returns to India after a troubled relationship, while Sunny builds a life in New York away from his family. A chance meeting revives their attraction, drawing them through the demands of love, class, and belonging.