51 pages • 1 hour read
Amitav GhoshThe Hungry Tide
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh follows Piya Roy, an American scientist studying river dolphins, and Kanai Dutt, a New Delhi translator visiting his aunt in the Sundarbans. They meet on a train and later reconnect in Lusibari. Piya teams up with Fokir, a local fisherman, forming a deep bond as she researches dolphins, while Kanai reads his uncle's journal, revealing hidden past tragedies. The novel highlights themes of community, environmental conservation, and human resilience in the face of natural disasters. As the characters experience a catastrophic storm, readers encounter themes related to grief, loss, and survival.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide is lauded for its vivid and evocative depiction of the Sundarbans and its complex exploration of human and environmental intersect. Readers appreciate its rich characters and lyrical prose. Criticisms include a sometimes slow narrative pace and dense ecological descriptions. Overall, it's a compelling and thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read The Hungry Tide?
The ideal reader of Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide enjoys rich, atmospheric storytelling that delves into cultural and environmental themes. Fans of Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things or Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible will appreciate the novel's intricate interweaving of human and ecological narratives in the Sundarbans.