Geetanjali Shree's novel 'The Roof Beneath Their Feet' explores love and social constraints through fragmented narrative

Geetanjali Shree's novel 'The Roof Beneath Their Feet' examines themes of love, grief, and social conventions through the relationship between two women, Chachcho and Lalna. The narrative unfolds through shifting perspectives, primarily from Bitva and Lalna, following Chachcho's death. Shree, winner of the Booker Prize for 'Tomb of Sand' (2022), employs a fragmented structure where past and present merge, making the story's progression uncertain. Characters navigate a claustrophobic housing complex, finding sanctuary on the roof to escape societal judgment. The book, originally written in Hindi, marks its first publication outside India in translation by Rahul Soni. Published by And Other Stories, it is available in softcover for £14.99. Shree's innovative linking of form and meaning challenges readers to piece together the narrative, reflecting on visibility and identity. The novel suggests a probable romantic relationship between Chachcho and Lalna, left unspoken due to social forces.