China Room

By Sunjeev Sahota | Publisher: Knopf Canada

About the book

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 BOOKER PRIZE
FINALIST FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION’S CARNEGIE MEDAL
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2021 BY NPR, TIME, THE GUARDIAN, THE TIMES (UK), THE STAR-TRIBUNE AND THE WASHINGTON POST

“Sunjeev Sahota’s new novel follows characters across generations and continents. . . . Heart-wrenching.” —Entertainment Weekly

“An intimate page-turner with a deeper resonance as a tale of oppression, independence and resilience.” —San Francisco Chronicle

A transfixing, “powerfully imaged” (USA Today) novel about two unforgettable characters seeking to free themselves—one from the expectations of women in early twentieth-century Punjab, and the other from the weight of life in the contemporary Indian diaspora


Mehar, a young bride in rural Punjab, is trying to discover the identity of her new husband. It is 1929, and she and her sisters-in-law, married to three brothers in a single ceremony, spend their days hard at work on the family farm, sequestered from contact with the men. When Mehar develops a theory as to which of them is hers, a passion is ignited that will put more than one life at risk.

Spiralling around Mehar’s story is that of a young man who in 1999 travels from England to the sun-scorched farm, by now deserted for decades. In enforced flight from the traumas of his adolescence--his experiences of addiction, racism and estrangement from the culture of his birth--he spends a summer in painful contemplation and recovery, finally gathering the strength to return home.

Inspired in part by the author’s family history, and told with courage, compassion and deep humanity, China Room is an astonishing feat of storytelling from one of our most exceptional novelists.

Editions of China Room

Hardcover
ISBN 9781039000100
Hardcover
ISBN 9780593298145
Paperback
ISBN 9781039000124
Paperback
ISBN 9780593298220
EBook
ISBN 9781039000117
EBook
ISBN 9780593298213
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9780593402344
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9780593402351

Read an Excerpt

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 BOOKER PRIZE
FINALIST FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION’S CARNEGIE MEDAL
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2021 BY NPR, TIME, THE GUARDIAN, THE TIMES (UK), THE STAR-TRIBUNE AND THE WASHINGTON POST

“Sunjeev Sahota’s new novel follows characters across generations and continents. . . . Heart-wrenching.” —Entertainment Weekly

“An intimate page-turner with a deeper resonance as a tale of oppression, independence and resilience.” —San Francisco Chronicle

A transfixing, “powerfully imaged” (USA Today) novel about two unforgettable characters seeking to free themselves—one from the expectations of women in early twentieth-century Punjab, and the other from the weight of life in the contemporary Indian diaspora


Mehar, a young bride in rural Punjab, is trying to discover the identity of her new husband. It is 1929, and she and her sisters-in-law, married to three brothers in a single ceremony, spend their days hard at work on the family farm, sequestered from contact with the men. When Mehar develops a theory as to which of them is hers, a passion is ignited that will put more than one life at risk.

Spiralling around Mehar’s story is that of a young man who in 1999 travels from England to the sun-scorched farm, by now deserted for decades. In enforced flight from the traumas of his adolescence--his experiences of addiction, racism and estrangement from the culture of his birth--he spends a summer in painful contemplation and recovery, finally gathering the strength to return home.

Inspired in part by the author’s family history, and told with courage, compassion and deep humanity, China Room is an astonishing feat of storytelling from one of our most exceptional novelists.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is China Room about?

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 BOOKER PRIZE
FINALIST FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION’S CARNEGIE MEDAL
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2021 BY NPR, TIME, THE GUARDIAN, THE TIMES (UK), THE STAR-TRIBUNE AND THE WASHINGTON POST

“Sunjeev Sahota’s new novel follows characters across generations and continents. . . . Heart-wrenching.” —Entertainment Weekly

“An intimate page-turner with a deeper resonance as a tale of oppression, independence and resilience.” —San Francisco Chronicle

A transfixing, “powerfully imaged” (USA Today) novel about two unforgettable characters seeking to free themselves—one from the expectations of women in early twentieth-century Punjab, and the other from the weight of life in the contemporary Indian diaspora


Mehar, a young bride in rural Punjab, is trying to discover the identity of her new husband. It is 1929, and she and her sisters-in-law, married to three brothers in a single ceremony, spend their days hard at work on the family farm, sequestered from contact with the men. When Mehar develops a theory as to which of them is hers, a passion is ignited that will put more than one life at risk.

Spiralling around Mehar’s story is that of a young man who in 1999 travels from England to the sun-scorched farm, by now deserted for decades. In enforced flight from the traumas of his adolescence--his experiences of addiction, racism and estrangement from the culture of his birth--he spends a summer in painful contemplation and recovery, finally gathering the strength to return home.

Inspired in part by the author’s family history, and told with courage, compassion and deep humanity, China Room is an astonishing feat of storytelling from one of our most exceptional novelists.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in China Room?

Fiction > Family life fiction / Stories about family

Where can I read a sample of China Room?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781039000100

Who is/are the Author/s of the book China Room?

Sunjeev Sahota

Who is the Publisher of the book China Room?

Knopf Canada

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

China Room is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781039000100) and hardcover(ISBN 9780593298145) and paperback(ISBN 9781039000124) and paperback(ISBN 9780593298220) and ebook(ISBN 9781039000117) and ebook(ISBN 9780593298213) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780593402344) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780593402351)

Where can I buy China Room online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy China Room from below

Where can I buy China Room?