Journey to Ithaca
Journey to Ithaca by Anita Desai, published by Penguin Books in 1996, is a profound novel that explores themes of spiritual quests and emotional exile. The story follows young lovers Sophie and Matteo, who, discontented with their bourgeois upbringing, seek spiritual fulfillment in India. Their experiences at an ashram reveal the complexities of their relationship, as Sophie grapples with the harsh realities of life while Matteo is drawn to the idealism of asceticism. This journey ultimately leads Matteo toward a charismatic guru, the Mother, while Sophie embarks on her own quest for truth.
Readers will find a rich narrative that delves into the contrasts between practicality and idealism, as well as the personal transformations that arise from their experiences. The novel presents a thoughtful examination of the characters’ struggles and discoveries, emphasizing that wisdom is often found in the journey itself rather than the destination. With 312 pages, this edition invites readers to reflect on the nature of fulfillment and the complexities of love and belief.
Official synopsis Publisher
A stirring and profound novel of spiritual quests and emotional exile. Young and in love, Sophie and Matteo share a dissatisfaction with their bourgeois upbringing and a yearning for spiritual fulfillment that brings them, like so many others, to India. But the realities of life on an ashram magnify the lovers’ differences. Pragmatic Sophie is horrified and disillusioned by the poverty and hardships they encounter; Matteo, a dreamer, sees only the purity of ascetic life. Eventually his personal search leads him away from Sophie and toward the Mother, a charismatic guru. In an effort to reclaim Matteo, Sophie embarks on her own journey for the truth about the Mother’s mysterious past. What these three people discover is at the heart of this masterful novel–that wisdom is found in the journey itself, and not at its destination.
“The richest and subtlest of her novels . . . Desai’s ‘truth’ is a peacock’s tail. Long after I closed this beautiful book, I watched the iridescent colors change, and change again.”–San Francisco Chronicle
“As always, Ms. Desai writes with intelligence and power. She has a remarkable eye for substance, the things that give life its texture.”–San Francisco Chronicle
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