Now available at Amazon.com

The finger puppet can now be purchased at Amazon.com in addition to existing retailers.

Debut Novel: The Finger Puppet

Faced with a childhood speech impediment, an abusive father, and two sisters whose beauty and articulation outshine hers, Tara has only her thumb to talk to. Set in a wistfully remembered and charmingly evoked Trichy of the Sixties, The Finger Puppet describes the special girlhood years -- of Eye-tex, jasmine and pin-head bindis -- that eleven-year-old Tara, from a rich upper-class brahman family shares with her sisters, beautiful and kindly Padmini, and eccentric, whiplash-tongued Cordelia.

An interesting protagonist, believable characters, a powerful story, layers of thought… add to this a beautifully angular poetic style. And you have an interesting (and dense), thought-provoking (and gawky) debut novel that helps us living in the Tiruchirapallis of life to appreciate it and escape it.
--Tarun Cherian, Deccan Herald

Hot Tip: Disturbs the still waters of nostalgia -- a good debut sensitively written, rich in mythical imagery.
--The Times of India

This is a commendable debut novel by Housten-based Anu Jayanth. ... An engaging read.
--Sudha G Tilak, Discover India

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What's New

• Click here to watch a video clip of The Finger Puppet being launched by Pandit Ravi Shankar at the India International Center, Delhi, and a live TV interview of Anu.
• Reviews of The Finger Puppet are now available. Click here to read them.

I was born in Chennai, India, in a house filled with music, literature, and art. I wrote poetry and I loved to paint and draw. What I enjoyed the most was to stare at white walls until my mind became blank. Previously, I used to stare at the sun but upon reading a story of sun worshippers losing their sight, I switched to wall staring. Settled comfortably against a mountain of blankets and pillows on one end of the bed, I stared at the tranquilizing wall in front of me, transferred on to it all the bad things I didn't want to remember till all I saw was white, white, white. Read more