A brilliant Indian-American magical realist coming of age story and the debut of a major talentSpanning two continents, two coasts, and four epochs,
Gold Diggers expertly balances social satire and magical realism in a classic striver story that skewers the model minority narrative, asking what a community must do to achieve the American dream. In razor sharp and deeply funny prose, Sathian perfectly captures what it is to grow up as a member of a family, of a diaspora, and of the American meritocracy. This blockbuster novel both entertains and levels a critique of what Americans of color must do to make their way. A floundering second-generation teenager growing up in the Bush-era Atlanta suburbs, Neil Narayan is authentic, funny, and smart. He just doesn't share the same drive as everyone around him. His perfect older sister is headed to Duke. His parents' expectations for him are just as high. He tries to want this version of success, but mostly, Neil just wants his neighbor across the cul-de-sac, Anita Dayal.But Anita has a secret: she and her mother Anjali have been brewing an ancient alchemical potion from stolen gold that harnesses the ambition of the jewelry's original owner. Anjali's own mother in Bombay didn't waste the precious potion on her daughter, favoring her sons instead. Anita, on the other hand, just needs a little boost to get into Harvard. But when Neil--who needs a whole lot more--joins in the plot, events spiral into a tragedy that rips their community apart.Ten years later, Neil is an oft-stoned Berkeley history grad student studying the California gold rush. His high school cohort has migrated to Silicon Valley, where he reunites with Anita and resurrects their old habit of gold theft--only now, the stakes are higher. Anita's mother is in trouble, and only gold can save her. Anita and Neil must pull off one last heist.
Gold Diggers is a fine-grained, profoundly intelligent, and bitingly funny investigation in to questions of identity and coming of age--that tears down American shibboleths.
Gold Diggers: A Novel by Sanjena Sathian
An insightful and darkly humorous debut novel about immigrant families, wealth, and desire, Gold Diggers follows one young woman's quest for a better life as she navigates the treacherous terrain of New York City's financial elite.
Neha, a first-generation Indian American, is determined to leave her working-class roots behind. Armed with a business degree and a burning ambition, she lands a job at a prestigious investment bank. There, she quickly learns that the rules of the game are different for women, especially women of color.
As Neha navigates the cutthroat world of finance, she finds herself drawn to Edward, a wealthy and enigmatic hedge fund manager. Edward is everything Neha is not: confident, powerful, and seemingly untouchable. But as their relationship deepens, Neha begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself, her family, and the American dream.
Gold Diggers is a sharp and insightful novel that explores the complexities of race, class, and gender in contemporary America. Sanjena Sathian deftly weaves together Neha's personal and professional lives, creating a story that is both timely and timeless.
Praise for Gold Diggers:
- "A sharp, insightful, and darkly funny debut novel about immigrant families, wealth, and desire."—The New York Times
- "Gold Diggers is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complex and often contradictory nature of the American dream."—The Washington Post
- "A powerful and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it."—Entertainment Weekly
- "Sathian's debut is a sharp, insightful, and darkly funny novel about immigrant families, wealth, and desire."—NPR
