High hopes for this one, and I feel so mixed about its rating. So I'm going middle of the park. The narrator was probably just that, sometimes felt a little monotonous, but dealt with the plot very well.
The plot itself is graphic, and made very uncomfortable listening. But I still found it worth a shot.

THE SEA ELEPHANTS by @shastriav is a queer, coming of age story set in early 1990s India where a young boy finds his way through relentless bullying, a violent father who treats him like a show pony, the death of his twin sisters, his journey to queerness and self acceptance. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @macmillan.audio for the audio-ARC. (FYI, this title came out in 2023!).

As a boy, after realizing he has forbidden desires, Shagun lives for a long while in the grey area between passion and control, love and lust, comfort and contentment, belonging and fitting in. He finally starts to come into his own when he starts working with a travelling theater troupe that performs the myths of his childhood from the Davidian Book of Seas and Stargazing, including the story of the sea elephants.

I loved this story, its fierce protagonist, his "love-starved mind" and his quest to satiate it. The narration was inspired and powerful, performed with an abundance of heart. Definitely going on my favorite queer stories shelf!

❓Do you like coming of age books❓ It doesn't really matter the genre, coming of age books are some of my favorites!

💚SMASHBOT💚

In "The Sea Elephants," Shastri Akella crafts a mesmerizing and poignant tale that unfolds against the backdrop of 1990s India. A compelling blend of a queer coming-of-age narrative and a poignant exploration of family, guilt, and self-discovery, this novel proves to be an exquisite journey into the complexities of identity, love, and the redemptive power of art.

The protagonist, Shagun, grapples with the aftermath of the sudden deaths of his beloved twin sisters, leading him to seek refuge from his tumultuous family dynamics. Enrolling at an all-boys boarding school becomes his escape route, but true solace and belonging find him in the most unexpected place—a traveling street theater troupe.

"The Sea Elephants" is a compelling and unforgettable read. It stands as a celebration of hard-won love—both for others and, most importantly, for oneself.

Everything you want in a piece of literary fiction is here. Family, biological and found, friends, romance, mystery, and more. India is the setting and gives the impression of being another character as the reader learns many specifics about the country...one learns of the caste system, about the culture and traditions, and of course, the yummy food and many spices; you can't help but taste the chai tea as you read. My favorite were the myths of the native people. I had the good fortune to meet Shastri Akella, and the heart-felt emotions of the novel rang true and genuine with his words. The Sea Elephants is a must read as it is a fabulous piece of literature and a debut novel to boot!! I can't wait to read more from Akella.

I've ruminated for a week after finishing this book to collect the right words for what Akella has created with The Sea Elephants. The best I can do is that the book starts with a collection of shattered pieces of Shagun's life. Through the book, Shagun experiences so much trauma and much, but the book creates a life that is something beautiful and whole. I'm not sure if the end justifies the means, but I was so deeply invested in Shaguns happiness and joy.

Shagun is a gay boy living in India in the 1990s suffering the loss of his twin younger sisters who drowned. He is forced to face a father who has lived abroad his entire life, and expectations he can never live up to.

I can't go too deep into the story without spoiling the plot, but the book has a beautiful exploration of art, theatre, story and myth and they are central to Shagun's journey.

A meaty book rich in cultural and meaning, I applaud Akella for this book.

So…the story was interesting and I really felt for the main character and wanted him to find some well-deserved happiness. However, I was really not prepared for the graphic trauma that the character endures. I feel like there should have been some type of trigger warning because…it’s bad. I finished the book more than a month ago and am just now able to even think about what to say. Horrible mental images from the story randomly pop up at unwelcome times. It makes me ill to think of people actually undergoing the events described in the book. I am glad the character found some happiness at the end of the story. And it was well written. But brutal. A level of brutality I was not prepared for based on the jacket copy.

This book packed a lot in the story but did so very well. I loved the coming-of-age story set in India in the 1990s of a young gay man, Shagun. We meet him as a boy who has been surrounded and loved by the women of his family- his mother and sisters. We meet him when he is deeply grieving for the twin sisters who drowned and dealing with the return of his absent father, who works far away and has had little to no contact with his son. What transpired was shock and shame as his father sees him as a boy who needs a firm grip placed on him so he doesn't turn out to be gay. We see Shagun going away to school and grappling with the decisions and implications of his sexuality, surviving bullies, being abused but confusing that abuse for other things, and having to be one step ahead of hiding who he is for fear of being sent to a conversion camp. One way he hides is in a traveling theater group, where he truly gets to live and see who he could be.

Beautifully told, with rich details, this was a painful, often difficult, but thoughtful tale.

I thank the publisher for access to the digital advanced readers' copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It is truly one of those books you have to continue through the trauma, particularly in the beginning of the story, which is so wonderful but so sad. I love the main characters journey to happiness and the roads it takes him. It truly is sad and hopeful at the end. I also love that this young person who is struggling is able to find solace in a theatre community, not unlike so many people still do today.

The Sea Elephants was a wonderful book on audio. It could be pretty tough to read at times, as the protagonist goes through a lot of struggles as being a Queer Indian man. I liked the exploration of the father-son relationship as well. Well written.

I was first drawn to The Sea Elephants by the stunning cover. Whoever did the artwork for it deserves a raise. Of course, once I read the description I knew that this was a book I needed to read. This book follows a character named Shagun as he explores his sexuality, hides from his father who is determined to put him through conversion therapy, and tries to find his place in the world.

I will say that this book is not an easy read. Shagun is brutalized throughout the book and I could see how this might be extremely triggering for some people. I definitely had a hard time reading it at points. That said, I do think it is realistic...especially considering that some of the comments I've seen from the author indicate that this might be inspired by some of his own experiences.

While the writing in this can be hard to read, it is also beautifully written. The pace and flow of the story is good. The prose is well done. Even the horrible scenes are written in brutal, unflinching detail .

I did listen to this on audiobook and enjoyed the narration. I thought the emotions were properly conveyed and it was easy enough to follow.

If you like queer coming of age stories, overcoming of trauma, and stories set in India, you will likely enjoy this book. Please, read the trigger warnings before reading though as this definitely has triggering content.

*Thank you to Netgalley, Shastri Akella, and Flatiron for the Audio-ARC of this book. This in no way affects the objectivity of my review.

"The Sea Elephants" by Shastri Akella is a powerful and emotionally charged novel that follows the life of Shagun, a young man growing up in India during the 90s, who struggles with his sexuality in a society where same-sex attraction is illegal. The author's dedication to the story is evident, as it took eight long years to complete, and during this time, Akella had his own personal awakening, coming out as gay.

The narrative follows Shagun's journey from his early years into his 30s, and the challenges he faces due to his sexual orientation. Akella portrays Shagun's experiences with determination, bravery, and a strong ethical nature, making him a compelling protagonist.

As a fellow queer reader, I found "The Sea Elephants" to be a poignant and touching read. However, I must acknowledge that some parts of the book were triggering, which affected my overall enjoyment. Despite this, the triggering elements were essential to the story, and I recognize that others might not have the same reaction.

The plot is brilliantly constructed and without any noticeable plot holes. It engages readers throughout, keeping them emotionally invested in Shagun's journey. The characters are well-developed, each provoking a distinct reaction from the reader. Shagun and Mark, in particular, are written with such depth that their love and struggles are palpable.

One of the novel's strongest aspects is how thought-provoking it is. The story goes beyond the reading sessions, prompting readers to contemplate the experiences of queer individuals in the 90s, especially in a cultural context outside of the United States.

The narration by Vikas Adam is commendable, effectively portraying the linguistic differences between Shagun and Mark, giving the impression of multiple narrators.

The world-building in "The Sea Elephants" is exceptional, immersing readers in the story's setting and atmosphere. Akella's writing is poignant, allowing readers to grow up alongside Shagun and understand the complexities of his life.

The ending of the book is satisfying, tying up the narrative threads in a way that leaves readers content.

Overall, "The Sea Elephants" is a remarkable novel that deserves high praise for its compelling plot, well-crafted characters, thought-provoking themes, immersive world-building, and skillful writing. Though some aspects may be triggering for certain readers, the emotional impact of the story is undeniably powerful. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeply moving and enlightening reading experience.

What a book (the audio was great)

Shortly after the death of his twin sisters, Shagun enrolls in an all-boys boarding school trying to escape his mother's grief and his father's disapproval. Even at the boarding school, Shagun isn't safe from his father. So he leaves to join a theater troupe where his father can't catch him and send him to conversion camp. It's during one of the stops with the troupe that Shagun meets Marc, an aspiring photographer, and he falls in love. But Shagun's constant fear of his father and shame from past prevents him from fully giving himself to Marc. As Shagun comes face to face with his biggest fear, he has to decide if he has the strength to overcome it and finally be truly happy.
I was truly not prepared for the emotional journey that The Sea Elephants took me on. Shagun lives in a country where it's illegal to be who he is and with a family who doesn't accept who he is. His entire 6 he's known is loss, heartbreak, and ridicule. So, to escape this, he runs away and finds people who accept him for who is. Then, when he finally finds love, he is filled with such anxiety from his past he cannot let himself accept love. Shagun's journey is absolutely gut-wrenching, yet it draws you in and makes you want nothing but a happy ending for him. I will warn you that there are some very graphic details in this book on how men were treated in gay conversion camps.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

3.5 stars.

This ended up being such a unique reading experience and I'm really glad I picked it up. I don't think I've ever read a story from a queer Indian perspective and it was both fascinating and incredibly sad. There was so much trauma and assault that it made it very difficult to carry on at times. The main character, Shagun, reminded me of a slightly less tragic version of Jude from A Little Life. No spoilers, but I also felt very conflicted with the idea of forgiving a loved one who has assaulted you.

I split my reading between a physical copy and the audiobook. The audiobook narrator, Vikas Adam, did a fantastic job and really helped immerse me in the story! He was a great actor and very skilled at the various accents he employed throughout the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy!

Vikas Adams did an amazing job narrating this book. His voice was a wonderful guide through this adventure. It was an emotional book that was hard to get through in parts, especially the relationship between Shagun and his father. But there’s also the theme of found family which can make all the difference in our lives. I know this book will hit people differently. I felt like it was one that I should have liked more than I actually did. But I’m sure I’m in the minority on this.

*Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook for review.

My first-gen South Asian immigrant heart is singing! What a gorgeously written story. I was investing in Shagun's journey from the start, and couldn't help but feel connected to the supporting characters as well.

Akella chose the perfect setting for this story, just close enough to West Bengal where literature, song and theater are revered. The entire Indian subcontinent holds art dear to them, but this setting fit the story best.
I especially appreciated the vivid descriptions of Durga puja (having never attended one myself) and the several parallels drawn between Shagun's journey and those of Hindu deities.

Vikas Adam was the perfect choice for narration as he brought the characters to life with accurate pronunciations and accents.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this beautiful story highlighting the relationship between queerness, the personal, and the religious. I usually avoid stories I know will make me cry but was happy to compromise for The Sea Elephants.

This book was HAAAAARD but so beautiful. I really struggle with stories where the main conflict revolves around homophobia/comphet but this was exceptionally well done.

representation: Indian queer men, Indian women

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio ARC.

This book is rough. The story of a boy in India growing up through the 90s after experiencing the tragic loss of his sisters, while learning how to deal with his queerness. The main selling point of this book is that Shagun, the main character, eventually runs off with a theater troop. While the theater troop is what brought me in, it is not what drew my focus during this emotional tale.

This book is the story of Shagun's life, as well as an exploration of his numerous traumas and how they impact his life and relationships. It is deep and emotional, but it is also slow. This book is not an easy read, and I strongly considered DNFing this book early on. It is worth the time to read, but it is not for the faint of heart.

Shastri Akella writes in a way that really connects the reader with his characters. I felt like I knew Shagun's friends, and the narrator's voice acting was superb. I felt so immersed in this book, despite its slow pacing.

I would suggest readers look for trigger warnings for this book before reading, because there are many. Shagun experiences abuse in numerous forms throughout, from people with a wide range of relationships to him, and it was not an easy listen.

Despite all of the above, I would recommend this book, particularly if you like reading deep works that really get you thinking and feeling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan.audio for the ALC

So, I’m not sure what to think of this one. The level of abuse, trauma and stocking behaviors that the main character attempts to survive was really hard to listen to. When he finally seems to break free, we get a white savior here to help and fix him. The writing was overly graphic at times for the feel of the passage and the focus on displaying the tastes and beauty of the settings felt forced, as though this was written for the white gaze. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it wasn’t something I enjoyed or that I felt I grew by reading. It just made me want to take a very long hot shower to get it all off of me.

The Sea Elephants is a powerful novel that brought out so many emotions. I was happy at times, angry and frustrated at others. Reading it I felt a sense of love and caring transmitted by the author. This is a beautifully written story that interconnects India's reality with India's ancient myths. A story that takes us through grief, guilt, violence, love and ultimately triumph. A wonderful coming of age story. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy.

The Sea Elephants by Shatri Akella follows a young Indian man named Shagun growing up gay in India during the 90s. Akella weaves prominent Hindu myths into the text in a seamless way.

The story itself tackles some heavy topics. Shagun is exploring his sexuality in a country that punishes and commits violence against the LGBTQIA+ community. He is also coming to terms with the tragic deaths of his sisters and learning to cope with the "othering" of his self by his family and close friends. I was worried at some point that the book was just going to be depressing throughout and was pleasantly surprised by the relationships Shagun built and nurtured. He joins a traveling theater troupe, finds platonic and romantic love, and learns to love his body and self.

Shagun is a bit of an unlikeable character. He is flawed and it's his flaws that make him such a vibrant and relatable character.

I will note the story has a few dry spells. It is a story that suits readers who take their time. Imo it's worth pushing through the slower parts.

Audiobook Notes: The audiobook is narrated by Vikas Adam. He does a great job embodying the different characters in the book and adding emotion behind the words. I listened to the book at 1.25x speed.

Content Warnings: Homophobia, Conversion Therapy, Bullying, Sexual Assault, Body Shaming, Sexual Violence

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC of The Sea Elephants.