Sleeping in the Sun

"Sleeping in the Sun is a novel impossible to put down. A cinematic study of imperialism and the scars it has left. An outstanding debut."—Willy Vlautin, author of The Night Always Comes and The Motel Life

“With meticulous attention to detail, Howard paints a vivid portrait of colonial India through the perspectives of an American family and their Indian servant, skillfully blending historical events with familial moments. Through the eyes of her characters, readers are transported to a world where identities are questioned and the true meaning of home is explored. As the narrative builds toward an explosive climax, Sleeping in the Sun becomes more than just a story—it is a poignant exploration of the human experience that resonates far beyond the last chapter.”—Veena Rao, author of Purple Lotus

“Joanne Howard’s Sleeping in the Sun is a quiet and deeply moving novel, a story of a nation trying to reclaim itself, while one man and one boy try to discover who they are themselves. Howard shows us all this not by looking at the big picture, but at the individuals caught at the center of their sometimes conflicting, sometimes heartbreaking goals. A beautiful story, beautifully revealed.”—Pete Fromm, author of Indian Creek Chronicles

“This is at once a gripping page-turner and book to savor and admire. It will light up your imagination and endure in your mind alongside all the memories from your real life. I was sad to see it end but delighted to welcome this impressive new voice into American literature. Joanne Howard is a writer to watch.”—Valerie Laken, author of Dream House and Separate Kingdoms

“Exquisitely rendered and highly nuanced, Joanne Howard's debut novel, Sleeping in the Sun, immerses readers into the world of young American Gene Hinton as he comes of age in rural India in the 1930s. Battling inner and outer demons, Gene forms a unique bond with the Hintons' Indian servant, Arthur, and gains an eye into life's underbelly. Sumptuously written and detailed, this novel is destined to become a classic. A triumph!”—Ashley E. Sweeney, author of Eliza Waite

“Howard explores the tribulations and tragic ironies of imperialism in British India. Relationships are not what they appear to be, people have hidden dark sides, and one person’s faith is another’s sin. After a crime has been committed, it must be determined who did what and why. Yet Howard leaves you wondering who are the good guys and who are the bad guys in a country where religion and culture have been forcibly imposed. A thoughtful read, using historical fiction to shine light on the praxis of decolonization in our current century.”—Jude Berman, author of The Die and The Vow

“In this gorgeously written book, Joanne Howard explores the corrupting influence of power, both within the family structure and the broader world. Rich with sensory details and vividly drawn characters both human and animal, Sleeping in the Sun is a stunning novel that grabs your emotions and doesn’t let go.”—Ginny Kubitz Moyer, author of A Golden Life

“Howard writes with vivid intensity [...]. The tale unfolds cinematically with lush descriptive prose; you will fully sense the streets and inhabitants of this Indian city and its countryside. But the real depth of this story lies within the relationships [...] both the raw attitudinal differences and the subtle undercurrents the characters either endure or ignore. Twelve-year-old Gene is the heart of the book, the most insightful of all, and the voice you will come to rely upon.”—Francine Falk-Allen, author of A Wolff in the Family and Not a Poster Child

“Large and saga-like in scope, and set in 1930s India, Joanne Howard's Sleeping in the Sun delivers a compassionate portrayal of a missionary family as they struggle to navigate the personal and political crosscurrents of enchantment, terror, love, and deceit. What I admire most in her debut novel is the courage with which this writer lifts the masks of disguise from her characters and reveals, as if superimposed on the place itself, that secret, interior world of human emotions.”—Jack Driscoll, author of 20 Stories: New & Selected

“Set against the backdrop of India in the 1930s, Sleeping in the Sun tells the story of the Hintons, a family of American missionaries sent to bring Christianity to the city of Midnapore. Told from the point of view of Gene, the Hintons’ youngest son, and Arthur, their Indian servant, this sweeping historical novel flawlessly transports readers to another time and place. Political, racial, and interpersonal conflicts ensure you won’t be able to put it down. I know I couldn’t.”—Susen Edwards, author of What a Trip and Lookin’ for Love