Kiran Desai: Losing Second Booker Gave Me Freedom to Experiment

• Celebrated author Kiran Desai states that missing out on her second Booker Prize for "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny" brought her a sense of freedom.
• Desai, who won the Booker at 35 for "The Inheritance of Loss," prioritizes focusing on her 88-year-old mother, Anita Desai, and values the ability to write without public scrutiny.
• Her mother, a three-time Booker shortlisted author, advised her that the loss meant she was "free to experiment with your life and your work."
• Desai's latest 700-page novel, "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," took nearly two decades to complete and explores themes of family, identity, and global connection across India, Mexico, and the US.
• The author, who left India at 14, views this novel as potentially her "last in-depth" engagement with India, a country she visits less since her father's death.

Key Questions Answered

Will Kiran Desai write more books about India?

Kiran Desai expressed an urgency to finish writing a few more books. She mentioned that her mother advised her, "Now you’re free to experiment with your life and your work".

How does winning the Booker Prize change an author?

Winning the Booker Prize can be overwhelming and change an author, making them feel as if they become their characters.