The Sound of Language

Escaping the turmoil and heartbreak of war-torn Kabul, Raihana settles with distant relatives in the strange, cold, damp country of Denmark.

Homesick and heartbroken, Raihana bravely attempts to start a new life, trying hard not to ponder the fate of her husband, who was taken prisoner by the Taliban and never heard from again.

Soon after arriving, Raihana finds herself in a language school, struggling to learn Danish, which she thinks sounds like the buzzing of bees.

To improve her speaking skills, Raihana apprentices herself to Gunnar, a recent widower who is steadily withdrawing from the world around him, even neglecting the bee colonies he worked so hard to cultivate with his late wife.

Over the course of the bee season, Raihana and Gunnar forge an unlikely relationship, despite the disapproval of their friends and relatives.

But when the violence Raihana thought she had left behind in Afghanistan rears its head, she and Gunnar are forced to confront the ghosts of the past as they navigate the uncertain future…

‘A quietly powerful story about a young Afghani woman adjusting to a new life in Denmark. Malladi's story of two wounded people beset by prejudice has a ring of authenticity. The Sound of Language is finely written, spare but eloquent, sensitive but free of false sentiment.’ - The Boston Globe

‘The Sound of Language is a gripping, captivating novel that opens readers’ eyes to the story of immigration — a life that those who lack the firsthand experience can only imagine.’ - The Oakland Press

AMULYA MALLADI was born and raised in India. She lived in the United States for several years before moving to Denmark. She now lives in Copenhagen with her husband and two sons. She is also the author of ‘Serving Crazy with Curry’. You can contact her at www.amulyamalladi.com .

Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.