Booker Prize-shortlisted author Avni Doshi’s much-awaited second novel ‘The First House’, has released not only as hardcover, but also as an audiobook by Audible.
Published in partnership with HarperCollins India, the audiobook has not only launched with the physical book but also the eBook edition, giving readers and listeners the opportunity to experience the story in their preferred format from the first day.
Following the global success of ‘Burnt Sugar’, first published in India as ‘Girl in White Cotton’ and shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize, ‘The First House’ marks Doshi’s return with a deeply evocative novel about emotional rupture, reinvention and the possibility of starting over.
The novel follows a woman whose seemingly secure life is upended when her husband unexpectedly asks for a divorce. As she finds herself raising two young daughters while confronting the collapse of the future she imagined, she begins an inward journey through memory, mythology and self-discovery.
Narrated by Avni Doshi, the audiobook offers listeners a uniquely personal experience of the novel. Hearing the story in the author’s own voice adds emotional depth and authenticity, allowing audiences to experience its shifting moods, quiet tensions and lyrical prose exactly as she envisioned them.
Shailesh Sawlani, head of Global Revenue Marketing, Audible, said, “Avni Doshi is one of the most distinctive literary voices of our time, and The First House is a powerful exploration of identity, change and resilience. Releasing the audiobook alongside the print edition ensures listeners can experience this remarkable story from the moment it enters the world, in whichever format they choose. Having Avni narrate the audiobook herself makes the listening experience especially intimate, allowing audiences to connect with the emotional depth and nuance of the novel through the author’s own voice. ”
Doshi said, “Writing and narrating are very different acts of storytelling. When I recorded The First House, I found myself returning to the emotional rhythms of the novel in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Reading the story aloud made me notice its silences, its tensions and its moments of transformation differently. I’m happy that listeners will be able to experience the book this way, and I hope hearing it in my own voice creates a more intimate encounter with the story.“
Praised by celebrated authors including Douglas Stuart, Katie Kitamura, Geetanjali Shree and Deepa Anappara, The First House has already been recognised for its incisive prose, emotional intensity and powerful exploration of marriage, motherhood and identity.
The First House audiobook is now available on the platform, for those who may not want to read the book but would love to listen to it.
Author Avni Doshi's 'The First House' releases as audiobook in her own voice
