A Girl Within A Girl Within a Girl follows Maya— no, Sunny?— or was it Neena?— could’ve been Synthia? Let’s start over.
A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl, by Nanda Reddy, follows an Indo-Guyanese woman who immigrated to the United States at the age of 12 through her journey of identity.
Reddy’s debut novel, officially released in March of this year, creates a space to indulge in stories with Guyanese protagonists. Before her own, Reddy was not familiar with any book that centered its plot around Guyanese characters and their culture. Now, she is excited to open conversations about culture and identity with Guyanese Americans having a voice in the discussions.
“There’s a caveat; it’s a Guyanese American story, but also not the Guyanese American story,” said Reddy.
The novel focuses on the main character, Maya, who assumes three other identities throughout the story’s progression. These personas reflect her change in mindset as she processes adulthood in, essentially, survival mode. Sunny, her first persona, represents a sense of naivety that all children have. Despite her innocence, she knows that her family is in financial trouble and she feels the unfair pressure of fixing it. Upon her migration to the U.S., she must shed Sunny, leaving behind the naivety with her and assume her new identity: Neena. In this phase of her life, she is introduced to the concept of choice—something that is uncomfortable to her, being a “fish out of water” in the U.S. Her next identity, Synthia, is all about choice… whether the readers agree or disagree with the ones she makes. And these choices lead her to her final persona, Maya; a woman who must navigate her relationships with her family in Guyana while creating her own identity and family in America.
Maturing in the discovery of one’s identity is understanding how culture, interests and personality traits work cohesively in the essence and presentation of a person. However, readers may not agree with the gradual understanding of identity that Maya comes to, as it is influenced by trauma and a yearning to be accepted in her new home.
“I wanted to write a story that showed in many ways how assimilation erases parts of you when you’re from a different culture and you’re trying to assimilate in that greater American culture,” Reddy explains.
The discovery of identity is an inevitable life process, one that should not be derailed by the pressure to alter or morph its truths in order to “fit in.” And while Maya faces that obstacle from the perspective of seeking identity amid immigration, the feeling of needing to change parts of yourself to become more alike those around you is a common theme.
“This is a very specific immigrant story, but I do think other people can see themselves mirrored in it; in the parts they hide and the parts they share and the different selves that we show the world, right?” reasons Reddy.
“This is a very specific immigrant story, but I do think other people can see themselves mirrored in it; in the parts they hide and the parts they share and the different selves that we show the world, right?”
– Nanda Reddy
While it eloquently handles heavy themes, A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl draws in an element of humor from its 80s references. Barbies, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Pop-Tarts, for example, are moments of childhood nostalgia threaded throughout the plot. Reddy fondly recalls memories with these 80s staples and hopes that readers can further relate on a lighthearted level.
“I remember the first time I had a pop tart. She [Sunny] has a pop tart for the first time and it’s just this explosion of like sweetness like where it almost feels too sweet, especially if you’re not used to processed food, which I wasn’t at the time,” Reddy describes, mid-laughter.
The best stories are influenced by the author’s personal experiences and truths, because authors write what they know. Reddy has a deaf sister, as Sunny does with Roshi. Reddy was also just three years younger than Sunny (9) when she moved from Guyana to Miami, FL, where she had to adjust to a new culture as well. Learning the language and pronunciation was a focus which Reddy specifically recalls. She was corrected, plenty of times, for her pronunciation of the number three (to which she said, “tree.”).
And to further connect the audience to the Indo-Guyanese influences and shared experiences thredded throughout the novel, Reddy has popped into different book stores across the country to personally speak about the story and sign a few copies, too! Saturday, April 5 Reddy will be paying homage to her roots, by making an appearance at Kendall Miami’s Barnes & Nobles (close to where she, herself grew up) to discuss Guyanese food and identity alongside Guyanese-American food blogger, Alica Ramkirpal-Senhouse, of Alica’s Pepperpot.
“There’s quite a bit of mining from my life in coloring the story,” confirms Reddy.
Which is needed, for the novel to feel real— for the novel to feel alive.
A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl, the story that Reddy had to get off mind and on paper, is finally on shelves. It’s a read that demands vulnerability and understanding in the acceptance of identity and the weight that may carry. Nanda Reedy outdid herself with her first release; in just a mont since its drop, the title received an “Apple Books Best Book of March,” award, an “Apple Books Favorite Debut for March,” award, and a, “National Bestseller,” title. Pick it up now and you won’t be able to put it down.
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