She of the Mountains

Written by Vivek Shraya

Narrated by Vivek Shraya

A “Globe 100” Best Book of the Year (The Globe and Mail)

Lambda Literary Award finalist

In the beginning, there is no he. There is no she.

Two cells make up one cell. This is the mathematics behind creation. One plus one makes one. Life begets life. We are the period to a sentence, the effect to a cause, always belonging to someone. We are never our own.

This is why we are so lonely.

She of the Mountains is a beautifully rendered illustrated novel by Vivek Shraya, the author of the Lambda Literary Award finalist God Loves Hair. Shraya weaves a passionate, contemporary love story between a man and his body, with a re-imagining of Hindu mythology. Both narratives explore the complexities of embodiment and the damaging effects that policing gender and sexuality can have on the human heart.

Bespeak Audio Editions brings Canadian voices to the world with audiobook editions of some of the country’s greatest works of literature, performed by Canadian actors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ECW Press
• Release date: Dec 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781773055305

Vivek Shraya

Vivek Shraya is an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, and film. Her best-selling book I’m Afraid of Men was heralded by Vanity Fair as “cultural rocket fuel.” She is the founder of the award-winning publishing imprint VS. Books that supports emerging BIPOC writers. A seven-time Lambda Literary Award finalist, Shraya lives in Treaty 7 territory, where she is Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Calgary.

Reviews for She of the Mountains

[QsVerb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a beautiful and contemplative story. May we all journey to find our way home to ourselves.

[Quasheba lI · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked how the author incorporated aspects of Indian culture and storytelling as part of the book. I also appreciated the representation of a coming of age and growing into one's queerness. A great quick read, recommend!

[Kel · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Some of this made me uncomfortable just because of how I related to it and understanding my queerness finally. The way that the author talked about their own journey, their culture and life within the family and dealing with coming to terms with it… it made for a captivating read.