Divya Tombran

By The Mud Stove Divya Tombran

Starting in the nineteen-sixties and spanning over two decades, By The Mud Stove is a story about an orphan girl, Indira, who grows up with her grandmother, Nani, in Rose Hall Village, Guyana. Among many others, their lives intertwine with Francine's, Indira's best friend, capturing moments of laughter, tears, and joy around the fire of the mud stove. The plot depicts an enchanting time of innocence and relates the love and life stories of six characters - Indira, Francine, Laliwa, Sally, Afonso, and Ling - all of whom represent the six peoples of Guyana. The story brings alive the scenes and moods of that magical era in this quaint little village, and, also, portrays a time of hardship and poverty, and the spirit of caring and sharing under these conditions. The tale will take you on the journey of Indira and Francine's lives, from kindergarten to high school, and as they embark on their married lives as teenagers, illustrating the deep friendship between the two, whose bond in the end is tested with a most unpredictable circumstance.