However Far Away
Longlist, Canada Reads 2025
A sweeping family saga set against the backdrop of a Sikh wedding.
A stunning debut by a talented new voice, However Far Away is an unforgettable story about family secrets, painful compromises, and the promises we break to ourselves and others.
House of Anansi, 2024
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About the book
Longlist, Canada Reads 2025
A sweeping family saga set against the backdrop of a Sikh wedding.
On the morning of his nephew’s wedding, Devinder Gill is certain the delicate balance of his life will not be upset. Dev is married to Kuldip, and together they are raising two young children in Vancouver. But Dev also has a secret: an affair with his first love, an Irish Canadian woman named Emily Rice. Today, both women will attend the wedding.
As the day progresses through the traditional marriage rituals, the circumstances that led to this precarious situation are revealed through the alternating perspectives of Devinder, Emily, and Kuldip. Dev fails to recognize the building threats—an unwelcome guest, a wandering daughter, a repentant father—and by day’s end must accept that he does not have the control over his life that he imagined.
A stunning debut by a talented new voice, However Far Away is an unforgettable story about family secrets, painful compromises, and the promises we break to ourselves and others.
HOWEVER FAR AWAY Playlist:
iTunes playlist for However Far Away:
Spotify playlist for However Far Away
Other Voices
Omar El Akkad, Giller Prize–winning author of What Strange Paradise.
“However Far Away is a restrained and precise exploration of the fragile threads that hold so much of life together. Rajinderpal S. Pal expertly wields a fractured narrative of a looming wedding and its constellation of guests and participants to show how often love and duplicity intersect. What results is a beautiful debut novel about the calamitous aftereffects of decisions made and unmade, secrets kept and spilled.” — Omar El Akkad, Giller Prize–winning author of What Strange Paradise.
Apple Books
“Empathy runs like a current through this rich debut novel about family drama, complicated emotions, and the power of community. There’s a big Sikh family wedding happening in Canada, and everyone’s attending, including Devinder, his wife Kuldip… and his lover Emily. Author Rajinderpal S. Pal plays with time, giving us glimpses into the past through the perspectives of all three. Each of them has a plan to survive the day, but as things go wrong and tensions rise, those plans begin to go out the window. Pal builds this tale around stunningly realistic depictions of sticky relationships and uncomfortable, sometimes heart-wrenching emotions. He also has a sensitive eye for detail when it comes to the setting of Canada itself, filling in the spaces between broken promises and tense dialogue with glorious descriptions of the natural scenery and unique wildlife. However Far Away is a bold look at the consequences of making—and not making—important decisions.” — Apple Books.
Sesay Arts Magazine
“However Far Away (House of Anansi Press, 2024) is an achingly beautiful and deeply resonant debut novel that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of home – in an elegantly telescoped and richly nuanced way.” — Arpita Ghosal, Sesay Arts Magazine
Open Book
“Already a critically acclaimed stage performer and poet, Rajinderpal S. Pal has distilled a secret love affair, cultural complexities, and family drama into his new novel. It’s a stunning debut by the author, and one that is sure to reach a broad literary audience.” — Open Book, August 12, 2024.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Features on However Far Away
However Far Away has captured attention for its evocative storytelling and rich themes. Explore these features and interviews to see how critics and writers have engaged with the novel’s exploration of love, music, and belonging.
Open Book
Rajinderpal S. Pal Explores Family Secrets, Painful Compromises, and the Promises We Break in However Far Away
Perfect for Book Clubs
Looking for meaningful discussion prompts for your next book club meeting? Explore a collection of thought-provoking questions designed to spark conversation and deeper engagement with However Far Away. Dive into the themes, characters, and ideas that make this book unforgettable.
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PULSE
pappaji wrote poetry in a language i cannot read
