If You Like X, You Will Like My Book

When preparing to pitch my book to agents,

a question that comes up often is that of comparative titles.

It is hard for me to answer that in relation to the story I have written. Lonely Dove is about love and soulmates, as well as culture. The protagonist, Anjali, is of Indian origin. She was raised in Colombia and moved to New York City to go to college. I included magical elements, although my writing is grounded and practical.

For me, the better approach is “If you like X, you’ll like my book.” If you like the books on this list, it is likely that you will like Lonely Dove:

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

The novel follows Ana, Jesus Christ’s fictional wife, from the moment they meet, why they don’t have children, and the circumstances under which they are separated. This is a tale of a woman who finds her voice despite history’s attempt to erase women. My story is about how a woman finds herself. Both women face difficult situations and use spirituality to navigate them. 

Music of the Ghosts by Vaddey Ratner

The book contrasts an Old Musician who lives in Cambodia and Teera who immigrated to Minnesota but travels back to Cambodia after the death of her aunt. The story flips between the Old Musician and his struggles and wounds, and Teera and her journey of grief and self-discovery. My story is also about self-discovery and incorporates the immigrant experience in the US. Both books incorporate mystical elements, albeit in different ways. The subject matter of this book is far more solemn than mine. On a side note, the author graduated from my alma matter, Cornell University, so I feel a personal connection. 

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

The book is dark and complex, evident from the title, but the events are unexpected. The book tells the story of Vivek and his family through the eyes of Vivek (as a ghost), his mother, and his cousin. The story is set in Nigeria and includes Indian immigrants in Nigeria. My book has an Indian family living as expats in Colombia, and a different type of complexity. 

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

It is an immigrant story about grief, addiction, mental health, and faith. It is about how Gifty, the protagonist, makes sense of a world in which she is alone. It is beautiful and heartbreaking. My story is also about immigrants, and it includes heartbreak, faith, and loneliness. Both books are about how a woman makes sense of herself, although their stories are different and they come about it in very different ways.

None of these offer an exact comparison, and that is a good thing. Every person’s story is different and everybody has a unique perspective. Yet we can still connect with what is at the heart of the story. That is how we come together and appreciate that in our differences, we have similarities.