The Curse and the Cup
The Curse and the Cup is a harrowing story of unpaid karmic debt,
Book Summary →
The Curse and the Cup
The Curse and the Cup is a harrowing story of unpaid karmic debt, of the dark, unvanquished consequences of apartheid that continue to exact revenge and cripple dreams till today.
On an ill-fated day in 1991, Vuyisa Lingani and his son Manga, legendary left-arm spinners who couldn’t play international cricket for South Africa because they were black, die within hours of each other in a bizarre tragedy. Vuyisa’s wife, Mama Nonkosi, blames the white cricket establishment and places a curse on the South African cricket team to avenge their deaths. The curse has successfully prevented the Proteas from winning a single World Cup championship since.
But Mama Nonkosi is dying, and the curse needs a new caretaker. She turns to her grandson, Themba, the sole-surviving Lingani male, and heir to the left-arm spin dynasty. Will Themba honor her request and support the family’s tradition of hate and revenge, or will he pursue his own destiny and choose forgiveness? Will South Africa win the ICC 2015 World Cup, or will the curse continue its unbroken victorious run?
What readers say about the book🧐
I escaped into a colorful world of cricket! I love the characters--they are so believable and interesting. And the different cultural details, food and beliefs--add spice to the story. Love Jaadoo! I know little to nothing about the game of cricket, but there is so much more to this book that it was not a problem.The life lessons are nicely built into the story, and provided inspiration to me. Esp the fable of the monkey and the fish and Jaadoo's comment that "By jumping in prematurely...we often deny others the chance to learn, to live, to grow." This is the beauty of the book. People can find the lesson they need in there. The poignant observations of racism are particularly salient. Surely not by accident were the books The Old Man and the Sea and The Little Prince mentioned. I see parallels.So, great characters, compelling plot, strong metaphorical underpinnings. Read it!
Bardowl
About the Author →
Gaurav Bhalla
Gaurav Bhalla has led a diverse and varied life as a global business executive, consultant, entrepreneur, educator, author, and speaker. Growing up his goal was to be a scholar-athlete–like Roger Bannister–so he pursued both academics and athletics vigorously. The former won out, though he still catches himself wishing he had participated in at least one Olympics.
His passion is the human condition. How people resolve their feelings of love, hate, envy, jealousy, and anger; how they permit or prevent their feelings from finding their way to words and actions; how they decide which words, which actions to call on stage is what moves him, and compels him to write. He finds the human condition a fertile ground for stories, because it is what makes life and people interesting and attractive, and, at the same time, frustrating and repulsive.
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The Curse and the Cup is a harrowing story of unpaid karmic debt,