Night Train to Varanasi: India with my daughter

Travel writer and editor Sean Doyle has loved India for decades, so when his first-born, Anna, finishes high school, they set off on a two-month trip. She wants an adventure; he wants a holiday. But India is no cakewalk, especially for women: he’s nervous.

Night Train to Varanasi showcases Sean’s ability to reflect on his lived experience, shape it into a compelling narrative, and write in such a way that the particulars of his life become universals we can all relate to. He speaks for all of us when he describes the emotional rollercoaster rides that comprise parenting, ageing, the challenges of India and life in general, and his hopes for his child.

Blending erudition, humour and paternal angst, this is a beautifully nuanced exploration of a father–daughter relationship set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most intense cultural experiences. A compelling and insightful reading experience.