'Destination Wedding' by Professor Diksha Basu '14 Shortlisted for Comedy Women in Print Prize
Incoming Assistant Professor Diksha Basu '14 has been shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize for her latest novel, Destination Wedding (Ballantine Books, 2020).
“This is a fantastic shortlist, showcasing the tremendous breadth and diversity of women’s comic writing,” said Joanne Harris, Chair of Judges for the CWIP Published Novels Prize, in an official statement. “From domestic disaster to murder most femme, this list offers something for everyone.”
Basu’s novel follows Tina Das as she struggles with a breakup, a stalled career, and a feeling of alienation in New York City. In an attempt to escape these nagging issues, she decides to take a weeklong trip to Delhi for her cousin's wedding, hoping that the posh event and some time with family will help her clear her mind. Little does she know that more chaos and drama await her in Delhi, and Tina must grapple "with the nuances of family, careers, belonging, and how we find the people who make a place feel like home."
The winners of the 2021 Comedy Women in Print Prize will be announced on November 8, 2021.
Original article: August 6, 2021 by Nicole Saldarriaga
Destination Wedding (Ballantine Books, 2020), the latest novel by Incoming Assistant Professor and alumna Diksha Basu '14, has been longlisted for the 2021 Comedy Women in Print Prize.
Established in 2019, The Comedy Women in Print Prize was launched by comedian, author, and actress Helen Lederer who felt that more exposure needed to be given to diverse female voices in comedy writing. The prize celebrates both published and unpublished novels by women living in the UK and Ireland, with the winner in the published category receiving 3,000 pounds and the winner in the unpublished category receiving a publishing contract and generous advance from HarperFiction.
Destination Wedding has been longlisted in the Published category along with 13 other titles. The novel follows Tina Das as she struggles with a breakup, a stalled career, and a feeling of alienation in New York City. In an attempt to escape these nagging issues, she decides to take a weeklong trip to Delhi for her cousin's wedding, hoping that the posh event and some time with family will help her clear her mind. Little does she know that more chaos and drama await her in Delhi, and Tina must grapple "with the nuances of family, careers, belonging, and how we find the people who make a place feel like home."
Helen Lederer said of the longlist, "Who knew that lockdown could offer such a broad sweep of satire, witty storytelling, and yes, we dare say, blatant laughs. This year's entries are as mind blowing in their differences as they are united in wit and feistiness. We never needed wit on the page more and these authors were the cavalry."
"What a marvellously diverse longlist," added Joanne Harris, chair of judges for the Published Novel Prize, "Humour is the thing that connects and reflects all of humanity; and I'm really looking forward to immersing myself in the wit and wisdom of these amazing women, and bringing their voices to the attention of a wider public."
The winners of the 2021 Comedy Women in Print Prize will be announced on November 8, 2021.
Originally from New Delhi, India, Diksha Basu is the internationally best-selling author of The Windfall (a People Magazine pick, NYTimes Editor's Pick, Time Magazine Pick, Target Diverse Book Club pick, and more) and Destination Wedding (shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize), both of which are currently in development for the screen. She was a columnist at Mint Lounge and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, The BBC, NYMag, and several other publications. She holds a Bachelors in Economics and French Literature from Cornell University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.