“Simi K. Rao’s Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree is a compelling collection of poems and short stories. Her spare and deceptively simple poetry leaves the reader with a new appreciation of our universal humanity, and her short stories will leave you wanting more.”
—Marianne Novelli, M.D.
“Rao amazes yet again with a true sense of what the modern woman goes through every day. We must battle cultural norms yet rebel in a way to gain our wings to do what we yearn to accomplish. She describes the dual roles of women, no matter where one comes from.”
—Sonali Dhir, Advance Practice Nurse, Family Nurse Practitioner
“I read Simi K Rao’s Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree in two sittings. I simply couldn’t put it down. The short stories were penned with an appreciation for the important placement of imagery, detail, and dialogue. This skill combined with likeable and formidable characters makes for an impressive read. But it is the poetry that grabbed me. Her innate propensity for unearthing our shared humanness, no matter our differences, strikes an emotional tone that allows her reader to not only relate, but to empathize. The poetry is straight up and to the point. It does not have to be interpreted or dissected to be understood. Simi is a straight shooter and certainly had an impact on this reader.”
—Dallas H, Author of Shaking the Family Tree
“Simi K. Rao’s Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree is an engrossing read. Each poem tells a different story which strikes a chord with the readers instantly.”
—Priyasree Naskar, Student and Educator
