The Oprah Podcast Megha Majumdar: "A Guardian and a Thief" | Oprah's Book Club
Oct 14, 2025
In this lively discussion, Megha Majumdar, author of the acclaimed novel *A Guardian and a Thief*, explores the intertwining themes of moral conflict and climate change. She dives into how Kolkata's realities shape her characters, revealing their complex motivations and the struggle between familial love and societal responsibilities. Megha also addresses the nuances of failure in writing, the ambiguous nature of hope, and how desperation can lead to unexpected actions. The conversation paints a vivid portrait of humanity in crisis.
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Kolkata Sparked The Novel
- Megha Majumdar says Kolkata is her hometown and the novel began from that place of intimacy.
- She studied climate predictions for Kolkata and asked how love and hope operate in crisis.
When Love Collides With Ethics
- Megha explores how ethical selves clash with caregiving selves under pressure.
- She asks what we become when fierce love forces moral compromises.
Famine Seen Through Food Memory
- Megha frames famine through the emotional bond families have with food.
- She imagines climate food substitutes and how that would alter communal nourishment.