Excellent writing, creates characters and evokes the setting with realism. To deal with the lose of only child a couple leave MI as the husband takes a managerial position in India. Their marriage is floundering, each tries to adjust to their roles in India. There are harsh events in their lives and devastating ending. This was a book discussion selection during 2012, and produced a variety of topics.
The backdrop of India and it's political and cultural world plays a large part of telling a personal story. Very enlightening and thought provoking.
I liked this book on so many levels. The obvious-insight into Indian lifestyle and caste system. To say that it is about a couple after their son dies, just doesn't cover enough, compared to other books of that type. When the main character, an American, befriends an Indian boy, his father becomes jealous, his wife has her own needs, and what about how it affects the Indian boy. The book also gives a bit of insight into American companies doing business in India. The author lives in America and many times throughout the book, I wondered what her view is of Americans, the plusses and minuses of living in her adopted country.
I have really enjoyed Ms. Umrigar's books. I enjoyed this one, as well. Very thought provoking. However, I have never disliked a character so much in my life as I did Frank. What an ass, to be blunt. He suffered a great and terrible loss. But what he does is not even remotely forgivable. Read it and see for yourself. The writing is beautiful, but this guy is not.
