Inheritance of Loss

Writer: Kiran Desai (won a booker for this one)
Genre: Fiction

My second booker read the first being Roy's - God of Small Things. Things havent changed and I sincerely think I am just not the booker kinds. I am a hopeless fiction fan and although I do not entertain melodrama I dislike those touchy kinds too. If you keep talking about emotions all the while I can’t bear it. Ok! Let me get back to the book

Set in Kalimpong, a hill station in the Himalayan foothills this book is primarily a story of 3 people. One - a retired judge, Jemubhai Patel; second – his grand daughter Sai and third – Patel’s cook’s son, Biju.

The judge is a quite fellow staying with his cook when suddenly he is entrusted with the responsibility of his grand daughter who comes to stay with him after her parents demise in an accident. Sai, as she is called is not exactly welcomed into the household but manages to become a part of their existence. The judge’s cook has a son named Biju who is in America and is managing to meet ends and his letters are the only hope for the cook.

The book talks about these 3 people in a forward and reverse manner. The judge’s story is a flashback, how he was sent to England so that he would become an ICS and help his community. He however turns out to be more British and upon his return is unable to adjust his living to the standards of his family. He eventually ends up leaving all of them including his wife and is happy with his lone existence.

The cook has managed to send his son abroad to America with the hope of a bright future but Biju is completely at loss in the USA. He tries hard to cope with the pressures of an illegal immigrant and always misses his homeland. This is is the only section of the book that made sense to me.

Sai, meanwhile starts a love affair with her Maths tutor Gyan who is also member of the rebel group demanding an independent state for Gorkhas. The ego clashes between Gyan and Sai was the best part of the entire book.

The book, like many others has a snail’s pace and I think the last 200 pages are where the stories build up. Maybe it’s just that I am not yet able to understand these type of books. If you are a terrific reader with versatility being your USP try this one out. First timers and leisure readers skip this one…..this one is probably for the veterans.