The Inheritence of Loss
First off, sorry for major delay between posts. My enthusiasm for reading/bookclub (like lots of things in life) ebbs and flows. That said, I'm really happy to be reading The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. I'm currently midway through the book and I'm intrigued. The backdrop of the story shifts from New York City to Kalimpong (a hillside town nestled at the foot of the Himalayas). Desai uses these two perspectives show how lives interact between the West and the East. Given that Desai left India at 15 and has lived in England and the US since, she offers an authentic voice to the story. Also, once major theme explored in the novel is the lasting impact of British Colonialism.
In addition to shifting geographically, the story maneuvers from past to present (set in the 1980s) to tell a rich family history of the characters (which I find quite reminiscent of Middlesex). I'm looking forward to finding out where Desai takes the story in the 2nd half.
About the Author
The Inheritance of Loss is Kiran Desai's 2nd novel and has received widespread success, both commercial and critical. At the age of 35, Desai won the Man Booker Prize for fiction (2006), for the Inheritance of Loss, making her the youngest woman to win the prize.
Another interesting fact about the author is that she is the daughter of Anita Desai, a well-respected author who was short-listed for the Man Booker 3 times. Anita Desai is probably best known for her novel In Custody (short-listed for The Booker), which was later made into a Merchant Ivory film.
posted by MJ @ 12:38 p.m.
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