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A Beautiful Decay: A Novel
Vishnu, a twenty-one-year-old Indian student out drinking in a bar in Washington D.C., is murdered in a hate crime. At the moment of his death, Vishnu takes flight and traces the sequence of events that led to his life being extinguished. Speeding through the past, present, and future, his consciousness witnesses the hate and violence on two continents.
As Vishnu looks back on his short life, we see the brutal acts of his father who built an empire in the Hindi heartland of India on the blood and trampled beliefs of others so his family could lead the good life. When Vishnu gets to America, he finds that the detestation and othering that targeted one set of people in his homeland is replaced by more of the same in the country he has landed in, except this time he doesn’t belong to the class of oppressors but that of the oppressed.
Visceral and intense, this tremendous debut novel is a clear-eyed look at the barbarity that lies just beneath the surface in countries like India and America and the toll it takes on the lives of innocents.
As Vishnu looks back on his short life, we see the brutal acts of his father who built an empire in the Hindi heartland of India on the blood and trampled beliefs of others so his family could lead the good life. When Vishnu gets to America, he finds that the detestation and othering that targeted one set of people in his homeland is replaced by more of the same in the country he has landed in, except this time he doesn’t belong to the class of oppressors but that of the oppressed.
Visceral and intense, this tremendous debut novel is a clear-eyed look at the barbarity that lies just beneath the surface in countries like India and America and the toll it takes on the lives of innocents.
296 pages, Hardcover
Published October 5, 2022
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Karan Madhok
2 books7 followersKaran Madhok is an Indian writer, editor, and journalist. He is the author of the novel A Beautiful Decay (Aleph Book Company, 2022) and the nonfiction book Ananda: An Exploration of Cannabis in India (December, 2024). His work has appeared in Epiphany, Sycamore Review, Gargoyle, Fifty Two, Scroll, The Plank, The Caravan, and the anthology A Case of Indian Marvels: Dazzling Stories from the Country’s Finest New Writers.
Karan loves Butter Chicken, the New York Knicks, and taking long walks around the Himalaya.
Karan loves Butter Chicken, the New York Knicks, and taking long walks around the Himalaya.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 3, 2023
I feel so proud that I know the author of this book and have been speaking about books with him on his podcast. A masterfully woven story about family, hate, death, grief and “othering” narrated by a dead protagonist that spans events occurring in India and the USA that aren’t often very different from each other. Karan has his own unique style, one that combines North Indian and American in an important novel that I’m so glad is out there. Buy it now! You won’t regret it.
October 25, 2022
A beautifully written, intimate story.
Narrated by Vishnu, the book starts with his murder in a bar in DC (a hate crime). The book moves between flashbacks to Vishnu’s life before the murder and flash forwards to how the family copes with his death.
The book transports you between Varanasi and DC, with vivid descriptions of Varanasi and the industry of death in the city. It describes what it means to be a person of privilege in India, and how that changes in a country like America. The juxtaposition of Vishnu’s life with stories of the Indian factory worker and the Indian on a full scholarship in America working several jobs to make ends meet, makes it all the more impactful. It discusses the deadly price people often pay to get rich in India, and the dirty politicians inevitably behind it.
An important read that will leave you thinking for days and weeks after.
Narrated by Vishnu, the book starts with his murder in a bar in DC (a hate crime). The book moves between flashbacks to Vishnu’s life before the murder and flash forwards to how the family copes with his death.
The book transports you between Varanasi and DC, with vivid descriptions of Varanasi and the industry of death in the city. It describes what it means to be a person of privilege in India, and how that changes in a country like America. The juxtaposition of Vishnu’s life with stories of the Indian factory worker and the Indian on a full scholarship in America working several jobs to make ends meet, makes it all the more impactful. It discusses the deadly price people often pay to get rich in India, and the dirty politicians inevitably behind it.
An important read that will leave you thinking for days and weeks after.
January 28, 2025
Karan Madhok's debut novel, "A Beautiful Decay", begins with a harrowing act of gun violence that sets the tone for an emotionally charged narrative. The protagonist, Vishnu Agarwal, is a twenty-one-year-old Indian immigrant in America whose life ends abruptly in a hate crime. From this grim starting point, Madhok weaves a story that explores themes of identity, trauma, and memory through Vishnu's retrospective journey, allowing readers to witness his reflections on a life shaped by privilege, displacement, and societal violence.
One of the novel's central themes is the complexity of identity and belonging, particularly within the immigrant experience. Vishnu's journey reveals the dual challenges of reconciling his privileged background in India with his marginalized existence in America. Madhok masterfully portrays the psychological toll of navigating two cultures while facing systemic prejudice and alienation. This struggle extends to broader societal critiques, such as the persistent hate and violence in both American and Indian contexts, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about cultural and societal dynamics.
Karan Madhok employs a unique narrative device as Vishnu "binge-watches" his life after death, exploring how memory shapes identity and reality. This retrospective lens adds depth to the story, allowing for critical examinations of privilege and class. Vishnu's reflections on his father's oppressive actions in India contrast sharply with his vulnerability in America, creating a poignant commentary on how privilege operates differently across cultural landscapes. Supporting characters, such as Sanjeet and Kareem, further illustrate the nuanced intersections of class, opportunity, and struggle.
"A Beautiful Decay" transcends its narrative of personal tragedy to offer a compelling critique of societal structures. From caste-hetero-patriarchy to systemic inequality and the normalization of bigotry, Madhok lays bare the underpinnings of violence and discrimination in contemporary society. The novel’s raw, poetic prose evokes empathy while prompting introspection, making it an unforgettable exploration of the human condition. As a debut, it firmly establishes Karan Madhok as a voice to watch in modern literature.
One of the novel's central themes is the complexity of identity and belonging, particularly within the immigrant experience. Vishnu's journey reveals the dual challenges of reconciling his privileged background in India with his marginalized existence in America. Madhok masterfully portrays the psychological toll of navigating two cultures while facing systemic prejudice and alienation. This struggle extends to broader societal critiques, such as the persistent hate and violence in both American and Indian contexts, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about cultural and societal dynamics.
Karan Madhok employs a unique narrative device as Vishnu "binge-watches" his life after death, exploring how memory shapes identity and reality. This retrospective lens adds depth to the story, allowing for critical examinations of privilege and class. Vishnu's reflections on his father's oppressive actions in India contrast sharply with his vulnerability in America, creating a poignant commentary on how privilege operates differently across cultural landscapes. Supporting characters, such as Sanjeet and Kareem, further illustrate the nuanced intersections of class, opportunity, and struggle.
"A Beautiful Decay" transcends its narrative of personal tragedy to offer a compelling critique of societal structures. From caste-hetero-patriarchy to systemic inequality and the normalization of bigotry, Madhok lays bare the underpinnings of violence and discrimination in contemporary society. The novel’s raw, poetic prose evokes empathy while prompting introspection, making it an unforgettable exploration of the human condition. As a debut, it firmly establishes Karan Madhok as a voice to watch in modern literature.
May 2, 2025
Karan Madhok’s debut novel, "A Beautiful Decay", opens with a chilling act of gun violence that immediately sets an emotional and introspective tone. The story follows Vishnu Agarwal, a 21-year-old Indian immigrant whose life is cut short in a hate crime, and from the afterlife, he reflects on the complexities of his identity, privilege, and trauma. Through this unusual perspective—where Vishnu “binge-watches” his own memories—Madhok explores how past experiences and societal forces shape a person’s reality. Vishnu’s journey from privilege in India to vulnerability in America highlights the stark contrasts of cultural dislocation and the personal cost of navigating systemic prejudice.
What makes "A Beautiful Decay" particularly powerful is its broader commentary on social injustice. Madhok doesn’t just tell Vishnu’s story—he uses it to expose the harsh realities of caste, patriarchy, class, and racism in both Indian and American societies. The supporting characters add further depth, revealing the many faces of inequality and struggle. Written in poetic, emotionally raw prose, the novel invites readers to reflect on their own roles within these structures. It's a heartbreaking, thought-provoking debut that speaks with urgency and compassion, firmly positioning Karan Madhok as a bold and necessary voice in contemporary fiction.
What makes "A Beautiful Decay" particularly powerful is its broader commentary on social injustice. Madhok doesn’t just tell Vishnu’s story—he uses it to expose the harsh realities of caste, patriarchy, class, and racism in both Indian and American societies. The supporting characters add further depth, revealing the many faces of inequality and struggle. Written in poetic, emotionally raw prose, the novel invites readers to reflect on their own roles within these structures. It's a heartbreaking, thought-provoking debut that speaks with urgency and compassion, firmly positioning Karan Madhok as a bold and necessary voice in contemporary fiction.
October 31, 2022
“Everything has a price. The price, however, isn't always money”.
Depicting a sense of sad reality, the underlying theme of the book concerns Vishnu who happens to be a 21-year-old boy who loses his life to a hate crime and the last thing he does before everything fades into infinite obscurity is compare the grim realities of Varanasi and Washington D.C as he was killed in the latter. The book has been divided into more than 30 chapters and no specific titles have been accorded to them. The first chapter of the book begins by using a specific word that makes the readers believe that they are in for a read with which they can relate and further he analyses his life in Varanasi and the commanding aspects of his father as well. As the chapters go further, they tend to go in many directions which mostly remain thrilling and gripping as well.
The writing style of the book has been kept simple, and comprehensive, however, there are many instances where the usage of swear words persists, however, the same is not overdone and it complements the underlying context in which it was said. Thus, this book becomes a read for anyone willing to for an engaging and introspective read as well.
Depicting a sense of sad reality, the underlying theme of the book concerns Vishnu who happens to be a 21-year-old boy who loses his life to a hate crime and the last thing he does before everything fades into infinite obscurity is compare the grim realities of Varanasi and Washington D.C as he was killed in the latter. The book has been divided into more than 30 chapters and no specific titles have been accorded to them. The first chapter of the book begins by using a specific word that makes the readers believe that they are in for a read with which they can relate and further he analyses his life in Varanasi and the commanding aspects of his father as well. As the chapters go further, they tend to go in many directions which mostly remain thrilling and gripping as well.
The writing style of the book has been kept simple, and comprehensive, however, there are many instances where the usage of swear words persists, however, the same is not overdone and it complements the underlying context in which it was said. Thus, this book becomes a read for anyone willing to for an engaging and introspective read as well.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews