The Inheritance of loss by Kiran Desai

[George]

Please comment here on 'The Inheritance of Loss' by Kiran Desai, 2006 Booker Prize winner and the 2007 National Book Critics Circle for fiction Award.

[George]

A powerful, unpleasant, interesting, clever, bleak novel set in Kalimpong, near the Nepali border in the north of East Bengal. Jemubhai Patel is a retired Indian judge, educated in Cambridge, England, who lives in a big house with his cook and Sai, his innocent teenage granddaughter. There are two main story threads. Sai’s love of Gyan, a Nepali teacher, who becomes involved with the Gorkhaland national Liberation Front. The other main story is about Jemubhai’s cook’s son Biju, an illegal immigrant living in New York, USA, being extremely poorly paid as a restaurant worker. We also find out about Jemubhai Patel’s history. His life as a Cambridge student and his abuse of his young Indian wife that he returned to.

A memorable read. A book that explores themes including identity, privilege, power dynamics, cultural loss, the legacy of colonialism and the impact of migration,

[Irene]

I read this some time ago, but can't recall much. I have a hold on it at my library.

[George]

I also read this book a long time ago. I had completely forgotten what the novel was about. Back in 2007 I gave it a four star rating. I note ‘Goodreads’ average rating is 3.45 with over 50,000 ratings. I expect this is partly due to the unlikeable characters and overall bleakness of the novel. Personally I think the book is a thought provoking read about a number of issues including the master and servant relationship, marriage in India, poverty, justice and migration. A sad but worthwhile reading experience.

[Irene]

I finally got my copy from libby. I also had forgotten most of the book which I read about 20 years ago. I am glad I reread it. I don't recall enjoying it the first time. This time I was engaged. It was not a pleasant read. Judge is cruel. Cook and his son are so powerless before the forces that impoverish them. The brutality of the police and the casual violence of the rebels make this a world in which tragedy is heaped on tragedy. But I agree, the themes that are explored are vast. And the author does not spoon feed anything to the reader. This would be a great book group discussion for serious readers.

[George]

Irene, good that you too found the book an engaging read. Kieran Desai is not a prolific author, only publishing 3 novels so far. This year ‘The Loneliness of Sonia Sunny’ ,her newest novel was published, nineteen years after her last novel, ‘The Inheritance of Loss’. Her first novel ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’ was first published in 1998.

[Irene]

I never heard of that first one. I did see reviews of her recent one.