Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
London : Faber, 2003.
Description
From the author of the highly acclaimed A fine balance comes Rohinton Mistry's eagerly anticipated new novel is set in Bombay in the mid-1990s. Nariman, an ailing, elderly Parsi widower, lives with his middle-aged stepchildren and dreams of the past. When he breaks an ankle and can no longer partake of his one pleasure, a daily walk through the neighborhood, his bitter stepdaughter schemes to move him to her sister's home and relieve herself of the burden of caring for him. The move is accomplished, but living in a new household with Roxana, her husband and two young boys sets into motion a series of events that lead to the unraveling of the family's secrets and surprising revelations from the past. Family matters is a brilliantly evocative novel that confirms Mistry's a reputation as one of the finest writers of our time.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member lauralkeet
They continued to cope, poorly, with the excretions and secretions of their stepfather's body, moving from revulsion to pity to anger, and back to revulsion. They were bewildered, and indignant, that a human creature of blood and bone, so efficient in good health, could suddenly become so messy.
Nariman Vakeel is an elderly, retired English professor suffering from Parkinson's Disease. He lives in the family home -- ironically named Chateau Felicity -- with his middle-aged step-children, Jal and Coomy. Nariman married their mother Yasmin when Jal and Coomy were children, after his family forbid him to marry his true love, Lucy. He raised them along with a younger half-sister, Roxana. Coomy is filled with resentment; everyone else walks on eggshells to avoid her bitterness. Jal feigns obliviousness, tinkering with his hearing aid when tempers flare.
When Nariman falls while out on a walk, Jal and Coomy are quickly overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for him. Coomy wastes no time tricking Roxana into taking him in. Roxana and her family live in a smaller flat and struggle to make ends meet, but they are blessed with a more positive outlook on life. Even Roxana's young sons take things in stride:
The balcony door framed the scene: nine-year-old happily feeding seventy-nine.
And then it struck her like a revelation -- of what, she could not say. Hidden by the screen of damp clothes, she watched, clutching Yezad's shirt in her hands. She felt she was witnessing something almost sacred, and her eyes refused to relinquish the previous moment, for she knew instinctively that it would become a memory to cherish, to recall in difficult times when she needed strength. (p. 98)
But as weeks pass, the strain takes its toll on everyone. Coomy takes dramatic steps to keep up the illusion she is unable to care for Nariman. Jal is silently complicit. Roxana tries, in vain, to stretch Yezad's salary to cover the cost of Nariman's medication. And Yezad responds to the financial strain through a series of progressively destructive acts aimed at improving their financial situation. Eventually they hit rock bottom in ways both inevitable and shocking, and are then faced with the challenge of rebuilding what they hold most dear.
I put off reading this book for some time, thinking it might strike too close to home. My father has Parkinson's, and last year a medical incident set in motion a series of events culminating in my parents' long-overdue move to a continuous care retirement community. Family Matters was indeed painful to read, although I could distance myself from it because the Vakeel family's situation was very different from mine. And yet there are valuable messages in this book about the importance of family, and living for today, that are still with me days after finishing the book.
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Neither Nariman's age nor his previous illnesses had served to warn them. Sometimes they took it personally, as though their stepfather had reduced himself to this state to harass them. And by nightfall, the air was again fraught with tension, thick with reproaches spoken and silent. (p 68)Nariman Vakeel is an elderly, retired English professor suffering from Parkinson's Disease. He lives in the family home -- ironically named Chateau Felicity -- with his middle-aged step-children, Jal and Coomy. Nariman married their mother Yasmin when Jal and Coomy were children, after his family forbid him to marry his true love, Lucy. He raised them along with a younger half-sister, Roxana. Coomy is filled with resentment; everyone else walks on eggshells to avoid her bitterness. Jal feigns obliviousness, tinkering with his hearing aid when tempers flare.
When Nariman falls while out on a walk, Jal and Coomy are quickly overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for him. Coomy wastes no time tricking Roxana into taking him in. Roxana and her family live in a smaller flat and struggle to make ends meet, but they are blessed with a more positive outlook on life. Even Roxana's young sons take things in stride:
The balcony door framed the scene: nine-year-old happily feeding seventy-nine.
And then it struck her like a revelation -- of what, she could not say. Hidden by the screen of damp clothes, she watched, clutching Yezad's shirt in her hands. She felt she was witnessing something almost sacred, and her eyes refused to relinquish the previous moment, for she knew instinctively that it would become a memory to cherish, to recall in difficult times when she needed strength. (p. 98)
But as weeks pass, the strain takes its toll on everyone. Coomy takes dramatic steps to keep up the illusion she is unable to care for Nariman. Jal is silently complicit. Roxana tries, in vain, to stretch Yezad's salary to cover the cost of Nariman's medication. And Yezad responds to the financial strain through a series of progressively destructive acts aimed at improving their financial situation. Eventually they hit rock bottom in ways both inevitable and shocking, and are then faced with the challenge of rebuilding what they hold most dear.
I put off reading this book for some time, thinking it might strike too close to home. My father has Parkinson's, and last year a medical incident set in motion a series of events culminating in my parents' long-overdue move to a continuous care retirement community. Family Matters was indeed painful to read, although I could distance myself from it because the Vakeel family's situation was very different from mine. And yet there are valuable messages in this book about the importance of family, and living for today, that are still with me days after finishing the book.
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LibraryThing member jmoncton
Nariman Vakeel suffers from Parkinson's Disease and is living the end of his life with his stepchildren, Jal and Coomy. Although Jal and Coomy have a spacious apartment with enough room for Nariman, their relationship has always been strained and resentment over taking care of Nariman has gradually
Although the setting is Bombay, India and the characters are a Parsi family, the issues and conflicts in this book are universal to any place or time. The difficulty of trying to balance family obligations against living a life you choose is one that many of us face. It was fascinating to see how the different characters handled stress and how their choices changes everyone's life. Excellent writing and a great story.
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increased. When Nariman breaks his ankle and is bedridden, Jal and Coomy are unable to stomach the additional chores of bathing and caring for an invalid. They shuttle Nariman to their stepsister Roxanna's home to have him nursed back to health. But Roxanna's life is not easy. She, her husband and 2 sons live in a tiny 1 bedroom apartment and are just barely surviving financially. The added burden of physically and financially caring for her father cause a strain on the entire family.Although the setting is Bombay, India and the characters are a Parsi family, the issues and conflicts in this book are universal to any place or time. The difficulty of trying to balance family obligations against living a life you choose is one that many of us face. It was fascinating to see how the different characters handled stress and how their choices changes everyone's life. Excellent writing and a great story.
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LibraryThing member bibliophile26
I am already familiar with this Indian author having read A Fine Balance, which was long, very depressing and hard to get through. This book was much better. I was going through my own little family war while reading this and was completely engrossed in the story. There are so many amazing plot
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twists. I also enjoyed learning about life in modern Bombay, although the digressions into political debates grew tiresome. Show Less
LibraryThing member Zmrzlina
Though set in Bombay, an exotic and faraway city for me, this story seems to be every family's story, not just an Indian family's story. I marveled at Mistry's ability to make the story so universal, yet when Bombay, a main character even though it is a city, does enter the storyline, I am happily
This is not a "can't put it down" read, but rather one that sits comfortably by the bedside and keeps the reader company for a long time. I did enjoy it, though I am not sure I'll rush out to read more of Mistry's books. I think I'll be wild releasing this in the next couple days.
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transported to that faraway place. Poverty, religious strife, family hardships...all those things are universal, but the images of a city woven of ancient culture and Western habits is so unique to Bombay. I've never been there, but would love to visit.This is not a "can't put it down" read, but rather one that sits comfortably by the bedside and keeps the reader company for a long time. I did enjoy it, though I am not sure I'll rush out to read more of Mistry's books. I think I'll be wild releasing this in the next couple days.
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LibraryThing member catherinethar
Read this back to back after "A Fine Balance". Perhaps I would have rated it higher if I had not done that. Story of an Indian family caring for elderly Dad. Actually quite good.
LibraryThing member pdebolt
Mistry has mastered the art of describing human interactions so that every reader can identify with them. The father in this novel is a totally sympathetic character who is faced with the selfishness of a step-daughter, the weakness of a step-son and the generosity of a daughter who is challenged
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by trying to provide for her nuclear family at the same time she ministers to her father. This book is unlike the masterpiece A Fine Balance in that it doesn't directly address political situations that contribute to the difficulty of already-stressful lives. The reader is left to draw that assumption from such occurences as the attempt to migrate to Canada. Mistry is a highly proficient writer with an undeniable penchant for drawingt his readers into the lives, hearts and motivations of his characters. Once again, Mr. Mistry, bravo. Show Less
LibraryThing member murraymint11
Elegantly written, with so many excellent characters. Favourite bits:
Mr Burdy (Mr Proverb) muddling up his proverbs; The best dinner service scene; Jehangir's repeated use of the phrase 'Be that as it may'; Nariman and his grandsons spending time together reading (and loving) the Famous Five books;
Mr Burdy (Mr Proverb) muddling up his proverbs; The best dinner service scene; Jehangir's repeated use of the phrase 'Be that as it may'; Nariman and his grandsons spending time together reading (and loving) the Famous Five books;
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The handyman neighbour who breaks everything he 'fixes'; The sadness of old Nariman trying not to be a nuisance Show Less
LibraryThing member twoods9
A story about a family's struggle with a father's declining health and the struggle to make end meet. Like A Fine Balance, Mistry capturesd the plight of the characters beautifully.
LibraryThing member wondersdisciple
Ecellent writing, very poignant. Will definitely read more from this author.
LibraryThing member debnance
Rohinton Mistry takes us right into the life of a family in this book, a family with all its conflicts, its misunderstandings, its jealousies, and unexpected moments of redeeming love. India, his setting, seems to make everything feel bigger and more important, both hopeless and hopeful. Nariman is
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an old man who has experienced much sadness and pain in his life. He lives with his stepchildren, Jal and Coomy, who try without much success to protect him from the world. His natural daughter, Roxana, lives with herhusband and two sons apart from her father. The lives of all the family, however, are intricately bound together. The title, Family Matters, is wonderful, with its dual meanings of both family concerns and the importance of family.There are no simple answers in this story. Plans, even clever plans, go awry. Good acts are not rewarded. Out of good intentions come undeserved troubles. Despite our best efforts to stop wickedness, people continue to do the wrong things. Moments of peace in this confusing world---acts of genuine compassion, a little laughter, a little music---are rare, but provide us with just enough hope to continue to slog on. Mistry is a gifted writer, excellent at writing dialogue with edgy comedy, with a whiff of hysteria, and at creating plots that twist and turn unexpectedly, like life itself. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member Steph78
Set in India, a father with Parkinsons has to move in with his daughter, son in law and 2 grandsons, in a 2 room flat, as his two step children cannot cope with him.
All the internal tensions of family and the history to them are played out against the difficulties that life throws at them.
The last
All the internal tensions of family and the history to them are played out against the difficulties that life throws at them.
The last
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reviewer described this as a disconcerting book, above the ordinary novel. I would definitaly agree - A well constructed novel and a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member actonbell
Family Matters, by Rohinton Mistry, is a book that seems to move along at a slow pace, despite the fact that there is so much going on. Professor Nariman Vakeel, the elderly patriarch who has had so much sadness in his life, is now left alone with his haunting memories as he succumbs to Parkinson's
So, Coomy finds a very deceitful way to foist the care of her elderly father onto Roxanna, her husband Yezad, and her two young sons, Murad and Jehangir. Since they live in a tiny flat, this is a great hardship for them, and money is tight. In the process of dealing with this predicament, Roxanna and her family become closer and learn from each other in ways that forever change them.
Meanwhile, Yezad is facing other challenges at work, and his actions affect others' lives in unforeseen ways. Also, Coomy's efforts to keep up a lie also have drastic and sad consequences. There's a lot of deceit going on, and it becomes a fascinating, tangled web.
The magic of this novel by Rohinton Mistry is that the characters are so multilayered. No one is all good or all bad. The sad ironies in life simply are, and I felt something for all the characters. Along the way, I cried at some places, and in the end, I felt real frustration and concern.
This story takes place in 1990s Bombay, with its religious bigotry and the corrupt government that effect everyone's lives.
Family Matters would be a great book to discuss in a group, actually. I highly recommend it for being thought-provoking and real.
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Disease. His stepson Jal and stepdaughter Coomy live and care for him in the palatial flat where they have lived since Nariman married their mother, Yasmin. Unfortunately, there is some deep resentment and bad blood, especially in Coomy's heart, for she blames Nariman for her mother's unhappiness. She also feels some jealousy toward her younger sister Roxanna, suspecting that Nariman has treated his only natural child more favorably.So, Coomy finds a very deceitful way to foist the care of her elderly father onto Roxanna, her husband Yezad, and her two young sons, Murad and Jehangir. Since they live in a tiny flat, this is a great hardship for them, and money is tight. In the process of dealing with this predicament, Roxanna and her family become closer and learn from each other in ways that forever change them.
Meanwhile, Yezad is facing other challenges at work, and his actions affect others' lives in unforeseen ways. Also, Coomy's efforts to keep up a lie also have drastic and sad consequences. There's a lot of deceit going on, and it becomes a fascinating, tangled web.
The magic of this novel by Rohinton Mistry is that the characters are so multilayered. No one is all good or all bad. The sad ironies in life simply are, and I felt something for all the characters. Along the way, I cried at some places, and in the end, I felt real frustration and concern.
This story takes place in 1990s Bombay, with its religious bigotry and the corrupt government that effect everyone's lives.
Family Matters would be a great book to discuss in a group, actually. I highly recommend it for being thought-provoking and real.
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LibraryThing member snash
It's a book of Family Matters but also of human matters. It was a disconcerting in that so many of the characters were so good, kind, trying their best to do right but their own faults and limitations were too great to avoid various disasters and repeating the mistakes of previous generations. An
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excellent book, full of humor, insight, and kindness as well as melancholy. Show Less
LibraryThing member eargent
I fell in love with this author reading his first two books. He continues to win me over with another great story.
LibraryThing member wbwilburn5
I love this writer. So humane, so talented, so direct. Definite "re-read".
LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
As ever with Mistry this book was beautifully written though it also contrived to be rather heavy going. I found the descriptions of Nariman's gradual decline from parkinson's Disease, and the various travails that he, his daughter and his step children face as a conseqeunce, to be very moving but
All in all I felt that there was just rather too much rage, distress and squalor, and I get more than enough of all that at home!
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also rather depressing.All in all I felt that there was just rather too much rage, distress and squalor, and I get more than enough of all that at home!
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LibraryThing member LDVoorberg
Generally I prefer the middle of books, and feel let down or unsatisified by the ending. With [book:Family Matters] I felt the opposite. I really had to push myself through the middle, but enjoyed the ending. The conclusion is realistic, consistent with the overall tone and message of the book, and
It's a story about three adult siblings who have to take care of their aging invalid father. Jal and Coomy are full brother and sister, unmarried, living with their step-father but deceptfully unload him on Roxana, their half-sister, and her husband and two boys. Roxana's home is much smaller and money becomes even tighter. Everyone struggles between obligation and personal desire and the father's 'scandalous' past.
Though the narrative is placed in India, and its politics, customs, society and religions play a part in the story, the matters of family (and the point that family is important -- both of which are neatly conveyed in the title) applies to every culture and country.
This book is a good one to begin with if you're new to [author:Rohinton Mistry]'s novels. It is just as realistic and unapologetic in its portrayal of life in India (as far as I know) as [book:A Fine Balance], but it is less depressing (and shorter).
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sufficient in wrapping up the story without 'happily ever after' or other drivel.It's a story about three adult siblings who have to take care of their aging invalid father. Jal and Coomy are full brother and sister, unmarried, living with their step-father but deceptfully unload him on Roxana, their half-sister, and her husband and two boys. Roxana's home is much smaller and money becomes even tighter. Everyone struggles between obligation and personal desire and the father's 'scandalous' past.
Though the narrative is placed in India, and its politics, customs, society and religions play a part in the story, the matters of family (and the point that family is important -- both of which are neatly conveyed in the title) applies to every culture and country.
This book is a good one to begin with if you're new to [author:Rohinton Mistry]'s novels. It is just as realistic and unapologetic in its portrayal of life in India (as far as I know) as [book:A Fine Balance], but it is less depressing (and shorter).
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LibraryThing member gbelik
I had read this some years ago, but now "read" in again as an audio book. It is the saga of a Parsi family in Bombay/Mumbai and is a great story, well told.
LibraryThing member Beamis12
The one thing that is common to all cultures is the difficulties in taking care of our aged parents or other family members. So from the beginning this story really hit home, basically had something similar to this happen in my husband's family, although I felt this was a bit exaggerated. The
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characters were all well drawn, even the characters on the sidelines were interesting and the two young boys won my heart. It definitely showed the effects and strain on everyone in the family and even when things are somewhat resolved these effects still linger. The amazing thing about this novel is that there is still humor and plenty of love, touching moments and though the novel ended in a way I wish it hadn't, the ending was real not sugar coated for a happy ending. Will definitely read more by this author. Show Less
LibraryThing member erica471
One of the best books I have ever read. I spend the last 40 pages in tears. I can't believe how beautiful the writing was. I learned so much about the Parsi community of Mumbai. This book is for my book group that I lead and I can't wait to discuss it. This is a book you want to read slowly and
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savor every sentence. Beautiful! Show Less
LibraryThing member Praj05
As Nariman counts his last breaths amid the serene violin rendition of Brahms Lullaby, played by Daisy, my mind races through a gloomy apartment where the stale odor of eau de cologne amalgamates in the air of misery thriving among the bustling of outside traffic and noisy vendors trying to earn
Old age and Parkinson’s disease has not only bed-ridden Nariman but made him a burden on his financially challenged children. Coomy and Jal, his step-children, both heading their prime and plagued by their own ailments coax Nariman’s biological daughter Roxanna into providing healthcare to her ailing father. A middle-class housewife with two young kids and a budgeted monthly survival faces a monstrous task by burning the candle at both ends. The woes of middle-classes ripened by bigotry and communalism are highlighted with sheer accuracy throughout the manuscript. The preposterous stubbornness of arranged marriages, the segregation of religious identities, stigmatism of step-parental aspects and the eternal financial instabilities mesh into a burdensome desperation of graphic cunningness. In Asian cultures, looking after elderly parents is viewed not only dutiful but the most obedient thing to do. The concept of old-aged homes is highly condemned in the Indian society (also, many other Asian cultures). Old age can be cruel and if plagued by incurable diseases it becomes a metal cage. A man who once was free to walk in the by lanes of his vicinity and enjoy a wonderful German orchestra at the nearby concert hall; Nariman was reduced to a mere caged mortal who longed for freedom to breathe fresh air, feel the splatter of rainwater as he walked through the puddles and for once make his own choices without being reprimanded for his doings. I empathize more towards Nariman than any other character in the book. Nariman could never marry his true love Lucy, for she was a Catholic, he could not bring his step-daughter (Coomy) to accept him as her father and now he was the sole reason for the rifts between his children. I wonder if my grandparents could have had found happiness if they were not arranged to be married? What would the circumstances be if my father was not financially well enough to take care of my grandfather during his last days surviving cancer? Would we have been deprived of basic amenities like butter or hot water and frantically hoped to find additional money in the budgeted envelopes of monthly payments? In a society where corruption is spelled in gold letters, and a man’s potency is derived from his monetary success, money matters; come what may.
Each sketched characters defines the ebb and flow of life and its greatness that we as children dream to achieve. Right from Nariman to Roxanna and even Yehzad (Roxanna’s husband) who once nurtured the dream of Canadian immigration, somehow end up in a vortex of familial or financial obligations of a capricious life. Mistry does not adhere either to pompous melancholic facades or epical anecdotes. He throws out the phrase of ordinary people with ordinary lives. For if, lives were ordinary, nostalgia would not be such a pain in the arse and worries would not construct topsy-turvy pathways.
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their daily wage unaware of Nariman’s existence. The acridity of my parched throat makes me think about my death. Will I die as a happy soul or will death be a gift that I would crave in the course of vulnerable seclusion? This is how Mistry’s words affect me, as I breathe and feel every emotion that flows through the ink. It is not because of my familiarity with the physical surroundings or the Parsi community, but the fact that Mistry writes a simple story of nameless ordinary faces with astonishing lives. Old age and Parkinson’s disease has not only bed-ridden Nariman but made him a burden on his financially challenged children. Coomy and Jal, his step-children, both heading their prime and plagued by their own ailments coax Nariman’s biological daughter Roxanna into providing healthcare to her ailing father. A middle-class housewife with two young kids and a budgeted monthly survival faces a monstrous task by burning the candle at both ends. The woes of middle-classes ripened by bigotry and communalism are highlighted with sheer accuracy throughout the manuscript. The preposterous stubbornness of arranged marriages, the segregation of religious identities, stigmatism of step-parental aspects and the eternal financial instabilities mesh into a burdensome desperation of graphic cunningness. In Asian cultures, looking after elderly parents is viewed not only dutiful but the most obedient thing to do. The concept of old-aged homes is highly condemned in the Indian society (also, many other Asian cultures). Old age can be cruel and if plagued by incurable diseases it becomes a metal cage. A man who once was free to walk in the by lanes of his vicinity and enjoy a wonderful German orchestra at the nearby concert hall; Nariman was reduced to a mere caged mortal who longed for freedom to breathe fresh air, feel the splatter of rainwater as he walked through the puddles and for once make his own choices without being reprimanded for his doings. I empathize more towards Nariman than any other character in the book. Nariman could never marry his true love Lucy, for she was a Catholic, he could not bring his step-daughter (Coomy) to accept him as her father and now he was the sole reason for the rifts between his children. I wonder if my grandparents could have had found happiness if they were not arranged to be married? What would the circumstances be if my father was not financially well enough to take care of my grandfather during his last days surviving cancer? Would we have been deprived of basic amenities like butter or hot water and frantically hoped to find additional money in the budgeted envelopes of monthly payments? In a society where corruption is spelled in gold letters, and a man’s potency is derived from his monetary success, money matters; come what may.
Each sketched characters defines the ebb and flow of life and its greatness that we as children dream to achieve. Right from Nariman to Roxanna and even Yehzad (Roxanna’s husband) who once nurtured the dream of Canadian immigration, somehow end up in a vortex of familial or financial obligations of a capricious life. Mistry does not adhere either to pompous melancholic facades or epical anecdotes. He throws out the phrase of ordinary people with ordinary lives. For if, lives were ordinary, nostalgia would not be such a pain in the arse and worries would not construct topsy-turvy pathways.
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LibraryThing member PilgrimJess
"The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of."
Rohinton Mistry’s novel 'Family Matters' is smaller in scope than his earlier 'A Fine Balance', it deals with fateful choices by three generations of the men of a Parsi family in modern day India, the difficulties of caring for elder
Nariman Vakeel is a 79 year old widower with Parkinson’s who lives with his two middle-aged step-children in an increasingly dilapidated apartment in Mumbai. Old age has brought him considerable health problems, yet Nariman is largely jovial and optimistic until an accident leaves him bed-ridden. Decisions about his on-going care needs have tragic consequences for all of the family as do decisions made decades previously.
You may be forgiven for thinking that its Nariman’s life story that dominates this novel but it covers three generations of Parsi men. The novel touches on many of the issues of modern day India, poor housing and wages, few employee rights, corruption, religious and ethnic divisions, healthcare problems to name but a few but this a familial and intimate story that befits the tile. However, it does share some common ground with the author's previous novels.
"If you ignore little things, they become big problems."
There were a couple of things that niggled me about the novel and both of them centred around Nariman's son-in-law, Yezad. When his father-in-law is placed in his family’s care the effect on their finances is considerable, he lashes out at his wife and sons and engages in dangerous ventures which puts all of his family at risk yet there seems to be little remorse shown. Similarly his full-blown return to his faith just seemed to be so out of keeping with what had gone before that it was hard to believe.
All three of Mistry’s novels were shortlisted for the Booker Prize which is an impressive achievement in itself and he can perhaps count himself unlucky not to have one of them. I thoroughly enjoy Mistry's character development. All of them in this novel are well drawn and it was difficult to dislike any of them despite not agreeing with some of their decisions, eccentric minor characters only added considerable colour and humour. The central theme of the care for elders and the burden that it can place on a struggling families, the difficult moral choices made in desperate circumstances is relatable and universal making this a poignant and thoughtful piece of writing.
Rohinton Mistry’s novel 'Family Matters' is smaller in scope than his earlier 'A Fine Balance', it deals with fateful choices by three generations of the men of a Parsi family in modern day India, the difficulties of caring for elder
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family members, and the role of tradition and religion in an ethnic minority that's in decline.Nariman Vakeel is a 79 year old widower with Parkinson’s who lives with his two middle-aged step-children in an increasingly dilapidated apartment in Mumbai. Old age has brought him considerable health problems, yet Nariman is largely jovial and optimistic until an accident leaves him bed-ridden. Decisions about his on-going care needs have tragic consequences for all of the family as do decisions made decades previously.
You may be forgiven for thinking that its Nariman’s life story that dominates this novel but it covers three generations of Parsi men. The novel touches on many of the issues of modern day India, poor housing and wages, few employee rights, corruption, religious and ethnic divisions, healthcare problems to name but a few but this a familial and intimate story that befits the tile. However, it does share some common ground with the author's previous novels.
"If you ignore little things, they become big problems."
There were a couple of things that niggled me about the novel and both of them centred around Nariman's son-in-law, Yezad. When his father-in-law is placed in his family’s care the effect on their finances is considerable, he lashes out at his wife and sons and engages in dangerous ventures which puts all of his family at risk yet there seems to be little remorse shown. Similarly his full-blown return to his faith just seemed to be so out of keeping with what had gone before that it was hard to believe.
All three of Mistry’s novels were shortlisted for the Booker Prize which is an impressive achievement in itself and he can perhaps count himself unlucky not to have one of them. I thoroughly enjoy Mistry's character development. All of them in this novel are well drawn and it was difficult to dislike any of them despite not agreeing with some of their decisions, eccentric minor characters only added considerable colour and humour. The central theme of the care for elders and the burden that it can place on a struggling families, the difficult moral choices made in desperate circumstances is relatable and universal making this a poignant and thoughtful piece of writing.
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LibraryThing member pdepena
Not as epic in scope as Mistry's "A Fine Balance," but quite a worthy read. A family is living and doing their best under extreme poverty. You see the unfair distribution of resources within the family. The characters are interesting and real and many of them grow or evolve within the story.
LibraryThing member davegiesbrecht
i enjoyed this book immensely as it captured the people and places and relationships vividly
LibraryThing member Castlelass
This is a beautifully written story that focuses on a Parsi family living in Bombay (Mumbai) in the 1990s. They live in a small flat. The mother’s step siblings deposit her injured and aging father, who is also battling Parkinson’s disease, on her doorstep when they are unable or unwilling to
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care for him. It is about ordinary lives that are transformed by bad luck, and how they respond to these challenges. It is filled with moral dilemmas, especially for the family’s patriarch, Yesad. The relationship between the youngest child and the grandfather is portrayed with such tenderness. The child wants to help and even finds a way of making money and secretly slipping it into the family’s funds. It poignantly depicts family dynamics, the big changes taking place in the city, Parsi beliefs and concerns, and Hindu-Muslim tensions of the time period. Themes include elder care, family bonds, corruption, sense of belonging, religion, and the generation gap. It is a bittersweet and intimate story told in Mistry’s elegant style. It is slow in developing, but the payoff is well worth it. It is a book to become immersed in. Truly a gem. Show Less
Awards
Booker Prize (Longlist — 2002)
Dublin Literary Award (Shortlist — 2004)
James Tait Black Memorial Prize (Shortlist — Fiction — 2002)
Kiriyama Prize (Winner — Fiction — 2002)
Canadian Authors Association Award (Winner — Fiction — 2003)
Language
Original publication date
2002
Physical description
512 p.; 20 cm
ISBN
057121553X / 9780571215539