You Bring the Distant Near

Starred review from July 17, 2017
Perkins (Bamboo People) delivers an unforgettable novel that spans decades and continents as it moves among three generations of Indian women, some new immigrants to the U.S., all struggling to bridge cultures. She begins in 1965 with sisters Sonia and Tara Das as they move from Ghana to London and then New York City, eager for new opportunities but very aware of the cultural expectations of their Bengali parents. The stories of Sonia’s romantic and political rebellion (she’s a devoted liberal and later marries a black man, sparking a rift with her mother) and Tara’s acting aspirations segue into those of Chantal and Anna, their daughters, as the novel jumps ahead to 1998. It’s a profound and moving story of personal growth—perhaps most dramatically in the case of Sonia and Tara’s mother, Ranee, whose dourness and preoccupation with tradition give way to a broader embrace of American culture as she takes to the role of grandmother. Perkins’s vibrantly written exploration of a family in transition is saturated with romance, humor, and meaningful reflections on patriotism, blended cultures, and carving one’s own path. Ages 12–up. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary.

Five narrators represent the alternating voices of three generations of women from South Asia. A chime separates different characters, settings, situations, and time periods beginning in 1970s, when two sisters immigrate to America. Tara's softness represents her artistic soul while Sonia's tone is sharper, especially when it comes to her evolving activism. Both slip facilely into Indian accents as they shift between cultures, searching for their identities and acceptance. Both show tenderness for their supportive father, frustration with their traditional mother, Ranee, and caring for each other. Ranee speaks only briefly; her deep, rich voice hints at the depth locked within her. Later, different narrators portray Tara and Sonia's daughters, who also struggle to understand their identities, their heritage, and their grandmother, Ranee, who is transformed by the 9/11 tragedy. S.W. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine