A Life of Adventure and Delight

May 15, 2017
The eight stories in this collection from the author of Family Life follow modern Indians at home and abroad as they face the trials of marriage, parenthood, and assimilation. In “Cosmopolitan,” the solid first story, a husband abandoned by his wife and daughter begins a short-lived affair with his reticent neighbor. In “Surrounded by Sleep,” a young boy reevaluates his worldview after a freak accident forces his brother into a coma. A wife in an arranged marriage tries to recapture the fleeting moment she felt love for her husband in “If You Sing Like That For Me.” The title story is the collection’s most accomplished, relating the romantic highs and lows of an Indian PhD student in New York City with wry humor and psychological complexity. While there are moments of genuine insight and heartbreak, the collective effect of the stories seems subdued to a fault. Those seeking quiet moments of revelation will find them here.

This collection of short stories featuring Indian protagonists is complemented by the well-considered narrative performances of Deepti Gupta and Neil Shah. Featuring a wide array of characters and a general focus on family and romantic relationships, or the search for them, the stories are enlivened by the narrators' subtle performances of the distinctive characters. Gupta and Shah employ Indian accents when delivering the protagonists' dialogue, an element that helps to culturally situate the stories. As a result of Gupta and Shah's deft portrayals, the emotions of the characters shine through. Both narrators speak clearly and at a comfortable pace, allowing the listener to focus on Sharma's contemplative and vivid writing. S.E.G. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine