Review: “Our Liminal Spaces”
I received an advance copy of this book directly from the author, for whom I have reviewed several other books prior, as listed below:
- Six – Strange Stories of Love
- Intersections
- A Quiet Dissonance
- Parvathy’s Well & Other Stories
- Damage & Other Stories
- Holi Moly! & Other Stories
The Premise
When Radha, a young Indian woman, meets her carefree new neighbour Mira, she begins to question many things about her life and family — particularly with regard to her husband Shyam. Though she loves him deeply, she feels trapped in her role as the dutiful wife, and powerless as a woman in their society. Unfolding over several decades through the eyes of each main character, the story moves from outskirts of Delhi to the first-world “promised lands” of the U.K. and U.S.A. as it explores the timeless tale of love, friendship, and betrayal. Set against a backdrop of ambition and cultural expectations, this novel delves into the true meaning of family, underscoring the transformative power of forgiveness and healing.
The Pros
As my third novel by this author, I looked forward to being swept away by the seductive fabric of the unfamiliar geographical territory coupled with the familiar terrain of a story that touches you deeply. From the opening chapters with the insecurities of the quiet, dutiful Radha, to the irksome male entitlement of Shyam, to Mira’s irrefutable selfishness coupled with her eternal regret, the complexities of human nature are explored. I loved, as I always do, that these characters all felt very real, and no one was a “protagonist” or hero/heroine. Even in Shyam’s darkest moments, there is a redeemable flash of decency in his character.
As typical of the women’s fiction genre and of this author in particular, we lean into the nuances of human nature, particularly the female psyche of baseless jealousy, deep-rooted insecurity, and the complexity of female friendships. The side characters, particular the older generation (Mira’s mother and father, and Radha’s parents and in-laws) give the novel its dubious footing in the contemporary world as it clambers into the modern: an elopement shocks the family and reverberates throughout their close-knit community, the bullet of homosexuality ricochets through a marriage and impacts a father-daughter relationship, a differently-abled character is judged through the eyes of superstition, and so many more little nuggets that breathe life into the story.
I especially liked the parts that showed the contrast between the U.K./U.S.A. and India, for example the “cavalier” attitude of English people versus the key focus of career success among Indian families; and the references to the racism and stereotypes that each character faced. I also loved the sprinkle of authenticity with the use of language throughout the novel, and appreciated that the author’s writing style made it easy to follow along despite the lack of a word-for-word translation.
Conclusion
Overall, this was another fantastic and gripping read by this author. It expertly displays the core sentiment: despite our “liminal spaces” in life, we are all desperate to be loved and appreciated by our family, friends, and colleagues. As always, the prose is eloquent and visceral, transporting you to the mind and heart of the characters and breathing them into life as you read along. I would highly recommend this novel to other readers of all backgrounds, and I look forward to her next one!
