What a shock it was to learn at the end of chapter 29 that Gyan had tipped off the rebels about what was in the judge’s home! Wow! And to fully understand his motivation, we did needed the back story of his life and the lives of the other characters. I am hopeful that there may be more of a story line to follow now that we are back to the beginning of the book, so to speak.
The story of the judge’s life was so bleak and pitiful. The way he treated his wife disgusted me. And the life Biju leads in theUnited Statesis heart breaking as well. Thank goodness there is enough humor sprinkled in throughout the book to counter these emotions.
In chapter 22, Biju made the decision to leave his job in the restaurant that served steaks, fries, and salad, based on moral principles. His decision gave me new appreciation for what some immigrants go through. How many others make choices that are in alignment with their principles, but are decisions that force them to live in poverty? Biju did come to theUnited Statesof his own free will, but he had no way of knowing the obstacles he would face in just trying to survive in theU.S. I wonder if he will go back toIndia?
This book is full of irony. I hadn’t thought of that exact term until I read this quote which ended chapter 30:
“In India almost nobody would be able to afford this rice, and you had to travel around the world to be able to eat such things where they were cheap enough that you could gobble them down without being rich; and when you got home to the place where they grew, you couldn’t afford them anymore.”
Laura
Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.
Melissa_W
